geaux_sioux

So next year we need to not go 3-8 and not have players arrested from a Best Buy theft ring and not have players kicked of the team for drug related Facebook content and we'll be ahead of the game.

They went 6-5 first year in the MVFC in 2008 and 3-8 in 2009 with wins against Wagner College a terrible Ind St and Western Ill. By my count 2008 was their first year of eligibility since 2004 was their first of the transition.

You have no idea how crippling that whole debacle was to football in particular. Scheduling recruiting finding a legit conference home fund raising literally every aspect of the football program took a hit at a very vulnerable time. That is why last season should be considered as about the first by which he should be measured.

Did they get into the MVFC before they were eligible?

I second that and know it for a fact.

The reason I bring it up is because its more than valid. They kicked ass for a while in their transition then when they got to a legit conference they couldn't handle it depth wise until year three at which they made the playoffs and the rest is history. Next year is our equivalent to their 3-8 season and we should compare ourselves to them that year if we are going to be realistic. Remember after that season they were calling for his head in Fargo, had they fired him too hastily do you think they'd be where they are now? Am I a mussman apologist or just someone that chooses to look at the big picture. He is finally free of the nickname and all the negativity that brought the program which was a massive disadvantage. 5-6 doesn't cut it, but I'm not about to call for his head until I see the next two years now that he has minimal negative externalities affecting his ability to build a successful program.

Two years from now. Not next season or the one after but the one after that.

The problem is next year is the equivalent of ndsu's 3-8 year. They have done quite well in the three years after. With a freshman qb I think the next three years are how we should measure his ability to build/coach this program.

Maybe it should just be who do you think will make an impact next year that didn't last year. I've realized there are too many options. Defense. Edwards obviously. Labat. Reyes. Dwayne Brown. Carrothers. Offense. JJ Robertson. Sparks. Shea Walker at center. A tight end, Grant? Adler at fb unless he's moved to te. I honestly think we could have 3 wrs with at least 750 yards next season. I'm expecting big things from the offense and for a defensive renaissance.

Ours are underpaid to say the least

If you had to pick one breakout player on offense (not a qb) and one on defense for next year who would it be?

Lets speculate

We need a new coach that can coach the D line regardless of who is named DC. Guy from Towson fits that bill nicely.

The uproar on bisonville would be monumental if we hired him away.

I think we should look far and wide for a defensive guy that fits what we're looking for, an aggressive 3-4 guru (unless they decided in house to change to a 4-3 to help defend the pass and not have to blitz for a pass rush). I do think Kotelnicki is a rising star in the coaching world though. He kicks ass and takes names and would be the firey guy the defense as a whole may need. This would be one way to keep him around long term since his stock will rise each year. I'm not sure who some good candidates out there would be so I can't name drop but one thing is for sure is that we need to bump the pay for football coaches ASAP.

With 7 home games next season the team needs new greens so they aren't in all black for 7 games. We need as many votes on here as possible. I will contact the alumni association about setting up something special for this.

So what was the attendance actually like? No way I trust what the Herald is trying to say. Something like 14000 is what they said. Right.....

The cities have been getting pounded. I'm interested to see if the heavy stuff will actually make it to grand forks.

You get Ron Hextal if you win three

I heard 'Tony's. aunt' was the last man standing in that one

Unless something groundbreaking happens with him he's too stiff and slow to do much of anything. Maybe he's taking up yoga or something like that to address it but last time I saw him he was stiff as a board. He is massive though.

Participation is way down and sports like hockey and soccer take a lot of really good athletes away from football and basketball. I know of a lot of guys my age in grand forks that would have been great football players but played soccer or trained for hockey instead. There is a boat load of talent that is either untapped or undeveloped in North Dakota and participation numbers are shrinking. Central had over 100 kids in the program when I played. It's not even close to that now.....

Those poor bars are gonna dry up tonight with no game and people not wanting to waste a good night in Omaha.

No way in hell those ushl teams should be playing on that. Play the game tomorrow or indoors tomorrow it's not worth risking knees and ankles for fans to be outside with not a good seat in the house for fun. O and the game is kind of important in the conference.

Lots of transfers on some teams. I think it's interesting to look at the geographical strategies used by teams. Cali teams stick in their neighborhood while mt schools do Montana and pick another state or two to pipeline. I like out class. The only names I recognize are a few that went to Montana instead of here like favors.