2024 UND Football

[UND Football Fan]

Last game of the year, use both QB’s. Meaningful reps against a quality team on the road. (Every series or two, not what Landry did in Dallas!)

[wheelsup]

34 minutes ago, UND Football Fan said:

Last game of the year, use both QB’s. Meaningful reps against a quality team on the road. (Every series or two, not what Landry did in Dallas!)

I like the idea.. zero expectations of something like this happening based on unwillingness to do this even during obvious situations throughout the year.. 

[UND08]

1 hour ago, zonadub said:

Depends…

Arch Manning is (like Kaminski) a RS Freshman, and was one of the top 2 high school recruits in the nation. He is still waiting behind Ewers (also a junior like Romfo) at Texas. Why would Kaminski not be willing to be a 2 year starter as a Junior and Senior? On top of that, Manning has gotten playing time and had on-field success for the Longhorns, so you would think he would be less settled as a backup, but sounds like he will stay at Texas.

How much is Arch Manning being paid in NIL money to stay at Texas?  I mean they have Lamborghinis at the stadium for recruits to drive when they visit...haha!

At the FCS level...the idea of waiting to see the field when playing is how you monetize your ability is a bad financial decision.  When I heard that Gronowski at SDSU turned down a $1.2 million NIL deal to come back to SDSU my first thought was "he's an idiot"... 

[shep]

4 hours ago, UND08 said:

How much is Arch Manning being paid in NIL money to stay at Texas?  I mean they have Lamborghinis at the stadium for recruits to drive when they visit...haha!

At the FCS level...the idea of waiting to see the field when playing is how you monetize your ability is a bad financial decision.  When I heard that Gronowski at SDSU turned down a $1.2 million NIL deal to come back to SDSU my first thought was "he's an idiot"... 

Eli pointed out that he sat for over a year and a half before getting the call.

i have little time condemning the QB when the D is giving up 300 plus yards every game.

[Sioux94]

6 hours ago, wheelsup said:

I like the idea.. zero expectations of something like this happening based on unwillingness to do this even during obvious situations throughout the year.. 

It makes way too much sense to give Jerry either the start or alternate series to give him some experience and to see what he's got. But this inept coaching staff won't do it. If Jerry doesn't get snaps this week Fruechte you should also go when Bubba leaves. 

[F'n Hawks]

7 minutes ago, Sioux94 said:

It makes way too much sense to give Jerry either the start or alternate series to give him some experience and to see what he's got. But this inept coaching staff won't do it. If Jerry doesn't get snaps this week Fruechte you should also go when Bubba leaves. 

Is it up to Fruechte or Bubba?

[SiouxFan100]

Bubba has already said he is playing whoever gives us the best chance to win. 
I take it to mean Bubba isn’t using this game to prepare for next year ( not experimenting)

I would expect the same lineup other than replacement for injured 

[Sioux94]

41 minutes ago, F'n Hawks said:

Is it up to Fruechte or Bubba?

Ultimately it's up to Bubba, but when Bubba is a defensive coach....you can't tell me that Fruechte doesn’t have a LOT of pull in that decision.  If Fruend was here, in my mind it would be Fruend making the call as to who gets thr start to start the season. It may never be mentioned publicly but I think Fruend, and now Fruechte say who they would want to start,  and HC  can go with it or not. 

Now if Fruend, as a former QB and offensive coordinator became HC then I'm thinking he is making that call. Anyone here think Bubba is some kind of QB Wizard and is going to go against their OC's choice as to who the starter should be? Hell Bubba doesn't know when to call timeouts. You think he needs the stress of it getting out that the OC suggested starting a QB and he chose the other guy and went with that other guy? 

 

[ND-fan]

