UND-FB-FAN

Got it.

I agree with that. Not saying you’re beating your chest, just saying I’d trade that YSU win for a win against Nebraska, North Dakota State or South Dakota State in a heartbeat. It was a good win, but not season defining or program changing by any means. It will be quickly forgotten by everyone other than the diehards and the players/coaches on this year’s team. On this site, a negative slant is a kind way of saying I disagree with you because you’re highlighting UND football’s shortcomings. Others on here say it more bluntly and crudely, so I actually appreciate “negative slant”.

So in summary, 6 to 7 wins again is the most likely outcome, and you continue to think the Big Sky Conference is head and shoulders above the MVFC. Sounds like more of the same, to me.

See above post. Which FBS team or FCS playoff team did UND beat to post on their resume? Bubba’s team was underwhelming in 2022.

Okay, UND beat a couple average teams, then, not all cupcakes. Beating your chest that UND eeked out a road win against YSU is not a good hill to die on. I’m not pissed, I’m apathetic at this point. Same ol’, same ol’.

UND has plenty of big slow bodies. It’s the lineage. Need actual speed in the receiver room; it’s absent right now. Belquist #1 is the only stud.

None of them will ever sniff a 500 yard season at UND (that’s all purpose, so I’ll give them rushing and return yards, also). 84,12,13 aren’t good enough. 10 has a chance.

You’re spot on. Be careful, most folks on here don’t like it when you point out the roster is filled with high end D2 players. It’s reality. There are some good players on the roster, don’t get me wrong, but not enough. Need to go out and change that this off season.

10 is still young and could improve. 84, 13, and 12 have no business being on a DI roster. They can transfer- give ‘em the green light.

Won’t be far if UND defense doesn’t produce more turnovers.

This team went 7-5, it should be improved at all spots, but 1) edge rusher, 2) corner and … wait for it … 3) receiver are my top 3 position needs for 2023. I agree, RB and even a QB depth transfer is not a bad idea. UND needs to infuse FBS level talent on this team badly. If they can’t develop it, which I don’t think they can based on sample size, then go heavy on FBS transfers and JuCo kids.

Nah, we have a 9 year sample size of what this staff does in recruiting, development, and game planning. I agree, 4-7 to 7-4 is the range at this juncture, barring some major recruiting developments.

All players aren’t D2 caliber, but several are. Recruiting needs to improve. But I agree, development and coaching salary needs to get better also. Basically, program needs to look itself in the mirror and stop repeating the same mistakes over and over.

Where’s this second playoff win? Hypothetical home playoff win against Weber? Not convinced it would happen. Staff pissed their pants with a 24-7 home lead against Richmond in 2016 as the #7 seed.

Every season will include a road game against a good program, like NDSU or SDSU. UND needs to learn to beat good teams on the road. UND only beat cupcakes this season.

I respectfully disagree. best players need to be edge rushers (OLB) and corner. Also simplify the defense so the safeties can fly around and make plays, not sit there and overthink every damn play. With great edge rushers and corners, you’ll see a lot of strip sacks and interceptions; forced turnovers win games. There were no turnover producing studs on this year’s defense, and that hurt. The turnover differential was not in UND’s favor. Sure, the offense protected the ball fairly well, but not nearly enough turnovers on defense. That’s a highlighted issue for sure.

You don’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket.

UND went 2-1 in “toss ups” which is good obviously. Based on that, I suppose UND had an above average season. In order to have a good to great season, need to buck the trend and beat NDSU and/or SDSU in the future.

Complete overhaul on defense. Don’t get complacent on offense and special teams. If you can get a talented player in the portal, you get them. Obviously the priority is defensive back (corner and safety), but linebacker, defensive line and kicker also important. Hoosman is gone, so grabbing a talented running back also not a bad idea. Need more talent at receiver. Losing Zavalney, so grab a talented tight end if able. Another offensive line body for depth is fine also. Would you consider a project QB with good arm strength and speed as a project behind Tommy? Point is, UND football needs to get more talented. Self scout and grades will dictate this, as the defense and a couple offensive positions are not getting good on-the-field grades …

Just won’t happen. Bubba is too stubborn and loyal to the 3-4. Goes back to Roger Thomas and Dale Lennon. It’s all Bubba knows. Bubba is in the twilight years of his career; he won’t learn and implement anything else. Bottomline, coaches and schemes will be staying the same. Is it the best strategy? Of course not, it’s lazy; but the 7-5 record and playoff berth will give them and Chaves the justification to do it. Keeping everything the same is also the cheapest strategy, therefore it’s most likely to happen. Best hope is an extensive overhaul via the transfer portal, because currently the talent level of the roster is not good enough to win the conference, and certainly not good enough to dream about winning an FCS title. Again, despite the crap I get from clueless posters, the roster has too many DII players on it. Beyond scheme and Xs and Os, if Bubba and his staff can’t secure better players, then recruiting is also an issue for this staff.

Okay SlowBrain

Well, first off, that is a major question, but there should be no doubt better coaches are out there. Starts with what you have to offer contractually and financially. It then takes an extensive search to narrow that down and come up with the guys that are interested. If you look at what Bubba is currently making, there are a ton of FCS coordinators and DII head coaches on the potential list. I personally would go with an up and coming DII head coach, or a coordinator off the SDSU or NDSU staff. Top DII programs include Ferris State, Angelo State, Colorado School of Mines, Grand Valley State, Indiana (PA), and Shepherd.

To be fair, the writing was sort of on the wall that he would be successful. NDSU just has higher expectations for football than UND. Bohl had back-to-back 10-1 seasons in ‘06 and ‘07. Bubba hasn’t produced anything close to resembling that degree of success. closest thing would be a 9-3 season in 2016, which included a blown 24-7 playoff game lead, and then a follow up 3-8 season in 2017.

UND has one playoff win in … wait for it … 9 seasons! Bubba has definitely reached his ceiling. Hiring someone from a successful program, whether that’s NDSU or an ascending DII head coach, just getting new blood at some point is wry important. The current style and culture of the UND football program is certainly not championship caliber. @iramurphy will defend the staff, but the honest to God truth is there are far better, smarter people out there that UND could hire at the same rate they have Bubba currently hired for. The coaches salary pool still needs to be improved, though, no questions asked.

Completely agree. When reading the question, Craig Bohl for NDSU came to mind for me also.