UND-FB-FAN

Yup

Not the coaches? The team got blown out… multiple times. Coaches play a major part in that. How to improve it? Care a little. UND staff doesn’t try improve it. They’ve been given ideas, but ignore the horrible product. This isn’t a new issue. Been a problem for several years. There’s been committees built to try solve the problem. This won’t improve by 2024. It will take new people or a new large-scale initiative.

Figures … UND game day staff don’t put in the effort to bolster the game day experience at the Alerus - likely intentionally in order to relatively emphasize hockey - which is pathetic. The hockey culture around here is borderline pathological, but it is what it is. To be fair, UND football needs to start to win the big games to grab onto the crowd, but the administration is also set in its ways preventing both success on the field and off the field in terms of fan hype. I still can’t believe how pathetic the team entrance is and how petty the in-game production is at times. Oh well, maybe next year. Again, comes down to simply vision and effort, both lacking.

Anyone who has coached at a high level will tell you the losses hurt more than the wins feel good. It’s all about ongoing progress/development; not settling for the status quo. Unfortunately, settling for the status quo has been all the rage of late around UND football.

Did anyone expect UND to not blow out Western Illinois? C’mon man

eeesh let’s just hope the players are ready to go. Fans will be, I know… they’ll get the team ready to go at least.

Predicable. Getting crushed in Boise and Brookings will do that. Some redemption potential vs NDSU next weekend …

What else is new? It’s ridiculous but they just don’t care …

Agreed. Winning fuels support and attendance, but us diehards (like the ones on this site) will be there through the ups and downs. This is evidenced by the last 10-15 years. Due to the importance of winning that is placed on UND in this region (it’s different other places e.g., Nebraska), most people don’t care that Boise State is the Mountain West favorite or that SDSU is #1 FCS team; they just care that UND is not 4-0 and is 2-2, and UND got blown out the last two games on the scoreboard. As such, I suspect poor attendance today vs WIU (9000 or less) but that will rebound with the big one next weekend vs NDSU.

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.)