UND-FB-FAN

I'm hoping, as I'm sure the coaching staff is, that with a balanced running game, the QB's responsibilities will be less difficult in 2014. Can't beat having a solid running game and solid play-action passing game if you're a quarterback.

Although the new locker rooms, coaches offices, and meeting rooms will be huge (take a look at NDSU's meeting and coaching facilities), having the indoor practice field will be equally as huge for next winter and spring. I'm looking forward to the phase I completion this summer/fall.

I like to see athletic LBs and WRs are being looked at. Nebraska is a good Midwest state to get involved with in terms of recruiting. Also, it sure appears Rudolph favors dual-threat quarterbacks in his offense. I would expect plenty of QB runs to complement the primary ground game in 2014. Mollberg?

No use living in the past, but it sure would've been nice to have Jackson and Golladay on this year's team. Nevertheless, they weren't team players and team chemistry is the main point Bubba is trying to get across during spring ball. Also, with the running game emphasis, the WR position isn't going to be as utilized. Of course, we need some WRs to step up in order to block and make clutch receptions when needed. Personally, I think Casey Young, RJ McGill, Tyrhe Ivery, and Aeron Carr can all gel together and produce a productive group for 2014.

The flaw with this statement is that the last two seasons, with experienced teams, Jones has failed to produce better than .500 seasons. That is attributable to the inability of his teams to win out-of-conference road games. That is similar in environment to winning a Big Sky championship tournament game - something I don't ever see Jones accomplishing. Therefore, I'd rather see a new coach, who is capable of taking UND to an NCAA tournament game, hired sooner rather than later. With lesser experience this upcoming season, the maximum output this team could have would be another 0.500 season with a loss in the Big Sky tournament. I'm not satisfied with that ceiling. And, of course, the possible low-end of this upcoming season could be very bad. I hate hoping for loses, because, well, I support UND athletics. But, I'm just not convinced Jones has what it takes.

Keeping Jones around only further digs UND's basketball program into the ground. Assistants are not only leaving for money - they see the writing on the wall. Jones is a wounded duck. After a poor season or two, he'll likely be gone. That is unless Faison is content with being #2 or #3 in the conference. I can see next year's team finishing third, maybe even second, but they won't win the tournament. In order for that to happen, we need better coaching and players. It all starts with coaching, though. Just get us a new coach. I personally would like to see an NCAA tournament appearance someday.

Incorrect. UNDsports.com has covered each practice quite extensively. Last year's disappointing season (thanks Mussman) has killed the media interest, not Bubba. When people see the results over the next few seasons, everything will change.

Mikey Daniel would be a star FCS running back. Hope we get him. Have a feeling he'll either go FBS or NDSU, though.

The traditional response doesn't work. Schools that strive for greatness in a particular sport don't tolerate .500 records. Eventually, they cut ties and hire someone who is capable of taking the particular athletic team at hand to the next level. Jones doesn't deserve a raise, I am not making that point. The point I am making, however, is that UND deserves a men's basketball coach that is on the same level, both coaching- and salary-wise, as NDSU, USD, and SDSU. Nothing more, nothing less. Although Jones has twice finished in the top three of the Big Sky, he has yet to considerably exceed a 0.500 season record and win a post-season tournament game. Not to mention his out-of-conference record is atrocious. All the last couple years have demonstrated to me is that the Big Sky Conference is a weak basketball conference, with the top of the conference (Weber State and Montana) being the exception. Lastly, the fans should support 0.500 basketball? That tells me the expectations of the university and/or supporters for men's basketball are below where I want them to be. A 0.500 basketball team will always have difficulty making the NCAA tournament. We can maybe finish in the top 3 in the Big Sky Conference, but trying to win the conference tournament will always be a different story. I also would like to put on record as to saying, as history showed last December when Faison hired Bubba, that I believe Faison would increase the salary if Jones is fired and a new coach is hired. I just hope the hire is comparable to the coaches of NDSU, SDSU, and USD. 100K is not comparable to 200K...c'mon man!

Of course, the traditional "D2 - he hasn't earned it yet" response. There's no reason we should have to go through a couple losing seasons before we actually get on par with NDSU, USD, and SDSU coach-wise. Currently, our head basketball coach makes less than half of what the other regional coaches make. That isn't an issue?

