UND-FB-FAN

Not now SDSU 18 Mizzou 21 3rd qtr South Dakota State is playing real well... Edit: now 28 -18

Iowa State 14 NDSU 7 2nd qtr

I didn't think so. Technically our offensive line is bigger than San Jose State's offensive line.

Both sides of ball are important in terms of the lines. If Bubba can keep adding up quality offensive and defensive linemen, the team will improve year after year. Remember, Francis is a young offensive lineman in the program and we get another year with LG Brandon Anderson and RT Sean Meehan; they will improve over the course of the season with footwork and leverage. That will increase the physicality of the oline. Same goes for defensive line with young players like Dranka, Greeley, Harris Carrothers and Hinojosa. This team is young; slow but sure improvement will happen.

Although UND definitely was blown out, I like the way the team looked under Bubba in terms of the attitude and philosophy. I love the physical ground and pound approach on offense and the aggressive mindset on defense. By the end of the season, those "almost" interceptions and "almost" big runs will actually happen, and the team will be much improved … I hope.

Going 6-6 is still definitely a possibility, especially with so many young players that may improve exponentially after only a few games. With that said, going 3-9 or 4-8 is a real possibility too. Hopefully, like you mentioned, the team keeps improving, because the whole squad will basically be back in 2015.

After last night's game, I'm in no position to jump to any conclusions with this game, but I'd like to think this game is just what Bubba and crew need. After San Jose State ran UND down pretty good, its time to get back to "home sweet home" and have some success.

No, the offense looked great; exactly what it needs to be like. Yes, the production needs to be much better, but the type of offense is perfect. Ground and Pound with some play-action

Yeah, well, I was wrong. Nothing else to say about that. Guess my optimism/homerism overtook my ability to be realistic.

Thank you for the kind words. I wish you guys the best of luck moving forward. No one exactly knew the kind of squad UND would have, and well, this team is going to have to improve slowly but surely for a ways. Nevertheless, you guys have a chance to be good this year; good luck!

Can't bullsh*t out of this one; the game hasn't been good. Gonna be a rough year I think and Bubba has work to do...

Well, here's to a SLOW but sure progression to the top. This game is worse than I expected, I admit. May be a bad year this year. At least 2015 will be better, for sure.

Utah 21 Idaho State 7 2nd qtr

In 2011, after losing to Idaho 44-14, no one gave UND a chance against Fresno State. In 2012, not many had UND playing San Diego State close. Point is, UND can play with Mountain West teams. Tonight's game will be close.

Idaho State tied with Utah in the 1st, 7-7

Nice! Go Sioux!

I don't agree that this year is lost, though. Yes, UND will improve from 2014 to 2015, but what's the starting point going to actually be here in 2014? Some college football programs are unable to change "overnight"; that is, it takes a few years to acquire the necessary talent to change the program around in terms of success. However, there are many coaches across the country that can immediately change a team's outlook by changing both discipline and philosophy in the short-term. Last season, in the FBS, the most specific example that comes to mind is Auburn. In 2011, Eastern Illinois (FCS - Ohio Valley Conference) went 2-9; in 2012, after hiring Dino Barbers, Eastern Illinois went 7-5. The point is, substantial turnarounds can occur via coaching changes due to a change in philosophy and discipline. How do you know it will take more than an attitude change to change this team? UND has talent, whether you want to believe it or not. QB Joe Mollberg, RB Cedric Simmons, WR RJ McGill, TE Zach Adler, LG Brandon Anderson, NG Jordan Hinojosa, LB Will Ratelle, LB Marcus Jenkins-Moore, CB Alex Tillman, S Cole Reyes, etc. etc. etc. The only question mark is whether or not the youth can play big time football right away or not. Also, the degree of discipline that Bubba has tried to instill. If UND commits less turnovers and penalties than they did last year, they will instantly be a better team - that is the kind of thing that Bubba and his staff can do to make an immediate impact. It's not like UND was playing perfect football (no turnovers, no penalties) last season and still got blown out; in actuality, UND was shooting themselves in the foot in 2013.

Check with some sports bars; if the bar is willing, they can stream the game from a computer onto TVs. I'm sure at least one bar in GF will be doing this....

No question NDSU has a long history of success in terms of their football program. All in all, I think the success of a season rides on national championships and conference championships. I think NDSU will go 9-3 this season, and with that record, not only will they likely lose a playoff game, but also they might not win the MVFC - that would be a legitimate drop-off for a team looking for its 25th consecutive victory come Saturday and coming off 3 consecutive NCs. Will be interesting to see how NDSU responds to a new HC and new QB in 2014.

The man straight up failed. In my opinion, he should have been canned after either the 2009 (Sioux Falls) or 2012 (Northern Colorado) seasons. After 2013, it had been too long.

Should be an interesting game! I look forward to checking out both teams, being its the first game for both!

C'mon man! you cant be serious... Last year when UND played Sacramento State, UND was demoralized and playing sloppy. They had just been pounded by Montana and Montana State at home, and lost another close game to Eastern Washington. They had very little drive to excel. On top of that, the team couldn't run the ball (both physically and mentally), and the defense was playing horrid due to various factors, including the offense's lack of TOP. UND lost to South Dakota State by 1 touchdown early in the season, yet lost to Sacramento State by 24. So does that make Sacramento State better than South Dakota State? Comparing scores is elementary and inaccurate, you should know that....

I expect from this year and on, that UND's strength will be its defense. Even after last year's horrible defense, the new staff has put into place new players and a new system that has the team looking more and more like a stout defensive/TOP team. I think the defense will surprise some people and play well. From a Dline standpoint, this team should be only better. Another season for Spencer Cummings; Jordan Hinojosa is a talent and workhorse at the NG, and Alec Carrothers is gonna be a good one. At the LB spot, we will be better. Dayo Idowu comes back; Ben Peters - starter from last year - is straight up replaced by the more talented Taj Rich; young and hungry Brian Labat takes over other OLB spot; and MLB Will Ratelle is geared up to be a star the next two seasons. In secondary, CB Alex TIllman is the best CB that UND has had for a while (he will replace Daryl Brown nicely), Chris Brown and Fr Chris Carter will hold down other spot, and Cole Reyes at the safety spot can hit like a brick sh*thouse! The defense may be shaky game 1, but as the season progresses, I see this as the strength of the team. Now, the offense needs to play the TOP game, run the ball, and limit mistakes (turnovers/penalties). Go UND!!

Has a chance....UND can compete with SJSU, no problem. The 2014 San Jose State football team isn't doing anything special this season. They had an explosive offense last year with a very bad defense and yet went only 6-6. They managed to beat Sacramento State at home by a score of 24-0; only a three possession game. This season, San Jose State comes off a 6-6 season without their all-star quarterback, three new inexperienced starters on the offensive line, and for this game vs. UND, they don't have their starting RB. UND has a real good shot, because this year's San Jose State team is worse than the team that only beat last year's Sacramento State 24-0.

Game Day! Go UND!