UND-FB-FAN

And why are they a step higher? That is the major question/concern. Because they ultimately are both FCS programs just like UND is. The reason why Montana and NDSU are perceived to be a step higher needs to be addressed if we want UND football to someday be a national champion, or do we not desire that?

Move up? These lateral moves are not moves up. If they are moves up, then that is a major indictment on how UND football is being ran. Lateral moves occur when the writing is on the wall. Lame duck program right now. I understand some of the sentiment, in that UND has desirable coaches, but the point still remains these are lateral moves and the most important coach to have be desirable is the head coach. He doesn’t appear to be very desirable.

Per Bubba’s program standards, if you don’t say UND, you won’t get the job. But we can all hope that Bubba won’t be here (at least as head football coach) in 365 days.

This isn’t entirely factual. UND’s counter offer was supposedly higher than SDSU’s offer. Rumor is Freund left anyway; hence, the signifiant concern that staff is leaving because the inevitable is near. Bubba has lost the program and there’s no championship future with him as head coach.

Fair question, although slightly controversial and paranoid, it is overall fair.

Lateral moves to conference rivals is not what we want. Young up-and-comer should be hired to the head job, not coordinator role and position coach roles where they fizzle out and leave a year or two later for a lateral role on a conference rival. If the head coach leaves to the FBS, then we would probably be happy with the success. Current head coach isn’t getting offers to FBS for a reason … same reason why his coordinators and position coaches are leaving. What this comes down to is the big picture. Stop kicking the can down the road; ask Bubba Schweigert to retire and take a different position or else face termination. This won’t happen until end of 2024 though at this point.

NDSU has won numerous championship. UND hasn’t won a single playoff game (unless you count diluted pandemic season). Apples to oranges comparison. one or two coaches may be coincidental, but when you have numerous coaches leaving for lateral roles back to back to back, there is a trend. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. But sure, stick your head in the mud, ignore the burning house while you sit in it, whistle happily on the sinking ship, whatever it takes. Hopefully leadership doesn’t take the same approach and has a contingency plan; failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Could argue that is reason UND football is where it is.

Defensive staff is full of inbred ineptitude so really the turnover has come from the only staff worth anything in the long-term (hence the reason they went to top regional programs). Overall, this situation is awful for UND football. Hopefully some big-time decisions will be made in approximately 10 months to save UND football program.

Not coincidental here it’s the ol’ gray haired guy who overstays his welcome … (for historical context, Edward Smith and Bubba Schweigert should not be confused as the same person)

Bubba will be the head coach still in ‘24. I have no idea about ‘25. I’m not even sure the people who are making the final decisions know about 2025 at this point. We’ll just have to see how it goes in 2024 for starters.

That’s not the only tipping point. New guy has no FBS coaching experience, and minimal division 1 (FCS) experience. I’m not expecting 2024 to go great for UND, but ultimately, I have no idea what to expect out of the new offensive coordinator. Winona State didn’t exactly light it up last year. We will see…

most don’t like losing

Spot filled. If he doesn’t leave for USD or UNI before the season starts, we’ll get to see what he can do for UND with a very difficult 2024 schedule …

Of course. Need more leadership and vision to acquire more for non-hockey sports and enhance the budget. It’s obvious but can’t be ignored: NDSU and SDSU don’t have to fund a hockey program whereas UND does. It still seems that the Kennedy/Engelstad McGarry feud and REA Inc. agreement is causing issues. After Kennedy left, seems UND realized it is not worth the trouble and moved on; thus, they’re in a stranglehold via REA, Inc. But if you don’t acknowledge the problem then it’s certainly easier to cope.

Bubba isn’t capable to facilitate the turnaround. I agree there needs to be more leadership and vision.

The optics of Freund and Landry leaving are still issues. No question NDSU and SDSU have done better than UND of late on the court and field, but now there’s negative press on UND with their coaches leaving for NDSU and SDSU. It projects UND as being the inferior institution within the region. The only argument is hockey, which none of these rival institutions even sponsor. It puts UND into a vulnerable dilemma. Again, we can criticize individual coaches for having “no character”, but that won’t fix the much bigger issues. Plus, these coaches who are leaving are UND alumni. Why is UND not able to surpass NDSU and SDSU? Why is UND losing alumni coaches to these peer institutions as opposed to the other way around? These are straightforward yet incredibly important issues facing UND.

Bubba is an absolute genius! Who cares about wins and losses when you can hire good assistants (who later bail for the same position at rival schools you’re supposed to be “competing” with). UND athletics is on autopilot in non-hockey sports and it’s absolutely disgusting. No desire for greatness whatsoever. There isn’t even an attempt other than blatant lies to the few who question it directly.

The honest question is what should be done? I’m not surprised this mayhem is happening right now. Bubba needs to be promptly terminated after 2024 season unless there is a major surprise and team wins playoff games. Coaching salary pool then needs to be increased, and a solid up-and-coming coach needs to be hired, and it needs to be done at a record-setting rate for UND to show increased commitment to higher expectations.

UND leadership needs to deliberately want to get better. It won’t happen by accident. Can’t be hockey-only. Can’t be extending mediocre coaches. Need to hire young up-and-comer, not an old-timer lifer, but ultimately have to hire the right guy. Need to then give the new staff the proper support, as cant fail to underfund the coaches. So many facets needed to right the ship for UND football. Easy to sit back and watch the ship sink as apathy settles in, but there needs to be a group of proactive supporters that ignite the resurgence. Who will it end up being? Or, will it end up happening? We will see …

Most times, instead of pointing fingers, it’s instead best to look in the mirror. This is known in many successful circles as accountability. This is needed for UND football at this time more than ever.

Both left because UND football is in a vulnerable position relative to NDSU and SDSU. That is disappointing, but it is reality. Need top notch leadership at UND to change positioning, and that is why Chaves and Armacost are a needed part of this conversation. Bubba is just a lame duck coach at this point.

Bubba’s ineptitude did cause this, and Chaves extended, thus enabling it. And now, this is what you get. Ridiculousness and UND embarrassment for the benefit of rival institutions NDSU and SDSU.

There’s a reason it has become a cluster.

The reality is these perceptions can change in 5-10 years; they often do per historical trends.

Not 100% on Landry. A large portion, sure, but the reality is UND football doesn’t have the glamour we all want it to. That isn’t on Landry who wasn’t a UND employee for much more than a week. That’s on Bubba, Chaves, etc.