I am tired of argument for giving Jerry playing time he still freshman and coaching staff chose Simon and he has continued to improve as the season has gone along. If Schuster had been able to run like Simon on previous  years teams we would have been much better team and  had as good arm to go deep we had been playoff team with few wins. Simon is our starting quarter back and this may not please people here but  coaches feel he is future of program for one more year.  Jerry has his time coming  in a year or something happens to Simon.
Second people on this board need to be realistic we’re not just going win national championship even if we have change in head coach. We’re far from having program that can move to top of FCS. here are the facts yes we have improved facilities to be one of the better programs in FCs. The money is not there to pay for keeping coaches and finding coaches to want to come here and compete against other Dakota Schools. The money for recruiting and our history since jumping to division I  has been insufficient to be destination for recruits coming here from our recruiting area. This leaves us with looking for talent  from recruits from other top regions of the country but this comes with finding players that buy into team concept. The other part is will local fans come watch team that doesn’t have regional players South Dakota has been doing this but their attendance is down even when there winning. Finally we’re known as hockey school media attention is there not good for attracting top flight talent because today’s players are looking to get looked at by pros. This isn’t impossible to overcome but it’s going to take administration and alumni going extra mile to move the program forward. But support will not only be for football but other major sports will need similar support and funding if this going to be accomplished.  
I agree changes need to be made but my gut feeling old school alumni are not there and administration is not ready to do anything because cost to make changes without key money support to do so. This leaves us with changing of defensive coordinator and probably several other coaches. If this direction they go, need coordinator can bring in talent immediately and be able recruit talent that fits to size of the Valley. I could be wrong Bubba may just steps down after the season is done and then we will find out where we stand as program if this happens.. I am just speculating here but I don’t see any easy fixes but I look with the exception of few in FCs of five or six teams at top everyone else is dropping back because most schools are not able to fund their programs like NDSU and SDSU and Montana schools that leaves us with decision of if we can reach that level of support.

[Oxbow6]

8 hours ago, SiouxFan100 said:

Bubba has already said he is playing whoever gives us the best chance to win. 
I take it to mean Bubba isn’t using this game to prepare for next year ( not experimenting)

I would expect the same lineup other than replacement for injured 

This team is on a 4 game meltdown. This team is currently in 8th place in the MVFC.

Square peg...round hole.

[Oxbow6]

5 hours ago, ND-fan said:

I am tired of argument for giving Jerry playing time he still freshman and coaching staff chose Simon and he has continued to improve as the season has gone along. If Schuster had been able to run like Simon on previous  years teams we would have been much better team and  had as good arm to go deep we had been playoff team with few wins. Simon is our starting quarter back and this may not please people here but  coaches feel he is future of program for one more year.  Jerry has his time coming  in a year or something happens to Simon.
Second people on this board need to be realistic we’re not just going win national championship even if we have change in head coach. We’re far from having program that can move to top of FCS. here are the facts yes we have improved facilities to be one of the better programs in FCs. The money is not there to pay for keeping coaches and finding coaches to want to come here and compete against other Dakota Schools. The money for recruiting and our history since jumping to division I  has been insufficient to be destination for recruits coming here from our recruiting area. This leaves us with looking for talent  from recruits from other top regions of the country but this comes with finding players that buy into team concept. The other part is will local fans come watch team that doesn’t have regional players South Dakota has been doing this but their attendance is down even when there winning. Finally we’re known as hockey school media attention is there not good for attracting top flight talent because today’s players are looking to get looked at by pros. This isn’t impossible to overcome but it’s going to take administration and alumni going extra mile to move the program forward. But support will not only be for football but other major sports will need similar support and funding if this going to be accomplished.  
I agree changes need to be made but my gut feeling old school alumni are not there and administration is not ready to do anything because cost to make changes without key money support to do so. This leaves us with changing of defensive coordinator and probably several other coaches. If this direction they go, need coordinator can bring in talent immediately and be able recruit talent that fits to size of the Valley. I could be wrong Bubba may just steps down after the season is done and then we will find out where we stand as program if this happens.. I am just speculating here but I don’t see any easy fixes but I look with the exception of few in FCs of five or six teams at top everyone else is dropping back because most schools are not able to fund their programs like NDSU and SDSU and Montana schools that leaves us with decision of if we can reach that level of support.

I stopped reading after the first sentence. Just as a point of reference before I considering read the rest how many of the 11 games have you actually watch start to finish?

[UND-FB-FAN]

7 hours ago, Sioux94 said:

Anyone here think Bubba is some kind of QB Wizard and is going to go against their OC's choice as to who the starter should be?

Bubba isn’t any kind of wizard. He is an average division 1 football coach as evidenced by his record who has lost his team /locker room. Anyone who has been around the game can see it. He can’t relate to or highly motivate 17-22 year old young men, and that in itself is reason enough to move on. He’s not coaching a team of 60- and 70-year-old men, so I really find it laughable that those friend-to-friend opinions mean so much. There’s still surprisingly a lot of vocal support for Bubba, but it clearly cares more about Bubba the individual retaining his position than actually seeing UND football ascend and take the next step. This apparently includes Chaves, and that is incredibly concerning. We’re at the point now (and have been for quite some time) where those who endorse Bubba are not actually supporters of UND football success, but rather just supporters of superficial participation. 

