UND-FB-FAN

Absolutely. 2015 and 2017 open dates would allow for a nice FCS home and home if NDSU don't step up to the plate. Would be nice to schedule a home and home with MVFC team, like SDSU, UNI, or SIU.

Starters, including QB, will be named this week. Bubba wants depth chart at least a week before San Jose State game for game prep.

Football needs to start being played so some of these "interesting" discussions go to rest. Eastern Washington opens up both FCS and college football play in general in a week!

That's some real crazy talk regarding NDSU. No new stadium or FBS opportunities happening anytime soon. NDSU has maxed out; even Craig Bohl said that himself. They will only be going down compared to the last few years. UND on the other hand, will be improving. Question is, his long will it take them to reach a national level of play.

If what I predicted happens, then yes. That is, UND improves on it's 3 win 2013 season.

Let the outcome between the white lines decide the whole thing, but for right now, anything is possible so let the debate go on. And yes, NDSU will likely fall in-between last years dominant team and a losing team, meaning 9-3 or 8-4. As for UND, their ceiling is probably 6-6. Either way, both programs are trending in favorable directions for UND supporters. UND may get votes with early surprise wins, but it's doubtful they end the season with a winning record so they won't be ranked to end the season. I honestly think 5-7 or 6-6 is realistic, and that is d*mn good considering where this team was last year and the players lost. Bubba already deserves credit given his 2014 recruiting class and early success for his 2015 class. Recruiting may be the strength of Bubba; look what he arranged at Duluth.

Yes, that's why even Jenson took his lumps when he started playing for NDSU his redshirt freshman season. Those kind of issues could arise for Wentz and lead to some early season loses for NDSU.

Yeah, and NDSU has had unsuccessful coaches following successful coaches... It's just the way it goes. Klieman has a losing record as a head coach, and he will be coaching a different group of players than what was on the field last year. There are a lot of unknowns that can't be answered until games are actually being played.

What Wentz doesn't have is exactly what Jenson did have: experience. For the past few years, experience and the intangibles weren't an issues at the QB position for NDSU. This year, the QB position will not have experience going into the season. That could cost NDSU a game or two early in the season.

Just don't think he has the clutch factor. NDSU doesn't have their leader in Bohl NDSU doesn't have their offensive coordinator in Vigen Less supporting cast in no Turner, Smith, Ojuri, etc. Only way to know for sure is to see him in game action as a starter.

Perhaps he's more talented, but I doubt he wins games like Jenson did. Part of that is the team around Wentz won't be as good IMO, but I also don't think the clutch performances will be as impressive for Wentz. Like last years game when NDSU played K-State, I don't see Wentz able to do something like that.

So the defense will be better this year? And Wentz will be better than Jenson? You're delusional...

Don't wanna jump to any conclusions, but it appears to be quite evident that Bubba and staff are better recruiters, whether that be because of talent or effort, than Mussman's staff. Part of it, I think, is that they are staying in the region rather than going all over the place to recruits who don't know where or what UND is.

Between North Dakota, Minneapolis area, and Winnipeg area, I think the new staff is on to something as far as where the emphasis should be. Class is starting to shape up good!

Yeah, he's one heck of a player now for Wisconsin...if only things would've worked out for him to still be at UND...

The "Battle for North Dakota" should not take place outside of North Dakota....just my opinion.

Thanks for the information and very kind gestures! As for UND, most here don't know what to expect this season other than some form of improvement. We have a new coaching staff that most are high on, but it's unknown how long it will take them to changeover the roster. Our current staff, as well as our successful teams of the past, pride themselves on physical offense and aggressive defense. However, our roster has to adapt to this and no one knows how long it will take. I'm confident, though, that our team this season will be much more physical and disciplined than the 2013 - 2012 teams, as our previous head coach was inept. I'm certainly looking forward to the season opener down at San Jose State - should be a good game!

Nothing really. Some have stickers from year before whereas others are new and don't have the stickers on yet. No use to put stickers on til game 1, otherwise you could have to unnecessarily replace them during fall camp.

Nevertheless I would expect/hope that he "recommits" soon.

Great! That makes our 5th commitment to the 2015 recruiting class! All are from the area: North Dakota (2) Minnesota (1) and Manitoba (2).

Saban had more success in the SEC than the Big Ten, if that's worth anything regionally-speaking. I do agree that the best coaches can do wonders basically anywhere, but there are also countless examples of the exact opposite. For example, Bill Belichick (Browns than Patriots), Nick Saban (Dolphins than Alabama), Greg Robinson (Texas to Syracuse), Lane Kiffin, Pete Carroll (Patriots to USC) etc. I think Bubba/Lennon's style best fits UND and the Midwest region, that is compared to SIU. Follow the template of the 2000-2007 teams, and I think that's definitely was Bubba is doing.

Very true. If UND could put together the type of teams they did in 2006 and 2007, they certainly can do it again moving forward.They just need to get the scheme, philosophy, and recruiting strategy reinstalled that got them there in the first place.

Really, its just the UND and Dale Lennon formula from about 2000 to 2007 that Bubba is following. Most people forget that UND's best FCS win is not 2012 vs. Montana, or 2011 vs. SUU, or even 2009 vs. Cal Poly, but rather in 2006 vs. #3 Northern Iowa. In 2006, and the rest of Lennon's years, UND was a balanced physical offense (not a delicate air-it-all-over-the-place offense) with a physical pressure defense. Bottom line, they played smart, physical, balanced football with local area recruits. Why Mussman got away from that, I'll never know, because he witnessed all the successful Lennon teams in person. Nevertheless, Bubba knows how to make UND successful, because when UND was DII with Lennon, they were already a "top FCS-caliber" team. Bubba both coached for and against Dale Lennon's UND teams. Furthermore, Bubba was with Lennon for the past 6 years. Bottom line, Bubba knows what it takes to make UND successful. Maybe not SIU, but he knows the formula for UND. This thing is on the right track with Bubba.

Agreed. Basic principles here: 1) Agree to home and home with fellow FCS North Dakota State -or- 2) Agree to home and home with OTHER FCS football program Simple course of action in my opinion.