2023 NSU Wolves Football

[vikingfaithful]

I think that this a great observation- watching the game on Saturday online- I was questioning how often their top guys were rotating- I get trying to keep everyone fresh but at some point your top guys need to play...

TJE - I have agreed with a great number of your posts

The biggest thing that I have had to get used to in coach Schmidt's time is the undisciplined play -The end of Mary game of 2022 comes to mind-but it was the color guy from this past weekend that really pointed it out aggr'essively. As obviously biased as that guy is towards Winona - parts about being 4 games in and still making 1st game mistakes, not lining up right - he made a lot of sense. I think the talent is there- for the most part- seems like a lack of leadership or organization (or care for all I know).

Hopefully the Wolves get a better result Saturday- Moorhead does look like they are competing at a higher level than when NSU played them last year - so we will see.

Just great another wolf/dog poster...Nah I'm kidding, your post was well thought out and welcome. May you often type your thoughts.

Moorhead has an organized and effective offense. It seems like they have 9 receivers at times who don't drop passes. Jack Strand is an accurate thrower, who looks like he could play for his home state Badgers. He is a big dude at 6'5" There RB runs sparingly, but effectively, he catches short throws like a running play. They have a porous defense with so so Db's and can be run on. Their Ol/DL is a bit undersized and not much depth. Augustana had the lead the entire game, but the Dragons kept it close I picked the Wolves. Go NSU.

[NSU4LIFE]

Welcome to the board. It's always good to see new posters. The game in Moorhead this week is a big one for NSU. Unfortunately, through 4 games the Wolves have shown they are not ready to compete with the top of the conference. Moorhead has been very competitive this season against some good teams. Northern needs to show they can still beat teams in the middle to bottom half of the conference.

Get away from us....go on, leave. Can't you see we are dying here? There is no hope...save yourself.

😄

[TJE_]

Don’t really have a good read on this game. Feel like it could go either way very easily. My guess is Northerns QB and OL play are going to be the difference. I think the Jury is still out on Vespo has he got pulled last week. I think Hackel seems to be the better fit at QB but he is really banged up.

[TheLoneWolf605]

Don’t really have a good read on this game. Feel like it could go either way very easily. My guess is Northerns QB and OL play are going to be the difference. I think the Jury is still out on Vespo has he got pulled last week. I think Hackel seems to be the better fit at QB but he is really banged up.

It’s very clear that you have an inside scoop on the NSU football team. I can only guess you have an unhappy camper on the team that you parent. Hence the harsh criticism you have for certain players. There are many problems with why NSU is not able to compete on the football field with teams such as UMD, MSU Mankato, Auggie, and BSU. One of those problems is recruiting. Recruiting is the biggest factor in college football today. Coach Schmidt and his staffs inability to create proper depth for the Offensive and Defensive line units for the 2023 season are major problems that will ultimately lead this team to many more losses. NSU has arguably some of the best facilities in the country as far as the division 2 ranks go. A pretty stadium and nice facilities can only do so much in the grand scheme of things. Aberdeen, South Dakota has very little to do for people who aren’t from rural America. That is no knock on the city it’s just the reality of the situation. When you weigh the options of going to Sioux Falls SD or a school like Mankato to many these locations have more to offer for the average student. After the 2022 season NSU lost multiple all conference players and failed to replace them. The biggest question many wolves fans should ask is why? Why is NSU not able to develop players the same way these other perennial powerhouse teams are able to?

[Purple Mav Man]

It’s very clear that you have an inside scoop on the NSU football team. I can only guess you have an unhappy camper on the team that you parent. Hence the harsh criticism you have for certain players. There are many problems with why NSU is not able to compete on the football field with teams such as UMD, MSU Mankato, Auggie, and BSU. One of those problems is recruiting. Recruiting is the biggest factor in college football today. Coach Schmidt and his staffs inability to create proper depth for the Offensive and Defensive line units for the 2023 season are major problems that will ultimately lead this team to many more losses. NSU has arguably some of the best facilities in the country as far as the division 2 ranks go. A pretty stadium and nice facilities can only do so much in the grand scheme of things. Aberdeen, South Dakota has very little to do for people who aren’t from rural America. That is no knock on the city it’s just the reality of the situation. When you weigh the options of going to Sioux Falls SD or a school like Mankato to many college students these locations have more to offer for the average student. After the 2022 season NSU lost multiple all conference players and failed to replace them. The biggest question many wolves fan is why? Why is NSU not able to develop players the same way these other perennial powerhouse teams are able to?

