NSU Wolves Football - 2024

[#WolvesNation]

Schmidt has to go. I have been saying this for two years now. I think it’s very telling that the first game of the season the stadium was not all that full. The Aberdeen community deserves better and they are showing their dissatisfaction but beginning to not show up. The players deserve better as well.

The stadium was not all that full? There was over 5k people there and people filling in on the grass all around the field. Not sure if you just watched from CPU, but being at the game it was full.

I don’t think you’re a member of the Aberdeen community, because Schmidt has been great to the community. His players are respectful, involved and he has made amazing strides in building community relationships.

I’m really tired of you being a know it all with the program and continuing to bash everyone involved.. not sure your agenda. Did we come out flat? Yep, we did. Is the offense behind? Yep, we didn’t even have our OC for spring ball if you remember. Limited summer ball and fall camp is almost impossible to get on the same page.

These boards are sure to share opinion and if you’d like to call for Schmidt’s head, that’s your right. But good lord, before you act like you know everything, get some facts straight.

[#WolvesNation]

Not familiar with that name.

If you’re not familiar, then just move along and don’t need to comment. Do you think the Wolves posters care to know if TJE knew who Kolath was?

He was the Wisconsin player of the year a couple years back. He left the program after a few days last fall camp his first year and has decided to re-join the team this year. A super talented QB that we can redshirt.

[TJE_]

The stadium was not all that full? There was over 5k people there and people filling in on the grass all around the field. Not sure if you just watched from CPU, but being at the game it was full.

I don’t think you’re a member of the Aberdeen community, because Schmidt has been great to the community. His players are respectful, involved and he has made amazing strides in building community relationships.

I’m really tired of you being a know it all with the program and continuing to bash everyone involved.. not sure your agenda. Did we come out flat? Yep, we did. Is the offense behind? Yep, we didn’t even have our OC for spring ball if you remember. Limited summer ball and fall camp is almost impossible to get on the same page.

These boards are sure to share opinion and if you’d like to call for Schmidt’s head, that’s your right. But good lord, before you act like you know everything, get some facts straight.

Never said anything about Schmidt and the community. I said the community deserves better meaning the football program. I have been to every opening game the last 4 years and although there was a “reported” 5k there were plenty of empty seats and definitely less than prior years.

I stand behind what I said. Here’s Schmidt’s record at Northern

7-4
6-5
5-6

Best season was with Dosch’s players. Program is going in the wrong direction.

[Matt Witwicki]

Never said anything about Schmidt and the community. I said the community deserves better meaning the football program. I have been to every opening game the last 4 years and although there was a “reported” 5k there were plenty of empty seats and definitely less than prior years.

I stand behind what I said. Here’s Schmidt’s record at Northern

7-4
6-5
5-6

Best season was with Dosch’s players. Program is going in the wrong direction.

if we are gonna be honest with ourselves, the best season was the first year when Mike really did a great job of finding key star players in the portal/transfers during Covid. That really changed the trajectory for QB Hunter Trautman. Having guys like Ingram, Barnes, and others made the Wolves athletic in a different way. Right now that’s an aspect they could use more of offensively..guys who can stretch the field etc. Dosch had a solid foundation, yes.

[TJE_]

if we are gonna be honest with ourselves, the best season was the first year when Mike really did a great job of finding key star players in the portal/transfers during Covid. That really changed the trajectory for QB Hunter Trautman. Having guys like Ingram, Barnes, and others made the Wolves athletic in a different way. Right now that’s an aspect they could use more of offensively..guys who can stretch the field etc. Dosch had a solid foundation, yes.

Yes he had some success early with transfers. But I would argue they were great compliment to what Dosch already had in place. I think we have lost that “core” group so to speak and the recent transfers have not been as impactful as his first year. Development is sorely lacking at NSU right now except the OL. Roy does a great job there.

BTW, I have zero connection to Dosch. Just calling it as I see it.

[unknown]

Never said anything about Schmidt and the community. I said the community deserves better meaning the football program. I have been to every opening game the last 4 years and although there was a “reported” 5k there were plenty of empty seats and definitely less than prior years.

I stand behind what I said. Here’s Schmidt’s record at Northern

7-4
6-5
5-6

Best season was with Dosch’s players. Program is going in the wrong direction.

As a guy who had the opportunity to play under both coaching staffs, I have to say that saying it was "Dosch's players" does not paint an accurate picture. Many of the guys who made an impact that first year, especially on the offensive side of things were guys brought in who Dosch would have never been able to recruit. On top of that, his staff (Not necessarily Dosch himself) had managed to alienate a large chunk of the locker room and there was going to be a large exodus of players that only was prevented by the coaching changes. That being said, we went all in on the transfer portal those first couple seasons and, as a result, really lost two years of player development at many positions as spots were being filled with upperclassman. They have now changed course and gone after most high school talent, but we are a couple seasons away from even seeing how they pan out/develop. Who should be the one to oversee that development over the next few years? It is not my place to say and am glad that I don't.

