2023 Football Season

[UND-FB-FAN]

8 hours ago, The Sicatoka said:

It ain't the size of the dog in the fight ... 

when in the context of high snaps, which my post was based on in response to @Teeder11, then yes, actual size helps

[SiouxDini]

On 8/22/2023 at 11:43 AM, nodak651 said:

 

Their sports coverage is the only reason I subscribe to the paper and I appreciate Tom as well.  If they just randomly stop covering stuff, it makes it harder to justify the subscription.  

It's pretty crazy that the Forum doesn't have an FCS guy that covers UND and NDSU and the FCS in general, neutrally.  The Fargo guys are homers and heavily biased towards NDSU and against UND, and Tom isn't a full time beat reporter.  They do a great job with The Rink Live, where they cover many programs neutrally.  Just interesting that the coverage for Football isn't remotely similar.

While I'm complaining, this annoys me (not an option for UND Athletics as a whole):

Again, I love Tom's coverage too, I just wish there was more.  I'd guess they have him doing all kinds of things, and we know he grossly under paid.  The above options on the website are a slap in the face to all other UND sports.  Annoys me too...

[UND-FB-FAN]

On 8/22/2023 at 11:43 AM, nodak651 said:

 

Their sports coverage is the only reason I subscribe to the paper and I appreciate Tom as well.  If they just randomly stop covering stuff, it makes it harder to justify the subscription.  

It's pretty crazy that the Forum doesn't have an FCS guy that covers UND and NDSU and the FCS in general, neutrally.  The Fargo guys are homers and heavily biased towards NDSU and against UND, and Tom isn't a full time beat reporter.  They do a great job with The Rink Live, where they cover many programs neutrally.  Just interesting that the coverage for Football isn't remotely similar.

While I'm complaining, this annoys me (not an option for UND Athletics as a whole):

Same sh*t, different day (post)

[F'n Hawks]

4 hours ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

UND’s chihuahua hasn’t won any big games though. 1-2 in playoffs? 

Hopefully 2023 changes that record. 

I agree, have to win in playoffs. To be fair, the first half against Weber State might have been the worst half I have ever seen from a UND defense. Even if the defense is just average this year, I think it will be a great season. (Hilarious that we now say we have this good and creative offense with a questionable defense. Who would have guessed that under Bubba?)

[siouxfan512]

7 hours ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

UND’s chihuahua hasn’t won any big games though. 1-2 in playoffs? 

Hopefully 2023 changes that record. 

Maybe true, but c'mon now ... our D was absolutely brutal against Weber. That's not ALL on Tommy. Sure, you'd like to see him hit some deep ball and extend some more drives in big games, but it can hardly all be on him.

Lets look at our games against the defending national champs. We put up 35 points and started hot. Defense gave up 49. There wasn't a singular problem there.

[UND-FB-FAN]

10 hours ago, F'n Hawks said:

I agree, have to win in playoffs. To be fair, the first half against Weber State might have been the worst half I have ever seen from a UND defense. Even if the defense is just average this year, I think it will be a great season. (Hilarious that we now say we have this good and creative offense with a questionable defense. Who would have guessed that under Bubba?)

Bubba is a generation removed from being successful. It’s time for him to take the next step in his life and hand Danny the keys. The vibe has never been right in big games under his watch, but he’ll always be a UND guy, and that’s worth something. He’s just not a championship leader. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

7 hours ago, siouxfan512 said:

Maybe true, but c'mon now ... our D was absolutely brutal against Weber. That's not ALL on Tommy. Sure, you'd like to see him hit some deep ball and extend some more drives in big games, but it can hardly all be on him.

Lets look at our games against the defending national champs. We put up 35 points and started hot. Defense gave up 49. There wasn't a singular problem there.

Against NDSU, especially in 2021 with him getting all the defensive help he needed, what happened? I’m sorry - you either have it or you don’t. Tommy has been great, but let’s not act like he’s a championship QB (…yet). 

[siouxfan512]

14 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Against NDSU, especially in 2021 with him getting all the defensive help he needed, what happened? I’m sorry - you either have it or you don’t. Tommy has been great, but let’s not act like he’s a championship QB (…yet). 

First, you're picking one game, and yes, he did get help. Not saying Tommy couldn't do more in certain situations, but also not going to lay 100% of the blame at his feet either. a tight game against NDSU is what we should want, especially given that they won it all that year. One person does not win or lose a game. That was also the game where the coaches decided to go for it on 4th on the wrong side of the field and spot NDSU points. If that doesn't have it, maybe that's a W for Tommy even without doing much different. Now if I recall Tommy also had a bad int in that game in the red zone ... can't have those, but they do happen to all QBs. Again, not saying Tommy can't do more (everyone can) but laying the blame completely at one person's feet is ridiculous. It's like blaming a pitcher for the team's bad season ... he could probably have helped more in some spots, and he probably could have gotten more support in some spots. I'd rather look at the bulk of Tommy's work over his career at UND and say he has done more than any other QB we have had in a long time. We have complained for years about getting someone better, and we should always be trying to recruit better, but let's at least acknowledge the improvements that we have seen and made.

