Dustin

Not to poo-poo on the signing day celebration, but there's a lot of talk about what a good thing it was keeping all the recruits in this class, but also a lot of talk in the new coach thread that we need better recruits. So, if the current staff, whose recruits have underwhelmed the fans, especially on defense, just recruited this class, what should make me feel any better about their future performance as student athletes? Were these recruits committing to UND over our primary rivals?

Flights grounded due to weather??

Not a Bubba favorite moment, but I have a Roger Thomas favorite moment, based on a story I was told, but I wanted to know if someone could verify that it actually happened. Supposedly, this is how the story goes: a Thomas-coached team beat someone they were not expected to. A sports reporter covering the opposing team (the one who was supposed to win but got beat) asked Thomas post-game something like "In your wildest dreams, did you ever think you would win this game?" to which Thomas replied something like "My wildest dreams don't involve football." Anybody have specifics as to what game this was, or even that this exchange even happened? That is such a great response to that question, I've never forgotten that story.

With no Belquist next year, QB1 will need someone to throw to.

Not saying other candidates aren’t good choices, but these reasons make him my #1.

Hosting (and winning) a top 8 seed game in first 3 years.

Hadn’t looked him up before. He seems like a solid choice. Bolte, Johansen would be the others to round out a top 3.

Caruso is a name that was been mentioned quite a bit at one time, but I don't know if anyone's said it since Bubba's announcement until now.

I am definitely high on him too. How does he stack up against the preferred qualifications?

No idea if we're doing this correct. Been a lot of Fruechte OC talk on here, so it seems most are comfortable with that. After all, there must be a reason why first-year Fruechte was chosen interim instead of more seasoned staff members. I also think it's plausible that the new HC maintains at least one existing staff member for player and recruiting continuity, and Fruechte seems most likely. Really what I was after is who people want leading the defensive side, which (ironically) has been biggest disappointment for many many years.

Let's put some (likely) assumptions together: The new HC will be a current D2 HC (Bolte is my preferred at this point). The OC will be Fruechte. Who's the DC? Special Teams?

That's why he initially hired Rudy

Brent Bolte is intriguing me more and more. He would know what it's like to recruit players to a hockey oriented school against more football-minded rivals further south. Worst record as a HC is 7-4. Comes from primarily defensive side of the ball (played and coached linebackers (my favorite player position, BTW), was co-DC and DC before HC).

Baldwin is not currently an NCAA head coach, correct? Seems more like a posting meant for Brent Bolte.

This is the main driver for me why Schmidt should be approached very cautiously, perhaps not at all. Nothing about his defensive credentials (other than when he was a player) say "I can make UND a defensive juggernaut again." If we go with a UND guy (which, again, should be approached cautiously), I am more comfortable with the pre/post Rudy offensive side of things, and let that guy bring in the best defensive guy he can.

Say it is Fruechte - he hits quite a few of the criteria that keeps getting mentioned: young (33), no long standing ties to UND (been a coordinator one season), would have connections to several places and varying levels (D2, FCS, FBS, and NFL) , all while knowing the traditional recruiting footprint. Not saying he’s my guy, but it doesn’t rub me the wrong way.

Yes!

In these situations, does a new HC keep someone (perhaps multiple someones) from a current staff to maintain some continuity with the team and committed recruits?

Amen to that. I’d hire him just on those credentials.

Why would Roehl be motivated to beat his alma mater?

Had to make up a position to save everybody’s face.

Agree. I don’t get the appeal of him as a candidate. I was floored when he moved up considering his less than stellar defenses here.

IIRC, Darrell passed away a couple/few years ago.

I'm holding out hope for Tupac.

The guys with the USD and SDSU connections intrigue me the most. They would know and share the frustrations of trying to beat NDSU. Eric and Luke have connections to some of the darkest days of UND football, so I am a little leery with those two.