Homecoming - North Dakota St.

[dpdoughbird06]

I don’t assume anything about you.

I will ask though, what is the point of a message board if you can’t vent about a shit-ass program that consistently underachieves? Or maybe this is this a microcosm of today’s world where only happy thoughts are allowed?

Almost every single program in our conference has lapped us…in both football and basketball. F’ing unbelievable how many on this site are in the “I graduated from here so I’ll support the program come thick or thin”. Such bullshit.

You should be pissed and you should be embarrassed…and you should and start demanding better. A message board is a good start.
Otherwise you’ll be mired in this crap for the next twenty years.

About being lapped by the rest of the conference…it was just announced the other day that ISU is investing $6 million in E-sports via a renovation of the BBC.

Hard to view this as anything other than a shifting of overall university priorities and a mandate to Athletics to be self-reliant.

Looking at football from a cost-benefit perspective, does ISU gain much from investing in a successful football program? We’ll “sell out” (all tickets purchased, but lots of empty seats) Family Weekend and Homecoming, then typically host a Labor Day tune-up against a weak Pioneer team and finish up at home on a chilly day (with the occasional blizzard) while students are gone for Thanksgiving due to IHSA Volleyball championships the previous weekend.

So a top-tier Redbird football team maybe fills a few more seats on what this year would be the November 6 game. And maybe we get a bit more from Learfield for TV rights and sponsorships come renewal time.

BUT Spack said at last week’s coaches show when we are down it’s easier to find FBS teams will to pay us for a buy game, so revenues probably even out regardless of how much we spend (or don’t) on an indoor, assistant coaches or potential Hancock South end zone expansion.

I love when Redbird Football is dominant, but getting and staying there requires investment, and it appears the university has chosen to allocate its resources elsewhere.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

4.2 yards per carry is not running at will. 10 pts through the first 3 quarters is not running at will. NDSU went light on passing the ball after the Redbirds intercepted them twice.

The defense played all 4 quarters. The 10 pts in the 4th Q came when the Bison had drives that started on the ISU 32 yard line which resulted in a FG and a drive that started at the ISU 33 that went for a TD, so both drives started 2/3 of the way down the field. NDSU came is a the #3 FCS team in the country averaging 35 pts per game.

Good point. Thanks.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

About being lapped by the rest of the conference…it was just announced the other day that ISU is investing $6 million in E-sports via a renovation of the BBC.

Hard to view this as anything other than a shifting of overall university priorities and a mandate to Athletics to be self-reliant.

Looking at football from a cost-benefit perspective, does ISU gain much from investing in a successful football program? We’ll “sell out” (all tickets purchased, but lots of empty seats) Family Weekend and Homecoming, then typically host a Labor Day tune-up against a weak Pioneer team and finish up at home on a chilly day (with the occasional blizzard) while students are gone for Thanksgiving due to IHSA Volleyball championships the previous weekend.

So a top-tier Redbird football team maybe fills a few more seats on what this year would be the November 6 game. And maybe we get a bit more from Learfield for TV rights and sponsorships come renewal time.

BUT Spack said at last week’s coaches show when we are down it’s easier to find FBS teams will to pay us for a buy game, so revenues probably even out regardless of how much we spend (or don’t) on an indoor, assistant coaches or potential Hancock South end zone expansion.

I love when Redbird Football is dominant, but getting and staying there requires investment, and it appears the university has chosen to allocate its resources elsewhere.

So, reading between the lines here…
Spack sees an underachieving program as a godsend, from a financial perspective??
If so, then for God’s sake just shit-can football and throw everything into basketball. We all know they need as much help as possible.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

4.2 yards per carry is not running at will. 10 pts through the first 3 quarters is not running at will. NDSU went light on passing the ball after the Redbirds intercepted them twice.

The defense played all 4 quarters. The 10 pts in the 4th Q came when the Bison had drives that started on the ISU 32 yard line which resulted in a FG and a drive that started at the ISU 33 that went for a TD, so both drives started 2/3 of the way down the field. NDSU came is a the #3 FCS team in the country averaging 35 pts per game.

