UND-FB-FAN

Sell. We averaged 310 ypg offensively last season. I don't see an 120 ypg increase. I'll say around a 75 yard increase putting the offense at around 385 ypg this season. Buy, I think three touchdowns is easily possible. Cal Poly scored 21 last year against them.

They just might be. Won't know for sure until we see him in live-action during games.

I don't believe UND will put up 42 in any game other than SDSoM&T. Last year, UND averaged 23 pts/gm vs. FCS competition. As for this year's FCS opponents, their defenses gave up: Portland State: 30.4 pts/gm vs FCS Sacramento State: 27.3 pts/gm vs FCS Cal Poly: 26 pts/gm vs FCS Eastern Washington: 30.2 pts/gm vs FCS N. Arizona: 26.6 pts/gm vs FCS Montana: 18.2 pts/gm vs FCS Montana St: 23.3 pts/gm vs FCS Southern Utah: 22.9 pts/gm vs FCS N. Colorado: 34.9 pts/gm vs FCS Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado, and Portland State had the worst defensive PPG last year; however, UND plays 2 of the 3 on the road. Braden Hansen will improve this offense along with a healthy Mitch Sutton, improved Jer Garman, and freshman Jameer Jackson, but I don't see a 10 + pt increase in our offensive ppg. Maybe a touchdown giving us an average of 30 ppg, which would still be impressive. Hopefully we can put up ~ 35 pts at home. So I sell the 42 + pts this season. If UND is going to be successful this year, it wont be because they outscore their oppoenents but rather because UND plays solid defense. The team is more geared towards that side of the ball anyways. Also, UND is still a run first team with 3 capable ball carriers. As for the road, I see UND going 2-3. I hope they can pull off an upset win at Montana State, Eastern Washington, or San Diego State, but I still see them going 2-3. Don't be surprised if UND drops the game versus Sac St. but picks up an upset vs. MSU or EWU. So I sell a winning road record, but I expect either a 5-1 or 6-0 home record! Hansen will improve Seth Nichols receiving numbers. I see Nichols with maybe 3 TD receptions. Buy Nichols as a consistent threat in the passing game.

As long as they have a matching helmet-jersey combination this year, it won't be so bad. And of course, a black alternate will look awesome. I look forward to seeing these appearance changes!

Buy or sell: Daryl Brown will lead the team in interceptions this season.

So geaux_sioux, are they going to get new green jerseys too or keep their existing ones? Because I'm sure most would agree that the current green home jerseys are too baggy and need to be replaced with a better fit/new design. I'm okay with the pea green color as long as the helmets match. It just seems that the hockey jerseys have a bit brighter green than that of the football jerseys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtYpZw6svGU

As for 2011, yes, NDSU had the better team. But I support looking ahead, especially since in my opinion UND's last two recruiting classes were better than NDSU's, and UND is in a better football conference. This poll argument will be mute in a few months because UND will be playing first-class FCS competition so poll votes will be much more accurate due to schedule consistency.

I do feel he has a bit more friendliness to him...

When NDSU is 2-2 after week 5 with loses to Colorado State and Northern Iowa and UND is either 4-1 or 3-2 with impressive win/s over Cal Poly and/or Portland State, will UND be ranked higher?

We better be getting new jerseys. I think I am speaking for most, if not all, UND fans when I say I do not want to see those mismatched green jerseys ever again. We need to enter the Big Sky in style; just look at the many uniform combinations of the top tier Big Sky teams! "You look good, you feel good, you feel good, you play good." -Deion Sanders, Prime Time Last season, UND's football players were not looking good. C'mon athletic department, time for a change!

Agree

Although your message is quite cliché in the world of college sports, I certainly understand why. Yes, it is possible that UND could lose to SDSoM, but in regards to probability UND has a > 95% chance of winning. I’ll take those odds as a guarantee given the rest of UND’s 2012 schedule. Also, Sioux Falls is a much better team than SDSoM, who I believe went winless last season. In addition, Sioux Falls beat SDSoM last season by a score of 71 – 0. Oh, and some people (including myself) are hoping UND can make the D1 FCS playoffs this season. With all the excitement that likely will be in the Alerus on August 30, I’ll take this year’s improved UND squad in a rout and do it without a second thought. With all that said, you still should never take an opponent for granted; therefore, the above is really just jabber as I impatiently wait for our inaugural Big Sky season!

UND won't lose to SDSoM - that's the only game on the schedule that's a guarantee

I too have the same question as geaux_sioux. It would certainly help increase the energy and crowd excitement in the Alerus on Saturdays. Lights, smoke, awesome entrance song, etc. would go a long way.

It's only the most popular sport in the country.

