2024 UND Football

[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. 

[SiouxBoys]

1 hour 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. 

 

1 hour ago, fightingsioux4life said:

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.

"Let's not start turning on each other"

[F'n Hawks]

18 minutes ago, sioux24/7 said:

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. 

If the defense is even average, we beat Youngstown and Indiana State easily and the atmosphere in the Alerus looks a lot different the last two weekends.

In 10 years at the helm, 2015 is the only year that I can think of where a Bubba led team was playing its best football at the end of the year. With that and all his road woes it’s crazy to me that he is still coaching here, although not surprising.

[Sioux27]

49 minutes ago, SiouxBoys said:

 

"Let's not start turning on each other"

I thought the same thing.....let's not turn on each other as long as you agree with my posts.

[jdub27]

1 hour ago, fightingsioux4life said:

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.

Again, talking about things you have no clue about. Just because some people don't constantly state the same thing over and over again, trying to be louder each time, does not mean they aren't critical. One doesn't need to publicly proclaim everything anonymously to disagree with where things are at. Some choose to actually give input to those who are decision makers and express their disappointment and concerns, but I guess that's not enough.

That being said, I've said plenty of times I didn't agree with the timing of extension. If they felt they needed to do it for the looks of continuity, there should have been a significant trade-off in the buyout language. 

 

1 hour ago, UND08 said:

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!

A lot of things I agree with here. Feel pretty confident the extension decision goes all the way to the top, but not the first or last time any athletic department is going to give out an extension that doesn't work out. Also it is why the buyout language is so frustrating.

Agreed on Nielson. USD fans were shocked he wasn't let go a few years ago. Not a fan of him, but have to give him credit for turning things around there.

Not much on the rest outside of agreeing the road losses to YSU/ISUb were absolutely deflating for the program (internally and externally). Not sure how you go from feeling being top 10 at 5-2 with a decent showing against a top 25 FBS team to being completely derailed the second half of the year. But here we are. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

2 hours ago, jdub27 said:

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.

The issue with this is very few agreed with the extension (which creates this buy out issue).

The head coach extension was not warranted to begin with. I know for a fact these concerns were communicated with Chaves and others prior to the extension, so the fact an extension was still issued and now less than a year later the football program is predictably regressing is incredibly frustrating and at the same time infuriating. Don’t blame Danny for leaving.
 

I honestly am strongly convinced that either corruption or incompetence (or both) presently exist within the athletic department. 

[fightingsioux4life]

1 hour ago, SiouxBoys said:

"Let's not start turning on each other"

I am not turning on anyone. I am simply pointing out that all @jdub27 has to offer is boilerplate talking points that don't address the issues we are discussing and don't answer the questions some people here have. It was not a personal attack, which was happening earlier on this topic. That is what that comment was referring to.

[fightingsioux4life]

45 minutes ago, jdub27 said:

Again, talking about things you have no clue about. Just because some people don't constantly state the same thing over and over again, trying to be louder each time, does not mean they aren't critical. One doesn't need to publicly proclaim everything anonymously to disagree with where things are at. Some choose to actually give input to those who are decision makers and express their disappointment and concerns, but I guess that's not enough.

People have sent e-mails to decision makers and posted the responses on this forum. It was the same stuff you always post; boilerplate taking points that don't address the concerns people have.

How many more years should Bubba have to fix this mess? 5? 10? 15?

Please try to answer the question this time.

[jdub27]

2 hours ago, fightingsioux4life said:

People have sent e-mails to decision makers and posted the responses on this forum. It was the same stuff you always post; boilerplate taking points that don't address the concerns people have.

How many more years should Bubba have to fix this mess? 5? 10? 15?

Please try to answer the question this time.

Which part of I didn't agree with the timing of the extension and I definitely was against the buy-out language that was in it are you struggling to understand?
What time frame are you considering "a mess"? The program is clearly in a better spot than when he took it over. There have been ups and downs, but the baseline is a much better spot. Does that mean it is where I want it to be? No. The baseline and results should be more than they are.

I don't know how to help you understand that explaining that communicating with decision makers is more effective than anonymously posting the same things over and over (and over and over) again, even if you don't get the results you want every time. And frankly, that's a good thing. You want to see "a mess"? Listening to every person with an opinion and going with their whims would have any athletic department millions in the hole in buyouts and a minimal pool to replace the person everyone wants fired the second there is any adversity. There is a happy medium to that though.
Again, just so you understand, I'm not remotely OK with how this season has progressed, but it isn't a snap your fingers and everything is fine situation. And it was compounded with an extension with, at the moment, a prohibitive buyout. That's where we are right now. Can't undo it, so figuring out how to proceed from here, whether its raise funds or figure out a way to improve, is what needs to be solved.

[iluvdebbies]

20 minutes ago, jdub27 said:

 

I don't know how to help you understand .....

Puppets?

[UND08]

33 minutes ago, jdub27 said:

Again, just so you understand, I'm not remotely OK with how this season has progressed, but it isn't a snap your fingers and everything is fine situation. And it was compounded with an extension with, at the moment, a prohibitive buyout. That's where we are right now. Can't undo it, so figuring out how to proceed from here, whether its raise funds or figure out a way to improve, is what needs to be solved.

I agree that this isn't a "snap your fingers and everything is fine situation"...it's going to take awhile to get things going the right direction...likely multiple seasons.

That said...the question is WHO do we want to lead the charge of getting things going in the right direction.

Bubba's had eons of time...Chaves too...I'd prefer to roll the dice on someone else in both roles.

[Kab]

Would like to know the real locker room talk from players

i can’t believe they are happy with bubba and OTHER COACHES,

‘going to be a huge transfer portal and some de commits after the season either way if bubba stays or bubba is done . 

[Hawkster]

So, if Bubba is fired, do all the assistants get fired too and the new guy hires who he wants?   I would think so.

[Kab]

15 minutes ago, Hawkster said:

So, if Bubba is fired, do all the assistants get fired too and the new guy hires who he wants?   I would think so.

I would think so but someone has to be named interim coach until a hire is made