Gameday vs Utah

[Longtime fan]

The OC for Utah came from E Wash, (I'm sure everyone is now aware), he is an offensive genius.  That style of offense, in good weather, will put up video like numbers nearly every game.  His e wash team last year lit up ndsu in the dome with 44 points and nearly 600 yards of offense.  UND could of done better in some regards defensively but that style of offense with talent like that is scary.  Hopefully und took a lot away from this game as the exact style of offense comes to when AL on. Nov 11. Just a little less talent. Although I put gubrud right up there with some of the more talented run/pass qbs in the country. 

[Midwestern Hawk]

Just now, AJS said:

I was thinking about this payday game against Utah and next year against Washington, both solid P5 schools. If you did the scheduling, would you go after these type of games to open up the year, or try to find MAC / Mountain West teams and end up collecting 100 / 150K less? Is UND better off from strictly a learning experience (playing in a tough atmosphere, elite talent), that it's worth it? Personally, I'd rather have them schedule BGSU, where there's a real chance of an upset and still collect a check, then playing at Utah. I'm probably in the minority though.

I disagree.  These games are good for recruiting, good for the players and coaches to measure where they are at, and good for the coffers $$$$.  Beating BGSU in front of 5,000 fans is not an upset for a top 10 FCS team.

[Sioux>Bison]

Just now, AJS said:

I was thinking about this payday game against Utah and next year against Washington, both solid P5 schools. If you did the scheduling, would you go after these type of games to open up the year, or try to find MAC / Mountain West teams and end up collecting 100 / 150K less? Is UND better off from strictly a learning experience (playing in a tough atmosphere, elite talent), that it's worth it? Personally, I'd rather have them schedule BGSU, where there's a real chance of an upset and still collect a check, then playing at Utah. I'm probably in the minority though.

I'm down for either big time P5 teams or the winnable G5 games. Both have the potential to win. If you play a popular P5 team you will have a larger reach to a big audience. The only way you can gain more reach than that is to beat a G5 team. I rather lose to a P5 team any day compared to the MAC type schools.

[The Sicatoka]

11 hours ago, UteFan said:

ND played well. Coached well, good sportsmanship and tough as nails.  I saw at least 3,000 fans in the corner. Liked the green helmets. Looked sharp.  Hope your team wins the next 13. 

Here's hoping you win out as well.*

 

*You always hope the teams you beat win out; makes you look better. Then again, you always hope the teams you lose to win out so your loss looks reasonable.  

[jdub27]

41 minutes ago, Teeder11 said:

Studs missing a wide open Feidler over the middle that would have gone for a TD.

I noticed a few other comments on this and I wanted to point out that I think that one is on the OL, not Keaton. He was under pressure before he finished his dropback and he to get rid of the ball with no chance to go through any progression or see the safetyroll over to the WR's, leaving the seam open for Fiedler. It was painful to watch the replay, if Keaton has a couple seconds, it's a TD.

[Teeder11]

1 minute ago, jdub27 said:

I noticed a few other comments on this and I wanted to point out that I think that one is on the OL, not Keaton. He was under pressure before he finished his dropback and he to get rid of the ball with no chance to go through any progression or see the safety make the proper read with that pressure and roll over to the WR's. It was painful to watch the replay, if Keaton has a couple seconds and see him, it's a TD.

Yes... great point. It's never as cut and dried as it can be made out to be. Great context!

[UND1981]

Utah>Iowa>Iowa State.  None of the 5 Buffalo championship teams could beat this Utah squad.  Very proud of our guys for keeping their fans in their seats to the very end.

[bang]

32 minutes ago, Midwestern Hawk said:

I disagree.  These games are good for recruiting, good for the players and coaches to measure where they are at, and good for the coffers $$$$.  Beating BGSU in front of 5,000 fans is not an upset for a top 10 FCS team.

Absolutely agree, I loved this game. Big money game that actually built some confidence in our guys and was a great learning experience. Not to mention the exposure of the game for the program. I feel just as good about last night as I did a few years ago with the win at Wyoming. 

