UND-FB-FAN

You’re right, people love watching losers … winning teams struggle in attendance and losers fill the stadium … How can you possibly be this dense? Ridiculous. Nebraska supports their team due to passion and commitment from the region, but don’t think for one second winning doesn’t positively influence crowds. It’s a major factor, among other things. Again, arguing for the sake of arguing, even if you fail to apply logic …

Disagree. Looked great during Lennon’s tenure, still looks good now, just need cleaner uniforms from Adidas.

Biggest effect in terms of attendance is what UND did (and largely didn’t do) the last two games which ended in blow out losses. People want to watch a winner. With all that said, the biggest boost is still ahead: beat Western Illinois, and then beat NDSU. People care about UND-NDSU matchup head to head and who wins, even the lay person / average fans of college football in the state.

You’re absolutely correct, but the sellout streak is still impressive nonetheless, and those businesses and fans that have helped accomplish the streak are noteworthy and worth recognizing. Business and fan support of that degree for UND football in Grand Forks is certainly absent. For hockey, maybe, but certainly not football. Could it develop for football? Maybe, with certain changes and openness from UND.

Stop assuming and move on. Have some fun.

Sorry, this doesn’t make any sense.

Especially disappointing since UND had 2 weeks to prepare for the disaster in Brookings. NDSU-UND has always been a big game, and Bubba and his teams have always had the “deer in the headlights” look during all of them. Will 10/14 be any different? We’ll see…

You are correct. Probability-wise, University of North Dakota football could be in the same position as they were last year. Will they advance in the playoffs this time??

I agree, but the University of North Dakota athletic department has yet to suggest otherwise. Beyond disappointing and frustrating…

Good point. Have to learn from your mistakes, including in football. A lot of good coaches - high school, college, professional - on record saying this (in context of watching game film from bad games/losses). Of course, Kelly is not on the coaching staff, so take this with a grain of salt.

So NDSU is not an acceptable benchmark but USD is? Where is SDSU in this? Or Montana State? As long as UND is #3 in the conference, and we’re ignoring SDSU and NDSU, it is okay? That would be last year’s situation, and I can tell you everyone is not okay with 7-5 seasons and first round playoff exits for the next several years. And Nebraska did not hire a former player after firing Pelini, to be exact. They did that after firing Mike Riley. Money isn’t the issue. UND needs to have higher expectations; they are the ones who extended a 5-6 coach and now you’re saying “Until you have the money, you're just shouting into the abyss because UND isn't firing a coach with 2 years remaining on their contract.” Doesn’t exactly add up, I’m afraid. It’s just dialogue for the sake of arguing and disagreeing with the increasing popular opinion that Bubba doesn’t have it. One thing you do have on your side, unfortunately, is I have no confidence that Chaves and his athletic administration will hold UND football to a high standard. Bubba has a lifetime contract; he can retire whenever he wants and Freund will get the job, no matter how many losses or years occur in transition. UND and Chaves need to prove that they want to go on a 2-3 year run of winning the MVFC. Right now, not looking like they care.

Luke as HC and Danny as OC would be neat, they know each other from Mussman staff, but unlikely, as really all of this, unfortunately. Keeping Bubba until he retires in a few years and then bumping Danny Freund is the odds on favorite to happen, especially if 6-5 and 7-4 seasons continue happen. Seems to be the (very low) benchmark Chaves has for his football program here at UND, unfortunately. As for 3-4, the scheme could work if have better players, but we don’t. Need to switch to 4-3 (scheme) and/or recruit better players. the current issue is that the 3 down linemen that UND institutes aren’t big and strong enough in base sets and the outside linebackers (edge players) aren’t athletic enough in nickel/passing sets. If you don’t have a good enough front 7, it makes your back end look poor, also.

Figured as much, hence the clarifying hyperbole statement in parenthesis. Still worth mentioning the interesting connection between Schleusner and Thielen.