Yep, I agree. The defense gave up a lot of points against MSU and SIU late but the offense had gone to sleep and was doing nothing. Even if the offense picks up a few first downs and doesn't score the defense at least gets a rest but the offense just did nothing in the 4th quarter of those games.

 

[TIMMY]

If Waring is the future, and I think they should be looking frantically at the portal in the off-season, then he should be the starter the rest of the way. This is no doubt this is a rebuilding season now and they should be looking to the future. In my opinion, the future is not Jefferson. I am not sure it is Waring but that is what the Birds have right now.

NDSU has just 4 transfers on their roster.

 

[Total Red]

About being lapped by the rest of the conference…it was just announced the other day that ISU is investing $6 million in E-sports via a renovation of the BBC.

Hard to view this as anything other than a shifting of overall university priorities and a mandate to Athletics to be self-reliant.

Are we really supporting football and athletics any differently? Times change and needs change. When Cybersecurity became a vital issue the University responded and allocated resources. When E-sports become a thing with with interest from thousands of students the University also responds.

A lot of fans came just to tailgate, but over 12,000 tickets were sold yesterday for football. I'm not really seeing a change in the funding of athletics. The stadium renovation took a long time and it required student funding to pay off bonds. I still expect the IPF to happen but it too will take time.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

Are we really supporting football and athletics any differently? Times change and needs change. When Cybersecurity became a vital issue the University responded and allocated resources. When E-sports become a thing with with interest from thousands of students the University also responds.

A lot of fans came just to tailgate, but over 12,000 tickets were sold yesterday for football. I'm not really seeing a change in the funding of athletics. The stadium renovation took a long time and it required student funding to pay off bonds. I still expect the IPF to happen but it too will take time.

I’m not judging the e-sports investment, but I am curious if it falls under Athletics’ purview to administer. My kids love football and watching star Roblox players scream on YouTube. I don’t understand it, but have to acknowledge how the current kids’ mindspace has changed. E-sports will likely attract quite a few students to ISU, although it remains to be seen if it ends up like tennis where the best recruits tend to be international students.

Bold prediction: the top Redbird NIL earners within a few years will be our e-sports stars.

What does this mean for football? Private donors will likely shoulder the load to keep the program relevant. Just my opinion. Feel free to dissect.

 

[MadBird]

If Waring is the future, and I think they should be looking frantically at the portal in the off-season, then he should be the starter the rest of the way. This is no doubt this is a rebuilding season now and they should be looking to the future. In my opinion, the future is not Jefferson. I am not sure it is Waring but that is what the Birds have right now.

Chose Virginia's post to reply to, but several have mentioned Jefferson continuing to start, the offense in general, Waring as the future QB, etc.

Did anyone else hear Spack's post-game comments on the radio yesterday? He was "gentle" in terms of criticizing Jefferson, was clearly not happy with the entire offense, but also singled out the lack of success passing. He answered a direct question about whether Jefferson starts next week, and said yes, but that he wouldn't hesitate to put Waring in "if he thought he could provide a spark" (I paraphrase but he used the word spark). He also said he put Waring in yesterday for a couple series so Jefferson could watch from the sidelines (that's in the Pantagraph story today), but that Waring was put in a tough spot since the O was inside the 10 (at the half yard line on one "drive") both times. Ted Schmitz later pointed out later that not only better QB play was needed, but receivers need to get open, and better protection needed.

There are so many questions about or issues with the O:

I agree that Waring should get more PT at this point, whether its starting or "spark time". But, what about the O-line? Is it time for changes there? Yesterday, as much as I could tell it was pretty much the same 6 rotating up front - 2 seniors, 1 junior, 2 sophs, and 1 freshman. Already playing enough young guys?

Jefferson doesn't seem to be that skilled in avoiding the rush.

5 targets to TE's, one reception.

