Valparaiso @ UND 9/20/2025

[UND-FB-FAN]

21 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

2-2 going on the road to UNI

Yes. 

0-0 starting conference play 

Take it how you will. 

But team and program is improved and on the up-trend without question. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

34 minutes ago, Cratter said:

Meh.

The team doesnt look much different than last year. Lost close games last year and already lost close game this year.

Beat #4 Montana last year.

Opened the season 4-1 last year with only loss to FBS team.

Scored 72 last year on our "Valparaiso equivalent."

There was a fine line between good and bad season last year.

And it feels like its the same thing this year.

Last year fell below that line.

This year..tbd...but that recent Montana game could be some foreshadowing...

 

Respectfully, you’re blind. 

[Cratter]

1 minute ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Respectfully, you’re blind. 

This team has won 2 games against cupcakes.

Lost 2 games....

But "looks way better than last year."

Sounds like a Viking fan pumping JJ after the Bears game.

Only a fool thinks there's enough evidence to claim anything.

[Und Princess]

22 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

Homecoming cupcake win. Want smiles after this game annually. 

I agree with you @Oxbow6 1000000%

[Cratter]

We do know this team can easily blow big leads.

We know they can beat up the skinny weaks kid at home.

That's all we know.

[Cratter]

21 minutes ago, fightingsioux4life said:

I said before the season started that there would be growing pains early on.

-New head coach.

-New starting QB.

-New defensive system.

And there have been growing pains.

But if we can get better as the season goes on, it will be worth it.

Anybody who expected Schmidt to strike gold immediately in season one was asking to be disappointed.

This is not the exact same team as last year. But if you want to keep believing that, go ahead.

Not disagreeing with anything you wrote.

Just adding last years team was a few key plays from making the playoffs too.

Their record wasn't as bad as it seemed.

Just like UND today 2-2 isnt as bad as it seems.

[CMSioux]

6 minutes ago, Cratter said:

We do know this team can easily blow big leads.

We know they can beat up the skinny weaks kid at home.

That's all we know.

Are you not enjoying the season?

[UND-FB-FAN]

4 minutes ago, Cratter said:

This team has won 2 games against cupcakes.

Lost 2 games....

But "looks way better than last year."

Sounds like a Viking fan pumping JJ after the Bears game.

Only a fool thinks there's enough evidence to claim anything.

What claim are you claiming? 
Seems like you’re working too hard to disprove progress. Team is by no means perfect, but also this team is not the same team as last year. As such, there is no reason at all to push for that narrative. 

Many times I question whether some of you are UND supporters or just posters masquerading as realists. 
Of course, if you only look at wins/losses and know nothing about football it makes it easier to make outlandish claims.

[UND-FB-FAN]

6 minutes ago, Cratter said:

Not disagreeing with anything you wrote.

Just adding last years team was a few key plays from making the playoffs too.

Their record wasn't as bad as it seemed.

Just like UND today 2-2 isnt as bad as it seems.

Wrong. 2024 UND was 5-7 and lost 5 in a row. Their record reflects how bad they were. But this isn't 2024 anymore. Get off the 2024 topic man

[UND-FB-FAN]

11 minutes ago, Cratter said:

We do know this team can easily blow big leads.

We know they can beat up the skinny weaks kid at home.

That's all we know.

Ha! Wow… 

Ok fella

[Cratter]

We know the season really comes down to only a handful of remaining games:

S Illinois

NDSU

USD

SDSU

....best guess.....500? Win the 2 at home and lose the two on the road?

 

[Cratter]

5 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Wrong. 2024 UND was 5-7 and lost 5 in a row. Their record reflects how bad they were. But this isn't 2024 anymore. Get off the 2024 topic man

Just like your earlier claim about this year "we were close a few points, couple plays from winning."

Ot, one posession games, and then a defeated last game loss.

"Last year the record reflected how bad they were....but not this season!"

Short memory.

[UND-FB-FAN]

Just now, Cratter said:

Just like your earlier claim about this year "we were close a few points, couple plays from winning."

Ot, one posession games, and then a defeated last game loss.

Last year the record reflected how bad they were....but not this season.

Short memory.

It’s clearly not that simple, but nice try to attempt that argument. Just look at the product on the field- 2024 and 2025 are night and day different. We’re on the rise, but you can continue your unwarranted pessimism … it won’t age well.

[Cratter]

2 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

It’s clearly not that simple, but nice try to attempt that argument. Just look at the product on the field- 2024 and 2025 are night and day different. We’re on the rise, but you can continue your unwarranted pessimism … it won’t age well.

Youre using a sample size of 2024 entire season.

Vs a few games this year.

Your statistics teacher wouldn't be happy with you.

 

[fightingsioux4life]

14 minutes ago, Cratter said:

Not disagreeing with anything you wrote.

Just adding last years team was a few key plays from making the playoffs too.

Their record wasn't as bad as it seemed.

Just like UND today 2-2 isnt as bad as it seems.

Last year's team would have gotten curb stomped if they had somehow made the playoffs. I think we dodged a bullet not making the playoffs.

