UND-FB-FAN

That's nonsense. Auburn runs something similar and look where there at. National Championship in 2010 and playing for another in January. Sam Houston State runs something similar, also, and they have been in the past two FCS national championships. Only apart of the equation is the scheme you run; most of it is the talent of the players and execution/discipline. In case people haven't been to a game in over a decade, we now play in the climate-controlled Alerus Center...not in Memorial anymore people.

How many of the applicants have been a head coach and won their conference (not to mention the same conference we're in), plus have FBS recruiting coordinator experience? That narrows it down real quick. Pflugrad is the best applicant. Pflugrad doesn't have baggage. He will not be a distraction and he is not likely to cause problems in the future. Therefore, he has no baggage. Just because he was sanctioned by the NCAA and scapegoated doesn't mean he has baggage.

http://www.cornnation.com/2013/1/10/3861426/husker-assistant-football-coaches-get-raises-becks-pay-doubles Looks like Barney Cotton makes $255,000 a year and Ross Els makes $230,000 a year, so these two are very unlikely. I expect the base salary for the next coach to be somewhere around $180,000, depending on experience.

There certainly are a lot of local connections along with Faison knowing him from his NMSU days. He deserves a look. Obviously he didn't apply but Faison is reaching out to people so perhaps he will give Els a call. Plus he has a 32-9 record as a head coach (Hastings College)

Any of the initially mentioned candidates that haven't applied or someone in Faison's vast network.

As a coach and recruiter, I absolutely love Pflugrad. He needs to get the job. His FBS and Big Sky experience are critical. I don't agree with people saying he brings along baggage. Baggage is something that someone brings in as a distraction, or they possess something that could get them in trouble again. Pflugrad was wrongfully sanctioned by the NCAA, but he doesn't have baggage. That is nonsense. I can see him not getting hired because he was associated with his previous AD losing his job (which is Faison's position!), and there are rumors that the coach is not on the applicant list. From the list of applicants, though, Pflugrad needs to be the guy! He'll build our program into a competitive program and a top Big Sky program.

Mussman getting the axe?

After this whole McComas deal, UND football is gonna be better known nationally as the program some video game player applied to rather than a nationally competitive FCS program. I guess we've never been competitive in the FCS, so just as well be the butt of a big joke.

Well Cal Poly and Pacific certainly aren't any better than Notre Dame and look what they did to us…

The same NCAA that found the nickname Fighting Sioux to be hostile and abusive? Yeah, I've always agreed with that "organization" …

Bohl is an idle in Fargo after the 2 NCs. No one has crap to say about him there, except maybe recently since he is departing after their season concludes.

I don't deny what happened in Missoula with Pflugrad won't factor into Faison's decision, but Weber hired him. Even compared to Andrus (who was abruptly fired from Toronto in 2009 and has been on the downslope ever since) and Cummings, Pflugrad has more college football experience and potential. In your opinion, what kind of disaster could possibly happen if Pflugrad is hired? Nothing would happen but UND having a quality Big Sky program in a couple years. Not every coach is going to have a clean record. And the fact that UND wouldn't be the first school to hire Pflugrad since "the incident" should ease the decision for Faison.

Pflugrad is hands down the best choice. Success in the Big Sky, extensive FBS experience, outstanding recruiter, runs a quality football system, etc. etc. etc.... For second choice, I would go with Bubba. The defenses down at SIU were consistently better than the offenses, plus Bubba is familiar with North Dakota and the region. With how Pflugrad is running away with it in the poll, I hope the same thing is going on in Faison's head...

UND drops their fifth in a row while NDSU beats Notre Dame of the ACC?? That win back on the 24th of November means nothing now. There's no reason this team should be this bad. I'm sure they'll compete well in conference play, but if they can't beat out of conference opponents, what does it matter. They'll likely finish 3rd or 2nd in the conference standings and it will be over. If they do win the conference tournament, they'll likely be a 15 seed and get blown out by a top 10 school. So much for the optimism at this point. Hopefully the team improves. I hate the fact they've declined since the NDSU game while NDSU has only improved improved since then.

Although it is upsetting that the process will take longer than I had hoped, Faison should definitely find the right candidate after going through this tedious interview process. Hope he lands Pflugrad!

Michael Furrey is currently the WR coach at Marshall

http://www.bruinsnation.com/2006/2/16/16569/6348 This is concerning about Wristen. If no one is who them seem to be, it's a wash. Just hire Pflugrad so we can start winning again.

If Faison is indeed going after someone not on the list, how can that be a bad thing? The target could easily be a great coach. Most were not completely satisfied with the list anyways. Faison probably has a quality coach in mind. And even though I expected it, I like hearing that the base salary will be closer to $200,000 than $150,000. I have faith that Faison will hit a home run. There's a lot of good coaches out there.

Couldn't agree more. I don't see hiring Schweigart as a great solution. He has had limited DI success. Pflugrad, Cummings, and DeWitt top my list, in that order. Schweigart would probably be fourth, though.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmXGfPacI2g

I still feel the new coach will be hired by the end of the week. It makes little sense for Faison to wait an extra week to make the decision. During the necessary 21-day posting period, he likely was communicating with several coaches across the country and gauging their interest. I'd have to think by now he has a top 3 list, if he hasn't already picked one. With that said, Wayne Nelson expects another week to go by so who really knows. For recruiting purposes, I hope it's sooner rather than later.

Pflugrad is still my favorite. He's won the Big Sky before and has FBS recruiting coordinator experience. Cummings and Schweigart, two who applied today, are the other two I really like.

Quote from Gene Taylor on his opinion regarding Bohl leaving (source: wday.com) : Gene Taylor/NDSU Athletic Director: “I’m not upset he's a friend guy you get to know, knew the day was coming knew Craig Bohl was going to have opportunities whether it was Wyoming or whoever, hate to see a guy you've built a great program hate to see it change but you know it will someday.” If that quote is any indication, then GT will probably hire the West Fargo jr. varsity coach...

Post/Song of the Month

Most of Pflugrad's former assistants are still on Montana's staff with Delaney. There was rambling over on egriz that if Pflugrad was hired, he would likely try and take a couple assistants from Montana. With that said, Pflugrad's extensive DI connections make him more than capable of assembling a quality staff. Plus, don't worry about his offense. That thing, with the right athletes, could easily average over 30 pts in the controlled environment of the Alerus. The reason they lost to Sam Houston in the semifinals back in 2011 was because of their defense, not their offense.