Dustin

Seems like there’s plenty of doubt to go around, so I’ll add more: it took Roger Thomas 8 tries to finally beat the juggernaut Bison. This is only Bubba’s 6th try.

Yep. The backup QB hasn’t made any mistakes (yet), so there’s a big appeal there.

Technically, most statistics would say otherwise. Just sayin'... I'm gonna end up regretting that I wrote this...sigh

So stack the box and make Cam beat you with his arm?

Anybody watch that game or see a replay? What went down that put USD on top?

I agree that this game (win or lose) will set the tone for the rest of the season.

Well, according to you, so does Tommy, so I guess it will be 3 hours of unwatchable football.

I wonder if he would if he were not #1. My bet is that he would retire from football or maybe even play a backup role helping our new starter.

In 2021 it was only the fourth game of the season. We had gone on the road and handled Idaho State, convinced ourselves that Utah State was hampered by factors beyond our control (weather, time of night), and rolled Drake at home. This year, we've already seen what happens in a big game (and it's not good), so I can understand the lack of confidence. Beat either Boise St. or SDSU and this town is feeling much different. I do suspect, however, by Saturday, there will be a good vibe going. NDSU in football and Wisconsin in hockey on the same day is pretty special.

Probably a very realistic prediction. Need a Mike Mooney style play in order to flip the script.

Amen.

It's all part of the same thing.

I think this is something even the fiercest Tommy backers can agree to. Not like the step up between 2 years and last year.

Don't really want to go back through this whole thread, but what poll/ranking system is generally agreed upon to be best? It seems like this thread is not getting much discussion this year.

Yeah, I'm with you there. The choices are steam roll the opponent, or get steam rolled by the opponent.

I'm of the opinion that, at this point, any kind of loss this week is bad. If it's blowout, obviously that's bad. If it's close, then we play the woulda/coulda/shoulda game, which is also bad.

I don't think anyone is disagreeing that this particular play was a miss. I'd say that's a throw Tommy normally makes.

Wasn't Brock Jensen a "game manager"? I don't watch Bison FB, so I may be off on this one.

This is just for my information. I am not necessarily out to defend him or criticize him.

For the people who say Tommy doesn't have a big enough arm, how far would you like him (or another QB) to throw?

This particular play doesn't really fit my example, but I know you want to point it out to make your own different point, which has been belabored.

Yeah, I've been thinking about the "dink and dunk" comments regarding the passing game, and it seems like most are putting that blame on Tommy's arm. That's not fair because he's able to throw 20-30+ yard pass plays, but a lot of things need to come together for a long pass play to happen, not just what the QB is doing or his arm strength. Need to get good line protection to allow time for receivers to get separation, provided they can.

Crowd needs to be the X factor.

Bo’s dad did play at NDSU. Not sure about the offer situation, though.

Wasn’t talking about his home state that made it personal. If you watch “When They Were Kings” Mike Mooney visited both schools on recruiting trips. He says NDSU wanted him to be a weight room “cheerleader” while obviously UND wanted to him to actually play. I think he gave an extra gear for Sioux-Bison games.