UND-FB-FAN

Man, after reading all of this, all I’m going to say is the University of North Dakota Athletics Department has some major issues to deal with (and it’s certainly not all related to coaching) … not looking good.

This sounds petty, but ok.

There’s no question that the athletic department - REA mess is a detriment to UND football and basketball. Failure to recognize this is concerning, just as much as the inability to rectify it. Funding certainly needs to improve, but so does prioritization. They go hand in hand, though, of course. Lastly, I think there’s a lack of perspective amongst folks who advocate that UND continue on their current course; that and/or alternative agendas.

There’s no guarantee a slow deliberate painful process will work either. In fact, you could argue it normally doesn’t. It’s ultra-conservatism and cowardly. Oh well, 7 close victories against mid-tier teams should be fun … again.

I think the Big Sky Conference is overrated and NAU is a bad football program/team.

I’m trying to incite conversation on here as well as intrigue. That is all. Move along. With that said, if UND has to go 2-1, beating Boise State and losing to NAU would be the way to go. Of course, 3-0 is preferred.

Because it’s true, that’s why it’s familiar. It’s been occurring right in front of everybody’s own eyes for years.

Sandbagging against the deflating defeat is less impactful than the upset victory against a name-recognizable school. Both accomplishments are ideal, though.

UND under Bubba is a 6 to 7 win/season program. That would suggest UND starts 2-1, and week 2 vs NAU will be a nail bitter. That shouldn’t be acceptable, though.

3 most important games in 2023 (based on confidence it would give both football team and fans): 1. vs NDSU 2. @ Boise State 3. @ South Dakota State you could argue SDSU should be higher, but knowing the vibe of Grand Forks and UND fans, beating NDSU and a notable FBS team would be the bigger impact games.

Boise game is more important. Winning on the road against an FBS opponent would be more beneficial and impactful to UND football. Grand Forks don’t care if UND beats Northern Arizona. Time to raise expectations higher than 7 wins and a 1st round playoff exit year after year. Ideally, UND starts 3-0, though, of course.

Defense had plenty of failures in 2021 also.

I have had similar experience(s). Half-assed apathetic program, with a disjointed “relationship” between REA-UND, as former President Kennedy pointed out during his tenure. UND athletic department leadership is subpar. AD Chaves has been an underwhelming, disappointing hire. Why should anything or anyone commit their funds to such a poorly-led department, if not other than just purely for pride? Horrible strategy. Model is collapsing.

Agreed, home phone absolutely off limits, but making an appointment isn’t as easy as you suggest, either. Underwhelming UND athletic programs, failed leadership.

Bingo

Chaves is joke. Bad hire

Recruit better players Have better recruiters Build better facilities Provide more (legal) money to student-athletes

You’re right. A significant part (probably majority) of collegiate athletics success (or failure) is on recruiting, and the coaches definitely are the ones who do the recruiting.

With all the corruption that exists with Fargo Ag U, you just need to win. UND will lose the NCAA political game, they have time after time before, and it’s clear and obvious now. Polls are included in this scheme.

Not gonna bite. Just win. Improve. Day by day.

What’s important is UND just wins. Beat Boise State in Boise? Would be nice. Beat NDSU in Grand Forks to further hurt the bizon’s feelings? Awesome. Defeat defending champs in Brookings? Tough but not impossible. These should be the goals, not where UND is ranked to start the year. This whole poll watching crap is petty.

As far as your reality goes, of UND not having anyone close to what NDSU and SDSU have, whose fault is that?

Tucker Kraft Kraft was a force in all three phases of the game at Timber Lake High School, seeing action primarily at running back, middle linebacker and punter. He rushed for 1,405 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior, while adding 132 receiving yards and 56 tackles en route to a spot on the Sioux Falls Argus Leader Elite 45. A four-year starter, his career totals included 3,130 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns on offense, to go along with 142 tackles and eight sacks on defense. He also saw limited action at quarterback, throwing five touchdown passes. Kraft plans to major in biology. https://gojacks.com/news/2018/12/19/jackrabbits-unveil-football-recruiting-class.aspx I agree with what you’re saying. Have to better utilize the players. Looks like he had the accolades to suggest he could be good. But recruiting is an in-exact science, as you know. And he’s not from Madison - you’re thinking of the Janke twins. I think getting kids to the NFL is a big deal, and shouldn’t be entirely overlooked as you suggest. Give SDSU credit for developing and actually utilizing their tight ends. UND needs to improve in both those areas (development, player utilization).

We all (including Bubba and staff and UND fans) recognize and agree that your point #1 is #1. UND needs to get bigger, stronger, faster and meaner on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. If they can do that, they can be champions. But they have a lot of catching up to do to NDSU and SDSU. the other points are valid and really are just pure coaching: situational football, teaching, player prep, etc.

I agree, that needs to be the focus. It’s been discussed ad nauseam on other threads. Players, coaches, administrators, fans all need to take the next step. But can’t ignore NDSU and SDSU. They will stand in UND’s way every season, both off the field (i.e., recruiting) and on it. SDSU used NDSU to boost their efforts by recognizing a very tangible benchmark right in front of them. UND needs to do the same. The standard is right there in front of them.