UND-FB-FAN

Freshman QBs can lead winning teams but they need to have a running game and/or a strong defense. UND has neither. If one of our QBs throws an interception, the defense doesn't bail them out because they let the opposing offense go right down the field. If we have the lead, we can't help them out cause they still have to throw all game cause we don't have a power running game. Bottom line: UND is not set up to support young QBs. If they had a running game and/or solid defense, these QBs would look much better. I do agree though that the QB class distribution on this roster is inadequate. Not having a single junior or senior QB is certainly negative. We would have some seniors if Comes, Delmer, and/or Bradley didn't quit because Mussman is a joke and no one can stand his arrogance and incompetence. Depth chart definitely had some impact also, but you'd think one of the aforementioned three would've stuck around if they liked the way the program was being run.

Football program down south is tremendous, not gonna argue, but UND is on the same path as NDSU in all other sports. Men's BBall at UND isn't as distant as the Ag School supporters think. We'll especially see that when the Bizzon's men's basketball team visits the Betty later this year…

We play 7 home games this season, so if this year's record is the same or worse than last year's record (5-6), Mussman should be gone. In order to pick up 5 wins this season, we would have to win 4 of the remaining 7 games - I'm not sure this team can do that. Once Mussman goes, then, and only then, does UND start competing for/in the playoffs (considering the subsequent hire is appropriate). That simple everyone.

I heard from a reliable source within the program that Nash will likely be our 2nd best player behind Huff this season. If his production is even close to that of Huffs, that would be huge for this team. From what I heard, he's a high flyer who should easily average double digit points. Should bring some entertainment to the court with some throw-downs too!

Two very straightforward points: 1) Mussman has a losing record against FCS opponents as a head coach: 19-22 Considering UND's standards (or at least what I think UND's FB standards are now with Faison at the helm), a losing record is unacceptable. 2) Do you think Hakstol would still have his job if after 5 and a part seasons he had a losing record against WCHA teams? I would think not.

Fine, he cares. But this isn't peewee football - you're judged on winning. Bottom line: Mussman sucks at winning. W-L record speaks for itself.

That's a good one. Don't compare an NFL coach, especially one in NYC, to an FCS coach who had no prior HC experience.

If this coaching staff can turn this season around, that would be quite an impressive accomplishment; however, I don't realistically see that happening. Players do need to care about improving in order for that to happen, but football is a team game, and the fact that the majority of the players are showing less than required effort is a red-flag to me that the coaches aren't properly recruiting and/or establishing a winning foundation. A collegiate football team has expectations and rules/regulations that either support or don't support winning. It appears, for whatever reason, that this year's team does not possess some critical values and discipline. If that continues for the rest of season, I will put the blame on the coaching staff as ultimately they select the student-athletes who represent UND's football team.

I agree; there are so many talented (or at least appear talented) football players that don't see the field enough. Sparks, Butler, and Edwards to name a few. There probably are a few more but I'm not completely sure on them because I haven't seen them in game action! Given the last two horrendous performances, there's no excuse for why some sophomores and redshirt freshman didn't get some game reps.

Let's wait a year or two before we anoint Iverson as the best ND player of 2013 class. I'm a bit skeptical of that claim.

The fact there was no mention of football during Hammer's interview of Faison tells me this is a delicate situation. Faison is likely sick of hearing complaints and just wants the season to play out; thus, he just told Hammer not to bring up the football. Also a sign that Faison is not very happy with the FB season thus far, which is a good thing for the entire program because we're that much closer to getting rid of the cancer that is a Mussman as a head coach.

