2024 UND Football

[Kab]

Some on here  say it’s not good if coaches don’t move on and then when one does it’s a disaster?

a lot of people do employment moves that aren’t a promotion because they look at what it may do for them in the future 

I guess I’m over coaches and players  moving on, we may not like it but in a few years who will remember the names 

I think Sabin saw the future of football with NIL and rightly said its  time to get out 

[Big Green]

1 hour ago, siouxfan512 said:

There are some on this forum that are very jealous of hockey. Hockey has facilities, funding, fans and success. These fans like to boast that if hockey wasn't a priority and the funding was diverted to football, we would magically be perennial national champs. Of course it isn't that simple and you don't tear down one successful program to try to build another. You try to build another successful program in addition to what you have.

Now I'm a big UND football fan too, and there is no doubt they could use some additional funding, probably mostly in the form of coaching salaries (and maybe some new white jerseys), but to blaming hockey is just the quick scapegoat. Any easy way of showing how jealous they are of the success they want for the sport they don't care about.

Had Ralph donated all that money towards a football stadium, you wouldn't hear a peep from this crowd, and how great would it be if we had someone willing to donate that for football as well. It would be incredible! But most schools don't get that for any sport let alone one. The REA has been fantastic for hockey and the community. The Alerus isn't a bad facility either. Its not my person favorite, but its not a bad place to watch a game.

Rather than placing blame on the alumni that did donate a ton to the University, I'd focus more on our AD who hands out unwarranted contract extensions and can't seem to find some more money in our alumni base. It doesn't even need to be a ton more, but they do need to increase the salaries to be competitive. Maybe that will be the focus now that Phase 2 is on its way. I'm not sure it is even that much more money that would need to be raise .... I have no idea, but something needs to be done. When Bubba is gone, it would be really nice to see UND make a splash in hiring (but I doubt it). Problems run deeper at UND that money. There is also just and administrative approach and routine that never seems to change.

I like UND Hockey and Football Equally.  I would like to see rather than a new scoreboard, or new locker rooms or weight rooms at the REA, use some of that money to invest in the football program.  Seems like money is being spent the the REA on things that are not needed.  

It should be one university, but is seems like it is the Hockey program vs all other programs.  

[Siouxperfan7]

Bubba is signed thru 2025.  This is Bubba's make or break year.  They are not going to have him coach the last year of his contract without a new deal in places.  So baring a MVFC Championship or a deep playoff run, This is likely Bubba's final year.  Was already going to be a rough season, but now throw in a new OC and a new QB, it gets even tougher.  Why would an external candidate want to come into a situation like that where there is a good chance you could be let go after 1 year.  I think this will be an internal hire.  Unless someone outside just wants a shot at OC and wants to pad their resume.

[AJS]

4 minutes ago, Siouxperfan7 said:

Bubba is signed thru 2025.  This is Bubba's make or break year.  They are not going to have him coach the last year of his contract without a new deal in places.  So baring a MVFC Championship or a deep playoff run, This is likely Bubba's final year.  Was already going to be a rough season, but now throw in a new OC and a new QB, it gets even tougher.  Why would an external candidate want to come into a situation like that where there is a good chance you could be let go after 1 year.  I think this will be an internal hire.  Unless someone outside just wants a shot at OC and wants to pad their resume.

Let's talk this into existence. Bubba will take the decision completely out of Chaves hands. The Freund news was a shock to the system, but it also helped Bubba realize that what's best for the program is for him to step aside. 2024 will be his last year. 

The next 12 months. King hired. Great spring camp, continuity among the offensive side of the ball (no portal transfers), defense surprises. Bubba announces this will be the last year (before season). 8 wins. Bubba retires. Freund hired.  

[UND1983]

Sad thing is Bubba is willing to throw away an entire season so he can continue to do what he wants and collect a check.  Pretty much everyone knows he should've stepped aside after the Sacramento State debacle.  

[SooToo]

3 hours ago, UND1983 said:

Interesting and pointed comments from 360 on Danny’s move

Very good assessment of the situation, I think. Wonder also if a chance to diversify his resume played a role.

[Shawn-O]

1 hour ago, jdub27 said:

Would it be nice if the contract with the REA was renegotiated to balance things out a little bit more? It is pretty complicated beyond what's been laid out here, but yes, it definitely could be. 

