UND-FB-FAN

It will help, but ultimately athletics will get better with better athletes, and athletes I’m afraid don’t only care about academics. You can argue until you’re blue in the face how that makes you upset and it’s not the way it’s supposed to be, but the fact of the matter is the transfer portal and NIL minimizes academic’s role within division 1 athletics. UND needs better coaches and higher expectations with the appropriated funds; that’s what will build athletics. When it’s 4th and goal on the road in the Fargodome, or in Youngstown, Ohio, do you think the shiny quality of the new buildings will make a difference? A few better players with the new facilities,sure, maybe, but they really will come to UND for NIL/$ and a winning culture. Coaches set that standard with not only recruiting but development, motivation and in-game strategy. It is wishful thinking (or perhaps delusional thinking) to think the buildings will solve this on their own.

Why was there an extension issued to a coach who has won only 1 playoff game in 10 seasons? That is the issue with the buyout cost and “money talks” argument - the situation was intentionally put into place so there would be this current excuse of ongoing mediocrity and inaction. It’s not fooling anyone, but I appreciate you being a spokesperson for the lack of accountability, but it’s not fooling many. Borderline corruption (if not overt) within the athletic department…

I do value your opinions and posts because they routinely provide excellent insight into why UND athletics is mediocre and being overshadowed by NDSU and SDSU. You represent the portion of the alumni base that will support UND even when the appointed leaders of UND fail to demonstrate accountability with funds and consistently undermine alumni who want more. It certainly is difficult to change the status quo anywhere, but that is especially true here at UND. You certainly do differ from many of the diehards on this site, but to imply that high expectations only means individuals’ lives are being affected by the teams’ success or failures is a straw man argument and fails to address the underlying problems. The decision makers may listen to you but they also are gaslighting others at the same time; they make you feel good while manipulating you, and then fail to spend your money and others accordingly. Such a lack of accountability is why the football program also currently lacks accountability with Bubba Schweigert at the helm. This failure culture has permeated itself throughout much of the athletic department. It’s a major problem. As for expectations, UND is no where near a conference title right now. The conference title in 2020 (spring 2021 season) occurred during a pandemic-shortened schedule and otherwise the program has been regressing. 2021 was a losing season. 2022 - 2024 reminded us of road failures and inability to compete with NDSU and SDSU and other top conference competition. Playoff appearances mean nothing when every single appearance leads to a loss. This is once again a culture issue, and the lack of accountability can be seen in several areas, including unwarranted extensions to an incapable head football coach. But hey, don’t worry, he’s nice and can fundraise, so let’s continue the status quo, right? Because it would cost a lot of money to change, right? Even though the decisions that have created these financial barriers are inexcusable in their own right.

Exactly. Chaves and the department completely dropped the ball on this fiscal situation. There’s no reason the buyout should be 750k considering how awful Schweigert has been relative to what UND is capable of given the facilities and watered down nature of the FCS field. Sure, donors/boosters should step up, but not to completely cover the buy out. The athletic department needs to be held responsible for a signifiant portion of the buyout, considering how irresponsible the extension was and still is.

I disagree; it’s the only option when discussion and communication is blatantly ignored time and time again. The expectations just aren’t there for UND football apparently. I do agree folks should focus on “raising their family or helping their kids in college etc.” but concurrently they probably should not be attending/donating to UND athletics if the University leaders are only going to gaslight them and spend their donated dollars irresponsibly and without merit.

Yes, it will cost additional dollars to buy out the contract, but we need to take a step back and focus on the rationale behind the extension itself. What in the world were the decision-makers thinking? Why are these extensions occurring? It was communicated numerous times that new coaching should be considered last year before the extension, but instead an extension is issued, and the program has regressed since. The University should be held responsible to budget funds for a buyout equally as much as boosters should be held responsible to contribute. It’s unacceptable that athletic leadership feels that extensions should be warranted when there’s been one playoff victory over the course of 11 seasons. It’s clear expectations aren’t where they should be; or the lack of collegiate football understanding is blatant. The new facilities aren’t going to do anything if the coaching isn’t in place to recruit, develop, and ultimately motivate the student-athletes towards championships. Bubba Schweigert cannot compete with North Dakota State, South Dakota State and now apparently South Dakota. Period. Bubba Schweigert is a friendly fundraiser and cheerleader but he is not a championship caliber division I head football coach. It is what it is, and something needs to be done about it. The dollars are an investment towards improvement. Enough of this excessive fiscal conservatism towards coaches and football. Budget accordingly and buy out this inexcusable lame duck extension contract.

Also could state they’ve made the playoffs 2 of the last 4 seasons (including this season) and have won zero playoff games in that time … it can be spun anyway just to fit the narrative. Meanwhile, regional rivals have been winning national championships …

And this is where apathy sets in and strong consideration towards separating one’s self away from this mess … UND leadership needs to prevent this and pay accordingly. With that said, donors (including myself) are willing to contribute in order for the right thing to happen.

