2023 Football Season

[HoopsFan03]

17 minutes ago, Midwestern Hawk said:

Just watched first half on ESPN+.  The offense is terrible, especially after ziebarth went down....a thousand ways to throw a swing pass.  Tommy looks like a deer in the headlights.

The second half gets better……

[Oxbow6]

At 6-5 can UND get a home playoff game if their bid is super high and they provide tents?? 

[Sioux94]

10 hours ago, F'n Hawks said:

I’m done with Tommy. 
 

Don’t get me wrong, he has done good things and will lead UND in a lot of categories. He was also not the only issue with today’s game. With that being said, I don’t think he is the guy to lead this team on a deep playoff run. 
 

It is unlikely they will make this move this year, but I wonder if they will have the balls to not have him back for his Covid year next season. 

I am also. I've been a semi Tommy backer and Semi Bubba backer but I'm done with both. If anyone thinks this team has any shot at competing with top teams in the playoffs you are delusional. We can fire up a big one at home now and then, but that's it. Players got praise last week, they also deserve criticism this week. Zero points is embarrassing. I feel bad for saying the word Embarrassing 10 times today, but that's what this is. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

3 minutes ago, Sioux94 said:

I am also. I've been a semi Tommy backer and Semi Bubba backer but I'm done with both. If anyone thinks this team has any shot at competing with top teams in the playoffs you are delusional. We can fire up a big one at home now and then, but that's it. Players got praise last week, they also deserve criticism this week. Zero points is embarrassing. I feel bad for saying the word Embarrassing 10 times today, but that's what this is. 

Bubba got the W (NDSU) he and everyone wanted. Time to ride off into the sunset. UND football needs a leader. 

[SuhakiYeahYeah]

I just want some consistency man.

[CMSioux]

Pre season this game was 50/50 on my schedule, NI has a strong home field advantage history. Joining the MVFC puts several drivable away games on the schedule every year. It also replaces meaningless Portland State games with Northern Iowa. There was a great contingency of UND fans at this game. Huge tailgate spot (mostly due to player parents but ordinary fans also, impressive). 8/3 still achievable. I will be at every remaining game as I choose to support the team in person rather than cheap shot on the Internet. Rough game, head scratcher, gotta move on and enjoy the season for what it is - games played by student athletes. 

[SuhakiYeahYeah]

11 hours ago, F'n Hawks said:

I’m done with Tommy. 
 

Don’t get me wrong, he has done good things and will lead UND in a lot of categories. He was also not the only issue with today’s game. With that being said, I don’t think he is the guy to lead this team on a deep playoff run. 
 

It is unlikely they will make this move this year, but I wonder if they will have the balls to not have him back for his Covid year next season. 

I really want to keep supporting Tommy and Bubba but I just can't. Its like there's a force field 10 yards after the line of scrimmage. Only explanation why they never throw past it. Even after the highest of highs, they somehow manage to go to the lowest of lows. Start Feeney and you get more running ability plus a good deep ball. But that's assuming that change for the better is desired and they won't settle for status quo.

[UND-FB-FAN]

14 minutes ago, CMSioux said:

Pre season this game was 50/50 on my schedule, NI has a strong home field advantage history. Joining the MVFC puts several drivable away games on the schedule every year. It also replaces meaningless Portland State games with Northern Iowa. There was a great contingency of UND fans at this game. Huge tailgate spot (mostly due to player parents but ordinary fans also, impressive). 8/3 still achievable. I will be at every remaining game as I choose to support the team in person rather than cheap shot on the Internet. Rough game, head scratcher, gotta move on and enjoy the season for what it is - games played by student athletes. 

9-2 was attainable yesterday at this time. Now the goal is 8-3. The goal post keeps moving. It’s doable, but this degree of inconsistency is beyond challenging. Not even sure if inconsistency is the right word, as this program is just plain awful (consistently) on the road. 
 

Easy button is always get new leadership, but can’t do that right now.  The 2023 season is not up yet. Changes still need to be made NOW. New personnel groupings are really where it is at at this point. So hard considering so many thought we turned the corner after the NDSU win, and got comfortable, but it was just a distraction from the truth. Sometimes, the truth hurts, but it will set you free.