[34blast]

Turn over at the end was a killer, thought Northern had this one

[TJE_]

so the job posting going up on Monday? do we get the jump on everyone else?

No. You have heard these Wolves fans. Need to sign Schmidt to a long term deal. He’s legit.

[#WolvesNation]

No. You have heard these Wolves fans. Need to sign Schmidt to a long term deal. He’s legit.

Not that a long term deal is even possible. Your trolling is excellent.

Let's look at 2021 (Schmidt's first season), shall we:
3 of the 4 leading rushers were "Schmidt" guys. Trautman was 3rd on the team as the solo "Dosch" guy.
3 of the 4 leading receivers were "Schmidt" guys. Dak was 2nd on the team as the solo "Dosch" guy.
Defensively the leading tackler was brought in by Schmidt as a transfer, then the next 3 leading tacklers were "Dosch" guys, although Hunter Hansen didn't see eye to eye with TD so probably would have left.
Trautman had a record-setting season, because he had a talented coaching staff in place finally to utilize his talents. Oh, and they got some talented playmakers finally (outside of only Dak).

The previous two years (2022 and 2023) we have had no stability at QB, which has been the root problem of our 6-5 & 5-6 "decline". And in 2022 our largest defeat was by 21, otherwise it was 10, 7, 8, and 1 (all games we had a chance to win the 4th quarter). If you want to go back to the Tom Dosch era of football, NSU might have had a lot of really good kids (not talented, but good students and good people) in the program, but looking at 2019 alone (his last season), we had losses by 26, 7, 32, 23, and 38. Hardly competitive in half of our games.

Lets look at 2018, losses by: 21, 14, 5, 7, 21, 28, 27. It's not even close to a comparison that the program is in a better place today. From 2010 to 2019 (before you knew what NSU football was), NSU fans went in to every game against Mankato, Augie, USF, Winona and UMD with virtually 0 hope to win the game and knew it wouldn't be competitive. That mentality is changed, as evidenced by the USF score of 34-10 is an "embarrassment". That would have been a success in the Tom Dosch era!

Bottom line: this program is improved and we have a much more talented team. The offense is wayyyyyy behind right now and we need to get it fixed. The defense looks great (also led by Schmidt). Feel free to jump off the bandwagon as quickly as you jumped on it. NSU will be much better without you on it.

[#WolvesNation]

Never said anything about Schmidt and the community. I said the community deserves better meaning the football program. I have been to every opening game the last 4 years and although there was a “reported” 5k there were plenty of empty seats and definitely less than prior years.

I stand behind what I said. Here’s Schmidt’s record at Northern

7-4
6-5
5-6

Best season was with Dosch’s players. Program is going in the wrong direction.

Let's keep in mind that Schmidt never got to coach against UM-Crookston for a gimme win each year. St Cloud at the end of their program was towards the bottom and a near-guaranteed win on the schedule every year too.

Schmidt's teams are 4-10 against the following teams: USF, Winona, Bemidji, UMD, and Augie. Dosch went 4-36 during his tenure against those same teams. 3 of those wins coming against Bemidji prior to 2015 when Bemidji made their run with Hein/Alt. Prior to Hein, Bemidji wasn't a great program. So if we remove Bemidji, Schmidt would be 4-7 while Dosch was 1-29. Quit with the "community deserves better". Since you've only been around for 4 years, you're upset about losing 34-10 to USF because you don't know what it was like pre-Schmidt to not even compete against the top 1/4th of the conference.

[Thunder]

Let's keep in mind that Schmidt never got to coach against UM-Crookston for a gimme win each year. St Cloud at the end of their program was towards the bottom and a near-guaranteed win on the schedule every year too.

Schmidt's teams are 4-10 against the following teams: USF, Winona, Bemidji, UMD, and Augie. Dosch went 4-36 during his tenure against those same teams. 3 of those wins coming against Bemidji prior to 2015 when Bemidji made their run with Hein/Alt. Prior to Hein, Bemidji wasn't a great program. So if we remove Bemidji, Schmidt would be 4-7 while Dosch was 1-29. Quit with the "community deserves better". Since you've only been around for 4 years, you're upset about losing 34-10 to USF because you don't know what it was like pre-Schmidt to not even compete against the top 1/4th of the conference.