Recently reported that Dave Richman, the newly named men's basketball head coach at NDSU, will make 190k per year at NDSU. USD's recent hire will get 185k and SDSU's Nagy makes 200k. Brian Jones is making well below 100k a year. This is concerning to me because it demonstrates our lack of commitment to basketball. We did what we needed to in football, by raising the salary a bit and making a quality hire. Now, we need to make a hire for men's basketball that is also worth an $150,000 deal or so. It's only a matter of time before a new hire is made - I'd give Jones a year or two at the most. Of course, when Faison decides to hire someone new, it depends not only on the performance of Jones, but also the athletic department's available funds for making a new hire. If we're gonna be dually a top football/basketball school in the Big Sky Conference, we need to show it financially.

Definitely a 3. Has too much shoot or drive in him to be a 4. He's 6'5" so be best fits the SG or SF spot

If anything, I think the general change in philosophy will be the one thing that allows UND football to be successful again. Having a Wisconsin alum coach up the O-line and an offensive coordinator who wants to run the football and use play-action off of that is key. It will both help our defense with improved time of possession and keep our turnovers down. Not to mention it will best utilize our recruiting pipelines and allow us to "out-physical" the more finesse teams of the Big Sky. Add in the desire to pressure and "get after it" on defense, and the defense should hopefully improve and get more takeaways. All in all, the philosophy that Bubba Schweigert is implementing will lead UND to more success. Why Mussman ever thought a pass-happy offense and conservative 3-4 defense would be successful, I'll never know.

Early candidate for B.S. statement of the year right here. Bubba has the potential to a better head coach then Klieman. He's already made a splash in recruiting so I don't know what you're talking about. Good luck handling the loses this season.

Really? That surprises me. So everytime NDSU hires a coach, the coach will be a future FBS or major program head coach? You're really giving Gene Taylor a lot of credit I guess. This "ignoring NDSU" thing is a joke. If you're a UND supporter and/or North Dakota resident, it's nearly impossible to just "not care" what NDSU does.

They are multiple - under center, shotgun, and pistol. The pistol can be very effective if run correctly. We'll see a lot more runs and PA out of it this year and it should work nicely.

All I've got to say is Saul Phillips is a heckuva better coach than Brian Jones. And I like seeing NDSU have to hire a new guy - hopefully it hurts their program. Losing both Bohl and Phillips can only hurt Ag school athletics, which makes me happy.

Both starting OLBs from last season (Bennett and Finley) are gone. Butler at OLB will likely give him that playing time he deserves, perhaps even a starting spot. Safety spots will likely go to Carr and Reyes, or possibly JUCO signee Chris Hannible. I think Butler is the kind of player that needs to be on the field a lot for the defense to be successful. He has the frame and athleticism to make a very good OLB.

Although I would love to see Wade attend and play for UND, I really doubt he'll take UND over Southern Mississippi. One is FBS and the other is FCS, plus the weather is a bit nicer down south.

National Letters of Intent essentially commit you to a specific program. If no NLI is sent, then there is no legitimate commitment to a school. That is the case for Dashon Wade.

S Dashon Wade never submitted his NLI. He is not committed to the University of North Dakota. On the other hand, CB Dominique Blackmon did submit his NLI and he will be here next fall.

Absolutely. The secondary will have an opportunity to be effective next season.

CB Dominique Blackmon highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1602435/dominique-blackmon S Wade and CB Blackmon are huge additions. Add in CB Carter of the incoming freshmen class and next seasons secondary may have a fighting chance.

Appears we've signed two JUCOs; one from Indiana and another from New Jersey. @kevphx83: Green & White sighting in East Orange, NJ. Welcome to the family. @kevphx83: Green & White sighting in Indianapolis, Indiana. Welcome to the family. Edit: Player from New Jersey is S Dashon Wade, per SiouxFBInsider http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1803047/dashon-wade

I agree. Need a tall WR to compliment our smaller guys in McGill and Carr. Also, Mayo is a promising looking prospect. NEED cornerbacks! Let's get both of them aboard! Go Sioux!