2022 Football Season

[Mama Sue]

I was walking on a treadmill yesterday and listening…so, when there was that questionable call in the first half, why did Bubba not request a review or call a time out? I just don’t understand. The radio announcers (love them) we’re clear it should have been reviewed. I am not criticizing but questioning. 

[The Sicatoka]

It’s August. 

If I told you “down a TD, on the road, with some weather, with the ball, two minutes, 80 yards to continue the season”, you’d have said … 

[Midwestern Hawk]

4 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

It’s August. 

If I told you “down a TD, on the road, with some weather, with the ball, two minutes, 80 yards to continue the season”, you’d have said … 

It’s Bubba Ball.

[Oxbow6]

#sevenandfive

[forksandspoons]

Still frustrated, but thank you to the seniors and their families for their contributions to the program! Lot of high character guys from the sounds of it. 

[The Sicatoka]

This team set a level. This is the new expectation. (The “or else” is implied.) 

[UND-FB-FAN]

1 hour ago, Devils said:

That said, I wouldn't be sad to see Bubba move on as I think it's time but I have a hard time thinking whatever we would get would be a huge upgrade.

You don’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket. 

[geaux_sioux]

6 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

This team set a level. This is the new expectation. (The “or else” is implied.) 

The expectation is to !@#$ the bed in every big game?

[UND-FB-FAN]

1 hour ago, Parkers Pros said:

Our best defensive players in this type of defense need to be, NG, MLB, OLB, SS.  

I respectfully disagree. best players need to be edge rushers (OLB) and corner. Also simplify the defense so the safeties can fly around and make plays, not sit there and overthink every damn play.
 

With great edge rushers and corners, you’ll see a lot of strip sacks and interceptions; forced turnovers win games. There were no turnover producing studs on this year’s defense, and that hurt. The turnover differential was not in UND’s favor. Sure, the offense protected the ball fairly well, but not nearly enough turnovers on defense. That’s a highlighted issue for sure. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

1 hour ago, wheelsup said:

Would any of your opinions change if we had hosted the playoff game yesterday and won? Take a look at the record of the home teams yesterday. I believe we win that game at home.. better than 75%. 
I still don’t understand how our run defense became so !@#!$.. 350+ on the ground two weeks in a row.. and they didn’t even run the triple option .. they just bashed it right up the middle.

Every season will include a road game against a good program, like NDSU or SDSU. UND needs to learn to beat good teams on the road. UND only beat cupcakes this season. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

1 hour ago, MNHawk said:

If we had beat Weber at the Alerus yesterday, and then went to Bozeman and got out to a 24-0 deficit in the same way that we lost to Weber yesterday, I would still be questioning the inconsistency of this team. I would still be asking why this team does not seem ready to play each and every game. I would still wonder why this team seems to play below its potential for long stretches of games consistently. 
 

And 2 playoff wins in 9 years is still not good enough. 

Where’s this second playoff win? Hypothetical home playoff win against Weber? Not convinced it would happen. Staff pissed their pants with a 24-7 home lead against Richmond in 2016 as the #7 seed.

[UND-FB-FAN]

57 minutes ago, homer said:

Off season development needs to be evaluated.  Not every player on our roster only had NSIC offers or is D2 caliber.  If I was to invest in anyone from either of the XDSU’s it wouldn’t be a coach.  
 

The other thing that needs to be evaluated that has nothing to do with personnel is corporate sponsorship and other ways to get money into these programs.  I’m not going to pretend to know what some of these current sponsors are bringing to the table but there are a few “regional” names throwing money at the other Dakota schools right now at a time we seem to be dragging out Phase II and the off season facilities that potentially help get us to the next level.  

All players aren’t D2 caliber, but several are. Recruiting needs to improve. But I agree, development and coaching salary needs to get better also. Basically, program needs to look itself in the mirror and stop repeating the same mistakes over and over. 

[The Sicatoka]

16 minutes ago, geaux_sioux said:

The expectation is to !@#$ the bed in every big game?

The expectation is top three in MVFC, make playoffs. Less and things change. 

[geaux_sioux]

22 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Every season will include a road game against a good program, like NDSU or SDSU. UND needs to learn to beat good teams on the road. UND only beat cupcakes this season. 

YSU was not a cupcake. I get that we’re all pissed about this season but let’s at least be accurate.

[UND-FB-FAN]

1 minute ago, geaux_sioux said:

YSU was not a cupcake. I get that we’re all pissed about this season but let’s at least be accurate.

Okay, UND beat a couple average teams, then, not all cupcakes. Beating your chest that UND eeked out a road win against YSU is not a good hill to die on.

I’m not pissed, I’m apathetic at this point. Same ol’, same ol’.

[wheelsup]

28 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Every season will include a road game against a good program, like NDSU or SDSU. UND needs to learn to beat good teams on the road. UND only beat cupcakes this season. 

I get your point.. that being said.. YSU wasn’t a cupcake.

[UND-FB-FAN]

3 minutes ago, wheelsup said:

I get your point.. that being said.. YSU wasn’t a cupcake.

See above post. Which FBS team or FCS playoff team did UND beat to post on their resume? 
 

Bubba’s team was underwhelming in 2022.

[geaux_sioux]

10 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Okay, UND beat a couple average teams, then, not all cupcakes. Beating your chest that UND eeked out a road win against YSU is not a good hill to die on.

