Dustin

Yes. A playoff team wins this game.

How about we don’t lose 4 games and not worry about that dreaded 7-4 record? (FWIW I also believe that 7-4 would get us in)

This game is totally winnable, right? We should be 4-2 at the bye week, which would be a good spot to be in.

Final yet?

May be right, but NDSU and SDSU don’t need to draw attention the same way UND does. I see it as an attempt to turn heads.

Sounds like things are going pretty good. Update on score and clock?

So, 7-3 MSU? Clock?

I’m on vacation in Maine today, so frequent score and clock updates would be appreciated. Thanks! Let’s get a win today.

Play was better than I had seen previously on TV/Stream (I did not catch any of the conference road trip last week where we won twice). Digging tips was a problem. I liked what I saw in Set 3. Was disappointed that they couldn't hold on to a lead in Set 4. The team is starting to show some resiliency, though. Good things are happening, I think.

That was me (although, I know many others have done it), and yes, it is not the sole reason, but it compounded on top of other issues, some of which were beyond the school's control, and many that were not, that are still plaguing some UND athletics, especially football. But you are right, at some point, all others things equal (which they aren't, but...) 4 years won't matter. It's like having 4 more years of experience than a co-worker at a job - the first few the difference in experience is going to be very significant, but after a while, they aren't. How long is that while? Based on my own personal job experience, I'd say 10-15 years. Were probably just settling into the point now where the XDSU's are not any further ahead than UXD's due to the sole reason the XDSU's did it 4 years earlier.

EXCEED that level, I dare say.

Indeed. The question was WHY we want to compare our FB program to NDSU’s. I think I laid that out pretty bare. Again, surprised he would have to ask. I think all were asking for is to have what we once had - a classic in-state college FB rivalry that you get to have a shared experience with all the people, UND and NDSU alike.

I would also argue that SDSU isn’t that far ahead of us in football. At least we’ve beaten them.

Because they had a 4 year head start.

Multiple reasons, and surprised you'd have to ask. A) As a school, NDSU represents the primary alternative for ND / northern MN kids who are also considering UND, so they are a natural rival, both competing for the same students. This makes for many friends/families with ties to each school, creating interpersonal dynamics, hopefully not taken too seriously, but oftentimes is. We want our school to show up as the "superior" in athletic contests, because, hey, who doesn't want their team to win? B) UND / NDSU football (and all sports, really) is/was a classic college rivalry. It had (and still should have) a trophy. A contest was played every year for decades (and now finally again). Same conference for decades (and now finally again). Just as the schools compete the same students, the football programs compete for the same student-athletes. Lots of interpersonal dynamics at play here again. C) UND holds a winning record over NDSU head-to-head. Throughout time, UND has beaten NDSU more times than lost, so why wouldn't we want more of that?? We ultimately expect it. We ultimately deserve it.

Just to dial back on things, how do we reconcile an article like this, where the kid says "Everything about them I loved," to the topic of this thread, which is essentially saying "we don't like our coach, who else is available"? You've got to give some props to the staff for creating an environment that yields this kind of strong response. We can't be doing everything wrong. https://www.inforum.com/sports/prep/everything-about-them-i-loved-fargo-south-kicker-landon-docken-commits-to-und

You were typing this at the exact time I was typing my response, seen just above. Spot on.

Don't take this as me defending that UND is doing the right thing by being set up this way, but it's kind of hard to ignore the $100M donation (and repeat smaller donations) meant specifically for that sport. I don't like biting the hands that feed us, but in a sense, the Engelstads are "hockey only" fans (although, where the BB and VB teams play also bear the Engelstad name) and have created a culture of "hockey only" fans.

I know a lot of UND fans who do this, and it pi$$es me off because, like you say, it's also a dig on UND FB.

Or any of the heavy hitters in MBB with FBS football, for that matter - Kansas, North Carolina, Kentucky.

Absolutely. Getting to middle-of-the-pack this season would be a tremendous positive sign. Would give me a lot of hope in years 2-4 of the Tupac era.

Am I out of line here in suggesting that we nab a NDSU (gasp!) coordinator or assistant and tell them to do in Grand Forks what they did in Fargo? I hate NDSU FB and their success as much as anyone on here (someone mentioned that some UND hockey fans are Bison fans for other sports - I especially hate that approach), but you have to admit that they know how to get it done.

I decided not to even finish out the SIU thread during and after the game. I'm sure it's all doomsday over there. I can't say I am happy with the performance on Saturday, but I think that, if, before the season started, a psychic said you will be 2-2 entering the Homecoming game, that's a scenario that most people would take. Now, a loss of any kind on Homecoming will be damaging for playoff potential, fan interest, etc. MUST WIN GAME if UND is to remain relevant in 2022. I am praying all week for Bubba and his staff to figure this one out.

Just saw this come across the "wire"

Is he a place kicker or a punter (or both/either)? With that speed, if he punts, Kelly Howe will be calling for a fake punt every time!