UND-FB-FAN

UND offers academic opportunities that NDSU can't always match: aviation, business, medical, law, and petroleum engineering, just to name a few. Also, NDSU's practice bubble is a joke compared to UND's $20 million HPC. Not every prospect just jumps at the winningest FCS program of the pasts few seasons, especially when most DI prospects do not want to attend FCS schools but rather have their sights on FBS. UND has the ability to offer playing time, specific academic majors, a great practice/training facility, and most importantly, a good family coaching atmosphere. All of these things don't create an advantage for UND over NDSU, but they do allow UND to recruit many of the same athletes that NDSU recruits.

As much as you may hate reality because you think NDSU is a football program everyone knows about, the bottom line is both NDSU and UND are FCS schools. Most DI athletes don't dream about going to either NDSU or UND, so when FBS offers don't work out, they then fall back to the realization they have to go FCS and often times UND and NDSU fall on the same level to them. It's then about the recruiting relationships they make. Of course, for NDSU they can offer recent success and national exposure, but it's still only relative because NDSU has no exposure compared to Big Ten and Big 12 FBS schools. UND can now counter will academics, playing time, and facilities in the indoor practice facility. What I'm saying is that delusional fans like you don't truly understand the gap between the programs; it isn't as big as you think. With competent coaching and recruiting, which UND now has, UND football will be back to a winning level very soon. As for Faison's commitment to football, that still needs work. NDSU's athletic department deserves as much credit as anything for their recent success; they have bought in and influenced generous support from alumni and fans.

UND men's bball is really bad this season. That makes NDSU just bad, maybe average.

Yeah, well if Bubba pulls off a Sam Houston State and UND makes it to the FCS semi-finals in his second season with all those transfers, you won't hear many complaints.

Win at Marquette? Oh goodness....

Textbook bandwagon fans. A couple years of NDSU losing and the FargoDome will have half as many people attending games.

At this point, I would say Illinois State is the best looking team thus far. NDSU slipped by Coastal at home whereas Illinois State went on the road and beat EWU. I'd take ISU over NDSU in Frisco, but I reserve the right to change my opinion after viewing the semi-final games. And, of course, Frisco is basically a home game for NDSU so there's always that too...

Would be tremendous to have Baker play for UND, but it doesn't look like there's much of a chance.... http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/12/long_list_of_suitors_after_uab.html

Get these two on board

Because of that, UND will be winning that conference within a few years. I see UND having a winning conference record as soon as next year. IMO, given the resources and facilities, the only schools UND should have to really compete with in the BSC are the Montana's and EWU.

I'm glad you were able to successfully police me. Good work.

This winter, heck with Arizona or Florida; I'm going to stay down in Fargo and watch NDSU basketball, because the climate is so much better than Grand Forks and so is the basketball recruiting. I mean, at least according to your insane self it is. Bottom line, NDSU/Fargo gets pretty cold too.

You do realize that many of NDSU's donors do not live in Fargo, right? It's all about reaching out and having a plan, which is something UND's athletic department is lacking in comparison to NDSU.

First off, Coach K doesn't lose every road OOC game. If he did, he would be canned. Secondly, everyone is saying that there needs to be more of an investment in basketball, thus greater coaching salary and improvements to the BESC. Faison and the athletic department are an issue because there certainly are alumni for both football and basketball out there that could contribute big time, but the AD is too busy focusing on hockey to consider such a venture. New leadership and new direction is needed for UND at the top.

You want to stop acting stupid and actually have an intelligent conversation regarding this? NDSU has done far better than UND in men's basketball despite dealing with similar assets. The key issue is the lack of commitment by the athletic department: Jones is only paid 100K for a reason. UND needs higher demand coaches (increase salary) and more up-to-date improvements (video boards, higher bleachers) to the BESC. Simply stating that this team lost a bunch of contributors is a moot point used to fool the casual fans. Anyone with awareness of collegiate basketball in the Dakotas knows UND basketball has very little support compared to NDSU, SDSU, and USD. Also, the on the court record has been poor the past few seasons under Jones when you look at OOC games, particularly on the road.

Football is on the rise, but as you stated, that's because Faison open up the pocket book and paid more for Bubba and his assistants (not entirely the AD, also alumni). UND football now certainly has a DI coaching staff capable of making the post season with better talent. Playoffs for UND football will be a reality in a year or two. As for basketball, the increase in investment needs to happen. UND and Faison NEED to part ways with Jones and pay more for a better coach AND assistants. Also, facility improvements - namely a video board - need to occur. The athletic department is so incompetent at UND right now it's not even funny; NDSU blows UND out of the water when it comes to influencing alumni into financial support.

If he'd actually acknowledge what some posters say perhaps positive things would happen for the basketball team. Trust me, I'm not saying most things on this board are logical and/or rational, but some posters bring innovational ideas to the table that SHOULD be thought up in the AD office daily. UND deserves to have a winning football and basketball program - if that does not happen with the current leadership, new leadership should be found; that simple. I will say nothing will happen until after next season in terms of Jones, and rightfully so. If this season and next season are losing ones, Faison better make the move.

Perhaps referencing the High Performance Center (indoor practice facility) that is definitely taking shape and will be ready for the 2015 season!

Within a year or two, a change will be made and Jones will be gone. Unfortunately, due to the "knucklehead" mindset of Faison and other apologists such as those on this board, UND will likely go through a couple disaster, program set-back type seasons first.

UND's not in a position to recruit highly touted players. Every year hundreds of players slip through recruiting cracks in DI football. Bubba's focus is on development right now. With wins, UND will start to battle for highly touted recruits more often. Bubba has more committed recruits now (17) than Mussman ever had at this point in the year.

Perhaps the recruits should know the truth; in fact, maybe Faison and the "true" UND supporters should acknowledge the truth every once and awhile. Trying the same thing over and over again and expecting difficult results is insanity, right Mr. Einstein?

Absolutely 100% correct. Ignoring what NDSU athletics has accomplished as a whole is downright foolish and ignorant. NDSU works with the same fundamental assets as UND (climate, location, budget, etc.) and yet they have a much higher standard than UND athletics. This is entirely attributable to the athletic department and leadership at UND. It's a shame to admit but Gene Taylor did a much better job at creating competitive clubs at NDSU than Brian Faison has ever even hinted at. Its all about influencing contributable donations from well-to-do alumni and than using that to create DI tier programs in both facilities and staff. Right now, Faison is not getting the job done. NDSU has gained so much financial support in the last 10 years it's not even funny. Football coach with over 200K salary and a basketball coach with a 150K salary; now compare that to UND and it's a joke.

Will be interesting to see how UND bounces back from the NDSU game. Obviously playing Dickinson State SHOULD allow UND to get right back in the win column.

Anyone who doesn't realize there are some experienced DII coaches who are far better coaches than Jones are fooling themselves; those are targets for UND. If UND would like to raise their HC salary to 150K to mirror NDSU and the Mussman to Bubba change, then some DI assistants could go on the radar. UND needs to consider this direction along with facility improvements, both of which fall on the AD.

Phillips/NDSU had already beat some major DI teams (Wisconsin & NCAA tourney appearance) on the road; Jones has yet to even keep UND close in such a game.