Dustin

Yep, I have no problem with this.

Not sure what you think I'm trying to say here. If you're a fan, you're a fan, regardless of if / how much you donate, if / how many games you attend, if you do/don't tailgate, etc. I listen to the podcast. I assume that others who listen to the podcast are also pretty interested in the program.

I assumed that if you're a committed enough fan to listen to the podcasts, you know that.

No doubt the podcast is of high quality, but is it a true representation of the program? I would say mostly it is, but Like I said before, how much are true feelings reserved because you’re talking to the brother of the coach?

Maybe it was only me And what I mean, not necessarily problem solved like the defense is fixed, but saved Bubba from having to make a decision about whether to keep a guy who just gave up 400 yards/game on the season. Not to paint Schmidt as all bad, that same article said of the 2016 season: "UND gave up 91.3 yards per game rushing, which was sixth in the FCS. His defense collected 20 interceptions, which ranked No. 2 in the nation."

The joke is on UND, though. He's not even a coordinator and makes double what our head coach makes.

From Herald article at the time of Schmidt’s departure: “UND's 2019 defense averaged 397.6 yards of total defense, which ranked No. 73 in the FCS. The Fighting Hawks gave up 28.5 points per game, which ranked No. 68 in the FCS.” I seem to remember that him leaving was solving a problem. Same with Holinka. Seems like both of them started out well but regressed.

Ok things make more sense now. Did not realize Dale, Bubba, Kalen, and Schmidt all had the Southern Illinois connection.

Not really sure where to post this question, but what was it about Eric Schmidt that got him a job at Washington? Weren’t we thinking that his defenses at UND weren’t overly impressive?

I believe through 2025 season. So two more after this one.

To be fair, I know for a fact that there were NDSU alumni that thought what they were doing back then didn't make sense. I think it was safe to think that a DI move could be regarded as a mistake. With UND already playing the DI sport it wanted (hockey), I understand the cautiousness. If NDSU didn't find any takers to partner up with, then status quo in the NCC. What probably should have happened, is once NDSU got SDSU on board, UND (and I'm sure USD) should have been, "wait a minute, let's all four do this." It's hard to admit that you were wrong.

I knew you'd downvote, or respond, or both, and while I don't like it either, the only way out of the mess that was 2008-2020 was to have jumped to FCS in 2004. Lots of blame to go around.

Someone said it a while back, the clock for catching the XDSUs didn't really begin until UND joined the MVFC. Before that, our football program just floundered in an abyss from 2008 to 2020. I didn't mind the Big Sky, but it really wasn't our school's identity. I think the recruiting pipelines have gotten better since then. Wisconsin, Iowa. Wouldn't people say this last class is among the best (at least on paper)? I know it sucks not to be top dog now, but the waiting is the hardest part.

Kelly pretty much called it as how we all see it, but without getting into any coaching. https://undfootball360.com/sdsu-rolls-early-and-pulls-away-late-from-und/

How much do Kelly and Matt have to reserve their true feelings regarding the season/program because of Shannon?

It seems like most (everyone??) here are pretty satisfied with the QB room. The only reason Tommy is here is because our former recruit bailed on us, so I actually don’t consider the Tommy situation a product of our “coaches own doing.” We’ve been able to make the best of that situation, but it appears to be coming to an end.

Give Feeney the Western Illinois game. See how he does. Give him some experience. I’m guessing all of our QBs can win that one, so it seems like little to no risk. Will it be a great assessment? Probably not, but the experience would deepen the room soooo much. Keep NDSU guessing which QB we start on the 14th. QB is not our only problem…but it’s a place to start with a solution.

I agree. We had a crack at SDSU’s first loss and failed. No longer do we have the first crack at NDSU’s first loss because we were upstaged by our SD counterpart. Of the teams that really matter in our league, we are the last one to get over the NDSU hump. I’m sure that loss put NDSU on notice now, too.

8-3 feels like the absolute ceiling of this program right now. If one of the 8 wins is against NDSU, that would have a different feeling (to me) than if it isn’t. Still a couple of tough road tests on the schedule (UNI, USD), so can’t assume we’d get to 8 wins without getting NDSU. Even if we did go 8-3, but can’t beat SDSU or NDSU, is that what we want perpetually? I would hope everyone would say “No.”

I know he said that. Even if he on is on the team, doesn’t mean he plays. Or could serve as a backup in case something happens.

Maybe it was so obvious no one could have missed it??

Think of the possibilities for joy if we had come through as well. At some point, there has to something more than your biggest rival losing to make a good day.

So, here's what we know so far: We are much better than some FCS teams at home. We are long ways off from a household name FBS team on the road. We are also a long ways off from the best FCS team on the road. I think pretty much everyone figured we'd be 2-2 at this point, but I know all were hoping for better. I'm sure we'll beat up W. Ill. at home next week, and then onto NDSU at home. That game is a must win to have any sort of good feeling for the future. Even at 8-3 (which is looking less and less likely as we see the product on the field) means little to no progress is being made. I hope Bubba retires at the end of the season, regardless of final record. Even if we go farther than we've ever gotten before, he can hang his hat on that. Also, I've been a pretty big Tommy cheerleader, but this should be his last season. Maybe he doesn't even complete it. Who knows. Thank him for coming to campus last minute and helping build a program, celebrate his vast record book, but say it's time to take the next step for the program. As for HC, I don't know. Had been thinking Danny was pretty much the shoe-in, but he seems to have the same yips as Bubba. A complete gut job seems harsh, but do we have the best we can get at this level? At some point, somebody's gotta recruit the guys who are going to take down the big guns. We need to be the big guns that opponents want a shot at.

Doesn’t seem like I am missing much…ready for some kind of shake up. Whether it be QB, coaches, defensive strategy, something. It’s time.

Will not be able to listen or watch until later, so updates appreciated!