This appears as though you took time laying out the answer and then finally asked the question at the end. I believe you have your answer…

[unknown]

It’s very clear that you have an inside scoop on the NSU football team. I can only guess you have an unhappy camper on the team that you parent. Hence the harsh criticism you have for certain players. There are many problems with why NSU is not able to compete on the football field with teams such as UMD, MSU Mankato, Auggie, and BSU. One of those problems is recruiting. Recruiting is the biggest factor in college football today. Coach Schmidt and his staffs inability to create proper depth for the Offensive and Defensive line units for the 2023 season are major problems that will ultimately lead this team to many more losses. NSU has arguably some of the best facilities in the country as far as the division 2 ranks go. A pretty stadium and nice facilities can only do so much in the grand scheme of things. Aberdeen, South Dakota has very little to do for people who aren’t from rural America. That is no knock on the city it’s just the reality of the situation. When you weigh the options of going to Sioux Falls SD or a school like Mankato to many these locations have more to offer for the average student. After the 2022 season NSU lost multiple all conference players and failed to replace them. The biggest question many wolves fans should ask is why? Why is NSU not able to develop players the same way these other perennial powerhouse teams are able to?

A lot of the problems that we are seeing now in terms of depth trace back to the offseason before the 2021 season. A lot of first and second year players were cut, including almost every o-lineman from that previous recruiting class. (To be fair, there were quite a few from Dosch's last recruiting class who probably weren't D2 quality players). That being said, the transfer portal was hit heavily. Underclassman who you would normally be developing are replaced with upperclassman who are only around for a year or two. Once you start hitting the transfer portal heavily, you are basically married to the portal every year after because there is now a couple year gap where no development was really taking place with underclassman. That first year, it was easy to sell transfers on the vision because it was a new coaching staff. Now that we are a few years in to the Schmidt era, it is tougher since there is now a track record for recruits to see. While they have been able to bring in some quality transfers (unlike some posters, I think Ian has been an absolute stud), the amount of quality transfers has gone down from the first offseason. That, along with the fact that there was essentially a two year period where we didn't develop underclassman is why I think it seems like we have taken such a step back this season.

[TJE_]

It’s very clear that you have an inside scoop on the NSU football team. I can only guess you have an unhappy camper on the team that you parent. Hence the harsh criticism you have for certain players. There are many problems with why NSU is not able to compete on the football field with teams such as UMD, MSU Mankato, Auggie, and BSU. One of those problems is recruiting. Recruiting is the biggest factor in college football today. Coach Schmidt and his staffs inability to create proper depth for the Offensive and Defensive line units for the 2023 season are major problems that will ultimately lead this team to many more losses. NSU has arguably some of the best facilities in the country as far as the division 2 ranks go. A pretty stadium and nice facilities can only do so much in the grand scheme of things. Aberdeen, South Dakota has very little to do for people who aren’t from rural America. That is no knock on the city it’s just the reality of the situation. When you weigh the options of going to Sioux Falls SD or a school like Mankato to many these locations have more to offer for the average student. After the 2022 season NSU lost multiple all conference players and failed to replace them. The biggest question many wolves fans should ask is why? Why is NSU not able to develop players the same way these other perennial powerhouse teams are able to?

So you give me a hard time for criticizing the team/players and then you confirmed most of what I have been saying. Hmmm….

[NSU4LIFE]

I don't know how we controlled ourselves today so I'll have to rely on others to let me know on that, but man...just not competitive in any of these games this year.

