USTBench

PA on the home side seemed to be out for the 1st half, and very hard to hear in the second half. I do recall some indication of which player made the play a few years ago on the two big endzone jumbotrons, that seems to be gone. Alerus production is definitely lacking and in some respects getting worse. I like leaning into the State of ND, and the ND flags for every player. I think UND lost sight of the fact that they represent the entire state some years ago, you get outside of the RRV and it's all Bison, so, in that vein, I like the run-out. Other than that, if you can't get the place that dark, turning off the lights is pointless unless you're going to do some green smoke or change the lighting in the tunnel, reminds me of trying to sleep with the hallway light on. Lose the Hawk in the car. Cheesy. Step up the hype video. Just make it more...bad ass, I guess. Hawks...Free Bird solo like team USA when they score a goal, IDK? Something. I hate the Bison, but they kill their intro. Other suggestion, cover up the endzone bleachers that are pushed in with something UND related. Looks horrible.

I don't have it, which is why I included "If this is true..." as a qualifier. That said, after dealing with my fair share of Red River parents over the years, I wouldn't be shocked I kid, I kid.

If this is true, at all, consider me all in on Lauren Reardon becoming a UND legend.

At least he's not taking a nap.

Do you want me to name all of his assistants over the last 15 years? I'm confused. Also, if you get a B1G offer and you coach in the PFL, you take it. Lol. Caruso was not particularly well liked by other coaches in the MIAC or Kheres at Mt. Union, but he's got some loyal guys on his staff and he wins.

He'd jolt the program immediately. He's once opined that it's a lot easier to go from 100 to Top 5, than Top 5 to National Champ. Right mentality.

His DC, Wally Kuchinski, has been with him for 15 seasons. Holinka coached for him twice. I don't know that he cares if he's well liked, I think he cares about winning.

I think she's in remission, but there's always that risk I suppose. Caruso has great passion, great intensity, a little PJ Flecky for some people's taste, but the results speak for themselves. I just think Drake and Butler raised their level when Caruso came in and won the league with mostly D3 guys. Also, the issue with the PFL is your best players have one foot out the door. Their non-conference games against the Big Sky/MVFC are basically auditions for scholarships elsewhere. You're fighting over players with the NSIC.

I don't know if he put in, but Caruso would be a good fit. His kids are out of the house and I don't know that UST has any immediate plans to move on from the PFL. It has to be tough going from the Athletic Department's top priority to an after-thought after UST decided to flagship hockey and basketball and build a new baseball/softball complex, while football mires in a non-scholarship league in the most fertile recruiting area in the MVFC. Caruso is a winner and familiar with the culture of the MVFC (though he coached at NDSU/USD pre-MVFC), and is an excellent recruiter. That said, he's extremely comfortable in St. Paul, his job couldn't be more secure, and his wife has been battling some health issues. Guessing he's not going anywhere.

Lol...even with all the Californians I'd still pick Bozeman.

Andrew McElroy but he was in the TP for about .5 seconds before NIU snatched him up. Our game against USD was an open tryout for a LB named Jonathan Bunce apparently. Lol. Seth Bullard was an ILB that transferred to SFA. Shawn Shipman landed at WIU. Anyone UND would want is already spoken for, it seems.

Tampering! Just kidding fellas. Great hire for my second favorite FCS team.

I don't see the gulf between SDSU and UND being as wide as it is between Minnesota and Ohio State/Michigan. UND seems to be stifled by the antiquated thinking of the old guard and a reluctance to court the Gen Xers/Millennials as alums/potential donors/coaches/fans, etc. I believe I even read a few pages back someone intimate UND should have never left DII. WHAT??? UND has the facilities, the donors, and as I drive down Columbia, I can't think of too many mid-majors that have anything broaching what UND will have for football. There's a little brother/loser mentality here that Grand Forks and UND needs to shake, but believe me, you've got a sleeping giant at the FCS level. One guy in the big chair can make that happen inside of 2 years.

Your choices are a guy that retired from coaching over 25 years ago and a HS coach/financial advisor that makes 5x what UND can pay him at Bell Bank.

Probably as good as they could have hoped for playing FBS football in Laramie, Wyoming.