UND-FB-FAN

The defense is top-notch. Montana State is a top 10 FCS offense. With the defense playing the way it is, UND will win at least a couple more games this year. Offense showed improvement in the second half. They looked alright and balanced when Norberg was running the ball okay. They'll actually improve as the season goes on. With the way this young team looked today, good things are ahead. Everyone needs to show up and cheer the defense on against Montana next Saturday. UND can win that game at home in the Alerus.

Wow. Sure hope you're kidding.

Bubba and his defense are really good. Just imagine how good they'll be in a couple years... Rudolph and his offense have work to do... Starts with the offensive line and quarterback, IMO.

According to weather.com there will definitely be rain for today's game. Not sure exactly how it affects the game, but it MAY help UND's defense and offense...

It's okay to have an honest conversation with fans and alumni about the progress of the team; however, from there it's important to respect the student-athletes and the coaches' willingness to be honest. I will say, though, that this is a website that has no direct connection to the University of North Dakota. If student-athletes are looking on this site, they best be prepared to see criticism, because that's what comes with the territory of being a collegiate athlete. Lastly, in terms of performance, the offensive linemen should embrace what was said about them and try to improve rather than be sensitive about it; up to this point, they've played poor. It is what it is.

Coach Luke Knauf comes from a proud culture of capable offensive linemen at Wisconsin. I have no doubt he will eventually shape UND's offensive line into that mold. Wisconsin, still to this day, relies on effective offensive line play and a successful running game. Also, good to hear regarding Studsrud.

All of these predictions are just that, predictions. There's no way to know exactly how the team will do and exactly how the attendance will be. However, it is certain winning teams draw crowds. It would be a real shame if several seats were left empty at the 50 yard line when the rest of the Alerus is filled and UND is playing winning football. I suppose you could be a "rebel" and sit in those student section seats then in order to appease your plan.

There won't always be 7,000 people at games. Even last year there was 10,000 at a game and this year 9,000. When there's 5 digit attendance, having an empty student section is a real bad deal.

Makes sense since UND has a contractual lease agreement with the Alerus Center. I know UND's athletics department has noticed the student attendance issue. I honestly think both the size and location of the student section are too lenient towards the students. The student section should be moved over to the 20 or 30 yard line (let season ticket holders be on the 50 yard line on both sides) and the student section should be decreased in size. Right now, there are very good seating spots that are not even occupied on game day.

Due to the "walk-over" areas above the end zone, I absolutely agree that the Alerus should sell "standing-only" tickets for the end zones. Only reason the Alerus would never currently do that is because they would likely have to charge less for the "standing-only" tickets and that would leave them taking a financial hit. Obviously, if the Alerus was actually selling out, then the "standing-only" tickets would be a good idea - not to that point though. As for the student section, if that is decreased in size, then the Alerus would theoretically make more. The student section should be decreased in size. Of course, UND athletics are factored into this thing financially, also.

Personally, I think the Alerus/UND give the students way too many seats. I'm all for shrinking the student section until the students are packed in and they're begging for more tickets.

Story on UND RB/LB Kyle Norberg: http://bobcatnation.com/node/1002

Ha As of now there's still a chance to beat all 3!

Good chance he fills Troy Huffs' shoes at UND; albeit those are big shoes to full, but Seales seems to be a real good scorer.

You can't possibly argue South Dakota was a reputation-changing win. How'd South Dakota do the next season? Even beating Montana or Eastern Washington (not this years EWU though) would be iffy because they're conference teams; we're supposed to compete with them and beat them occasionally. Beating a good OOC team (NDSU) or an FBS program is what really boosts reputation.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/content/und-football-montana-state-comes-loss-prepares-home-game-against-und Nice article with quotes from Montana State's head coach Rob Ash. Basically says three optimistic things for UND: 1) UND's defense is already much better with improved schemes and talent/speed. Will improve with more defensive athletes that Bubba wants to recruit. 2) UND's offense is physical and a good fit for the defense. 3) UND's new defensive and ball-control philosophy perhaps better fits the upper Midwest.

In the long run those teams turned out to be pretty pedestrian.

Need to beat a top 20 FCS ranked team soon to earn respect. Even before UND is consistently winning 8+ games per season to make the playoffs, UND needs to be competitive and upset a team once in a while. UND won't beat Eastern Washington this year, and it will be tough versus Montana State on the road, but Northern Arizona and even Montana are real possibilities at home this season. The defense has played good to great at the Alerus thus far. You just have a feeling that is what Bubba wants to do because he witnessed the defensive magic UND's defense brought to the Alerus in 2001 and 2003.

There's no question UND wants to be a balanced offense with the emphasis on the running game. If anyone would look past last week's game, they would remember TE screens vs. San Jose State, multiple deep crossing routes and double moves vs. Robert Morris, and a flea flicker vs. Missouri State. The point is, when the game and/or personnel dictate it, Rudolph will take shots down the field and mix it up. Even vs. Stony Brook the play that gave UND the lead for good was a fake jet sweep pass downfield for a TD. Rudolph will call games aggressively when the time calls for it, but last week, given how the offense had performed and the defense was performing, playing extra-conservative was the right call (notice the big 'W' next to the Stony Brook game).

Offense has yet to show anything yet, so can't argue with you there. One of these weeks the ground attack will burst out though. As for the defense, they've played really well. They'll hold the 'Cats under 40 points, but that doesn't mean UND will win. If Montana State scores over 30, UND has no chance.

Have to wonder if he's recruited as a QB; he's probably recruited as a RB or WR by UND, IMO.

There's a reason they actually play the games. Given the score last week of the Montana State-Eastern Washington game, I think UND will have improved success running the football vs. the Bobcats. Of course, no matter what, UND will only win if the defense plays a great game, because even if UND's offense improves from last week, it won't be enough to single-handily outscore Montana State unless UND's defense plays well. Montana State is probably the second best offense we play for the remainder of the season, behind Eastern Washington, so this will be a really good challenge for the defense.

This is correct. North Dakota college football teams (UND and NDSU) have never won a championship at any level with a pass-happy offense. Our recruiting area favors tough defense and physical running offenses. Mussman didn't get it; Bubba does. We're following the blueprint that worked in 2001 for UND.

I do remember NDSU running all over Montana State in 2010 with a pro-style offense, but I can say with certainty UND's running game is no 2010 NDSU. It is where UND eventually wants to get to, however.

Bubba is using the blueprint that won UND a national championship in 2001, so you'd have to think it would work, at least eventually.