Sioux94

Sounds like Zimm is a Captain, do we know who else was voted as Captains?

I don't remember seeing anything that it had to be four consecutive games but I'm not sure. I wondered about the playoffs....if they would be allowed to play in those games and still keep it. I don't think that article I saw mentioned that specifically.

Freshman being able to play 4 games without losing their redshirt is going to be a good thing. I would think maybe some guys might play on that first game if we are up big. But on other hand they may save them in case their are injuries and they need them. Perfect scenario most of the freshman would all get some good game action in mop up time, not due to injuries.

Hmmm yeah that is interesting. Maybe they see a little bit of Santiago type in him or something, and he was a RB in HS.

Interesting story. Is his middle name Rudy?

I was thinking people felt Boltmann was like Studs 2.0.....meaning similar but with a better arm and better deep ball thrower. Seems like he threw the ball well when I glanced at his tape but it's been a while. We will see though, we do need a true deep ball threat to open things up.

I like the competition! It's going to be an interesting battle.

While we have mostly fallen off the radar after last years debacle, it is nice that we still got some votes. If we can upset Sam Houston I think that would likely jump us into the top 25. If we won the next two after that we could potentially be 4-1 heading into a home game at Montana. That Sam Houston game is going to be big, obviously. That game will give us a good gauge as to where we are at. We should win easy first game, Washington.....well yeah, Sam Houston will be the game we will know.

I envision his living room....having a gigantic record player in it........that only plays broken records. That said, it's Friday......it's time to move on next week to the 2018 topic. And yes....let's see what happens this year. The jury is still out as to what is going to happen this year and how it will go.....but let's see.

Exactly, it all depends on who those wins and losses are to. Most years 7-4 has been good enough to get in hasn't it? Yes I know we didn't get in when we went 7-4 and it isn't guaranteed. But I don't think we are going to lose a game this year to a team with 1 win. One loss will be to a legit FBS team, and probably one to a likely top 8 FCS team. Sure I'd love to go 8-3 and guarantee we are in. If our 4th loss is to NAU at the end of the year maybe we wouldn't make it, never looks good to lose right before they have to make their decision. And would depend on how good NAU ends up being. They will likely be challenging for a playoff spot this year.

It will be interesting to see what happens. Since we should hopefully be up in our first game.....might see both QB's play some in that game.....if not all 3....to see what they can do in Live action?

Wow so Bubba's 3rd year he had us in the playoffs, ahead of most peoples schedule, then we take a step back last year with a rash of injuries (yes it's an excuse but it's also fact I don't need a post from you telling me injuries aren't an excuse) and now we should assume it will be a rarity for UND to ever make the playoffs under Bubba. Whatever. We get snubbed from playoffs in his second season, top 8 seed his 3rd year, then don't make the playoffs last year. If you average the last 3 years not sure how you come up with it will be a rarity UND will make the playoffs under Bubba. Even many NDSU people think we should have made the playoffs that year, so if we didn't get screwed that is 2 of the last 3 years in the playoffs. I'm sure others on here would agree.....we expect to make the playoffs every year going forward. Yeah Bubba should have signed better lineman in that class when 95% of recruits already new where they were going by the time he was hired. Fall camp is here, most of us are excited. Yes we do still have questions and concerns....but can you just stop for a while and let this season playout, or at least start? Three negative posts from you before noon today already.....we get it.

He was big last year at 230....put on 20 to get to 250....damn! Do you think they are going to maybe use him as FB or something and told him to bulk up? If he is just going to be a RB....can he still be as nimble as he was when he is at 250?

Since Bubba got hired on like December 30th, I don't really count that first class truly as his class. His first full what I'd call true Bubba class, if redshirted, would be juniors right now. Brady and Santiago were in Bubba's first true recruiting class, but of course we had to pull their shirts so they are seniors. Our redshirt seniors right now......were in a no mans class...kind of in the middle. Not that there wasn't some decent guys in there, but you can't blame Bubba for not have recruited top OL in that class.. Thank god the early recruiting was in effect then or thought would have been really tough going without a coach for a month.

Yeah when you have a roster full of FBS guys and drop down you are eligible to make the playoffs in the FCS, but when you have a roster full of DII guys they don't want you eligible........makes perfect sense......not.

Nice to see him out there. Although he'll have to hang on to those to get those 10+ INT's and 5 TD's

Nice! So was that the QB's throwing to them? I'm so ready for some football....this was a good appetizer though! Hoping the WR's and the passing game can have more of an impact for us this year earlier in games instead of waiting until we need them to make a play.

It's at least 7-4 and making the playoffs this year or it's a Bust for me this year I think, and a disappointment. Unlike some I do think we make the playoffs if we go 7-4 this year, even though it may hurt us not having a conference sticking up for us to the committee. We aren't going to lose a game this year to a team with 1 win like we did last time. Also we are playing in the Big Sky which is one of the better conferences, and we have a tough non conference schedule in Sam Houston and Washington. We will have some injuries this year but I think we have better depth than we've had for a while so that we can hopefully avoid the really 'Bad loss'. If all of our safeties go down or something though who knows. But at least we appear to have 3 legit QB's that even if 2 should go down we will still hopefully be able to put up some points and win with our offense if needed. It will be a rare occasion but I will be pulling for Montana.....to beat UNI, so that we can then beat Montana.

Cieslak seemed like he got a pretty good push in a few games towards the end of the year and was disruptive. He has been around for a while, but could he have a breakout year this year as a Senior?

NAU game probably right? Yes think that was the game he put the offense on his shoulders and carried them, and I think he might have even gotten a little dinged up at one point but stayed in. It's amazing what happens if you just try it. Not that we need or want that type of offense all game long, but for cripes sakes keep the defense guessing at least a little bit. Like Geaux_Sioux said.....man it sure seems like it would be easy to scheme against us as a D coordinator and player.

I think we got a lot more garbage points and easy yards in the second half of games last year because we were so far behind because our defense was so bad. So I'm not sure you can just look at an overall points and average ypg for the year and fully rely on that to get the reality. I don't think our offense was as good last year. Really hoping this is the year they finally put it all together though and show something. Like others I think having a better deep ball passer is going to help. The 2.6 three and out stat though was surprising, would have thought it was a lot more than that. Felt more like 5-6 a game.

I almost wouldn't have minded playing them the first game since their QB is new, get them before they work out the kinks. Maybe rattle him early in the game. Granted we have a new QB too, but he has started FCS games before and we aren't as reliant as much on a passing game. I guess on bright side hopefully our OL will get two games to figure things out so we can pound the rock successfully. Washington I'm sure will be super physical, but will be good experience for our OL.....I hope.

I think it could be this but we beat Montana at home this year, we are so due to beat them. So 7-4 with FBS loss....most likely in playoffsI would think, but not gauranteed. Hoping for 8-3 though, which I think Sam Houston and NAU as the two FCS losses.

Yep me too, my excitement for the season officially hit me this week with all of the news of the commitments (even though they have no bearing on this year) and since it is getting close to August. What day is the first day of fall camp?

Those are impressive numbers for Santiago considering he splits a lot of time with Brady. Moore and Burnell were the featured backs and got feed the rock over and over all game. Hoping our OL comes together and we can get some nice long "So Long Santiago" runs to the house this year.