UND-FB-FAN

Jones will and probably should get another season. With that said, it looks like this season, which had such high expectations, is slipping away fast. I have a gut feeling that Jones isn't the guy. All of his teams have suffered countless bad losses and never seem to play the brand of team basketball that the good teams do. Also, his tirade over Ralston calling one of his games a choke job was an embarrassment in my opinion, because, well, that game last year vs. NAU was a choke job. One of many bad losses he's had - including getting blown out every time we play in Fargo. He has been able to recruit some darn good basketball players, I'll give him that. And the talent that next year's team will have is quite impressive, but I'm just not sure he'll be able to develop and coach them up to their full potential, and that's concerning.

Shanks will be a far more superior player than Wilmer.

Yep, and considering our returning starters and preseason expectations, it's infuriating. Not happy with this season because there's no excuse for it other than poor execution/poor coaching.

I do agree that this year's staff is far superior than last year's staff; at least on paper anyway. And of course it all starts at the top - I have been incredibly impressed with Coach Schweigert and how he's carried himself thus far. We're on the up swing.

Former Gopher and Mankato West quarterback Philip Nelson is leaving the Minnesota football program, according to Dan Barreiro. I'd imagine he goes to an FCS program. Would imagine NDSU is in play if they have any doubts on Wentz. Maybe even UND? @DanBarreiroKFAN: Gophers QB Philip Nelson tells us he is leaving Gophers program. Statement to follow on air.

I don't necessarily agree with that. I feel both the Schwenzfeier and Freund hirings are the most questionable of Bubba's staff. Nevertheless, I hope it works out.

Absolutely. If we can run the football and play the field position game, then our defense will be much better. It also doesn't hurt to have a new-found defensive emphasis with Bubba as the head coach.

If what you mean by conservative is we run more and use a play-action passing game rather than carelessly chucking the ball downfield out of the gun, then yes, we'll be more conservative. Did you see the style the teams played in the FCS National Championship? It certainly was no air raid offense, that's for sure. Did you see the improvement Montana made from 2012 to 2013? Well they also transitioned from the spread to a pro style. We will be much better off with the new offensive philosophy. We will emphasize the running game again finally. Also, we won't turn the ball over as much and our defense will be improved because of it.

I agree. I think it should be determined the speakers are actually the problem before there is a push to have them replaced.

I'd rather have one weak recruiting class than be stuck with leaderless Mussman for another season or two. Plus, this years recruiting will shape up nicely after the next couple recruiting weekends. Just wait and watch Bubba go to work. Oh, and the reason NDSU has a full class already is because of one little thing: they've won 3 national championships in a row! Of course they're going to be attractive to recruits. Shouldn't be that tough to figure out, unless you're an Ag school troll....

Similar to undrafted free agents - there's no signing bonus so they have to make the final roster or practice squad to get paid. That's what Dressler will have to do.

You can't have both a winning atmosphere and good speakers?

Still need a OL and WR coach. That would put us at 9 assistants, which is the number expected. Maurice is a former RB at the FBS level (UTEP) - he'll do nice things for us both in coaching the running backs and recruiting Big Ten territory.

Was Schmidt recently promoted? Anyways, we can all pencil in Kostich. That is a done deal - official announcement should be sometime this week. Same goes for Maurice at RB/recruiting coordinator. I'd imagine an outside coach will be hired for OL. WR coach could be Fruend or outside coach. I would think Rudolph coaches QBs and Schmidt takes the inside LBs. In looking at these hires as objectively as I can, this staff is far superior than last year's staff. Not gonna compare HCs because that's a no-brainer. OC - last year we had a first year OC with limited coaching experinece. This year we have a guy with many years of DII head coach and OC experience. I'll take the latter. Hard to know what to expect with Schmidt versus Kotelnicki, but I'd say that is a toss-up until I can see the defense practice and perform. If Rudolph coaches QBs, you'd have to think his experience would help out Mollberg/Bartels. Maurice is a clear upgrade over Schwenzfeier at the RB position. Gigili's experience in the Big Sky and Big Ten conference makes him look like a good candidate on paper. Schmidt and Schwenzfeier should boost the LBs, especially with the addition of Schmidt. Jury is still out on Marty Rodgers. Minnesota Gopher's staff has had nothing but good things to say about Kostich, so I'd like to think he'll be a good one at special teams. I guess we'll all have to wait and see, but so far so good in my opinion. Keep up the good work Bubba!

