UND-FB-FAN

Ya know, if you think a bit harder, there’s actually something to this. But either way, time to move on. Bottomline results aren’t there.

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32-42 record at USD. Not good. UND still has struggled mightily against his teams in Vermillion, but I am in no way advocating he should be hired at UND.

The back-up leaving is not a major concern, and I never wrote that it should be. Perhaps the culture strike that the recent losses have had (enticing players to leave) is worth mentioning, and it’s never good to lose depth, but this is more of an issue with the overall direction of the program. It’s stale, not making any progress, doing the same thing season after season; beating the teams it is supposed to beat, and not beating the teams it is not supposed to beat. That means 7-4 seasons year after year (sometimes worse). There is a glaring inability to compete against top teams in this conference. Road success has also been poor. Proves the lights are too bright for this staff; need new leadership to take the next step. New facilities won’t change how this staff prepares the team for big games, especially in- game management/coaching; what they’re currently doing is clearly not championship caliber.

Pretty clear I want what several others want … ability to win big games after a decade+ of Bubba ball. Perpetual 7-4 football with occasional losing seasons in there isn’t exactly awe inspiring for this fan base (or any fan base for that matter).

#decadebydecade

Not sure anyone would say that UND’s facilities are that far behind NDSU and SDSU, especially with current Pollard Center and certainly when Pollard phase II and Memorial Village are complete. When the new locker rooms are constructed, I’m sure the players will suddenly start playing better against NDSU and SDSU… I get it; the hope is we recruit better players, but will those players start playing well in big games? Or will crucial mistakes reoccur … as has been the case for years. ongoing waiting game with no sense of urgency, as per usual.

I was at both Boise State and SDSU games; Boise State with tremendously better facility than SDSU, but that is sort of apples to oranges comparison. I agree, SDSU has nice set up, but it’s not head and shoulders above UND. The true difference is late in the year when it is cold and no one wants to sit through that. During nice weather, though, outdoor football is a lot of fun. we all can agree, it starts with objectives and goals, does UND want to be a championship football program or not?

I’d argue it’s not only skill players, it’s the line of scrimmage players also not up to par. NDSU, Weber State, and SDSU all ground and pound UND of late. Also, it goes beyond the players’ talent and speed. The players aren’t fired up or prepared to win when it comes to big games over and over again … who does that fall on?

Yeah, regression sucks of course, in all reality, the program has not truly regressed since ‘13, there was considerable progress for a few years, but has any progress been made against the top teams? Since ‘16, I don’t think so.

We’ve been saying the same thing for the past decade, though. I know you certainly have been posting this for awhile. And I completely agree. We need to do better at the line of scrimmage, and we’re not getting it done, and we haven’t been for years, at least against the top teams.

You’re referencing 2013 versus Valparaiso. You do realize how the rest of that season went, right?

Yeah, hindsight is 20/20. If we all knew what was going to happen 20 years ago, a lot of decisions would have been different. And I mean a lot. here we are. Have to make the best of it. All we can control is showing up to the games and donating to the program. it’s getting to the point where it’s gonna be hard to donate to the current leadership/decision-makers, but I will always be showing up to support the team.

Something tells me 3 launches in a row with a first time starter might mean 3 and out … but gotta try something different. Honestly these conversations are pointless. all I know is true fan excitement is going to continue to wane until we get some new leadership for this program… might not be next year or even for another 5 years, but it is needed whenever it happens

Yes and No. NDSU and even UND have more impressive tailgating and concourses. I also think that the buildings (Alerus Center, FargoDome) are just overall bigger and better than the skeleton stadium in Brookings. But, on a beautiful fall day, with a sellout, SDSU does have an awful nice gameday atmosphere and experience. with all that said, the point does remain: Brookings SD should not be kicking Grand Forks ND arse. UND has a ton of resources relatively speaking and should be right up there and yet, well, they aren’t. That tells me that the resources we do have are not being utilized correctly. Again, brain trust issue.

Same ol’ same ol’ pathological mindset. Don’t agree 2008-2020 were just wasted pointless years. That’s justification for what is happening now; excuses.

It’s the football brain trust. That’s the simple answer I’m afraid. Last 10 years of data also supports this unfortunate truth (since 2016, 12-15 in games with crowds over 10k). Need change I’m afraid, but I worry our culture/environment/institution is scared of that for several reasons, none probably legitimate.

You want positive posting? UND *can* win the rest of the games on their schedule and go 9-2 and host/win playoff games. Still possible that UND beats NDSU, which could have huge recruiting ramifications to help UND over the next few years. Any elaboration or further rhetoric beyond that would probably be considered “negative” posting, so will stop here.

Ouch! … but hey, everyone, leave poor Bubba alone. He’s trying his damnedest… and at UND football, that is all you can ask for. 20 years of participation awards …

Yup, Bob Nielson, current USD head coach, who beat NDSU on Saturday 9/30/23.

I agree; by 2030 we should hopefully be in position for a national championship … hopefully everyone on this board is alive and well by that point to witness it! also, when und is bigger and stronger in decade #3, will we then stop playing to not lose and start actually playing to win big games??

For what it is worth, Bubba was visibly pissed on the sideline after that inadvertent whistle, but he didn’t portray “fight” and “fire” to his team. They went right ahead and followed the blunder up with an allowed big return. This is reflective of a soft team. Bubba’s leadership is overall poor, and his body language and communication does not resonate with his teams. It’s over, there’s no hope for a championship with Bubba as HC.

I agree with this premise, for sure. What you’re seeking and referring to is leadership - Dale had that, thus he was a championship head coach. But the Dale Lennon / Bubba Schweigert highlight years are over. Sooner we move on, sooner we put ourselves in a position to be better than NDSU and SDSU. The recent cowardness of UND in big games is just plain awful and unacceptable. And it highlights a lack of leadership (starts with the HC).

Yeah, last couple ball games had quite a few clowns in it. Subpar product on the field, year after year after year, does this. Blaming the fans who want excellence seems petty, but you do you.

Read the entirety of my post. Thanks.