Griz football, rapists, The Big Sky and UND.......

[WYOBISONMAN]

Let me preface this post with the statement that obviously we all hate the hell out of UND. Given that, I think the Big Sky is going to be pretty interesting with UND entering the fray while the Griz are pre-occupied whith rape, terminated FB coaches and ADs. I suspect the Montana season will be a disaster and if UND can put a few things together they could make a splash in year one. This Montana thing is like watching a train wreck.

[MN_BISON]

Sorry Wyo, I just don't see it. In their transition, they've had cake walk games with NAIA and DII teams and have struggled with some of them. This year is a new ball game for UND, no bye weeks with less than competitive teams; the grind of a full schedule could be tough on them in year one. I'd guess 5-5 at best(6-5 if one includes the DII SD school). With a full BSC slate as NDSU found out in year one of the MVFC, fighting for a conference title and playoff berth in a league with more than 4 or 5 teams is a whole different animal. Could it happen, yes, but again I don't see it in year one as depth will play a huge part in their success and I'm not sure they are there yet. As for Montana, yeah, it could get ugly but I don't think I'll count out the Griz just yet but will admit I haven't followed their little circus very close.

[IzzyFlexion]

Let me preface this post with the statement that obviously we all hate the hell out of UND. Given that, I think the Big Sky is going to be pretty interesting with UND entering the fray while the Griz are pre-occupied whith rape, terminated FB coaches and ADs. I suspect the Montana season will be a disaster and if UND can put a few things together they could make a splash in year one. This Montana thing is like watching a train wreck.

Well now, good sir.
You and the rest of us are just going to have to get over this once teh Super University is created. (NDU I believe is the proposed name?)
BTW, I think that the new Hillsboro stadium should seat 380,000 complete with a luxury hotel/casino hovering above the 50 yard line. That'll show the country how big we are.

[IzzyFlexion]

Let me preface this post with the statement that obviously we all hate the hell out of UND. Given that, I think the Big Sky is going to be pretty interesting with UND entering the fray while the Griz are pre-occupied whith rape, terminated FB coaches and ADs. I suspect the Montana season will be a disaster and if UND can put a few things together they could make a splash in year one. This Montana thing is like watching a train wreck.

Well now, good sir.
You and the rest of us are just going to have to get over this once teh Super University is created. (NDU I believe is the proposed name?)
BTW, I think that the new Hillsboro stadium should seat 380,000 complete with a luxury hotel/casino hovering above the 50 yard line. That'll show the country how big we are.

[DjKyRo]

Thing is, the BSC isn't a one-trick pony anymore. Montana State is going to be right there again this year, Eastern Washington has some interesting pieces coming into the mix, Cal Poly should be a top-25 team, and Portland State and Sacramento State aren't total afterthoughts anymore. UND is hardly walking into an empty room, as I think they'll find a few weeks in.

[NorthernBison]

Sorry Wyo, I just don't see it. In their transition, they've had cake walk games with NAIA and DII teams and have struggled with some of them. This year is a new ball game for UND, no bye weeks with less than competitive teams; the grind of a full schedule could be tough on them in year one. I'd guess 5-5 at best(6-5 if one includes the DII SD school). With a full BSC slate as NDSU found out in year one of the MVFC, fighting for a conference title and playoff berth in a league with more than 4 or 5 teams is a whole different animal. Could it happen, yes, but again I don't see it in year one as depth will play a huge part in their success and I'm not sure they are there yet. As for Montana, yeah, it could get ugly but I don't think I'll count out the Griz just yet but will admit I haven't followed their little circus very close.

I'm with Wyo on this one. The key point he is making involves the word "could". You are focusing on the past and using our experience as a gauge. Both are faulty reasoning. Their roster has been building for this year and the future. We constantly pooh pooh the argument that UND fans have where they say that if NDSU can do something, so can UND. Well, the opposite is true also. Just because we struggled initially in the MVFC, there is no guaranty that UND will have the same struggles in the BSC. I see a big difference in the depth of the conferences and the style of play.

Talking to some people who know talent, the opinion is that the roster in Grand Forks is pretty good. How that all gels remains to be seen. They had two glaring weaknesses last season. QB play was weak and inconsistent (they think that is solved) and their secondary was horrible (They are hopeful that is no longer the case). The second weakness, if not plugged, will kill them in the conference so that is a major wildcard in what Wyo postulated above. (there's my five dollar word for the day).

I looked at their schedule a while ago but looking at the 10 D1 games, I counted 2 as sure losses (SDSU, MSU), 3 as toss ups (EWU, UM, and PSU), and the 5 others as games where a UND fans should expect a win (can't remember all of the opponents but SUU, Poly, UNC, NAU come to mind). Could they get to 7 D1 wins? I wouldn't bet on it but I wouldn't put a lot of money against it either.