I agree entirely with this post - very well said. There are two major differences between Bohl and NDSU's staff (or any winning college football staff) and Mussman and UND's staff: local recruiting and football psychology/leadership. Bohl does indeed recruit every football-playing high school in the state of ND and he comes away with talented kids from the state year in and year out. Examples are Beck from Munich, Ryan Smith from Wahpeton, Carson Wentz from Bismarck, etc. Not to mention the Minnesota, Wisconsin, and even Nebraska kids who are prevalent on their roster. Now, simply acquiring the local kids is only half of the story. You need to be able to get the local kids to buy into the program, which includes workouts, team meetings, and ultimately build the confidence of a winner. NDSU has put a winning PROGRAM in place that local kids can plug right into and produce. And we all know local kids are generally going to play with more pride and enthusiasm than non-local kids from California and Florida. They are familiar with the UND's tradition and have a sense of commitment to UND's alumni group. With Mussman and staff, the local recruiting emphasis is not there. In addition, his players are not disciplined or confident because they are not held to a high standard. Mussman is an arrogant individual that has no plan (or at least a good one) in place and the kids have lost all confidence. There's no reason you can't get players to come in, buy into a program, and work their butts off for each other. That's simply not going on here right now; the players are not being held accountable because Mussman simply doesn't know how to do that. At the end of the year, I expect Faison to bring in a proven DI coach that can lead a program and assemble a quality staff. I feel bad for the players, because the talent is there to compete with each and every Big Sky team, but the student-athletes aren't being prepared correctly, both physically and mentally.

No question Tibesar would be a great hire, but I'm not sold on the athletic department's willingness to pay him the $200,000+ that would probably be required to acquire him.

Most of those you mentioned are defensive players, so I can see your point. Our defense has really improved from last year to this year with those young recruits…

Other than Golladay, nobody in the last couple classes has been phenomenal. Not to mention those players from those classes are frustrated with the coaches and unmotivated due to the current situation. The next class will likely be much worse than that of the last two years if Mussman and his staff remain.

I think Faison has handled his responsibilities fine, and given the additions you mentioned, he has helped move this football program forward. With that said, the most important aspect of a football team is the coaching and recruiting. In my mind, if UND finishes with a losing record, it's up to Faison to do the right thing and hire a new coach who can instill confidence and recruit top FCS caliber student-athletes. Mussman does not cut it, in both the leadership and recruiting departments.

99% of the candidates wouldn't be available until the end of the seasons regardless; however, that's still not the reason Faison hasn't done anything yet. You can't hire a new HC mid-season. That's essentially never happened because the coach needs time to hire his own staff and implement his own system.

I too question what Faison and the athletic department are willing to pay the next head coach, that is if Faison does indeed do the obviously required thing and remove Mussman and his staff. I hope they get a 200k+ kinda guy but that depends on how much Faison is willing to commit to the football program. So far there has been no indication that Faison wants UND's football program to be a top 3 Big Sky program.

I agree 100%. This current staff is a joke and they're the primary reason this program has been run into the ground.

Relieve Mussman of his duties now and promote Kotelnicki to intern HC to let the players and fans/alumni know that these kind of performances won't be tolerated by Faison and the athletic department and change is coming. At the end of the season, clear out the staff and hire a coach who has been apart of a winning DI program, whether that be as a coordinator or position coach.

They're understandably frustrated, just as the fans and alumni are. A lot of "I'm done" and "so sick of this" kind of stuff.

UND may not be the most talented football team in the Big Sky, but there is absolutely no reason this team should get blown out consecutive games at home! This team, if properly coached, should be able to COMPETE with nearly any FCS school at home. The fact they can't compete with the schools in the conference-the same ones we will see year in and year out- is absolutely unacceptable. The effort isn't there cause the team has quit on Mussman. The goofing off on the sideline is simply proof of the lack of disciplines. I'm glad Faison noticed this; he'll make the correct move if this continues. Only question now is whether or not it's mid season.

If McGhee is playing, it will be a very difficult game, if it wasn't before. UND coming out on top of this one would be a very good win. Doesn't look good though.

I can't speak for the whole team, but some of it, yes.

Because the players themselves don't respect Mussman. Players at NDSU are terrified of/respect Bohl to death; that's definitely not the case at UND. Hard to have success when the soldiers think the general is full of himself and doesn't know what he's doing.