Celebrate the wins, learn from the losses. Problem is the program isn’t learning from these road losses. Program has pleateaud. No more progression. Can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Time for a new dog, but we’ll always appreciate the good ol’ boy.

 

[Oxbow6]

Raise your hand if you see this team winning out in the regular season?

<scans group>

That's what I thought. 

[Midwestern Hawk]

On 11/27/2022 at 8:39 AM, Midwestern Hawk said:

I think things will be much the same as far as coaching and personnel.  Here is a very early prediction on the 2023 season...

Drake - easy W

Northern Arizona - W

@Boise State - L

@South Dakota State - L

Western Illinois - W

North Dakota State - L

@Northern Iowa - L

Indiana State - W

@Murray State - Toss up - bad team but we are on road in a new venue

@South Dakota - Toss up - avg team but on the road

Illinois State - Toss up - good team but at home

There you have it.  somewhere between 4-7 and 7-4.  

4-3 after 7.

Indiana State - W

@Murray State - Toss Up 

@South Dakota - L

Illinois State - Toss Up

7-4 and a play off spot is still obtainable.  Have to win the two toss up game and after yesterday's debacle, Tommy's bad performance and losing Ziebarth, neither will be easy.

[Oxbow6]

"That's the next step for our program.....playing better on the road".  ~ Bubba

 

Me wanting to respond after watching the same hot garbage after a decade......

[shep]

What is Ziebarth's status?

[Nodak78]

The OL has been good all season but not yesterday.  At times UNI rushed 3 or 4 and got a sack.  Not good.

[Nodak78]

Just now, shep said:

What is Ziebarth's status?

Don't know yet they said he got twisted up.  Lower body injury.

[Wilbur]

9 hours ago, Oxbow6 said:

At 6-5 can UND get a home playoff game if their bid is super high and they provide tents?? 

This will never get old.  The tent game in the bayou.  Every year the NCAA finds ways....every year. 

[Kab]

43 minutes ago, shep said:

What is Ziebarth's status?

Bubba said deal with it?

look forward to another week of his old comments

come out and show a little fire and pride coach 

[Midwestern Hawk]

10 hours ago, HoopsFan03 said:

The second half gets better……

I don't understand the play calling early whatsoever.  Why so different than NDSU?  Is it because we had the lead vs NDSU and were behind yesterday?  Why not run the ball for 5 yards instead of always trying to pass for 5 yards?  When Ziebarth left the game, he had 4 rushing attempts for 27 yards...and Tommy was 6-9 for 46 yards.  Don't understand the play calling at times.

 

We will all feel better in a week.

[ChrisUND1]

0 points.  187 yards of offense. 2 turnovers.  0-2 in red zone. Unfortunately, I watched the game and it seemed worse than those awful numbers.  What a disaster.  

[AJS]

It might not feel like it today, but there’s still a realistic chance at a program building season. Starts next week, but realistically break the rest of the season into two sets. (1) Next two (2) Last two. Start with the next two. Two sound wins and assess where you’re at in the conference / national landscape. 

[iramurphy]

On 10/6/2023 at 5:33 PM, Sioux&gt;Bison said:

No their boosters $$$$$ are the ones who make the decisions, fans with no $$$$ are just that….. fans

Boosters/fans don’t make decisions (nor should they).They certainly can create pressure on the decision makers if they organize and provide enough of the necessary resources that would create a significant hardship if withheld or create important opportunities if given. 

[Wilbur]

Tommy can run the offense superbly at times, but there are things that we can't do based on his arm strength and size.  If we can't run the ball at all we are screwed.  If a team sits back in coverage he isn't hitting Belquist on a 20 yard slant because he doesn't have the arm to make that throw like we saw yesterday.  I think it's a credit to him that he will hold many records after leaving Grand Forks, truly remarkable with his skill set.  He will likely pass Klancher this season for TD passes, that's pretty impressive.  

