UND-FB-FAN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAanhXDd2Qc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBQ0_9IFzU0&feature=related This would be great for the Montana game given the potential attire...

Billings Gazette with their 2012 Big Sky Position Rankings - Defensive Linemen: http://billingsgazette.com/sports/college/blogs/catgrizinsider/big-sky-position-rankings-defensive-line/article_1ce13ec2-cd41-11e1-8a24-0019bb2963f4.html No surprise, Ross Brenneman made the list. He's listed as the fourth best defensive linemen, and the three listed above him certainly aren't a whole lot better. Looking forward to big things out of Ross this season!

Yes, he was one question mark. His addition is a big one though. He was a two-star recruit coming out of high school and UND needs as much depth at the safety spot as possible. A few weeks ago the safety position was a big area of concern. Now, with Butler on the team and two JUCO transfers, the safety position has a chance to be alright.

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Well said, I couldn't agree more. If you want more fans and students to show up, you need to promote an intense atmosphere. Football is an intense game, that’s why people love it. So when the atmosphere is dull and boring, it's hard for fans/students to get into it. The in-game marketing crew (and they are supposedly working on this) needs to do their part, as well as the team in just putting a good product out on the field. If those things happen, and a few others, the Alerus could easily be a great place for football in terms of atmosphere and excitement this season.

It appears tent space for the Montana game is sold out and the Cal Poly game and NAU homecoming game are not far behind - this is a great sign that these games will yield great attendance, especially the Montana game.

Mussman mentioned a few interesting things this morning on 740 The Fan. *They ordered all blacks uniforms (both jerseys and pants) and they should be in by August 1st *They expect to reveal the black uniforms on media day, which is typically sometime during first week of camp. First practice of fall camp this season is Aug. 2nd *Also, Mussman said they will order all-green pants next season and they plan to use a "Oregon-type" switchup in terms of uniforms. That means they'll have black/green/white jerseys and black/green/white pants and will be able to use various uniform combos. This might not sit well with traditionalists but players, and more importantly potential recruits, LOVE that sort of thing. Just look at Oregon, Oklahoma St. etc. and how it's affected recruiting for them. As an FCS school, such a uniform aspect could be huge for recruiting. The excitement for this season just keeps growing and growing! Can't Wait!

They sell replicas of the green home jerseys in number 6. Big Sky shop is one place: http://www.bigskyshop.com/COLLEGE_N_Dakota_Fighting_Sioux/Nike_North_Dakota__Number_6_Replica_Football_Jersey_-_Green

Speaking of basketball, they already remodeled the court in the Betty and the old Big Sky logos were put in place. Hopefully they are re-done....

It's only a matter of time before they get new whites and greens. For right now, the new metallic green helmets and black alternate jerseys are most definitely an upgrade over what the situation was last year.

There is no question Montana has played in louder, larger environments than the Alerus Center - it would be foolish to assume otherwise. My previous statement was largely based on the preseason conference coaches poll; thus, I believe Montana and Portland State (and whoever else decided UND was worthy of a 10th place spot) are underestimating UND's ability at home. After this season, UND will get their proper respect because the previously mentioned schools will be playing in the Alerus for the first time. Ultimately, UND won't be voted that low by the coaches very often in the future.

The coaches didn't give SUU much more love; they voted them 8th. All in all, it's just a preseason poll that ultimately won't be the same as the final conference standings. I'm gonna make my bold prediction of the day and say Montana State will not finish first in the conference this season. On paper they are the best team, and I agree with that, but I also feel they will have a target on their back all season and will lose one more game than people expect. For instance, last season SUU was ranked the favorite in the Great West - how'd that turn out for them? Too many variables to accurately predict the standings. Of course, that's why they play the games and I don't think Montana and Portland State know how tough it is to play in the Al. Just ask Cal Poly (2009)....

An indication of a little more Big Sky excitement? Not quite sure what to think of this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Se787Q_s3Y

Yeah, if I was a Big Sky coach and saw film of UND last year against Northern Colorado, Sioux Falls, and UC Davis, I would probably vote into the bottom half also. They certainly were "W's" but they weren't impressive wins by any means. When the top Big Sky teams from a year ago (Montana State and Montana) played the bottom feeders (UNC and Idaho St.) last year, they won by a large margin (exception being 10 pts when MSU played @ UNC).

That's a tough one. Greg Hardin, Braden Hanson, Ross Brenneman, Dominique Bennett, Zeb Miller and maybe a few others all are long shots but have a chance. At least one or two of those guys will be on a training camp roster but whether they are drafted or undrafted free agents is a tough one. I'm gonna have to sell, but I sure hope I am wrong.

Grand Forks to Bozeman: 811.5 miles Cheney, Washington to Bozeman: 416.8 miles Cedar City, Utah to Bozeman: 659.4 miles San Luis Obispo, California to Bozeman: 1,237.7 miles Davis, California to Bozeman: 953.8 miles Portland, Oregon to Bozeman: 752 miles Flagstaff, Arizona to Bozeman: 926.9 miles We’re certainly not the most isolated school in the conference like some make it out to be. I guess UND is east of the mountains though…so at least good creativity!!

2012 Big Sky Poll Lets hope the media knows more than the coaches.......

I'd say the jersey matches the helmet much more than it matches the peas...this should make the helmet/jersey combo appear much improved!

http://www.grandfork...icle/id/240877/ Quote: "The league also is scheduled to unveil its new logo today. Speaking of new, UND will have a different look when the 2012 season begins. New uniforms for UND are scheduled to arrive in approximately two weeks." If anyone was still skeptical of new jerseys becoming a reality, this should put that to rest.

Difference between the colors: new color is on the left, old on the right. Definitely will match the jerseys better, and is a more true kelly green.

1st Team Big Sky All-Conference RB for Northern Arizona will be in town for homecoming, Oct. 13th! and his Walter Payton Award hunt will be taking a hit that day if Ross Brenneman, Devin Benjamin, and company have anything to say about it.....

The Billings Gazette has continued their 2012 Big Sky position ranking series by ranking the top 10 linebackers: http://billingsgazet...1a4bcf887a.html Although UND did not place any names (even though by the end of the year I would expect Mr. Bennett to be on the post-season version of this), the article did feature a real nice picture of the top spot man (Jody Owens of Montana State) .....and yes professional trollers of Ag school nation, we know who won the game.....

Yeah, no kidding.......

The team already has all-black pants (e.g. South Dakota game), so I would guess they just ordered the jerseys and they will wear them with all black pants. Some time ago, SiouxFBInsider mentioned they may be considering wearing the black uniforms for all home games, and I guess that would be the simplest way to fix the "mismatched color problem". Here are the black pants, but you also can easily notice the mismatched helmet-uniform combination I referenced - black home uniforms should fix that.

Sell; I don't think UND would've signed two JUCO safeties if they had any inclination of Butler playing sometime in the future. Aarin Smith's situation also just makes it unlikely.