Bottom line for me is to stay out of trash talking with UND fans about how humbled they are going to be. There's just too much that we don't know.

[Hambone]

I'm with Wyo on this one. The key point he is making involves the word "could". You are focusing on the past and using our experience as a gauge. Both are faulty reasoning. Their roster has been building for this year and the future. We constantly pooh pooh the argument that UND fans have where they say that if NDSU can do something, so can UND. Well, the opposite is true also. Just because we struggled initially in the MVFC, there is no guaranty that UND will have the same struggles in the BSC. I see a big difference in the depth of the conferences and the style of play.

Talking to some people who know talent, the opinion is that the roster in Grand Forks is pretty good. How that all gels remains to be seen. They had two glaring weaknesses last season. QB play was weak and inconsistent (they think that is solved) and their secondary was horrible (They are hopeful that is no longer the case). The second weakness, if not plugged, will kill them in the conference so that is a major wildcard in what Wyo postulated above. (there's my five dollar word for the day).

I looked at their schedule a while ago but looking at the 10 D1 games, I counted 2 as sure losses (SDSU, MSU), 3 as toss ups (EWU, UM, and PSU), and the 5 others as games where a UND fans should expect a win (can't remember all of the opponents but SUU, Poly, UNC, NAU come to mind). Could they get to 7 D1 wins? I wouldn't bet on it but I wouldn't put a lot of money against it either.

Bottom line for me is to stay out of trash talking with UND fans about how humbled they are going to be. There's just too much that we don't know.

This I can get behind. I think UND has plenty of talent there, and as you stated the huge questions are the QB and secondary. I haven't seen enough of the QBs to say that UND has the answer in Braden Hanson, but the secondary looked poor again in the spring game, although a RS Freshman who will likely push for a starting corner role was out. I just can't get the visions of UNC burning our guys out of my mind (I mean, c'mon, one receiver with over 300 yards? For UNC?) I've stated in a few forums that I really don't know what to expect out of UND this year in the Big Sky (which is a better conference than most here give it credit for), but think that UND could go anywhere from 3-7 to 7-3 in their DI games this year. The schedule is pretty tough, as they play most of the top teams this year, so that may hold them down. If they can go 6-4 in DI games, I will be satisfied, although I will likely be more pissed that SD Mines is on the schedule than I have been

[Hambone]

Thing is, the BSC isn't a one-trick pony anymore. Montana State is going to be right there again this year, Eastern Washington has some interesting pieces coming into the mix, Cal Poly should be a top-25 team, and Portland State and Sacramento State aren't total afterthoughts anymore. UND is hardly walking into an empty room, as I think they'll find a few weeks in.

I don't think anyone who really matters thinks that they are walking into an empty room.

[jimmyptubas]

Do you think the 600 or so football fans will even care if they do get the seven DI wins. Most "fans" will probably be concerned with becoming bowl eligible, not writing about the playoffs.

[Bison Dan]

I'm with Wyo on this one. The key point he is making involves the word "could". You are focusing on the past and using our experience as a gauge. Both are faulty reasoning. Their roster has been building for this year and the future. We constantly pooh pooh the argument that UND fans have where they say that if NDSU can do something, so can UND. Well, the opposite is true also. Just because we struggled initially in the MVFC, there is no guaranty that UND will have the same struggles in the BSC. I see a big difference in the depth of the conferences and the style of play.

Talking to some people who know talent, the opinion is that the roster in Grand Forks is pretty good. How that all gels remains to be seen. They had two glaring weaknesses last season. QB play was weak and inconsistent (they think that is solved) and their secondary was horrible (They are hopeful that is no longer the case). The second weakness, if not plugged, will kill them in the conference so that is a major wildcard in what Wyo postulated above. (there's my five dollar word for the day).

I looked at their schedule a while ago but looking at the 10 D1 games, I counted 2 as sure losses (SDSU, MSU), 3 as toss ups (EWU, UM, and PSU), and the 5 others as games where a UND fans should expect a win (can't remember all of the opponents but SUU, Poly, UNC, NAU come to mind). Could they get to 7 D1 wins? I wouldn't bet on it but I wouldn't put a lot of money against it either.

Bottom line for me is to stay out of trash talking with UND fans about how humbled they are going to be. There's just too much that we don't know.

Last year UND was a big and strong team but below average in speed and skill players. USD was killing them with speed and passing until they decided to play it safe in the 4th quarter and got beat. (USD was not a good team) This year who knows. I think from the middle of the BSC to the bottom they are bad teams.