UND-FB-FAN

“Bubba’s DNA/persona - even going back to Duluth days - just doesn’t instill end of game confidence.” This isn’t a play calling issue, it’s a leadership and adjustment issue. But, thanks for the amateur “fan critiquing play-calling” take. out of touch “old timer”

Yeah half-time adjustments have gone in favor of the opposing team more often than not. Honestly, Danny needs more input and eventually needs to take over. Bubba’s DNA/persona - even going back to Duluth days - just doesn’t instill end of game confidence. Never forget - you don’t win the game based on the halftime score, but the score at the end of the game is a different story.

Bubba Ball is the pattern. Football is over 90% mental - what’s being done/said in the locker room at halftime is beyond suspect. Don’t forget 2016 Richmond in playoffs, or second half of UND-NDSU in 2021. 2021 Utah State. The second half of big games is the kryptonite of Bubba ball (i.e. coaching).

Experience certainly doesn’t hurt.

Doesn’t take a decade-plus to turnaround a program. That’s a false narrative that only exists around here. UND football and Bubba have been babied and given too much time, but, since it is what it is, hope they make something happen in 2023.

I say try win them all. Screw the “odds”. At some point UND needs to break the odds or forever be 7-4.

You’re right - playoffs count towards the 4 games. It was just last year in 2022 that there was a postseason waiver (in FBS). https://dknetwork.draftkings.com/platform/amp/2022/12/16/23513120/college-football-bowl-game-eligibility-ncaa-rules-exemptions-opt-outs-redshirts

11 gets 4 games plus playoffs without burning a year, now, remember? With that said, this is #2’s team, but the upcoming QB battle between #3 and #11 will be intense. Iron sharpens iron, all good things for UND football under Freund.

Depends on how hard you demand. You could learn something from your toddlers (including spelling), rather than the other way around. Would like to see actions match these “expectations” at some point. First round playoff exits year after year will not get it done; I can clearly see that and am not blind to it. Hopefully 2023 will be different and include some program changing wins; I will not apologize for wanting more, even with this glacial rate of “progress” some claim.

Trust me, I don’t hate UND football. That completely idiotic statement doesn’t deserve a response, but as a starter, simply the amount of my comments on this forum is in my defense.

That is bullsh*t. You don’t get a decade plus to build any program up unless expectations aren’t there. Delayed gratification? Have you even paid attention to this program’s roller-coaster trajectory over the past decade? While Bubba has been babying this thing, NDSU has been feasting; and the monopoly on North Dakota football has barely gone in a positive direction for UND since Bubba’s hire in ‘14. Your argument that UND has better facilities coming is independent of the coaching / recruiting that has been done up to this point. No doubt the recruiting will improve with better facilities, but that doesn’t glorify the so-so results up to this point. I get I’m preaching to the choir of UND faithful, but sometimes you need to wake up and smell the roses to demand better. My simple demand is UND needs to start winning some big games (in 2023 that would include Boise St., SDSU and NDSU, and of course playoffs), and yet you goons still find a way to get triggered by that. Lastly, to several of @iramurphy’s points, just to be clear, I don’t expect my comments here to do sh*t; so please don’t misinterpret a little forum chatter/fun and steer this thing into an abyss.

I think everyone, myself included, would be very happy with 9-2.

I think this is most probable, and as such I think 8-3 happens with a home playoff win and second round playoff loss (1-1 in playoffs like spring 2021). Some may call that a good season, but with the amount of seniors on this team, I don’t see how that is true progress. I would call that status quo, and this team/program under Bubba would remain years away from anything close to a championship. Bottom line, next step for this team is 2 playoff wins, and I think beating Boise or SDSU shows the team is capable of that (both to us as fans but also to the team themselves).

Beyond annoying

That’s exactly what I’m doing - I’m excited to see how they look. I’m just saying I want to see this program start fast for once and not put themselves behind the 8 ball. Do something that suggests you’re advancing the program, Bubba, and not keeping it status quo.

Oh I’m giving them a chance. We’ll know a lot after the first month is what I’m saying.

This won’t happen. It did happen in 2016, but that was another textbook choke job playoff performance. If UnD goes 2-2 in 2023 (this season), then 9-2 likely ain’t happening, but crazier things have happened. My simple point is that UND needs to go 3-1 or 4-0 to make this a special season, and not the same ol, same ol. It’s a prediction, sure, but I’m confident in it.

2-2 is okay but 3-3 isn’t? Bunch of random crap here. I guess I hope UND football is better than a forever 7-4 program; hence, the reason I hope they don’t start 2-2 and pull off a major upset to take the program to the next level. Sorry for wanting and expecting more.

Again, winning the games UND is supposed to win and losing the games that UND is supposed to lose … again and again …will never allow UND to ascend. Your long winded excuse is just that … an excuse. Win or lose, not complicated. Succeed or fail.

Yeah well you have to win in the playoffs in order to even advance and set up those repeat matchups … UND hasn’t shown any ability yet to stand on even ground with the big dogs of the FCS. Hopefully 2023 is different …

I disagree. If UND doesn’t make noise against Boise or SDSU, then it’s the same ol’, same ol’ middle of the road Bubba ball. Again, if UND perpetually beats who they’re supposed to beat and loses against who they’re supposed to lose against, then UND FB will never take the next step, despite 10 years of Bubba ball.

Agreed , see my previous post

Wrong. I’m hoping for internal improvement for UND football; what the fans/supporters think is really more of a dependent variable as opposed to being an independent factor in anything. As such, I don’t have a vendetta against fans/supporters who don’t expect great things - they’ve been conditioned to think that way based on recent results. I’ve never claimed that folks’ lives should be centered around the success and failure of athletic teams. That’s a narrative and distraction tactic propagated by some - including yourself- to discredit my posts and thoughts. Such misdirection works superficially on here, sure, but it’s not correct (and that’s verifiable by anyone capable of producing their own independent thoughts / opinions). Now, the only separate piece to this would be greater expectations equals greater contribution by fans/supporters to the program, but I still think UND football internally needs to better generate those contributions.

I agree, let’s see what happens. Hope for 3-1 or 4-0 after 4 games.

It’s fair, but you’re just trying to justify mediocrity. That’s nothing against you; the entire UND community is very good friends with mediocrity. A first round playoff exit isn’t a successful season if you want to be a champion. At UND, though, just being “ok” has too long been “ok”. If UND perpetually beats who they’re supposed to beat and loses against who they’re supposed to lose against, then they’ll never take the next step, despite 10 years of Bubba ball.