2017 and 2021 were both horrific road blocks to success and yet the constant in all of that (the head coach) is still here holding UND football back from competing with the top MVFC schools …

And the second post (in that thread from Sept. 2013) was again @jdub27 protecting Mussman and trying to deflect away from conversation about meaningful change … WOW! unreal … you can’t make this stuff up. UND’s athletics culture as a DI program is so mediocre and broken … and apparently has been for a while. Do we want championships or participation awards? I think we may need to consider renaming the champions club to the participation club if we keep Bubba any longer …

Fall ‘21 was a disaster. Should’ve been changes at that time, but really, large-scale changes after ‘17 and ‘18 would’ve been ideal, but instead fired Rudolph and hired Freund, and well, the defense remained mediocre to below average and the rest is history.

The diehards on this site care more and know more about UND football than the actual “leaders” within their paid official positions …

The contract extension was put into place despite communication, from boosters and alumni, of dissatisfaction at the time prior to extension, and this should mean the university bears the responsibility of the buyout costs and/or the transition to a different position. This is a necessary investment to ensure that UND can hire a new coaching staff capable of bringing the program the success and championships it rightfully deserves. Our University community deserves a leader who can maximize the potential of this program and deliver the winning tradition our stakeholders expect and deserve. The time for action is now.

The vitriol that this program has brought onto itself by propagating mediocrity and being resistant to meaningful change is and will be damning and conflicting for some time.

Sure, win, win, win, but realistically we all know Bubba is not capable of winning, so I suspect they will lose at least 1 of the next 2 if not both. It’s laughable that we speak as if the extension was put into place with even the remote concept it was a good idea at the time… because it wasn’t.

It’s complete blasphemy and apathy at this point… but I (always) hope UND wins. The extension to Bubba occurred despite at least a year plus of banter that no more extensions should be given, and yet it happened, and coaches left to lateral positions at conference rivals (NDSU, SDSU). This whole thing has been a disaster in the making for months to years. Very hard to support the current direction, and yes, it comes down to everyone; Bubba, Chaves, and even Armacost.

Even with the nice facilities, the top recruits will choose NDSU, SDSU and perhaps now even USD before UND. Why, because results still matter more than facilities. The intangibles of coaching are not allowing UND to get the most out of their current student-athletes; hence, no playoff wins, minimal road wins, and a complete inability to consistently compete with NDSU and SDSU. With all that said, what you’ve identified is correct. Administration is beyond content with the building progress and fundraising efforts of Bubba Schweigert, the academic success of the football student-athletes, and the local angle. There is absolutely no desire by UND to be the best, and in my opinion, given football is ultimately a results-driven team game of competition, this is a crucial mistake and error.

I’m afraid going to need much more than Prep H … much much more

Well, if the preparation isn’t the right preparation … So many ways to dissect this, but ultimately the results are what they are and they are completely unacceptable.

Who would have thought that football staff management, and, overall, the football program, would be in a similar position (if not actually worse) now compared to 2013? Unbelievable, to a certain degree. No freedom to improve staffing is a horrible position to be in. Worst part was this staff was identified years ago as being incapable, my many, and there was communication to AD prior to extension(s), but yet, here we are. Complete ignorance.

Will two home back-to-back blowout losses to conference rivals South Dakota State and South Dakota in 2024 have the same effect that two home back-to-back blowout losses to conference rivals Montana and Montana State had in 2013??

This is what happens when you unjustifiably extend an incapable coach.

Not a bad concept at all, especially now in the era of NIL and transfer portal. Ultimately, a coach that can install a winning, disciplined culture will be the most successful, as the transfers and younger players still have to fight for what’s best for the team, and strive for championship excellence. In other words, the coach needs to be able to move the players away from individualism. As of now, I have a bad feeling about this situation. I think Chaves sits on this thing (again) and UND continues to be far behind the other Dakota MVFC schools. Hopefully the next couple weeks changes that… I strongly advocate that everyone who is willing to post on this board also sends a respectful message to University of North Dakota leadership (athletic director, president).

750k is nothing if we’re serious about our division 1 football program, and the new facilities would *suggest* we are.

Dosch is a Lennon/Bubba disciple. This defense is what it is with this group; no outside influence and broken. The entire defensive staff needs to be replaced, which technically includes the head coach since it’s his defense. Bottom line is we are at the end of a 25-year run of the Lennon/Bubba 3-4 defense. There were some highlights during the era, especially the early 2000s, but the last several seasons have been rough. All good things eventually must come to an end. Change is inevitable. I’m all for an open search for someone with no ties - UND football is in need of it: change and outside influence, but most importantly a winning culture with accountability, discipline, and expectations of a high standard.