[wheelsup]

6 hours ago, ND-fan said:

I am tired of argument for giving Jerry playing time he still freshman and coaching staff chose Simon and he has continued to improve as the season has gone along. If Schuster had been able to run like Simon on previous  years teams we would have been much better team and  had as good arm to go deep we had been playoff team with few wins. Simon is our starting quarter back and this may not please people here but  coaches feel he is future of program for one more year.  Jerry has his time coming  in a year or something happens to Simon.
Second people on this board need to be realistic we’re not just going win national championship even if we have change in head coach. We’re far from having program that can move to top of FCS. here are the facts yes we have improved facilities to be one of the better programs in FCs. The money is not there to pay for keeping coaches and finding coaches to want to come here and compete against other Dakota Schools. The money for recruiting and our history since jumping to division I  has been insufficient to be destination for recruits coming here from our recruiting area. This leaves us with looking for talent  from recruits from other top regions of the country but this comes with finding players that buy into team concept. The other part is will local fans come watch team that doesn’t have regional players South Dakota has been doing this but their attendance is down even when there winning. Finally we’re known as hockey school media attention is there not good for attracting top flight talent because today’s players are looking to get looked at by pros. This isn’t impossible to overcome but it’s going to take administration and alumni going extra mile to move the program forward. But support will not only be for football but other major sports will need similar support and funding if this going to be accomplished.  
I agree changes need to be made but my gut feeling old school alumni are not there and administration is not ready to do anything because cost to make changes without key money support to do so. This leaves us with changing of defensive coordinator and probably several other coaches. If this direction they go, need coordinator can bring in talent immediately and be able recruit talent that fits to size of the Valley. I could be wrong Bubba may just steps down after the season is done and then we will find out where we stand as program if this happens.. I am just speculating here but I don’t see any easy fixes but I look with the exception of few in FCs of five or six teams at top everyone else is dropping back because most schools are not able to fund their programs like NDSU and SDSU and Montana schools that leaves us with decision of if we can reach that level of support.

While there are some people that want Jerry/Feeny to start… most people have said the coaches see them every day and are picking the person they think gives them the best chance

what I and many others are arguing for and pointing out.. is the complete lack of time for what everyone thinks is a good future starter.  Whether you believe romfo is better or not.. you have to be completely annoyed with the lack of development time for Jerry and others.. pretty much every other team we have played this year gets their backup qb in for meaningful snaps.. for some reason that is beyond the comprehension of our coaching staff.. I don’t know if it’s a fruecte call or bubba.. but it was the same under Danny.. so the common theme is bubba so I lean towards bubba with no real knowledge.   
 

I find the lack of development for our backup qbs very odd.. it’s like they want them to leave. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

2 minutes ago, wheelsup said:

While there are some people that want Jerry/Feeny to start… most people have said the coaches see them every day and are picking the person they think gives them the best chance

what I and many others are arguing for and pointing out.. is the complete lack of time for what everyone thinks is a good future starter.  Whether you believe romfo is better or not.. you have to be completely annoyed with the lack of development time for Jerry and others.. pretty much every other team we have played this year gets their backup qb in for meaningful snaps.. for some reason that is beyond the comprehension of our coaching staff.. I don’t know if it’s a fruecte call or bubba.. but it was the same under Danny.. so the common theme is bubba so I lean towards bubba with no real knowledge.   
 

I find the lack of development for our backup qbs very odd.. it’s like they want them to leave. 

Honestly, the priority should be discussion on the entire defensive depth chart, not the quarterback depth chart. Fruechte has done a good job considering where Romfo is now compared to one year ago. 

[jdub27]

1 hour ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Anyone who has been around the game can see it. 

Just so I know how serious to take your opinion since you're clearly positioning yourself as an expert who knows more than the current staff and pretty much everyone on this board, have you ever disclosed what level you "have been around football" at? I know you tried calling out some people to compare CV's a while back but don't recall that ever happening. 

Not even asking because I disagree with your comments, we definitely agree on more than we don't but I'm not going to claim I'm a great football mind. Try to rely on those who have spent more time around the game at a higher level than I could ever imagine to understand nuances. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

1 hour ago, jdub27 said:

Just so I know how serious to take your opinion since you're clearly positioning yourself as an expert who knows more than the current staff and pretty much everyone on this board, have you ever disclosed what level you "have been around football" at? I know you tried calling out some people to compare CV's a while back but don't recall that ever happening. 