Not exactly apples to oranges comparison, but nice try. I agree with others, you are in fact delusional. Bo Pelini at Nebraska: 67-27 (.713) Bubba Schweigert at UND: 56-47 (.544) As most have said, we’d kill for 70+% winning percentage. Why can’t you admit Bubba has underperformed at UND? He’s not the best option. Not even 2nd or 3rd…

Have I ever said that fans are more important than the players/recruiting or coaching? No. You just falsely attributed something to me. Not a surprise. Nebraska fans are super passionate, and passionate fans are important, but don’t make it sound like I’ve said fans are more important than the coaches and players, because I never said that.

I agree. Get the ball rolling. https://govandals.com/staff-directory/luke-schleusner/1337#:~:text=Schleusner previously served as Offensive,Great West Football Conference title. he could probably bring Adam Thielen with him as a coach… (okay okay that’s hyperbole, but worth mentioning the connection.)

Despite Nebraska’s product on the field being so sh*t, they’re still sold out year after year. Doesn’t make you wonder, huh? Fan appreciation, maybe? @iramurphy and I got into this a bit back, but you shouldn’t need a “special invite” to be looked onto favorably. I have the ability and connections in order to speak to the staff (I already do), no problem, so this is not a personal vendetta, but rather an observation on overall mechanics and function. Alumni staff is not pulling their weight. It’s a weakness for UND right now for sure.

Sad reality that we usually only get 11 games per year. no playoff games at home really stinks. Things need to change…

Agreed! Night playoff games also could be fun potentially, although would be cold. If I recall, the Richmond game in 2016 was a later start, and it was a fun atmosphere despite people being in New York for hockey. Team let us down again, but was still fun. Only other DI home playoff game was affected by COVID-19 restrictions (spring 2021) and wasn’t as fun of an atmosphere due to limited crowd. UND desperately needs home playoff games - they are a lot fun. But, football team and their coaches need to get the damn job done on the field …..

Well, Nebraska also has the longest sellout streak in the nation. UND could learn a thing or two about respecting and listening to the fans. I fear (and know from experience) there’s a lot of tone-deaf snobs in the UND athletic department with ulterior motives. Their heads are a bit too big, you could say. Alerus Center would be more full potentially if the fans had a larger voice. When it all comes down to it, it is all about finances, but extending Bubba after a 5-6 season makes you wonder what else is going on.

Fair, and good example (who would’ve thought Mike Riley and Scott Frost would have done so poorly- especially with their successes at Oregon State and UCF, respectively?), but can’t be afraid of change if things aren’t working. In fact, being scared of change because there’s no guarantees if you change is, well, not guaranteed to help either. All in all, if you don’t think what you have is currently working, you need to try something different. Not overly complicated.

There certainly is a degree of faith amongst fans, because some just want to still believe it will still work out for the nice guys. Faith- belief / trust/ confidence contrary to an absence of evidence. Decade-by-decade isn’t good enough. There are better coaches for this position given the overall circumstances.

You don’t have to hate Bubba to recognize he’s not cut out to be a championship winning head coach, especially at the DI level. His teams just don’t have the “it” factor, and that’s because his teams are a reflection of him. He does not exude confidence or leadership necessary during big games. The in-game decision-making and strategy certainly is not there. Time to move. Change would be a good thing, especially in this case.

UND has won 54% of its games with Bubba as head coach. I think there is good reason people aren’t satisfied with that. It’s not good enough. But, what is good enough? 60%? 70%? Regional rivals known as “football schools” - well what does it take for UND to become a “football school” … start flying a banner … or perhaps win more than 54% of the games played… Also, to avoid the regression you talk about - and to be more consistent - it is critical to have solid coaching/leadership. There has been so many ups and downs it definitely falls on the coaches to a certain degree. 9-3 in 2016, then 3-8 in 2017, then 5-2 in spring season, then 5-6 in 2021. 7-5 in 2022. Such a rollercoaster of inconsistency…

I like them (black pants on the road). Not really a fan of the white face masks yet. Still think better green jerseys are needed, and green tops/white bottoms should be the standard at home