Second, your post was referencing playoffs, so that was what I was originally answering to:

-Destroyed #12 Missouri State in the first round

-Lost to #1 JMU in the second round on the road (would have been great to win, but with where the program was at this was not the worst loss either. I'd have loved to see them win it, but as a team we weren't there. Any I don't remember enough of the game, maybe Tommy could have done more, but he was also a young QB at the time.

-Lost to #9 Weber in the first round on the road. Game should have been at home but whatever. Tommy threw 3 TDs and our offense put up 31 points on the road in the playoffs. Our D blew this one, plain and simple.

I've expected Tommy to get better each year he has been on campus. He isn't a Wentz or a Lance from an FCS QB standpoint, but he has consistently improved and has helped this program become more competitive in his time here. Put any of UND's previous QB's into his place over the past several years and I doubt you have the same level of success. Preseason accolades don't mean a ton, but they do show that other people recognize the kid's talent. I don't think anyone is saying Tommy is a championship QB (yet), but neither is/was Theo Day, Case Cookus, Chris Streveler or any number of QBs over the years, but they were damn good.

I'll get off my soap box, but it sounds like you're just griping because we haven't won a championship yet and you want to blame someone.

[UND-FB-FAN]

2 hours ago, siouxfan512 said:

a tight game against NDSU is what we should want

Nah, I’d like to see UND win by 50

[UND-FB-FAN]

2 hours ago, siouxfan512 said:

I'll get off my soap box, but it sounds like you're just griping because we haven't won a championship yet and you want to blame someone.

Haven’t won a championship? How about start by just winning some playoff games. UND and Bubba are 1-4 in the playoffs …

Choke job U under Bubba’s watch I’m afraid …

[siouxfan512]

17 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Nah, I’d like to see UND win by 50

Fair, I think we'd all like to see it, but also not realistic. 

[siouxfan512]

16 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Haven’t won a championship? How about start by just winning some playoff games. UND and Bubba are 1-4 in the playoffs …

Choke job U under Bubba’s watch I’m afraid …

Wait, you went from saying it was all Tommy to also blaming Bubba? Isn't that just reiterating my point that you can't blame losses 100% on a single person?

[SiouxBoys]

Jesus, give it a rest. 

[Goon]

1 hour ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Haven’t won a championship? How about start by just winning some playoff games. UND and Bubba are 1-4 in the playoffs …

Choke job U under Bubba’s watch I’m afraid …

You seem to be in a great mood today. 

[siouxfan512]

Drake game can't get here soon enough. Heck the 360 guys pregrame podcast can't get here soon enough. So ready for football!

[Sioux94]

1 hour ago, siouxfan512 said:

Drake game can't get here soon enough. Heck the 360 guys pregrame podcast can't get here soon enough. So ready for football!

Yes....only a week away now from pregame podcast....always look forward to that each week. Game week is almost here thank God! 

[shep]

LOVE that gameday is coming and not just for the game, but the opportunity to get out there and Tailgate!

[UND-FB-FAN]

3 hours ago, siouxfan512 said:

Fair, I think we'd all like to see it, but also not realistic. 

All these low expectation caps on what UND can and can’t do is ridiculous … sure 50 points is hyperbole, but lowering expectations year after year is b*llshit … win by a couple scores and make it the f*ckin goal 

[UND-FB-FAN]

2 hours ago, Goon said:

You seem to be in a great mood today. 

Yes 

[UND-FB-FAN]

4 hours ago, siouxfan512 said:

Wait, you went from saying it was all Tommy to also blaming Bubba? Isn't that just reiterating my point that you can't blame losses 100% on a single person?

Designated leaders (HC, QB, etc.) set the culture for the entire program. You’re completely distorting what I “said” or what you think I’m getting at. 

[shep]

Is there a 2 deep out yet?

[fightingsioux4life]

5 hours ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

All these low expectation caps on what UND can and can’t do is ridiculous … sure 50 points is hyperbole, but lowering expectations year after year is b*llshit … win by a couple scores and make it the f*ckin goal 

That would be cathartic. 

[Nodak78]

6 minutes ago, shep said:

Is there a 2 deep out yet?

No probably next Tuesday or Wednesday.

[UND-FB-FAN]

Some “food for thought” way too early premature predictions:

after 4 weeks, if UND’s record is …

4-0 or 3-1 - gonna be a special year

2-2 - status quo, first round playoff exit… rinse and repeat … look forward to change, but won’t happen anytime soon

1-3 or 0-4 - time for change. Move on up Danny or find someone else. 
 

 

of the above, we all know what is most probable. Will something “unique” happen in 2023?

[sioux24/7]

4 hours ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Some “food for thought” way too early premature predictions:

after 4 weeks, if UND’s record is …

4-0 or 3-1 - gonna be a special year

2-2 - status quo, first round playoff exit… rinse and repeat … look forward to change, but won’t happen anytime soon

1-3 or 0-4 - time for change. Move on up Danny or find someone else. 
 

 

of the above, we all know what is most probable. Will something “unique” happen in 2023?

This certainly isn’t fair. While I agree we shouldn’t accept losses to Boise and SDSU, you gotta remember we are talking about the MWC favorite and the reigning FCS champ and both on the road. A very successful season can still be had with a 2-2 start.