A GSU fans observation of why NDSU stays at the top of FCS! 4 main points
There are 4 basic things I envy about the NDSU football program from a GSU fan's observations.
1. Your choice of Head Coach and his staff
2. NDSUs consistency which mainly comes from #1 and your great execution on both sides of the ball.
3.NDSUs AD that stays with what works and doesn't, understands what works and doesn't change Offensive types change every 4-5 years which also leads to consistency!
4. Your Recruiting - The players that NDSU recruit understand what they are going to do on NDSUs offense, your winning tradition and that leads back to (consistency.) They don't have to worry that you're going to change to a *(completely new offense) * that they are not suited for and have to be retrained that takes time!
Re: A GSU fans observation of why NDSU stays at the top of FCS! 4 main points
Good points. We actually kind of mirror Georgia Southern option days, running a unique offense. It's a pretty easy formula. When you get in the playoffs, trying to prep for a pro style, west coast offense or an option team in 7 days is quite a challenge. Even more so when you have to travel during the playoffs. That's why Kennesaw State had early success.
We used to run the veer and I don't think it's a championship winning formula these days with the crazy fast linebackers, but the uniqueness will guarantee being competitive on a short week. How do you even put together a practice squad to run the option or WCO?
We've done a good job of retaining our coaches and when we lose an entire staff like Bohl and Klieman, we keep a few guys and make sure they keep they systems in place. Make the coaches learn the systems, not the player learning a new system. Don't fix something that aint broken.
Recruiting has always been good but it's not like we go out and land 4 star kids. We develop players the old school way and redshirt most of them. We sprinkle in a few transfers but it's mostly 5 year players. A 23 year old red shirt senior will typically beat the shit out of an 18 year old 4 star kid. They are bigger, stronger, more experienced and smarter. It's almost like having dad strength.
Re: A GSU fans observation of why NDSU stays at the top of FCS! 4 main points
The geographic isolation, while terrible for an FBS invite, is a huge secret to success the national football landscape just doesn't understand. When you have only 1 D1 program in MN and WI, it opens a recruiting pipeline for those who don't get Gopher and Badger offers. Then, you couple that with the cream of the crop from ND and SD, and a few Frost/Husker misses in NE, and this is what you have!
Re: A GSU fans observation of why NDSU stays at the top of FCS! 4 main points
Quote:
Originally Posted by
THEsocalledfan
The geographic isolation, while terrible for an FBS invite, is a huge secret to success the national football landscape just doesn't understand. When you have only 1 D1 program in MN and WI, it opens a recruiting pipeline for those who don't get Gopher and Badger offers. Then, you couple that with the cream of the crop from ND and SD, and a few Frost/Husker misses in NE, and this is what you have!
The Minnesota High School All Star Game had 7 Bison players. That's just crazy
Re: A GSU fans observation of why NDSU stays at the top of FCS! 4 main points
NDSU also seems to give non-starters more playing time like when we sub in all of the D-line at once like a hockey line change.
Re: A GSU fans observation of why NDSU stays at the top of FCS! 4 main points
Quote:
Originally Posted by
THEsocalledfan
The geographic isolation, while terrible for an FBS invite, is a huge secret to success the national football landscape just doesn't understand. When you have only 1 D1 program in MN and WI, it opens a recruiting pipeline for those who don't get Gopher and Badger offers. Then, you couple that with the cream of the crop from ND and SD, and a few Frost/Husker misses in NE, and this is what you have!
Indiana (6.8m) and Minnesota (5.7m) have relatively similar populations. Indiana has 3 P5 schools and 1 G5 school. Granted one of the P5 schools doesn't recruit Indiana any heavier than other states so you could remove them from this analysis. That's still 2 more FBS schools theoretically getting first choice of recruits. Now add in Wisconsin (5.9m) and you have almost double the population and still 1 fewer FBS school. That's a huge advantage for NDSU over Indiana State (another others). If you compare Ohio (Youngstown State) to MN/WI you now have similar populations, but you have 7 FBS schools compared to 2. Ohio high school football is outstanding, but that's still a challenge for Youngstown State. UND, USD, and SDSU have the same geographic advantage as NDSU so they are the biggest threat to this advantage.
Re: A GSU fans observation of why NDSU stays at the top of FCS! 4 main points
Quote:
Originally Posted by
IndyBison
Indiana (6.8m) and Minnesota (5.7m) have relatively similar populations. Indiana has 3 P5 schools and 1 G5 school. Granted one of the P5 schools doesn't recruit Indiana any heavier than other states so you could remove them from this analysis. That's still 2 more FBS schools theoretically getting first choice of recruits. Now add in Wisconsin (5.9m) and you have almost double the population and still 1 fewer FBS school. That's a huge advantage for NDSU over Indiana State (another others). If you compare Ohio (Youngstown State) to MN/WI you now have similar populations, but you have 7 FBS schools compared to 2. Ohio high school football is outstanding, but that's still a challenge for Youngstown State. UND, USD, and SDSU have the same geographic advantage as NDSU so they are the biggest threat to this advantage.
This is a great point that has occurred to me as well. It is also why we won't drastically upgrade our talent level by going FBS but will easily add more depth with those extra scholarships.
Re: A GSU fans observation of why NDSU stays at the top of FCS! 4 main points
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hammerhead
NDSU also seems to give non-starters more playing time like when we sub in all of the D-line at once like a hockey line change.
I think this is a massive advantage, and why we seem to ramp it up at playoff time. I suspect a fair number of our opponents run out of steam, or their backup players are a significant drop off.
Additionally, we are not often not a team of "stars". Meaning that we usually don't rely on one dude to carry the entire team. Hell look at our running back room this year.
Re: A GSU fans observation of why NDSU stays at the top of FCS! 4 main points
Quote:
Originally Posted by
OrygunBison
This is a great point that has occurred to me as well. It is also why we won't drastically upgrade our talent level by going FBS but will easily add more depth with those extra scholarships.
That would remain to be seen. Since we are probably fairly competitive in the MWC or MAC with the current team even if there is only an increase in depth the Bison will still do pretty well. The question is can they improve enough to be a Boise State or UCF or Cincinnati or Houston type program. I think they very well could, but I'm also smart enough to know it's not automatic.
Re: A GSU fans observation of why NDSU stays at the top of FCS! 4 main points
Quote:
Originally Posted by
IndyBison
Indiana (6.8m) and Minnesota (5.7m) have relatively similar populations. Indiana has 3 P5 schools and 1 G5 school. Granted one of the P5 schools doesn't recruit Indiana any heavier than other states so you could remove them from this analysis. That's still 2 more FBS schools theoretically getting first choice of recruits. Now add in Wisconsin (5.9m) and you have almost double the population and still 1 fewer FBS school. That's a huge advantage for NDSU over Indiana State (another others). If you compare Ohio (Youngstown State) to MN/WI you now have similar populations, but you have 7 FBS schools compared to 2. Ohio high school football is outstanding, but that's still a challenge for Youngstown State. UND, USD, and SDSU have the same geographic advantage as NDSU so they are the biggest threat to this advantage.
That's some great insight.