Open question:  

Does it say more about the other guys not being close to ready for game situations that we haven't seen them more?  Or is Bubba sticking to his guy and that's final?

I'm just as ticked as everyone.  Seems like last week was three steps forward....now three back.  

[Hans8891]

There is a lot of season left. We can still make playoffs, if we learn from the South Dakota state and northern Iowa losses.  As we have all year, I expect we will play well at home, and I hope we have our full compliment of fans tailgating to support them.  We will certainly be there. We do, however, need to learn from these very very bad road losses. One, the coaches need to have the team prepared and ready to play on the road.  That has clearly not happened. 2, if something isn’t working, adjustments have to be made. Teams stack the line of scrimmage , as every team should do if they watch film on us, there has to be adjustment to stretch the field. If Tommy can’t do that, we have the deepest quarterback roster we’ve had in years.  We have a very good stable of wide receivers, including a proven Transfer portal deep threat.   Use them.  If we are struggling with pass protection on the line, don’t go with an empty backfield, and not provide any protection for the quarterback. Adapt To the situation and don’t just play the game plan that you thought you were going to play whether it works or not. Recognize and adjust. Clinging to a game plan stubbornly when it is clearly, not being successful is not a Sign of coaching, prowess. Recognition and adaptation, are what separates poor coaches from the great ones. That to me has been our biggest failure from a coaching staff. If it works, great. If it doesn’t work, do something different. Make a change.

[Irish]

7 minutes ago, Hans8891 said:

There is a lot of season left. We can still make playoffs, if we learn from the South Dakota state and northern Iowa losses.  As we have all year, I expect we will play well at home, and I hope we have our full compliment of fans tailgating to support them.  We will certainly be there. We do, however, need to learn from these very very bad road losses. One, the coaches need to have the team prepared and ready to play on the road.  That has clearly not happened. 2, if something isn’t working, adjustments have to be made. Teams stack the line of scrimmage , as every team should do if they watch film on us, there has to be adjustment to stretch the field. If Tommy can’t do that, we have the deepest quarterback roster we’ve had in years.  We have a very good stable of wide receivers, including a proven Transfer portal deep threat.   Use them.  If we are struggling with pass protection on the line, don’t go with an empty backfield, and not provide any protection for the quarterback. Adapt To the situation and don’t just play the game plan that you thought you were going to play whether it works or not. Recognize and adjust. Clinging to a game plan stubbornly when it is clearly, not being successful is not a Sign of coaching, prowess. Recognition and adaptation, are what separates poor coaches from the great ones. That to me has been our biggest failure from a coaching staff. If it works, great. If it doesn’t work, do something different. Make a change.

I think Bubba is very resistant (and almost incapable) of change.  We've had a 10 year sample of his work. Everyone seems to understand this except one person - Our AD who thought it was a great idea to extend Bubba after his fantastic 5-6 season (where he pissed away a chance to beat the Bison).  Now we're stuck.  

[fightingsioux4life]

7 hours ago, CMSioux said:

Pre season this game was 50/50 on my schedule, NI has a strong home field advantage history. Joining the MVFC puts several drivable away games on the schedule every year. It also replaces meaningless Portland State games with Northern Iowa. There was a great contingency of UND fans at this game. Huge tailgate spot (mostly due to player parents but ordinary fans also, impressive). 8/3 still achievable. I will be at every remaining game as I choose to support the team in person rather than cheap shot on the Internet. Rough game, head scratcher, gotta move on and enjoy the season for what it is - games played by student athletes. 

So it's no different than high school athletics? That is the attitude holding FB and other programs back.

You may be satisfied with 6-5 and 7-4 seasons with an occasional playoff appearance sprinkled in, but I think we are capable of so much more.

[Midwestern Hawk]

8 minutes ago, fightingsioux4life said:

So it's no different than high school athletics? That is the attitude holding FB and other programs back.

You may be satisfied with 6-5 and 7-4 seasons with an occasional playoff appearance sprinkled in, but I think we are capable of so much more.

That is the real question at this point.  Is 5-7 wins a season and an occasional playoff appearance enough for the University of North Dakota?