Yesterday, like many UND football fans, I watched UND play in the first round of the NCAA FCS Football Playoffs. It wasn't a positive experience. I watched the Sacramento State Hornets rack up 216 yards of offense and score 14 points in the first quarter. The Hornets ran through UND's defense like they were standing still. They marched 75 yards in the opening drive and never looked back. The Hornets were 8-10 (.800) on third down. When the final horn sounded, the Hornets finished the game with 244 yards rushing and 212 yards passing for a total offensive yardage of 456. Even if you're not a great football mind, you know that could be better.
We didn't see the Sac State punter till the second half of the game. I am not sure that he even needed to shower after the game. He only punted twice. Just for the record, his name is Carl McGough, and he's number 91.
Final Score: 42-35 Hornets. Ugh! But hey, the Hawks beat the Bison.
My thoughts post-debacle: fans have the right to be angry and hot. This football team is going to have excellent locker room facilities. They already have an indoor training facility and a decent stadium. Is there any reason we can't expect something resembling a winning program? Right now, we have a mediocre program. I know, I know, I know, we made the FCS Playoffs.
Fast forward to this morning: I still have that foul taste in my mouth. You can't put sprinkles on this. There needs to be some accountability.
Reading my favorite hometown newspaper this morning, I found this gem from Brad E. Schlossman. I liked what Brad had to say, "But if UND wants to make a deep run, it has to make significant improvements on defense.
The question we need to ask is: Is UND football going to be satisfied with just making the playoffs and ending most seasons going 7-5, or does the university want to go bigger? Many fans that I have talked to want the bar to be moved higher. If that's the case, changes are needed. First, you have to change the mindset and culture. UND was 1-4 on the road this season; that has to change. Good enough isn't good enough anymore.
Traditionally, the Hawks have been hard to beat at the Alerus until yesterday. Against the Hornets, the Alerus Center looked like a house of horrors. It was painful to watch.
Second, UND football has hit its ceiling. Where do we go from here? Our friends to the south are laughing at us. Yes, the Hawks clobbered the Bison 49-24 on October 14, 2023. That was the season's high point; they went out the next week and laid an egg against an OK UNI team 27-0. The reality is UND's season is over, and the Bison are moving on to the second round of the FCS Playoffs. Wins in October don't mean anything if you can't win in November.
Since moving to FCS Division I football, the Hawks own an awful 1-5 record in the FCS playoffs. In 10 seasons, Bubba Schweigert is 61-50 (.549). His team won nine games once, in 2016. At home, they were quickly dispatched in the FCS Playoffs by the Richmond Spiders 27-24. In addition, his teams have won seven games four times. Is that good enough? It wouldn't be in hockey. Some in the fanbase wanted the UND AD to fire head coach Brad Berry after last season. Look at the remarkable recovery his team made in 2023.
I don't want to hear that UND football doesn't have enough shiny objects for recruits; they have a shiny new indoor training facility known as the Frederick "Fritz" D. Pollard Jr. Athletic Center. Phase two is going to be completed soon.
The UND 360 blog said it best. You have to go three and out if you want to win football games.
Story of the game. Many of them were 3rd and long. pic.twitter.com/QvVhI1xmNK
— UNDFootball360 (@UNDFootball360) November 25, 2023
Finally, now that the season is over, there must be a discussion. Someone needs to feel the heat. Someone's seat needs to be getting hotter. There needs to be some accountability cause many in Hawks Nation aren't happy. Where do we go from here? That could be a discussion for the big-money donors.