Not even asking because I disagree with your comments, we definitely agree on more than we don't but I'm not going to claim I'm a great football mind. Try to rely on those who have spent more time around the game at a higher level than I could ever imagine to understand nuances. 

Wonderful, let’s start pulling out CVs and such to see if it’s worth listening to each other on here …

I’ve coached high school football in North Dakota. I don’t anymore (stopped over 10 years ago) because it was not lucrative enough and my schedule didn’t allow it, but I’ll get back into it eventually … someday. 

In the meantime, I watch a lot of football (again, as my schedule allows).

[UND08]

13 hours ago, shep said:

Eli pointed out that he sat for over a year and a half before getting the call.

i have little time condemning the QB when the D is giving up 300 plus yards every game.

I mean...I'm with you on the defense...but I'm not going to sit here and pretend that Simon Romfo will ever be anything more than a middle of the pack MVFC QB that lags behind the upper echelon.

Great story...no doubt...but he's had one game all year where I really felt like he was in command (YSU), and his coach trusted him so much that he took him OFF the field for the biggest play of the game.

But to your point...there's 348 other deficiencies with this team...Simon doesn't rank in the top 40 of them.

[Irish]

Agree that there are many bigger problems than Simon - My biggest concern at QB is Bubba's stubborn refusal to give any other QB not just some meaningful minutes but any minutes at all.  I wonder why after seeing this any top QB recruit would want to come here.  Coaching malpractice from a stubborn old coach who is unbelievably set in his ways. 

[fightingsioux4life]

8 hours ago, ND-fan said:

I am tired of argument for giving Jerry playing time he still freshman and coaching staff chose Simon and he has continued to improve as the season has gone along. If Schuster had been able to run like Simon on previous  years teams we would have been much better team and  had as good arm to go deep we had been playoff team with few wins. Simon is our starting quarter back and this may not please people here but  coaches feel he is future of program for one more year.  Jerry has his time coming  in a year or something happens to Simon.
Second people on this board need to be realistic we’re not just going win national championship even if we have change in head coach. We’re far from having program that can move to top of FCS. here are the facts yes we have improved facilities to be one of the better programs in FCs. The money is not there to pay for keeping coaches and finding coaches to want to come here and compete against other Dakota Schools. The money for recruiting and our history since jumping to division I  has been insufficient to be destination for recruits coming here from our recruiting area. This leaves us with looking for talent  from recruits from other top regions of the country but this comes with finding players that buy into team concept. The other part is will local fans come watch team that doesn’t have regional players South Dakota has been doing this but their attendance is down even when there winning. Finally we’re known as hockey school media attention is there not good for attracting top flight talent because today’s players are looking to get looked at by pros. This isn’t impossible to overcome but it’s going to take administration and alumni going extra mile to move the program forward. But support will not only be for football but other major sports will need similar support and funding if this going to be accomplished.  
I agree changes need to be made but my gut feeling old school alumni are not there and administration is not ready to do anything because cost to make changes without key money support to do so. This leaves us with changing of defensive coordinator and probably several other coaches. If this direction they go, need coordinator can bring in talent immediately and be able recruit talent that fits to size of the Valley. I could be wrong Bubba may just steps down after the season is done and then we will find out where we stand as program if this happens.. I am just speculating here but I don’t see any easy fixes but I look with the exception of few in FCs of five or six teams at top everyone else is dropping back because most schools are not able to fund their programs like NDSU and SDSU and Montana schools that leaves us with decision of if we can reach that level of support.

Wave the white flag and accept that this is as good as it will ever get? Nope, not today, not tomorrow, not ever.

You are part of the problem around here. Low expectations, no standards of any kind. Based on your assessment, we should just join the Pioneer League. I personally would rather drop the sport than do that, but that's just my opinion.

It's been 15+ years of mostly mind-numbing mediocrity and it's people with your attitude that have helped make it possible. Congratulations. 

[jdub27]

35 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Wonderful, let’s start pulling out CVs and such to see if it’s worth listening to each other on here …

I’ve coached high school football in North Dakota. I don’t anymore (stopped over 10 years ago) because it was not lucrative enough and my schedule didn’t allow it, but I’ll get back into it eventually … someday. 

In the meantime, I watch a lot of football (again, as my schedule allows).

Was just a question as you're the one who made about "anyone who has been around the game". Also feel like you were the one who previously wanted to compare CV's against others (UNDFootball360 guys?)
Regardless, do appreciate and respect anyone who spends time coaching high school levels and below as it definitely isn't something you do for money or glory. 