I find myself in the middle of this argument almost any time it comes up with the NSU fanbase, but I think the reality of NSU lies somewhere between this viewpoint and TJE_ . The Dosch Wolves were basically guaranteed 3-4 wins a season with Crookston, Mary, Minot, and SCSU at the end. Moorhead was also winnable most years. The NSIC North was good for NSU's win total. Get a couple wins off the South and there is your winning record every year. The 2024 NSU schedule has to be the toughest in a long time, maybe ever. Dosch also never had the resources that the current program has. Would Dosch have been able to take the program to the next level with the move to Dacotah Bank Stadium??? That is the great unknown. There are two pretty divided camps on that question. By all accounts Dosch was a good man, and led the program admirably. BUT, you are absolutely correct. There were 5-6 teams in the NSIC that NSU fans knew were going to blow the Wolves out. If NSU kept it within 30, it was viewed as a success.

That perception has changed with Schmidt. I remember game 1 of his tenure in Mankato, I was hoping NSU would keep it within 40. And we should have won that game if not for some bad plays down the stretch. Now as it turns out that Mankato team wasn't great, but still. That game and the new stadium absolutely electrified the fanbase. The offense that first year was the most fun I've had watching NSU football in 20 years following the program. And as the anti-Schmidt crowd does tend to forget, over half that roster were Schmidt guys. He had the COVID year and roster turnover for everyone was crazy for a couple years. Most of the exciting players on that team, he brought in. HOWEVER, as has been correctly pointed out the QB was not "his" guy. Going into that season, most were hoping Trautman was going to be replaced by a transfer, but Hunter had a phenomenal season. Then he was gone, and maybe more importantly Fruechte was gone. Then in year 2 Ingram does not play, and Dakota is hurt for the season. The offense is not good. But the defense (Schmidt's side of the ball) was very good. 2022 was a step back from 2021, but they were competitive until the last game vs Duluth. 2023 was a disappointment. The 1-4 start did have some non-competitive games, and that is when the rumblings really started. Then the Wolves beat a good Wayne team and were competitive with Augie (around a bad loss to CSP).

So where does all of this rambling lead us today... Bottom line, NSU cannot lose to Minot. Schmidt could maybe have survived a 3-8 season but losing to Minot is seen as a horrible game for this program (even though Minot is improved, they may not win another game this season). If his seasons had happened in reverse order he would be getting lauded as a program builder. But that's not what happened. The early optimism of the Schmidt era is gone. You know he senses it by some of the comments he has made the past couple of weeks. Barring an incredible turn around, it looks inevitable that NSU will be looking for a HC this offseason. Hopefully the AD can get that process completed quickly so that the rebuild is maybe a year and not a multiple year process.

There is a lot of negativity in the NSU fan base, and a lot of that has to do with the basketball program, but that is a whole other problem...Schmidt has been a part of the process in raising expectations for the NSU football program, he just hasn't been able to meet those expectations and it looks like it may well cost him his job.

[TJE_]

I find myself in the middle of this argument almost any time it comes up with the NSU fanbase, but I think the reality of NSU lies somewhere between this viewpoint and TJE_ . The Dosch Wolves were basically guaranteed 3-4 wins a season with Crookston, Mary, Minot, and SCSU at the end. Moorhead was also winnable most years. The NSIC North was good for NSU's win total. Get a couple wins off the South and there is your winning record every year. The 2024 NSU schedule has to be the toughest in a long time, maybe ever. Dosch also never had the resources that the current program has. Would Dosch have been able to take the program to the next level with the move to Dacotah Bank Stadium??? That is the great unknown. There are two pretty divided camps on that question. By all accounts Dosch was a good man, and led the program admirably. BUT, you are absolutely correct. There were 5-6 teams in the NSIC that NSU fans knew were going to blow the Wolves out. If NSU kept it within 30, it was viewed as a success.

That perception has changed with Schmidt. I remember game 1 of his tenure in Mankato, I was hoping NSU would keep it within 40. And we should have won that game if not for some bad plays down the stretch. Now as it turns out that Mankato team wasn't great, but still. That game and the new stadium absolutely electrified the fanbase. The offense that first year was the most fun I've had watching NSU football in 20 years following the program. And as the anti-Schmidt crowd does tend to forget, over half that roster were Schmidt guys. He had the COVID year and roster turnover for everyone was crazy for a couple years. Most of the exciting players on that team, he brought in. HOWEVER, as has been correctly pointed out the QB was not "his" guy. Going into that season, most were hoping Trautman was going to be replaced by a transfer, but Hunter had a phenomenal season. Then he was gone, and maybe more importantly Fruechte was gone. Then in year 2 Ingram does not play, and Dakota is hurt for the season. The offense is not good. But the defense (Schmidt's side of the ball) was very good. 2022 was a step back from 2021, but they were competitive until the last game vs Duluth. 2023 was a disappointment. The 1-4 start did have some non-competitive games, and that is when the rumblings really started. Then the Wolves beat a good Wayne team and were competitive with Augie (around a bad loss to CSP).