First off, the Englestad's have been beyond generous to UND, nobody can deny that.  I can only speak to the optics, which is to say the REA seems less like a gift and more like a business arrangement.  Is a revenue distribution agreement between a property management company and an athletic department a normal thing?  I'm thinking it's not, but I'm not close enough to it to be sure.   

To compare, the T. Boone Pickens gifts to Oklahoma State seem to be done differently.  Not as much funneling of funds to specific programs.  

And no, I'm not envious of hockey.  I'm as big of a fan of that program as the next person here.  It's the dynamics between REA Inc. and UND Athletics that seems unique and quite odd.  I'll hang up and listen.   

[The Sicatoka]

The most honest take I've seen, from UNDFootball360: 

Quote

Tough to be hanging around when a coach is nearing the end of his contract with no guarantee of an extension in sight. ... Now if you are Danny and have aspirations to be the head coach at your alma mater (if you stay) you are putting all your eggs in one basket. AD Bill Chaves either hires him or he is retained by the new head coach, or he is out of a job. The last two have a better chance of happening than the first if Chaves opens it up for a national search. Just never know who will apply.

Danny made a strategic move for Danny. I don't blame him. He's responding to circumstance around him. 

[gfhockey]

Maybe this is a good move for the future so we won’t be so inbred. Danny will learn some other styles from other staffs that have been successful.

[nodak651]

27 minutes ago, Big Green said:

I like UND Hockey and Football Equally.  I would like to see rather than a new scoreboard, or new locker rooms or weight rooms at the REA, use some of that money to invest in the football program.  Seems like money is being spent the the REA on things that are not needed.  

It should be one university, but is seems like it is the Hockey program vs all other programs.  

I like both sports as well.  I started out as a hockey fan, mainly, because I grew up playing and because I knew some people on the team.  The reason I became a big FB fan was because I could never get my friends to go to games with me, because "we suck" (Mussman days)..  One of the friends grew up in Fargo and would even follow Bison FB.  I want the FB program to get better so that my friends are interested enough to watch both sports.  FB could absolutely have one of the best fan bases in the country - the potential is there!  That's why I harp so much on the usage agreement with the REA.

I think it's important to note, however, that the weight room renovation and locker room were paid for, entirely, by a donation from the Engelstad Foundation.  REA/UND money was not used for those projects.  The scoreboard was 4 million Engelstad Foundation money and 2 Million REA money.  This differentiation is important because the money for the weight room and locker room renovations, specifically, could not have gone to other programs. 

There IS a bunch of money sitting over there, but from what I can tell, it isn't really being re invested in athletics.  My point is that reworking the usage agreement wouldn't necessarily hurt the hockey program at all.  I get that the usage agreement will not be changed until 2030, but if there are funding issues for FB or any of the sports at the Betty, I will bring this up.  The REA needs to be more transparent with their planning process if they aren't going to distribute more money to UND at the end of the year.  If they are holding excess cash than what is needed for day to day operations, and if they are not distributing it to UND at the end of the year, and if they are not putting it in their restricted improvements fund (where UND has more oversight as to how it is spent), then that is a problem, imo.  

[The Sicatoka]

2 minutes ago, gfhockey said:

Maybe this is a good move for the future so we won’t be so inbred. Danny will learn some other styles from other staffs that have been successful.

We had a chance to not be once upon a time ...

[The Sicatoka]

What is "excess" cash? 

What are their monthly operational cash needs?

What are their required (by lenders, by their charter) reserves of cash? 

Are they managing the funds well (not just in simple savings but managed short-term funds with market returns)? 

Do they have debt obligations, most notably to UND Athletics?

I've seen the number "$15M" cash reserves. It'd take 20x that to rebuild REA/BESC. 

Could there be more transparency? Yes.
But until I know the additional details I reserve judgement.

I don't blame the boogeyman until I know it's really scary and not a mirage. 

[Siouxperman8]

My first thought with Danny going to SDSU was of when Ben Jacobson left as UND bb assistant to move to NDSU for the same role.  

[nodak651]

9 minutes ago, gfhockey said:

Maybe this is a good move for the future so we won’t be so inbred. Danny will learn some other styles from other staffs that have been successful.

Don't leave out poaching some of their talent!  One can dream lol.  

[Siouxperman8]

2 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

What is "excess" cash? 

What are their monthly operational cash needs?

What are their required (by lenders, by their charter) reserves of cash? 