We agree on more than we don't. How things change and what is realistic in what time frame as things sit today probably isn't one of them because I don't know where the athletic department is going to come up with the money to make an immediate change. Has to come from private donors, because as previously stated, the reaction from the academic side would (rightfully) be some significant backlash.

 

14 minutes ago, fightingsioux4life said:

Wave the white flag and accept that this is as good as it will ever get? Nope, not today, not tomorrow, not ever.

You are part of the problem around here. Low expectations, no standards of any kind. Based on your assessment, we should just join the Pioneer League. I personally would rather drop the sport than do that, but that's just my opinion.

It's been 15+ years of mostly mind-numbing mediocrity and it's people with your attitude that have helped make it possible. Congratulations. 

So your (sometimes incorrect) interpretation on people's thoughts on a message board is what is driving the athletic department? Do they somehow have more power than those that have sky high expectations? Why is it only some people who "make things possible"?

[fightingsioux4life]

23 minutes ago, jdub27 said:

So your (sometimes incorrect) interpretation on people's thoughts on a message board is what is driving the athletic department? Do they somehow have more power than those that have sky high expectations? Why is it only some people who "make things possible"?

You will defend anything and everything this athletic department does, no matter how bad the results are. All you ever offer are the same tired old boilerplate talking points.

[UND1983]

Listened to the press conference yesterday.  You will all be happy to know that UND prepared really well and played hard and Bubba was proud of the way they battled.  

[iramurphy]

Not getting Jerry significant playing time this year has been a big mistake. That also goes for other key backups and potential future starters/key players. 
I don’t want my backup qb’s first time on the field to be a pressure situation with the game on the line. Sulik should have been given some end of game snaps as well. 
 

Guys understand they need to wait their turn but also can see the missed opportunities for playing time. Coaches also need to see how ready their backups are if needed. Practice is a time for evaluation but it isn’t the same as taking snaps with other starters on the field where you don’t get to wear a red target jersey to keep from getting hit. 
 

Romfo has made decent progress this season. I will probably always wonder how Feeney would have been but that ship has sailed. Getting players into games is an important part of their development. That includes Jerry and Sulik.  If Romfo continues to improve, it may be tough to unseat him as the starter but the other guys need to continue to develop. 
 

This game won’t affect the season, but you still want to win it. If we are down or up by 3-4 scores late in 1st half or later, even if Romfo is playing well, I’d put Jerry in. I would also try to get any of my defensive backups who show good potential on the field. 
 

 

[UND08]

1 hour ago, jdub27 said:

How things change and what is realistic in what time frame as things sit today probably isn't one of them because I don't know where the athletic department is going to come up with the money to make an immediate change.

1 - The athletic department had the ability to make the change at a much more affordable cost but instead chose to tack on $750k+ last spring.  Why is there no accountability for that decision?

2 - The reason for the change that you speak of is still employed by the University and has been for over a decade.  The thought of giving said person more time to "fix" things rings awfully hollow to me when I compare our program to our immediate peers at the FCS level.  I mean...Bob Nielson was on the hot seat two years ago...and since then has put his team into position to have back-to-back top 8 seeds into the FCS playoffs, while doing so with fewer resources than we have in Grand Forks.  That's the kind of "fix" we needed a couple of years ago.  Is the standard tough to live up to?  Yes...but that's life in NDSU/SDSU's back yard.

The Bubba defenders had to know this discussion was coming after last year.  I maintained a positive outlook throughout this season until the back-to-back losses at YSU/ISU(b).  Couple that with the UNI debacle last year and it's readily apparent to me that this program will never be ready for the next step as it is currently constituted.  If the Bubba defenders want to throw enough influence around to keep this going...that's their right (and apparently, they're quite good at it) ...but good luck filling the Alerus next year with Bo gone and a continuously porous defense (from a defensive head coach).  I listened to the SDSU game on the radio (vs watching on TV or attending) and Mike Berg was very frank in his assessment of this team lacking speed and talent (especially on defense).  That was honestly refreshing to me...since it's been readily apparent for awhile now.  Any AD worth his weight in salt would be concerned...but oh well we got a hockey game in Austin TX to get ready for!

[sioux24/7]

I’m not going to read everything here but my personal take on the QB situation is that none of the QBs on the roster would have really changed where we sit this year. Romfo is not the main reason we are 5-6. The defense is.