UND-FB-FAN

We’re talking about attendance, not which sport is more important. There are plenty of NDSU football fans who are UND hockey fans, but those fans don’t factor into this equation, because NDSU fans obviously aren’t going to be filling the Alerus Center regularly. Fans of UND often choose to attend one event or the other, not both, when they are scheduled on the same date. Too much commitment to attend both if you have family, daytime work scheduled, traveling family to cater to, etc. REA oftentimes gets the nod due to the nightlife aspect and aesthetics. Additionally, being it’s an evening event, work schedule and travel plans don’t conflict as much as an early afternoon game. Last but not least, the UND hockey reputation vs that of football is in hockey’s favor. To regularly expect fans to show up to both events on game days is not realistic. Just the reality of UND football occurring simultaneously with UND hockey. With that said, there’s enough folks around Grand Forks to ultimately fill the Alerus. If UND can win more and convince regional fair weather fans to buy in (e.g., beat NDSU), that will help attendance - no doubt.

Key to the game. I’ll take Tommy Schuster if it gets into a shoot out between him and Cam Miller. But the thing is, NDSU is going to do everything they can to prevent it to even get into a shootout. They’ll run the ball every play and play a super soft Cover 2 (bend but don’t break) waiting for UND to make a mistake and turn it over. keys: defense: UND needs to stop NDSU run offense: UND and Schuster need to make good smart decisions all game long. Turn the ball over, even just a simple fumble like against SDSU this year, and NDSU will get the crowd into it and run away with the game

The entire world knows this will be NDSU’s game plan (i.e., run the ball every play if they can), and NDSU is fine with that. Now it’s simply up to UND to stop it.

Don’t disagree with this one bit at all. The matchup of the game is NDSU offensive line versus UND defensive front. NDSU will take the air out of the ball running it at all costs to avoid having to have Miller throw.

Benchmark at UND is always to beat NDSU, whether one likes to admit it or not. Well, here we are: another opportunity to turn the tide.

“One of the toughest FCS schedules” is inflated by #1 SDSU being on it. Losing at SIU is looking more and more like a bad loss and the loss at FBS disaster Nebraska is certainly not anything to brag about. Beat NDSU and all is forgiven.

Nope. You misinterpreted and exaggerated what I said to fit your narrative. Copy and paste isn't exactly accurate, is it? I think the coaches could do better and the players could be better, but I’m beyond happy that they’ve won the last 3 games. Happy to see improvement.

Nope. Just amazing someone would waste a few seconds of their life typing that.

Agree with most all of this; only complaint with the offense is what you actually stated as a complaint: sometimes it gets too cute, especially in the red zone. UND was fortunate the failed red zone possession didn’t come back to haunt them since they got that blocked punt.

yes - would go a long way. Need to upend those bandwagon builders

Wins is a part of the solution, but competing with the Ralph Engelstad Arena head-to-head will never help either. Best case scenario for football attendance is always UND football winning, Alerus Center doing a good job in production (of which work still needs to be done - end zone lounge seating anyone plus catwalk open?), AND the hockey team not playing in town.

I agree. Never should be the expectation to get blown out, even if it’s @ Juice U in fact, I’d say UND should force Miller to win the game. Against UND’s secondary, he very well may, but the odds are in UND’s favor. If you let NDSU’s run game get going, it will be a long day.

What else is new …

I was wrong. UND will win 7 or 8 games this season. I’m not mad about that at all so it was a no lose situation for me. But ultimately, it’s not about me or my predictions; the team winning is of far more importance.

Damn you’re cool

I think the biggest matchup is Luepke vs UND defense. I mean, UND didn’t look great against Theis today, who runs with a similar style as Luepke. Now, if Luepke isn’t playing next week, that’s a huge bonus for UND football. Might just have to attend the game next week despite having to be surrounded by those yellow ass-holes..

Damn that was an ass whoopin’

Posted this in another thread, but important UND stops Travis Theis. He sort of runs like Hunter Luepke (physical style) for NDSU. Big test for UND defense in back-to-back weeks. Defense needs to step up and stop the run. Good thing is stopping Theis is a nice warm up for Luepke (and that’s also a bad thing, defense will be worn out).

Travis Theis is a Luepke jr., so he’s a good warm up for UND before they face the real thing in Fargo. Who’s gonna be the most physical team the next couple weeks? It’s November football, baby! UND’s secondary has been scary bad, but I have some faith, just some, left over for the front 7 of UND’s defense still.

Head to head should matter, even to that biased group. But you never know 100%, especially with Juice U’s AD on the committee. I know, I know - he’s supposed to be out of the room for NDSU matters, but I don’t trust all the snakes of that school.

I would say yes. Beating NDSU in Fargo still has major appeal to the voters and FCS playoff committee.

Key to the game will be stopping that guy. He crushed UND (and my soul watching that game amongst those idiots in the FD) during the Spring 2021 game.

You haven’t proven a single thing. FCS coaches poll vs your SS.com worst top 10? What kind of comparison is that? This is ridiculous.

You can take me out of the crosshairs any second now and start talking about things people actually care about. Glad you take such detailed notes, though; that’s kind of flattering.

Worst Top 10? You mean, once again, the truth hurts? Again, irony. You said truth hurts but then followed that up with a list of honest posters who frequent the site. It’s not all flowers and rainbows; too bad the prerequisite on this site is you’re only allowed to say fluffy kind things otherwise you’re in the “worst top 10”. No honesty allowed or it might hurt someone’s feelings. There’s certainly a fair share of wannabes and sensitive folk around here, and you’re one of them.