fightingsioux4life

Which says more about the Gophers than it says about him.

Fair question. I think the next 2 to 3 years will tell us if Bubba is the answer or not. How the team responds to today will tell us a lot about Bubba and this staff, as getting a team to rebound after a bad game is an essential part of their jobs. George Steinbrenner changed managers almost as often as he changed underwear. And the Yankees wallowed in mediocrity for years, in part, because of that. We should not talk regime change this year or next.

A repeat of last year (with a different playoff result) would be nice.

Lennon took what Thomas built and took us all the way to the top. Thomas had to clean up the mess Pat Behrns left behind. Thus the difference. I will argue that the athletic department did not give Lennon the resources needed to be great year in and year out. If they had, we might have become what GVSU became during the 2000's (not to open up old wounds, but it's true). Now we have an administration that is committed to putting the necessary resources into the program (IPF, FCOA, etc.) to make it a perennial FCS power. It is just too bad that the athletic department was in chaos when Lennon left for SIU and we promoted Mussman from within. We are still paying for that right now. In basketball, you can have one player change the program overnight. Football is more of a numbers game and requires a lot more time to build a program into what you want it to be. NDSU did a good job building their program during their transition (their 3-8 year in 2009 notwithstanding) so that when they were playoff eligible, the program was ready to take off. UND meanwhile spent most of the transition losing to USF and getting blown out by established FCS programs. These aren't excuses, they are facts. And facts tend to be stubborn things. It is way too early to talk regime change.

It took Roger Thomas seven years to win a conference title and win a playoff game. Bubba is in year four, has won a conference title and made the playoffs. Now after one bad road loss, people are already hinting at regime change. Too early to have that conversation IMHO.

USD had Joe Glenn before Nielsen. Glenn stabilized the program and Nielsen has simply built upon that. UND had Mussman before Bubba. Mussman completely destroyed this program. I am not sure who would win between the 1985 team and the 2013 team. It takes longer than 4 years to build quality depth in a numbers-oriented sport like FB. Especially when some guys crap out on the team and program (yes Grady, I am talking about you!).

THIS! Especially when you consider what Bubba and company inherited. A team that probably couldn't make the Division 3 playoffs. There is no easy way to build depth. It just takes time. And in our 24/7 instant gratification culture, that isn't soon enough for most of us. Including myself.

I will argue it was over sometime in the 2nd quarter (sarcasm, I know what you meant).

Can't disagree with that.

The Steelers on the road. I am feeling much better about the Purple than I was a week ago. But it will be a tough game to win.

Maybe Mussman can come back and run the offense. He was very good at that. #thinkingoutsidethebox

The season isn't over. But this is the kind of game that can sink a FB team. Unless the players use this as motivation to run the table and win the conference again. And since everyone else will write us off after today, we won't have a target on our backs. Some teams might take us lightly.

Response of the Day!!!!!

I think most fan boards are.

I think it's more about not wrapping up on tackles and less about having big LBs.

Yeah, I like what you said better.

Too early in the season to be sure. I think it's a little of both.

I don't think he would argue with anything you just said.

Hey, stop interrupting a good b!tchfest!!!

I think Joe Glenn was in charge for a couple of years before Nielsen took over. I don't think you can put Glenn and Mussman in the same boat.

Right now, I will take a winning season. And that is by no means assured.

I might have thrown a deep ball there. No one would expect that.

We might as well run the Wing-T.

Probably out for the year, like half of our defense (sarcasm).

I would argue it takes way longer to build the kind of depth you need in a violent game like FB. It took Roger Thomas way longer than 4 years to build enough depth to be conference title and playoff contenders. Another couple of recruiting classes should help fill those voids.