I’m not pissed, I’m apathetic at this point. Same ol’, same ol’.

Nobody is beating their chest, I’m just calling you out for your propensity to blow things out of proportion with a negative slant. YSU on the road was a legit good win. And idk if you’ve seen my other posts but I’m not exactly defending much about this program atm.

[UND-FB-FAN]

3 minutes ago, geaux_sioux said:

Nobody is beating their chest, I’m just calling you out for your propensity to blow things out of proportion with a negative slant. YSU on the road was a legit good win. And idk if you’ve seen my other posts but I’m not exactly defending much about this program atm.

I agree with that. Not saying you’re beating your chest, just saying I’d trade that YSU win for a win against Nebraska, North Dakota State or South Dakota State in a heartbeat. It was a good win, but not season defining or program changing by any means. It will be quickly forgotten by everyone other than the diehards and the players/coaches on this year’s team. 
 

On this site, a negative slant is a kind way of saying I disagree with you because you’re highlighting UND football’s shortcomings. Others on here say it more bluntly and crudely, so I actually appreciate “negative slant”. 
 

[MNHawk]

38 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

See above post. Which FBS team or FCS playoff team did UND beat to post on their resume? 
 

Bubba’s team was underwhelming in 2022.

We didn’t beat one last year either. In fact I’d argue we’ve lost our last 6 opportunities to have a statement win. 
 

2020 @JMU

2021 @SDSU

2021 NDSU

2022 SDSU

2022 @NDSU

2022 @Weber

Those are the games where the coaching staff should be earning contract extensions in year 8/9. I know these are tough games, but I’d hope in year 9 we would at least be competitive and winning a third or a quarter of these games. Instead, we’ve shown a complete inability to take the next step as a program and beat these elite teams. 

[geaux_sioux]

Last two games this year our opponent threw 12 and 11 passes to score 42 and 38 points. What’s that say about the state of our front 7? Now add in how bad our secondary was this year and wrap your head around that. Just brutal.

[tnt]

3 minutes ago, geaux_sioux said:

Last two games this year our opponent threw 12 and 11 passes to score 42 and 38 points. What’s that say about the state of our front 7? Now add in how bad our secondary was this year and wrap your head around that. Just brutal.

So, is it scheme, or just not having the talent and bulk to handle above average teams?   We have all known for years what we had to do to be competitive against those teams, especially in the Valley, but it appears there hasn’t been a ton of progress, especially on the defensive line.

[The Sicatoka]

1 hour ago, geaux_sioux said:

Last two games this year our opponent threw 12 and 11 passes to score 42 and 38 points. What’s that say about the state of our front 7? Now add in how bad our secondary was this year and wrap your head around that. Just brutal.

Clean piece of paper; no assumptions; no preconditions. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

1 hour ago, tnt said:

So, is it scheme, or just not having the talent and bulk to handle above average teams?   We have all known for years what we had to do to be competitive against those teams, especially in the Valley, but it appears there hasn’t been a ton of progress, especially on the defensive line.

It’s both, but as a rule of thumb, it starts with the players (recruiting), and ends with what the coaching does with it. “It’s not the X’s and O’s, but the Jimmys and the Joes.” WRONG. Coaching puts the average programs over the top. And gets the good programs not just wins, but championships. 
 

“Recruiting is Michigan beating Appalachian State. Coaching is Appalachian State beating Michigan.”

http://www.espn.com/college-football/hot/_/id/9395142
 

Why this time of year, every year, are numerous coaches fired and new ones hired. It’s no secret coaching, development, teaching and mentorship is what leads to wins and championships. Not just how many stars you have coming out of high school (which ND high school kids definitely don’t have). Why does UND stick with a staff that has one playoff win in 9 seasons?
 

Simple; money (lack thereof) and expectations (not high enough - hockey). 

FBS programs and top FCS programs that don’t have these issues clearly would do the obvious; get a new coaching staff.

 

Saying the coaching is not the issue, especially in this era of college football, is pure crap. It’s conservative old-timers puffing smoke and building mirrors. 
 

Get better coaches, or else the leadership and development of the impressionable young men that make up UND football won’t accomplish the top tier. 

 

[UND-FB-FAN]

One final quote from the above link to cement my point.

“Coaching is Boise State's Chris Petersen signing players the big boys overlook and winning more than 90 percent of his games. Coaching is the 17 Broncos who have played for Petersen and been drafted by NFL teams.

Coaching is Barry Alvarez building a program at Wisconsin, or Chip Kelly taking Oregon from good to great. They didn't have blue chips. They had a clear vision.

The top men in the game are as effective in recruiting as they are brilliant in coaching. Bobby Bowden led Florida State to 14 consecutive top-five finishes because he harvested the state's wellspring of talent. In the past four years, Alabama has won three BCS championships and had 13 players selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Like Bowden, Nick Saban found the talent. And like Bowden, Saban developed it.

The grapes that grow on Howell Mountain in Napa Valley make the best cabernet sauvignon in the world. But without the right winemaker, all you'd get is another bottle of Two-Buck Chuck. 

Recruiters work day and night to coax the right players to sign with their school. Only then do coaches begin their work. 

Recruits are grapes. Recruiters are farmers. Coaches are winemakers.”

Bubba may not be going anywhere (certainly not getting terminated), but he better think about either retiring or at least changing some position coaches or his defensive coordinator, because the development right now is crap and the winemaking is awful.