[Midwestern Hawk]

54 minutes ago, UND1981 said:

Utah>Iowa>Iowa State.  None of the 5 Buffalo championship teams could beat this Utah squad.  Very proud of our guys for keeping their fans in their seats to the very end.

Last night's Utah team was far better than Iowa was last season, and comparisons to Iowa State are a joke.  LOTS of guys on that Utah team will make a living on Sundays in a couple years.

[ILHawks]

39 minutes ago, Teeder11 said:

I didn't follow the game thread during the game -- never do -- too many cliff divers for my liking. I do like going back and reading them after a big come from behind win. Entertaining.

Things I saw on TV that I liked:

Holm's INT

Sacks against a Power 5 ranked team ... can't wait to add Greely to the mix against FCS foes

Tank and Cieslak eating up blocks and getting through to the QB and RBs

Disterhaupt is a beast and will be even better once Larson and Rastas and few others enter the mix.

Tamas Stewart's de-helmeter -- clean and violent.

Taubs Taubs Taubs.... touch backs and field goals all day

Studs connections when the play book was opened up in the second half.

Wanzek and Toivonnen.  Add Stanley and Adeoti to the mix and look out!

A couple times when Santiago lined up outside and caught passes in space.

Decision to go over the top to Feidler for a TD instead of continuing to pound into the Great Wall of Utah during goal-to -go

Punting and punt coverage was decent.

Punt receiving was less nerve wracking last night

Sustained drives in the first quarter kept the defense fresh.

Olivera's relentless push after contact.

Pass protection by the OL

Things I didn't like:

Key drops by receivers and TEs

Norberg's injury

Studs missing a wide open Feidler over the middle that would have gone for a TD.

Settling to two FGs when we got deep in the red zone

Punting with 8 minutes to go... need to have something in our arsenal in those situations (No, not a double reverse)

Mis-timed jet sweeps looked brutal 

Wish our WRs could and would block like Utah's, minus the holding that the Utes got nailed for.

Missed tackles... were the Utes wearing Teflon unis or was I having flashbacks to 2013?

I found Taubs' performance encouraging. His consistency will be huge if he can maintain. 

[AJS]

Kind of reiterating things I already touched on, but what was really exciting is the things UND did well last night (Secondary, Special Teams), were question marks some had going into the year. Where UND struggled (Line play), were areas I really have no concerns when playing FCS level competition. UND will be able to run against anyone remaining on their schedule, will also be able to stop the run against anyone on their schedule.

[Nodak78]

1 minute ago, AJS said:

Kind of reiterating things I already touched on, but what was really exciting is the things UND did well last night (Secondary, Special Teams), were question marks some had going into the year. Where UND struggled (Line play), were areas I really have no concerns when playing FCS level competition. UND will be able to run against anyone remaining on their schedule, will also be able to stop the run against anyone on their schedule.

I agree.   Starting next week.  2 100 yd rushers

[Bison06]

31 minutes ago, UND1981 said:

Utah>Iowa>Iowa State.  None of the 5 Buffalo championship teams could beat this Utah squad.  Very proud of our guys for keeping their fans in their seats to the very end.

 

[UND15]

Anyone know why Izzy didn't play? Thought his speed could have been helpful on our jet sweeps instead of using Johanneson.

[Midwestern Hawk]

8 minutes ago, UND15 said:

Anyone know why Izzy didn't play? Thought his speed could have been helpful on our jet sweeps instead of using Johanneson.

Because Johanneson looks so fast running the jet sweep?  JK, the jet sweep with he and mercer looked slow and poor timing.  I don't think any of the Freshman played.

[BarnWinterSportsEngelstad]

6 minutes ago, Bison06 said:

 

The Buffalo squad might of had a slim to non chance IFFFFF: 

The sophmore Q Huntley didn't replace the senior Q,

If Carrington would of had to serve a game or two suspension for driving crooked,

And the Hawks with Harris would of had a game that went to the last play.

But, that game is over.

The Buffalos have a cupcake home stad except for SD. A few though road games. Time will tell.

