zonadub

Didn't the last of Lennon's recruits graduate last year? Yes, there is the transition excuse, but IIRC this year was a reflection of mussman.

well besides benching Mackey, how about sending in Zeb Miller for the last second field goal at Northern Colorado? How about getting in the officials' faces when Northern Colorado had 12 men on the field for that last play? (if your answer to this one is that he didn't realize there were twelve Bears, my response is that, as the coach, its his responsibility to be aware of things like that and if he wasn't then thats just another example of poor coaching) How about showing some passion and fire, either on the sidelines or in the press conferences? I believe Hendrickson proved he was the right kind of leader when he was given the chance, maybe he should have been put back on the field when the Sioux started sputtering the second half of the season. I do not pretend to know the team as well as you do (you have provided some outstanding analysis of the season on another thread), but I think great coaching is the reason a team like Alabama continues to win under Lou Saban. Jim Harbaugh turned the 49ers around. Sean Peyton not being on the sidelines has had a tremendous negative impact on the Saints. I admit I am only a Monday morning quarterback, but Phil Jackson was able to win in Chicago and in LA when he took over, but neither team has won since he left them. Coaching makes a tremendous difference in teams that win championships. I sincerely hope you are right about Mussman turning things around, because having the kind of talent that Mollberg, Golladay and others bring and not winning and competing for Big Sky championships and making a run at the national playoffs because of coaching will be very disappointing for those players and us fans.

Sorry, geaux, i really respect what you post and your dedication to the football team, but as long as Mussman is the head coach, UND has an uphill fight. He just has not shown that he has the cojones you need to take the Sioux to the next level.

high school is different than college. in high school, you gotta play with the hand that's dealt to you. in college, the coach gets to choose who he wants to recruit.

What a great comeback by Eastern Washington. 2 outstanding semifinal games. This is why FCS is more exciting than the idaho famous potato bowl.

maybe the coach should have identified different leaders. Or maybe the other team was better coached? Sometimes hall of fame for coaches is as much about longevity as it is about winning.

Ouch. Sam Houston is doing to Eastern Washington what Eastern did to UND. SH has not been very nice to the Big Sky in these playoffs.

this ^^^^^^^^^ Coaching is why the Lakers won under Jackson and can't get over .500 now. Coaching is why the NO Saints are struggling this year. Its about getting your players to play together. Its about getting your team to play with good fundamentals instinctively. Its about team members believing they are winners and ultimately champions. Its not about moral victories and staying in the game except for a couple of key breaks. Champions make breaks of their own.

No-o-o!!! Mr. Faison, don't let him get away!

Grimaldi - short handed from Kristo

And ask for a job as O-Coordinator for the goofs?

sorry. memory of convenience, i guess

AND the last time each team met on the field

Louisville jumps to the ACC. What's next for the Big East football? Will Boise & San Diego go back to the Mountain West, or will New Mexico State (and maybe Idaho) get its oppotrunity to go to the MWC? ESPN: ACC votes to add Louisville Cardinals

You just have to wonder if lakes is in New York or somewhere lobbying for the Bizun to be invited to the Big East

Tell that to Iowa / Iowa State and Florida / Florida State

Now that there is funny. I don't care who you are.

I know this will irk the Bison posters & trolls, but the Summit is still not a destination conference. Yes, the Missouri Valley is a destination mid major conference, but the MVFC has not invited UND. The Big Sky, on the other hand is very stable. Yes, the addition of a hockey rival to the Summit does make it a little more desirable, and familiar old rivals of the days when some of us were students are appealing, BUT the Big Sky was always a dream, and now it's a dream fulfilled. I say the Sky is the best place for UND.

Would Kelley/Faison open up the wallets enough to bring someone from Notre Dame's D staff (like the D line coach) in as head coach? That goal line stand against USC was pretty impressive! Disclaimer: Since Mussman has not been relieved of his duties nor resigned yet, I think its probably safe to say he will be back in 2013.

So Geaux... You are more connected than I am; and definitely more observant... What is the coaching staff's heartburn with Hendrickson? Why didn't he get playing time last year (2011)? I sure thought he was impressive when he had an opportunity on game day this year.

it's ok by me. Either way, UND had a couple of good options, just want to stir the pot a bit Hanson put up some of the best QB numbers UND has had in the short time he was able to play here, however, Hendrickson had a pretty darn good first half of the year too. Guess we can understand why Joey Bradley left.

This ^^^^^^^^^^ is the bottom line - UND lost its identity and is losing its rivals. NDSU went to D-I before UND and is in a conference that doesn't include UND. Now Minnesota and Wisconsin are moving to a hockey conference that doesn't include UND. While happy that UND is in the Big Sky, its disheartening not having regular games with NDSU in football. Not as happy with the NCHC (yet) but that conference has not even begun, so who knows at this point how it will all work out. However, will definitely mourn the loss of the Sioux-Gopher hockey rivalry as much as the loss of the Sioux-Bison rivalry and the Fighting Sioux name. Being a Fighting Sioux fan has been difficult for all the losses the past few years.

History will give the Griz the benefit of the doubt, just like Northern Iowa this year.

Yep. This conference realignment is good stuff, isn't it? UND will have to build new rivalries with DU, UMD instead of Minnesota & Wisconsin, and Montana State & Montana instead of NDSU & South Dakota. Same could happen with Kansas & K State if B1G goes after KU to get to 16 teams. Or how about Texas & Texas A&M?

bottom line: some here were still in favor of giving Mussman more time to produce winning teams, myself included. The decision on the 4th and 1 just broke the camel's back. How can you not kick the field goal? 51 yards into a gentle breeze at 4000' above sea level! If Miller is 100% from 40-49 yards at lower elevations, how can you not go for the field goal? Was the plan to kick it as the clock runs out? If Mussman had said in the post game interview that he wanted to keep the ball out of Northern Colorado's hands by kicking it at the end of the game, that would have been a reason. At least know why you gave up at least a 50-50 chance of winning the game. A huge part of being a head coach is the ability to make in-game decisions and adapt to the situation in front of you. Don't blame that one on the defensive coordinator. That was not Mannasau's decision.