In my opinion, Schmidt was hired, mostly off being a buddy and teammate of our old AD (who knew he would be leaving as soon as that stadium was built). He had quite moderate success at his previous gig so for us to expect some great turnaround was kind of foolish. He brough in some good transfers, he sold what we had going, but as someone said once you commit to the portal you are married. No depth, lack of discipline...that is the most concering to me as Id like to see us represent well whether in wins or losses.

I think the well is quite dry now. We are going to lose most all of the talent/playmakers, who knows what will transfer. It is going to take a crazy busy job to fill these holes.

I was at a speaking of coach once where he talked about the character and his guys and said how he got phone calls from the taxi service or uber or whatever about how the guys are polite when they call for rides. At first I thought that was cool to have a down to earth coach but then I was more like, why is he just ok with the guys going out. I know (from experience) going out is going to happen. But, as a head coach would you want to atleast give the idea that you dont want them doing that or just roll over and say that is great that you guys call for rides. At the least, I thought it was an odd share.

There are still things that can be accomplished but when they announced the big fundraising for this stadium it was put up on the screen NSU football, National Champions. So, if that is the vision or the quest, I dont know that Coach will be here next year. Again, Id never call for a firing unless it was atrocious, I am simply saying, on here, a lot of what I am hearing.

At the very least, Soccer is having a surprisingly good season where they are atop the NSIC and volleyball, though unranked, is quite competitive near the top again...

[Thunder]

Northern is a basketball school anyway. Only 6 weeks until the first game.

[TJE_]

If you are the AD, how do you keep Schmidt? What are the positives. I just don’t see any.

[TJE_]

In my opinion, Schmidt was hired, mostly off being a buddy and teammate of our old AD (who knew he would be leaving as soon as that stadium was built). He had quite moderate success at his previous gig so for us to expect some great turnaround was kind of foolish. He brough in some good transfers, he sold what we had going, but as someone said once you commit to the portal you are married. No depth, lack of discipline...that is the most concering to me as Id like to see us represent well whether in wins or losses.

I didn’t know Josh and Schmidt were buddies. That’s interesting. How would Josh know he was leaving as soon as the facilities were done?

[NSU4LIFE]

I didn’t know Josh and Schmidt were buddies. That’s interesting. How would Josh know he was leaving as soon as the facilities were done?

We all kind of knew/believed that he was here to make that stadium happen and then move upward and onward. No one believed he wanted to be here any longer than he could get the next big job. It isn't right or wrong by any means, I think that is probably more common than not in that position.

I believe they played football together at UW-L.

If what I was told was true, we had Bergstrom from SDSU but he backed out. Again, I do not know if that is true, but that is what I had been told or remember.

I don't know what will happen but it is Gypsy Days week so I hope they have a good week.

[CollegeFBGuy]

On paper, NSU should beat Minot…my question for those close to the program…have they thrown in the towel? Do they go out and beat Minot like they should?

[TJE_]

On paper, NSU should beat Minot…my question for those close to the program…have they thrown in the towel? Do they go out and beat Minot like they should?

Have not thrown in the towel. Going to here about a significant change soon. Schmidt is trying to salvage the season. I hope it’s not too little too late for him as he is a good guy but has made a lot of mistakes.

[FullThrottleSD]

Have not thrown in the towel. Going to here about a significant change soon. Schmidt is trying to salvage the season. I hope it’s not too little too late for him as he is a good guy but has made a lot of mistakes.

Bad stretch from the Middle of 2nd to Middle of 3rd- NSU outscored 38-3 - felt like the wheels were falling off. I'm not sure what the answer is. Especially bad start to the 2nd half - no answer after 2 good drives by MSUM and then a big play for the 3rd TD in the 3rd was the dagger (as Wayne Larrivee would say).

Where do you hear the changes coming from? Defense (43 PPG allowed in losses) or Offense (19 PPG in losses and not using personel well- IMO)?

Even with the struggles- I don't see Minot beating NSU- I think the SMSU contest is more 50/50 (still favor the Wolves- again IMO) - better days ahead- Gypsy days is always a great week in ABR!