[jdub27]

23 minutes ago, Bison06 said:

Iowa ended 2016 ranked 41st by Sagarin. Time will tell where Utah finishes and not that it means anything at this point, but they are starting the season at 24.

[Midwestern Hawk]

1 hour ago, Teeder11 said:

I didn't follow the game thread during the game -- never do -- too many cliff divers for my liking. I do like going back and reading them after a big come from behind win. Entertaining.

 

Disterhaupt is a beast and will be even better once Larson and Rastas and few others enter the mix.

Norberg's injury

 

Any idea on why Rastas did not play?  Did not see Geier either.  How about Norbergs injury?  Will Larson be back?

[Bison06]

2 minutes ago, BarnWinterSportsEngelstad said:

The Buffalo squad might of had a slim to non chance IFFFFF: 

The sophmore Q Huntley didn't replace the senior Q,

If Carrington would of had to serve a game or two suspension for driving crooked,

And the Hawks with Harris would of had a game that went to the last play.

But, that game is over.

The Buffalos have a cupcake home stad except for SD. A few though road games. Time will tell.

I'm not even debating if it's true or not, but there is absolutely no way to know right now how good that Utah team you guys played last night is or will end up. Without letting the season play out any comments like the one I quoted above are strictly self serving and only made to make the OP feel better about a loss. Maybe Utah is a top 10 team, maybe they don't win another game this year. Beating an FCS team by 3 scores isn't proof of anything, can we agree on that? Let the season play out at least a little before saying that Utah team is the best FBS team either NDSU or UND has ever played and would beat the best FCS team of all time(arguably). Fair?

[Bison06]

2 minutes ago, jdub27 said:

Iowa ended 2016 ranked 41st by Sagarin. Time will tell where Utah finishes and not that it means anything at this point, but they are starting the season at 24.

I couldn't agree more, I'm just saying it's way too early to be making any statements like the OP did. For the record I believe that Iowa team was in the top 15 heading into that game if I remember correctly.

[BarnWinterSportsEngelstad]

1 minute ago, Bison06 said:

I'm not even debating if it's true or not, but there is absolutely no way to know right now how good that Utah team you guys played last night is or will end up. Without letting the season play out any comments like the one I quoted above are strictly self serving and only made to make the OP feel better about a loss. Maybe Utah is a top 10 team, maybe they don't win another game this year. Beating an FCS team by 3 scores isn't proof of anything, can we agree on that? Let the season play out at least a little before saying that Utah team is the best FBS team either NDSU or UND has ever played and would beat the best FCS team of all time(arguably). Fair?

The 1930 Army team is the best team we played. They went 9-1-1 and lost to national champion Notre Dame 7-6.

[BarnWinterSportsEngelstad]

1 minute ago, Bison06 said:

I couldn't agree more, I'm just saying it's way too early to be making any statements like the OP did. For the record I believe that Iowa team was in the top 15 heading into that game if I remember correctly.

Iowa was overrated just like the Bizon were.

[Bison06]

Just now, BarnWinterSportsEngelstad said:

Iowa was overrated just like the Bizon were.

Iowa wasn't a top 15 team, agreed. Bison overrated? Agree to disagree. Lost to the champion in the national semifinals and beat the other team who made it to the championship, I pretty easy argument to make for NDSU being the #2 team in the country last year.

[petey23]

5 minutes ago, BarnWinterSportsEngelstad said:

Iowa was overrated just like the Bizon were.

Wow. Yes, Iowa was drastically overrated based on their team the year before but to call NDSU overrated is quite the stretch.

[MafiaMan]

1 hour ago, UND1981 said:

Utah>Iowa>Iowa State.  None of the 5 Buffalo championship teams could beat this Utah squad.  Very proud of our guys for keeping their fans in their seats to the very end.

I recall last year UND fans poo-poo'ing NDSU's win over Iowa as the Hawkeyes being over-rated and not as good as advertised.  Now we're crowning Utah national champions based on one season-opening game against an FCS opponent?  That horrible Iowa team managed to defeat a pretty good Michigan squad late in the season last year.