[Cratter]

I have claimed neither pessimism nor optimism. 

[SIOUXFAN97]

biggest difference from last year to this is the QB....Eric wasn't here last year so he gets a pass on the Simon Romfo era....but Ike still seems like he wants to get him on the field ahead of either jtj or jack...why?  puzzlin'

and we lost a game bc of special teams...why did Eric bring kositch back...ST will lose us at least one more game this year or more

and 3 up the guts versus k state (not a good team) is puzzlin'.....reminds me a little of bubba's punt versus Nicholas juco....

yes defense looks much much better this year.....

 

[UND-FB-FAN]

Just now, Cratter said:

Youre using a sample size of 2024 entire season.

Vs a few games this year.

Your statistics teacher wouldn't be happy with you.

 

What are you trying to prove? It’s laughable. NDSU? SDSU? Gophers? What’s your true alliance? 
 

Of course we have a smaller sample size at this point, but that doesn’t mean you can’t analyze the product on the field after only 4 games … unless you’re clueless in that department …

[UND-FB-FAN]

UND won a game they were supposed to handily win today… by the score of 58-7! Yet to some in the clueless department the sky is falling! Ha! What a joke..

On to rest (bye week) and recruiting, and then heading on the road to go beat UNI … much to the chagrin of @Cratter 

[Cratter]

8 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Of course we have a smaller sample size at this point, but that doesn’t mean you can’t analyze the product on the field after only 4 games … unless you’re clueless in that department …

Through four games. Both teams look the same.

The only difference was "looked better at FBS game."

But one FBS game one shouldn't put much stock in. (Let alone seeing KSU dropped hard)

So we all saw it and got that little "wow boost"....this is called a "bias".

Both teams played a "good Montana school" last year at this point....and the outcomes were essentially the same.

[F'n Hawks]

4 minutes ago, Cratter said:

Through four games. Both teams look the same.

The only difference was "looked better at FBS game."

But one FBS game one shouldn't put much stock in. (Let alone seeing KSU dropped hard)

So we all saw it and got that little "wow boost"....this is called a "bias".

Both teams played a "good Montana school" last year at this point....and the outcomes were essentially the same.

I see what you are getting at, but overall disagree. This defense is improved compared to last year IMO. Eye test also tells me we are much better at QB. This is a better team than last year. 

[Oxbow6]

5 minutes ago, F'n Hawks said:

I see what you are getting at, but overall disagree. This defense is improved compared to last year IMO. Eye test also tells me we are much better at QB. This is a better team than last year. 

Agree that D and QB play are markedly better, but until proven differently, still can't win a meaningful game on the road. Next Saturday is one of those meaningful games.

[Dustin]

29 minutes ago, Cratter said:

We know the season really comes down to only a handful of remaining games:

S Illinois

NDSU

USD

SDSU

....best guess.....500? Win the 2 at home and lose the two on the road?

 

4 wins. 

[Cratter]

21 minutes ago, F'n Hawks said:

I see what you are getting at, but overall disagree. This defense is improved compared to last year IMO. Eye test also tells me we are much better at QB. This is a better team than last year. 

They do appear to be better....but also UND football had one of its worse years in awhile last year....

So given a "bad UND football" year last year...the outcome prediction of games this year is mainly based on last year...

Let's compare, real vs predicted (FCS games):

UND vs Portland: Likely Score 41-21...Actual 50-20.

UND vs Montana: Likely Score 23-24...Actual 28-30.

UND vs Valparaiso: Likely Score 43 -7...Actual 58-7.

UND just slightly better than they should be doing based largely on last years performance...which was not obviously a good year in UND Football.

Im just pointing out there was 1) no worries at this point last year 2) the cupboard wasn't as bare as the record seems because they were also a key plays from winning and making the playoffs...including beating Montana.

Biggest takeaway: lotta football left to play and most of these games, especially road games and/or vs good teams...

Still remain coin flips....and those games are where the season is won or lost.

 

[Sioux94]

4 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

Agree that D and QB play are markedly better, but until proven differently, still can't win a meaningful game on the road. Next Saturday is one of those meaningful games.

Last years team was down 24-7 at halftime at home against Montana. IMO very little chance last years team comes back and makes it close against Montana if they were on the road. And we really never had a chance to win at Iowa State. We absolutely do need to prove we can win on the road. But going by the eye test I'll take the two losses this year over going 1-1 on those last year. If 2024 UND team played 2025 UND team, I think 2025 wins by 15 at least.

Bo was great and still love to have him, but I'd put WR as overall better position than last year as well, in addition to QB and D as you mentioned. We finally have quick strike capability.  Running up the middle seems to be not as good this year though  

Its been a long 10 years of under performing and disappointments,  so can understand the pessimistic attitude by a few and say this year is no different.  

This year does look and feel different than last year to me. If we crap the bed against average or below averages teams again on the road, I'll be proven wrong. Time will tell.

I'm choosing to be cautiously optimistic verses pessimistic for this team and staff.