fightingsioux4life

Not to defend the call, but I think referees are being pressured by the league to watch for anything that even looks like roughing the passer and then throw the flag. Some balance needs to be found with this or this will become flag football.

I don't think the players are capable of executing the current game plan, especially the offensive line. That may be the worst part of this whole team. I don't think Bubba and Rudolph should totally abandon the running game, but a few wrinkles here and there might keep defenses more honest and give us at least a chance of scoring on two to three drives per game. With our defense flying around creating havoc, that might be worth a couple of more wins.

Overall, I think Bridgewater looked fine in his first regular season action. Looks like he'll have to carry the load until Cassel's turf toe heals.

Wrong? I do not think so. Did you really compare FU's offense to ours? There are high school teams that could put more points on the board than our offense right now. And FYI, when we won it all in 2001, we had a run-pass threat at QB, a game-breaking WR and (the most important part) a rock-solid OL that pass protected and run blocked enough for our rather pedestrian RBs to grind out yards when we needed them. Without those tools on offense, we wouldn't have gotten out of the first round vs. Winona St. at home (they hung 28 on our defense; thankfully our offense put up 42). And Eastern Washington is going to lose some games if they keep giving up 40-50 ppg like they have been, so that isn't a really good example either. Dale Lennon is learning the hard way at SIU that having a pedestrian offense is a major detriment to taking that next step beyond having a winning record every year. We just have to be patient and allow Bubba and company to bring in better O-linemen.

And if we get 5 total first downs next week at Montana State, we'll be "running the clock" so we can get out of town before they hang another 6 on us. If anyone thinks this team will beat any team that has a pulse with this offense, they are kidding themselves. Maybe running the old veer option would open up some things? Crazy. Yes, but desperate times call for desperate measures. What do we have to lose after what happened yesterday?

You honestly believe that Chewey's tirade was all about "that one position" and nothing else? It was a not-so-thinly veiled slam on college-level public education and the people that work there and I was not going to let it slide without some pushback. I work on a college campus and I don't know what I am talking about? Yeah, whatever. If everyone wants to really believe that college professors, who work just as hard as anyone on here (including myself, btw), are just leeches feeding at the public trough, then so be it. Just think of where you would be without your American education and that might put it into perspective. End rant. Back to complaining about the nickname committee (which I am willing to give a chance to work).

With all due respect, nobody is saying that or even implying that. What Irish was saying is that it's a false choice to presume that if you have a great defense that the offense must, by necessity, operate in a pedestrian manner to "run time off the clock". At this level of football (FCS vs. D-II), you cannot have any glaring weaknesses on offense, defense or special teams. That is the point of this thread, as if yesterday wasn't proof enough.

You make good points, but the fact is we will never beat really good teams with an offense that gains less than 200 yards total for the entire game week after week after week. The concern here is that the offense is always pedestrian and always conservative. Well, there will be days when the D is off their game or we are going up against a really high-powered team that will get its yards and its points no matter how well your D is playing. I believe this is what is missing at SIU for Lennon. It seems like every year they have a pedestrian QB, which leads to a very predictable offensive scheme and that is what is holding them back from taking the next step (perennial playoff team). I do think as we get better O linemen in here and some receivers that can stretch the field, the running game will become a force. Until then, we will struggle.

Read between the lines, he was throwing all of "academia" under the bus, he just used that "one particular position" as a prime example. And the only reason we have that "one particular position" at UND is because of the Fighting Sioux nickname dispute and all the acrimony it has caused on campus and in the community. So the real culprit is the NCAA, which started all this nonsense back in 2005.

In case you didn't notice Chewey, there are several former UND student-athletes on this panel, so get away from the ledge. Oh, and one more thing, I have worked at UND in some form for 11 years now and the faculty, staff and students I have had the pleasure of working with are anything but leeches on the public dole. So you can take your anti-government tirade and stick it where the sun don't shine because you don't know what you are talking about.

Everytime I drive over the Columbia Road Overpass and look at the IPF being built, I think about the good old REA. I'd also take the Old Ralph in a heartbeat.

Can I get an "Amen" for both of those statements?

Maybe you guys should get out. This isn't a aristocratic monarchy. Don't forget that. And crime does happen here, don't pretend that it doesn't.

Awww, ain't that just too bad? Maybe your pals should just retire and leave innovation and progress to the next generation.

Maybe the oil boom out west will bring the "good old days" back? That would be sweet.

This is getting better because of the Oil Patch out west. GF is starting to tap into that and it is paying dividends.

Like I told UNDBIZ, quitters never win and winners never quit. We have a lot of positives here, but the only people that seem to realize it are people that are visiting. That has to change. Think big and you will get there. Think small and you have already dug your own grave.

You are equating bigger with better; they are not the same thing. Ask long-time residents of Williston if bigger=better and they'll give you a mixed answer. The answer is not to just give up and throw in the towel. Quitters never win and winners never quit. Sicatoka is 100% spot on with his post and I wish Grand Forks leaders (and the leaders of this campus for that matter) would get the message as well. And FYI, GF is growing to the west (there was a story in the Heraldo about it this week).

I was in that group as well.

You know, this could work out in the Vikings favor. If they tank this season (and there is a good chance they will), they'll get another high draft choice in the 2015 draft. They will get the unexpected opportunity to add another impact player to the roster. And since I believe AP has played his last game in purple, I think it's time to think about making an offer to Jerry Jones for his services next season after this season is over. Jones is one owner who won't care about all the controversy surrounding Peterson; all he cares about is getting big attractions to fill that stadium of his. If Michael Irvin can do some of the things he did as a player, anything is possible with Jerry Jones. I hope they are thinking about it.

Real journalism died with Walter Cronkite.

The contract says any additional costs must be covered by the Vikings. And FYI (especially in light of the Robin Williams tragedy), I don't think mental health issues should be mentioned in jest.

If these kids really have their hearts set on UND, you don't turn them away. Having said that, I agree with you. Focus on the Midwest first and then look outside of that footprint for skill position players you can't find close to home.

This!