So where does all of this rambling lead us today... Bottom line, NSU cannot lose to Minot. Schmidt could maybe have survived a 3-8 season but losing to Minot is seen as a horrible game for this program (even though Minot is improved, they may not win another game this season). If his seasons had happened in reverse order he would be getting lauded as a program builder. But that's not what happened. The early optimism of the Schmidt era is gone. You know he senses it by some of the comments he has made the past couple of weeks. Barring an incredible turn around, it looks inevitable that NSU will be looking for a HC this offseason. Hopefully the AD can get that process completed quickly so that the rebuild is maybe a year and not a multiple year process.

There is a lot of negativity in the NSU fan base, and a lot of that has to do with the basketball program, but that is a whole other problem...Schmidt has been a part of the process in raising expectations for the NSU football program, he just hasn't been able to meet those expectations and it looks like it may well cost him his job.

Good post. My point is this. The program is getting worse by the year that Schmidt is there. 7-4 to 5-6 and now starting this season 0-3 and losing to Minot. He has way more advantages than Dosch had yet here we are still a mediocre program at best and appear to be headed to the worse season he has had yet. So what’s the point in him sticking around? It appears obvious to me he is not a program builder so keeping him around means more mediocre seasons and a declining fan base. Just don’t see the upside.

[NSU4LIFE]

Good post. My point is this. The program is getting worse by the year that Schmidt is there. 7-4 to 5-6 and now starting this season 0-3 and losing to Minot. He has way more advantages than Dosch had yet here we are still a mediocre program at best and appear to be headed to the worse season he has had yet. So what’s the point in him sticking around? It appears obvious to me he is not a program builder so keeping him around means more mediocre seasons and a declining fan base. Just don’t see the upside.

Devils advocate, this was never going to be the breakthrough year. If it was, we are talking playoffs/national title contenders. This is the toughest schedule NSU football has likely ever had. With (once again) a new OC, no set QB, lost a lot of our "talent".

There is lots of emotions going around. Like i said last year, going off the alumni with any sort of pull, I was surprised he saw another year.

No one did better at recruiting during Covid than NSU. While everyone else said it was a dead year or detrimental to their program Schmidt and staff absolutely thrived. It was truly an incredible job. However, since then we have just been all over the map.

Once again, I will say, our expectations as fans are realistic and are justified as from the announcement of the fundraising for the new stadium, it started off with "National champion Northern State University"

If you set that tone, you better expect, and hope, for those same expectations across the board. Without high expectations there is no reason to even practice. While everyone is at different levels and different stage of building, you better have success in mind, otherwise, cut the program, because you have no reason to compete.

I learned that young and ahared with my kids. Youa re either going to care (when you get older) and put in the work or you are getting out. If you want to compete, you compete, if you want to play, find a pick up game.

[TJE_]

Devils advocate, this was never going to be the breakthrough year. If it was, we are talking playoffs/national title contenders. This is the toughest schedule NSU football has likely ever had. With (once again) a new OC, no set QB, lost a lot of our "talent".

There is lots of emotions going around. Like i said last year, going off the alumni with any sort of pull, I was surprised he saw another year.

No one did better at recruiting during Covid than NSU. While everyone else said it was a dead year or detrimental to their program Schmidt and staff absolutely thrived. It was truly an incredible job. However, since then we have just been all over the map.

Once again, I will say, our expectations as fans are realistic and are justified as from the announcement of the fundraising for the new stadium, it started off with "National champion Northern State University"

If you set that tone, you better expect, and hope, for those same expectations across the board. Without high expectations there is no reason to even practice. While everyone is at different levels and different stage of building, you better have success in mind, otherwise, cut the program, because you have no reason to compete.

I learned that young and ahared with my kids. Youa re either going to care (when you get older) and put in the work or you are getting out. If you want to compete, you compete, if you want to play, find a pick up game.

I am not necessarily looking for a breakthrough year but at this point winning seasons should be an expectation not a hope. We could very possibly be looking at a 0 win season since the easiest two games we play we have already lost.

[NSU4LIFE]

I am not necessarily looking for a breakthrough year but at this point winning seasons should be an expectation not a hope. We could very possibly be looking at a 0 win season since the easiest two games we play we have already lost.

Totally understand, but yes, it's going to be tough to come up with one this year. Just hope they approach each game with the goal of winning. Can't ask much more at this point