UND-FB-FAN

If done right, any football game should outdraw a hockey game. With that said, the facilities for hockey (REA) and the nature of the football game (inter-squad scrimmage) will definitely lead to a much larger crowd for the preseason hockey game. However, the marketing and administrative backing for football and basketball is way less than it should be. The administration doesn't put in the effort necessary for UND MBB to be successful at the DI level. I'm more optimistic regarding football just because of Bubba and his staff along with the HPC coming on line; all good things for football. Still, football marketing needs to improve.

Well, for starters the scrimmage (often times termed Spring Football Game) will be taking place outdoors in Memorial Stadium this season. If the weather is poor, which it easily could be in late April, the attendance will be horrid. In all honestly, only the die-hard UND football fans - like myself- will enjoy the 2015 UND spring football scrimmage. I can't imagine the UND athletic department will be marketing it much: they'll be too busy planning for 2015-2016 men's hockey already.

Well, unlike some of this forum, I believe what gfhockey has to say most times. Not good if there is more behavioral issues with the football team. The team doesn't have the depth to afford such trouble.

I am in full agreement with this opinion, as I myself am both a hockey and football season ticket holder. The explicit difference in support between hockey and football/basketball is downright idiotic.

Wouldn't be the case if Jones would grow up and accept the Adidas contract...

Don't be so harsh; in Faison's ripe age he tends to forget from time to time that UND has football and basketball programs. Gotta love Faison and his new found college hockey specialities....

Did you say development? Don't bet on that with Jones around. What you see is what you'll get out of the players next season. That's why I agree that the new players (Seales and Crandall) will have to make the entire difference. UND MBB is in a bad spot with Jones as HC.

NDSU is absolutely a standard that UND supporters should be able to justifiably use. The similarities far outnumber the differences. So, why has NDSU athletics been far more successful than UND over the past 10 years or so? It all starts at the top in the respective athletic departments. NDSU possess ambition, desire, and a commitment to excellence in terms of both wins and alumni support/donations. UND athletics use to embody this in entirety, but not anymore apparently. Allowing Jones to continue coaching at UND tells me the administration has no ambitions or high expectations for the MBB program, or any program that isn't men's hockey for that matter. If winning occurs at UND, it occurs despite the athletic administration.

Look at the facts; the objective reflections of Jones' tenure that is free of bias and subjectivity. You'll see a losing record this season and throughout his UND coaching tenure. That's troubling.

Again, spot on. The lack of guts by Faison may hurt UND MBB long term. I hope the players exceed expectations next season, but I don't think the team will be much more than 0.500. Then what? Will the team improve down the road. Jones hasn't shown the ability to provide that. Mediocrity is unfortunately okay by the UND athletic department....

Ditto. Not making the move to remove Jones puts UND in at least another season of losing basketball, if not more. UND won't be winning the BSC tournament anytime soon; just don't see next years team or the one after that - with Hooker as a senior - being able to go over 0.500.

Your minority opinion is not easily supported, for good reason. I have no problem agreeing with others if they align with my own opinions. Lastly, the random titles are a bit unnecessary.

Half of the young players you just mentioned are not even playing. Rather, a number of DI/JUCO transfers and a 6th year senior got a bunch of playing time. Hard to characterize that as a rebuilding season with a bunch of young players right out of HS.

Absolutely. To Jones, this was not a rebuilding season, that is until they started losing. ArtVandalay is doing the same thing; claiming a "free" season is a nice way to justify keeping a poor coach.

In case anyone is getting impatient for spring ball or obviously the start of the 2015 season, here's highlights from 2014's season closing victory at Northern Colorado: Post-Signing Day 2015

So our three fastest players are two linebackers and one safety.... Our defense has the potential to be special this season.

Mussman firing was made public on a Monday, so if you don't hear anything by Monday night, it's safe to say Faison has granted Jones another season.

A simple overview of recent comments will show where the deviation from topic originated. I comment regarding the title of this thread. The "other" comments on the exact opposite.

You hold superficial grudges I see; does that help you in your career field?

Don't be mistaken, proper respectful emails to Mr. Kelley and Mr. Faison will be factored into the decision. Make sure the emails are well thought out and they aren't composed simply because this site encourages it; have a sincere belief that coach Jones needs to be replaced.

I really hope I'm surprised.

I think you and I are on the same page.

Stop trying to "rattle up" the crowd. I highly doubt you can come up with anything that hasn't already been said as far as why Jones should be kept around. Jones will likely get another season because he has two years left on this contract, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't get fired. He absolutely should be removed. UND went 8-22 this season and yet you support the program's direction? Go NDSU, right?

You know, hockey doesn't make as much $$$ as you'd think. I'm not sure on the exact figures, but they aren't as much as of much of a revenue driver as you'd think. Point is, hockey is successful because the standard and facilities are in place. Football will soon also be successful like hockey because the facilities (HPC) and standard (Bubba and BSC title aspirations every season) are set. UND MBB is not there; facilities are poor to average (no video boards is the big one, along with bleacher seating) and little to no standards. Jones is so disorganized as far as where he wants this team to end up; a carbon copy of Mussman.

There's no question Mussman was the unfortunate precedent set by Faison and his administration. After 2012 (ironically also finishing the season against Northern Colorado, like this years MBB team), most supporters -including myself- knew the level of energy and commitment from the football team was no longer at an acceptable level; a change needed to be made. Of course, Faison elected to give Mussman the benefit of the doubt because Mussman and the 2011 UND football team were co-champions of a very suspect Great West Conference. Sure enough, with even 7 home games on the schedule, UND went 3-8 in 2013 and was even worse than in 2012. Faison finally did the right thing and removed Mussman. The same situation presents itself, although now with Jones. Jones produced a mediocre season in 2013-2014, which apparently will buy him another season, even though this season has been a complete disaster (8-22; 4-14 in conference) and I see no reason for next season to be significantly better. Faison is again taking a risk that may end up digging another program, this time MBB, into the proverbially pit.