Here are a couple new video features by UND’s athletic department on Coach Breitback and Coach Kotelnicki. Once again, these videos portray a new atmosphere for UND football! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLmwXx3ujB8&feature=relmfu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhCFJX20YWA&feature=relmfu

Likely to remove the "Fighting Sioux" that's on the south side I believe. In addition, they likely will add some Big Sky logos in there.

Awesome work by the UND athletic department. Hope to see game highlights of that sort all of next season. The 'Big Sky Revolution' continues!

After reading the Bleacher Report preseason rankings, the one thing that stood out to me was that Cal Poly plays neither Montana nor Montana State. Considering that, the game we play against Cal Poly at home will be a very important game - much more important than last year’s homecoming game against them for sure. Cal Poly could easily end up with a really good conference record given their schedule, so beating them head-to-head will be very important.

I would have to agree with most others; it's very disappointing there is no interlocking ND at midfield. Besides for that issue, I like everything else. The material itself has been well publicized and will most definitely be an improvement. Also, I'm glad they incorporated the Big Sky Conference logos. I understand the reasoning why there needs to be Alerus Center logos, but why do they need to be so large and in the center of the field? - Especially when it takes away the possibility of having an interlocking ND logo at midfield. It’s disappointing that the Alerus Center desired to have such large, interfering logos. I somehow hope this gets changed but it’s doubtful; I guess the school down south won the turf-designing contest.

Does anyone know why WR Tyhre Ivery and OLB Dominique Bennett are not listed on either squad? I'm assuming injury issues. Hopefully nothing serious - those two will be important pieces this fall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0IgmsOnPns Good looking back; I believe he goes to the same high school P.J. Sparks went to. Hopefully Sparks will put in some good words for UND

I have been pulling for an FBS win the last couples of seasons, but to no prevail. The Fresno St. and Northern Illinois games were close but I guess that isn’t good enough. Really hoping we can get that signature, program-changing FBS win this season against SDSU. As for the nickname issue, it’s just another reason to get rid of it. This spring, the term 'bittersweet' could not describe my emotions any better. Entering the Big Sky*, new unis and turf, great talent IMO, rejuvenated media attention, playoff eligibility; it’s a great spring due to those aspects. However, if the nickname issue persists it pushes all of those accomplishments and pieces to the side. That’s the unfortunate part that just plain sucks. *YOU KNOW

Today brings forth an unfortunate set of emotions. In being optimistic, I hope the correct majority decision will be made; however, it is doubtful. It truthfully is horrible to think this state will have only one major (division I) athletic program in the next couple years if the correct actions are not taken. Individuals who support the nickname can speak within terms based on history, tradition, and hope if they want, but I anticipate they realize those are all subjective, imaginary concepts. They have no empirical form or objectivity. The realism in all this is we are fighting to keep a name. If you are an individual who believes our program’s recognition, success, and loyalty can only be persevered if we maintain the nickname, well, that is unfortunate. Ultimately, athletics will only continue to grow if we expand our target area to other states and areas of the country. We cannot successfully do that when we are an NCAA sanctioned school. To fight for only a name this long is unbearably incompetent, despite whatever history, tradition, and honor it contains. Ultimately, as University of North Dakota supporters, alumni, and students, we will continue to support the nickname- it just won’t be “official”. The NCAA is the governing body- to believe we can exist while acting against their rule is absurd. This is not just a bully. You can fight off a bully and win; you can’t win against the very individual that makes your existence (UND athletics) possible. It really is disturbing to focus on the mindset some individuals possess. Of course, I guess, we could remove ourselves from NCAA governed athletics? I for one do not fully agree with the “bully” analogy, but rather would like to focus on a subjective vs. objective example. The nickname is not what we focus our greatest pride and support on. The accomplishments of the student-athletes and the state of North Dakota are what we should pride ourselves on. If we put most of our pride into only the nickname, and not the empirical concepts and principles of the university, then we are not supporting expansion, higher education, decision-making, etc. I conclude with a very common yet, in my opinion, rational belief. Do we only want UND ATHLETICS to be known for its nickname, or do we want to support the student-athletes, coaches, and ability to grow and expand into the future. If you want to support the potential the UND athletic program possesses, focusing on a nickname will impede that ultimate goal. I can agree with some nickname supporters that overall athletic program degradation is not certain if the nickname is maintained, but I am certain that future progression and advancement will not be possible if it is kept. Hopefully, our state realizes the University of North Dakota athletic program represents much more than just a nickname. It represents a process that allows INDIVIDUALS to come together, accomplish great goals as a TEAM, and leave the university as better men and women. Obstructing the athletic program by keeping the nickname will only satisfy supporters from the immediate area- why not target our entire country’s population? To do that, profound decision-making must be exemplified.