UND-FB-FAN

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/college/8-things-to-know-about-iowa-state-ahead-of-und-footballs-week-1-matchup?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2ChlCaQZmZlFgXq-2Asn7Wxy4QEObU0SIMw87eJyi7tvcT5Nixi_vv3Zg_aem_Kw4epKTG1DYCiXdKWQoDzA&ai= Interesting —> UND head coach Bubba Schweigert said earlier this week he had never coached at Iowa State in any of his stops. His new offensive coordinator Isaac Fruechte, however, has some history in Ames. Fruechte was an assistant coach at Northern Iowa in 2019 when the Panthers took the Cyclones to triple overtime. Iowa State beat UNI 29-26.

I stand firm in my convictions. Not disappointed or ashamed in that, and your opinion (which is wrong, I might add) is certainly not going to change mine. The athletic department at UND, under Chaves, is far from perfect. The recent construction progress has been very impressive, I will say. But, would like to see more success on the field and a willingness to facilitate new hires.

And your quick backing response in support of Bubba despite sh*t results comes as no surprise. Your lackadaisical satisfaction with mediocrity is offensive, but also comes as a shock to no one.

“Good season” = status quo = 6-6 or 7-5. Rinse and repeat. I think this is a reasonable prediction (but equally pathetic expectation).

SDSU and NDSU expect to win these FBS games… whereas UND and Bubba have been well established as a program that plays for moral victories. I’m completely apathetic at this point having watched Bubba’s body of work over the past 10+ seasons. Would be incredibly surprised if UND even puts up a fight versus Iowa State. The way they played @ Boise and @ Nebraska the past couple seasons was an absolute travesty. Yet the guy is extended.

2017: Utah 7-6 2018: Washington 10-4 They were solid teams. UND and Bubba crapped themselves in both games, didn’t expect to win from the start.

Twitter (technically X) should matter. Prospective recruits (and nearly all coaches) use it extensively. This isn’t 1975 anymore (or even 2001 for that matter). UND football / athletics should hire someone exclusively for social media content, perhaps a student majoring graphic design, communication, marketing, etc., but that would suggest further moves towards football and not hockey, so who knows …

Pissing and moaning is par for the course when winning is the standard and you consistently lose approximately half of your games. I do enjoy the wins, but the losses hurt more than the wins feel good. Makes it rough. But I’m calloused and used it; been spending money on Vikings games for years, despite logic and my better judgement. Football is fun (and life), and tendency exists towards the heart rather than the brain with it.

I enjoy winning, but maybe that’s just me.

Or every single game …

Glad to hear you’re supporting the team and traveling there. Some - including myself - are just over participation awards and want to see actual on-the-field success.

All depends on expectations I guess. 27th overall in the country doesn’t even place you in the FCS playoffs is one way to look at it …

Yes, averaging around 27th defensively in the country over the time period with the same “defensive-minded” head coach. Incredibly mediocre like everything else accomplished over the past decade.

Close only counts in …

Bowling Green … Bowling Green …Bowling Green!. And it was still a “could not finish” scenario (missed two point conversion).

That Nebraska team (2022) was awful. Frost was fired the very next game, yet Bubba’s team once again couldn’t get out of its own way and finish for once.

I don’t like to hear it, but I agree with you. Usually travel to every UND vs. FBS game, but won’t be going to this one …

Major defensive improvement likely won’t happen with Bubba/Schwenzfeier combo. Those guys were besides themselves trying to sort out Sac State in the long-awaited home playoff game, and you could smell something burning throughout the Alerus as they tried to think of defensive solutions. BUT … IF better players (says every single coach in America)

Don’t disagree there. This is absolute necessity for championship football. @The Sicatoka credited for this statement on numerous occasion, and he’s right. And to just throw in another source, here’s the most recent FBS national championship coach:

The offensive coordinator post-2018 was the WR coach in 2018 and prior, so it has all really been the same under Bubba at wideout. Agree with @geaux_sioux earlier point. Need more talent out wide and need to better balance it with the running game and offensive line. QB will bring it all together and that is a major ? for UND going into 2024. We’ll see what the offense looks like week 1-3 and go from there. I anticipate the defense will continue to be outmatched so up to new OC and OL coach to work their magic.

I agree. This is a talented but young receiver group. But honestly, UND fans better get used to it. No more senior-laden receiver groups, unless you want to be one-dimensional offensively. Receiver is one position group that can contribute immediately (as freshmen), and in this day and age of college football, it will happen a lot for UND. The good ones will be gone after year 1 or year 2 to greener ($) pastures. Enjoy Deng, Tai, and Hakim while they’re here. Bo Belquist is an exception to the rule, not the norm. He had opportunities to leave, but local ties kept him here. Hopefully OC can utilize the talent and will not prioritize seniority. Bubba’s old school “development” approach scares me- he’ll have to adjust or continue to be a 0.500 coach. Development has been questionable at best for UND of late, but new facilities could help tremendously.

Some people stick to their observations, despite what they want to happen. I want UND to be great, but I also think we know what we’re going to get with a Bubba led team at this point. Just above 0.500 football, no FBS upset, and certainly no big road wins or playoff wins. That means Iowa State game to start the season is almost certainly a loss; I expect they keep it close during the first half but get blown out in second half per usual fashion. Only unknown is new offensive coordinator/new QB combo, but the overall leadership and motivation (and also defense and special teams) remains the same.

Well… … at lest there’s consistent inconsistency. Recruiting and game-planning are definitely important, but need to be able to motivate also. Styles can differ in how to do that, but ultimately need to get that done. Not sure this generation of student-athletes will garner much, if any motivation at all, from current voice of UND football.

Anything can happen, but I just hope this doesn’t get too ugly on national TV … bubba ball It is the first game for both teams, so a lot of possibilities.

Coach left because UND program is perceived by those on the inside as being on thin ice. Response by leadership was to extend the leader and “motivator” that led them onto said thin ice. Real risky “bold” move I’d say. If one wishes for ongoing success despite the old voice still in place, then need to hope the new facilities brings in an upper tier of talent previously not seen at UND, and hope the new OC is a prodigy.