UND-FB-FAN

Missed the point, but I understand where you’re coming from with your facetious response. Getting blown out by NDSU time and time again, and consistently losing road games, and having zero playoff success, does all come down to the players and coaches, but the processes in place to select, employ, and terminate coaches, and also select/recruit the student-athletes, are all reasonable discussion points in due time. As for timing, it is not appropriate at this juncture, but certainly will be (again) in December/January. They were brought up last December/January, and again are being brought up now. I do appreciate @iramurphy perspective and opinions, truthfully, because it provides great insight into the faction that supports Bubba’s tenure, albeit justifiably overstayed. I’ll defer further comment on coach employment until this December/January, when the timing is again appropriate.

Sure, all 3 phases; not good at all. Comes down to overall leadership of the team… which falls on whose shoulders again?

You’re absolutely correct. As much criticism as our passing game currently gets, anyone who knows football clearly can see that the major issue at this point is the defense. With the NDSU game, after the first three possessions (1 for UND, 2 for NDSU), it was already 14-0. How is that on the offense? It’s not. I completely agree that the defensive scheme is an issue, but it goes beyond that. The only defense that Bubba and his relatively inexperienced (and inbred) defensive staff know is what they’re running. As I said in a different post, if you want UND to change defensively, you need a coaching change with the new philosophy that comes with it. Speaking to other staffs, you’ll hear the on-the-field opinion quite quickly on UND defensively, and it’s not necessarily positive. I don’t expect anyone to take my word for it, but let the career moves of Jake Landry and Danny Freund do the talking then.

Reality has struck again. …Bubba ball UNI is at home. USD and SDSU are at home. Road games on the schedule are against lower tier conference programs. There's still a chance for a playoff run this year. On to UNI.

Nice guy, but you know what they say about nice guys (hint: they don’t finish first). And about there not being a mental hurdle in Fargodome (his response to Tom Miller’s question), well, the response tells me all I need to know. It’s clearly there, and at this point it’s just being deflected. Mediocre expectations equal mediocre results. Players and coaches need to have their jobs on the line, but that is not the case due to an abundance of contentment here at UND with football. On to UNI.

More road games upcoming … so we will see. UNI after NDSU didn’t go well in 2023 … hopefully 2024 is different.

What does their play on the road suggest? Point could be made that team is only motivated at home cause the home crowd does Bubba’s job for him …

As for expectations, UND can’t even perennially win a game or two in the watered-down FCS playoffs, so you tell me where expectations are with this program … coming from the actual “leaders” in the athletic department.

Would’ve been nice to have not been down 14-0, but, well, that didn’t happen …

There’s much more than just the current scheme that needs to go … and it has to do with contracts. New scheme = new you know what

Highest expectations would actually be doing what NDSU has done, winning 9 of the previous 13 national championships. High expectations would be competing within your own conference for championships. Mediocre is not expecting to top your conference, but just get by. That’s where it appears UND has been and is at with expectations. When you lose most road games and then bring that crappy mental approach on the road to NDSU and SDSU, along with FBS games, then yes, you will get your ass kicked. The big picture issue is expectations, though, because the staff needs to be held to an appropriate standard if ongoing improvement isn’t occurring. But right now, winning only 1 or 2 road games per year is apparently considered good enough, which would be “mediocre” expectations.

Agreed. Was personally told the team would play hard vs NDSU but sure looks like words are hollow right now with the UND fb program.

QB play / passing game is obvious criticism, but the UND defense is atrocious. Coming from the Bubba lineage, this is an ongoing concern. Fruechte brings in new ideas and hopefully will correct things (although today was rough), but the defense is the same ol’ recycled garbage in terms of scheme, play-calling, and adjustments. An inbred defensive coaching staff will do that, though …

That’s not a good thing … as for the solution, there’s one common denominator I’m not too fond of …

Same day, different sh*t. Program needed to earn it and change the narrative, but once again looked out of place and weak. Sure, it’s NDSU, but this is the standard/barometer, and UND and the leadership need to rise to it. Right now it is unacceptable. Work to do. Need to bounce back huge against UNI, but the big picture is, well, TBD

Mediocre expectations suck, though; hopefully UND leadership eventually changes philosophy. Need to rise up to the challenge… and that requires some consistent productive change.

It’s improved, no question. There’s different staff and a better emphasis on it this year … for the better.

Horns down FTB LGH Own the farm. Let’s do this. All about actions speak louder than words now. Earn the respect.

Respect is earned. Talk is cheap at this point. Bubba and the boys need to earn it, and I’ll be there to witness it in the event they earn it.

Spotlight is on the UND defense and Bubba ball (or maybe now Schwenzfeier ball?). I worry NDSU and Miller will score at will, and despite how good Fruechte’s offense has been the past month, UND can’t keep up with open floodgates in the Fargodome.

I’ll raise my hand. I was concerned, and I think justifiably so given the unknown replacements, but so far Fruechte and Olson have far exceeded expectations. With all that said, the schedule finally gets tougher now. Road games and top dogs in the conference are up ahead … UND needs to show they’ve found solutions for their road woes or else it’ll be same ol’ same ol’ 7-5 ball club.

That narrative has changed my man. Fruechte could be a better head coach at this point. Freund left for a conference rival and took players with him; hate to say it, but he’s not next in line anymore and that’s a good thing.

Status quo. At some point, have to rise above the expectation and create a new standard. I’m hopeful Coach Fruechte can get us there this year or next.

No moral victories. If you ain’t first, you’re last! Gonna be tough to win in Fargo, but this is why you lift all them weights (paging new S&C coach) … big game, tough game, huge opportunity. All you can ask for.

Sure, don’t start slow, but HAVE TO finish strong. Not easy but doable.