Great to hear. I've been on the Bubba bandwagon ever since his introductory press conference.

He's been on a Big 10 coaching staff for 5 seasons, so he should be ready. Plus he helps us in the recruiting area. Add in Maurice and we have a nice mix of experience from the Big 10.

Certainly appears that Kostich will be coming to UND as an assistant. He worked on both sides of the ball at Minnesota, most recently on defense. I can see him being an offensive position coach or special teams coordinator. I guess LB coach is possible too, but Eric Schmidt might coach that group along with his DC duties.

I agree

Five years for playoffs? Bubba's contract is only for four years. In college football, if the coach knows what he's doing and is given the appropriate resources, quick turnarounds are common. I don't expect playoffs next season, but no one should expect us to wait five years. Playoffs should happen within three years, most likely the third season One has to consider the expanded playoff format. No reason we can't be this year's Southern Utah within a few seasons. With a solid defense and physical/disciplined offense, and of course respectable leadership, UND should improve quite quickly under Bubba.

Relax. You're jumping the gun. The entire staff isn't together yet - that needs to happen before you can have a huge recruiting weekend. This year's recruiting class will not be anywhere near as disastrous as you claim it will be.

If that's his mindset, no wonder his football teams were no good.

NDSU will have a good team next year, buts it's very possible they will have 2 to 3 losses next season that will not give them the #1 seed. Having to go on the road in the playoffs will be what ultimately trips up their team next season, in my opinion. UND needs to improve a little each season, with possible unexpected jumps (like 5-7 or 6-6 next season) being very enjoyable.

And Fargo/NDSU has a better one? You're an absolute moron. UND starts construction on a new medical school this summer that will be completed in 2016. That school won't be a joke, and the school currently functioning not only trains North Dakota's physicians but also supports critical biomedical research; that doesn't sound like a joke to me. You really are mentally incompetent; then again, you attend NDSU and not UND. Next time you see a physician in North Dakota, you're probably dealing with a UNDSMHS graduate - why don't you ask them if that school is a joke? That's right, the school that ranks top 5 nationally in rural medicine and top 20 in medical school curriculum.

UND has a clear advantage for medical, law, and business degrees - don't fool yourself with such nonsense. NDSU is not on equal footing with UND in these areas because NDSU does not have a medical school, law school, or prestigious graduate program in business. You may not have attended a professional school or graduate program, but if you have, you know schools help out their own in terms of admission. UND has a legitimate shot to recruit any prospect interested in certain academic fields that NDSU does not offer or specialize in - that's just the way it is, whether you like it or not. Mussman was not a great ambassador of UND academics, and due to the shortcomings in recruiting as a result of this, it partly cost him his job. I've made the comparison before, and I'll do it again. NDSU is no different than Appalachian State. They both won 3 consecutive FCS titles, and then slowly declined (although ASU didn't have to deal with a coaching change). NDSU will decline buddy, whether you want to acknowledge it or not. That "quonset" you referenced will soon be housing a fine atmosphere that accompanies a winning football team. So enjoy your gloating right now, because you won't be able to forever. UND is a fine university with a proud athletics history. Not only academically, but through division I athletics in the Big Sky Conference and what's shaping up to be a good coaching staff, UND definitely can get kids over NDSU. It's happened before and it will happen again, especially with Bubba & company. Good luck having Klieman run your "MAC-quality" program. By the way, I think that MAC comment made you sound like the delusional one.

Definitely looks like Bubba & staff will be focusing on North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and even Michigan. What are everyone's thoughts on this? I for one believe this strategy, along with the new solid defense, physical ground game mindset that will be implemented, should take the program to new heights.