The new facilities are a HUGE deal. No question about it.
The change in Strength and Conditioning is a HUGE deal. No question about that either.
But if these improvements (which Bubba has not had access to for most of his tenure) still result in 6-5 and 7-4 seasons, then the coaches will have run out of excuses.
You cannot replicate game conditions in practice.
So this 100% focus on what happens in practice is concerning.
Our backups (at all positions) need reps during actual games so they can be evaluated for what they do in actual games.
Here we go with the "one and done" bull$hit again. That's just an all-purpose excuse to repeatedly fail in the playoffs and have it explained away.
Do you really think that Denver's 3 titles since we hung #8 are mainly the result of "luck"? It's a clear pattern of success we have not had in a long time. That doesn't happen by accident and it sure as heck didn't happen because of "magic fairy dust". Ralph Engelstad didn't believe in "luck" and neither should we.
And FWIW, our GWG vs. Denver in the NCAA semifinals in 2016 was the result of winning a key faceoff, not "luck". I like how this team is built, but we'll have to wait and see how the team grows and develops over the coming months.
This has to be instilled by playoff time. You can lay some eggs during the regular season (most teams do), but that has to be ironed out before the postseason starts.
I don't think NDSU is "mediocre". But they also are not the team they were five years ago. Other teams have been working night and day to catch up to and beat them. That is the problem when you are on top, everyone below you is always trying to overtake you.
This is what must change this season. A slow, but steady, improvement in being ready to play at the opening faceoff must happen or we'll have the same putrid postseason results.
I have went to several concerts at the Alerus Center (The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, Aerosmith and KISS, Nickelback, Nickelback/Staind/Puddle of Mudd).