Are they managing the funds well (not just in simple savings but managed short-term funds with market returns)? 

Do they have debt obligations, most notably to UND Athletics?

I've seen the number "$15M" cash reserves. It'd take 20x that to rebuild REA/BESC. 

Could there be more transparency? Yes.
But until I know the additional details I reserve judgement.

I don't blame the boogeyman until I know it's really scary and not a mirage. 

What people are saying is - let's see the details.  I'd like to figure out what happens to the 52% of fb ticket revenue and why it's needed.  Is it helping to pay off the Betty or ?

One thing I learned in business and helping to manage a company is that people will fill in their own details if you don't give them the information.  

[gfhockey]

Betty’s paid off in 2023. Where’s that cash savings going now

[The Sicatoka]

5 minutes ago, Siouxperman8 said:

What people are saying is - let's see the details.   

Like I said, "... until I know the additional details I reserve judgement." 

[Siouxperman8]

6 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Like I said, "... until I know the additional details I reserve judgement." 

And we won’t get those details so no surprise that people will fill in the blanks based on what they see. Human nature 

[nodak651]

23 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

What is "excess" cash? 

What are their monthly operational cash needs?

What are their required (by lenders, by their charter) reserves of cash? 

Are they managing the funds well (not just in simple savings but managed short-term funds with market returns)? 

Do they have debt obligations, most notably to UND Athletics?

I've seen the number "$15M" cash reserves. It'd take 20x that to rebuild REA/BESC. 

Could there be more transparency? Yes.
But until I know the additional details I reserve judgement.

I don't blame the boogeyman until I know it's really scary and not a mirage. 

I never said in cash "reserves", specifically.  Some if it is in reserve funds and a lot of it isn't.   And I'm not saying that there is a boogeyman.  I don't think anyone is being swindled.  My speculation is that there could be some disagreement with how some of the money could be spent, so it just isn't spent at all.

Their liabilities are mostly either payables to UND for various reasons or deferred revenue.  From what I can tell, they don't have lenders either.

My overall point isn't that anyone is stealing money or anything like that.  It's that there is money that can be better utilized to help other programs, and money doesn't necessarily need to be taken away from hockey in order to do it.

[Longtime fan]

4 hours ago, jdub27 said:

Again with pretending anyone is content. Again, I ask you to show me that anyone has explicitly said "good enough". 

No one is. The program needs to keep improving. But most of us just don't want to see it slide backwards for that to happen to prove some sort of point or be able to say we were "right" about something. 

Pushing for things like improved facilities, player nutrition, coaches salaries, etc. are things that move the program forward. Not withholding funds and then complaining that things aren't improving. If anything, that seems asinine to me.

 

-Facilities are far from the problem.  Und has excelled in that category compared to 3/4 of the fcs.    Throw that out the window.  

-coaching salaries.  This is a must to hire a competent qualified coach and staff. Can UND ponie up ? Or can they and refuse to?  
 

- player nutrition .  With the transfer culture now …keeping above average talent will be nearly impossible.  Money talks combined with transfer ease makes nutrition very difficult

 

Again …it’s been noted numerous times but extending Bubba after a s&@t season just shows the true colors for und athletics (minus hockey). Keep it simple ….keep the cheap guy.  Complacency at its best. In their eyes mediocre is better than the worst.   How about striving for the best ?  

 

 

 

[UND1983]

Where is Chaves in all of this?  He cannot possibly think it's business as usual, can he?

[forksandspoons]

31 minutes ago, UND1983 said:

Where is Chaves in all of this?  He cannot possibly think it's business as usual, can he?

Well, he's under contract until 2026 making at least $221K a year in Grand Forks, ND, and nearing retirement age. What motivation does he have? 

[MoSiouxFan]

12 hours ago, Sioux94 said:

Vogler, UMD OC had his offense average 37.7 points a game in 2023. I know nothing about the NSIC but he must be doing something right on offense. 

I'm thinking that he would be a good choice.  Landry or King wouldn't be bad, either.  All three former QB's.

[homer]

When the time comes to select a new head coach, I hope a QB coach at an FCS school isn’t the choice.  
 

If you want to keep it in the UND tree there are other guys that have actually been part of the building of successful programs.  

[The Sicatoka]

Do Jake Landry or Luke Schleussner have better resume than Danny Freund. One could argue it.