I'm gonna guess there were at least 5 drops yesterday. If those were catches, stats alone would have Jefferson at 50%, not to mention the yardage (and who knows, scores). But there really aren't any receivers we aren't playing, are there?

I could go on. Still a puzzle for me is that Spack has always seemed to point to Joe Tiller as a mentor. And Tiller is the "father" of the spread offense, or at least one of the successful proponents. Spack hasn't internalized all of that? Drew Brees was a PU QB when Spack was there?

Unrelated to the offense, sort of, lots of PT yesterday came to #37 on the D-Line. The only #37 on the ISU roster is FB Tyler Pennington. #37 is not listed in the participation report in the box score. Anyone know anything about this? Has Pennington switched to DL?

 

[Total Red]

Chose Virginia's post to reply to, but several have mentioned Jefferson continuing to start, the offense in general, Waring as the future QB, etc.



Unrelated to the offense, sort of, lots of PT yesterday came to #37 on the D-Line. The only #37 on the ISU roster is FB Tyler Pennington. #37 is not listed in the participation report in the box score. Anyone know anything about this? Has Pennington switched to DL?

#37 was Braydon Deming. He normally wears #92 so there must have been a problem with his jersey. Pennington is no longer with the team due to concussion issues. I assume we all wish him well in life after football.

 

[Total Red]

I also think Spack and his staff are always looking at the portal.

I think they're looking hard now but that was not always the case.

Bryce Jefferson thrust into starting role as Illinois State quarterback

Sophomore Bryce Jefferson was elevated to starting quarterback when Brady Davis ended his Illinois State football career.

pantagraph.com

"With the NCAA’s transfer portal overflowing, Spack has not sought out a new quarterback.

“I don’t see a need right now,” said the ISU coach."

 

[Virginia Redbird]

NDSU has just 4 transfers on their roster.

True, Timmy. Patterson is a key one though.

 

[Bird Friend]

I’m not judging the e-sports investment, but I am curious if it falls under Athletics’ purview to administer. My kids love football and watching star Roblox players scream on YouTube. I don’t understand it, but have to acknowledge how the current kids’ mindspace has changed. E-sports will likely attract quite a few students to ISU, although it remains to be seen if it ends up like tennis where the best recruits tend to be international students.

Bold prediction: the top Redbird NIL earners within a few years will be our e-sports stars.

What does this mean for football? Private donors will likely shoulder the load to keep the program relevant. Just my opinion. Feel free to dissect.

ISU’s E-Sports teams are kicking ass. I’m not sure these kids aren’t already the top NIL earners. Their current rosters have kids who were already well known in e-sports.

Redbird eSports team dominates

I think this is pretty awesome. Only had a program for 2 years. If we are going to do something, might as well win at it!

www.redbirdfan.net

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Lots of frustration right now but I thought I would end today on a positive note. I liked the Running Redbird helmet decal yesterday. The interlocking ISU decal was the best in my opinion though.

 

[redbirdfan04]

I think they're looking hard now but that was not always the case.

Bryce Jefferson thrust into starting role as Illinois State quarterback

Sophomore Bryce Jefferson was elevated to starting quarterback when Brady Davis ended his Illinois State football career.

pantagraph.com

"With the NCAA’s transfer portal overflowing, Spack has not sought out a new quarterback.

“I don’t see a need right now,” said the ISU coach."

Do we honestly think it's a great move to tell the media you are actively looking. He can tell the media that but I truly believe they are always looking.

 

[redbirdfan04]

Lots of frustration right now but I thought I would end today on a positive note. I liked the Running Redbird helmet decal yesterday. The interlocking ISU decal was the best in my opinion though.

As a fan losing sucks but I thought the team was prepared on defense and gave them a chance. We all knew this year would be tough. I didnt think the offense would be this bad but it is what it is.

 

[redbirdfan04]

Just so we are all aware my 8-3 dream is dead!

 

[MadBird]

#37 was Braydon Deming. He normally wears #92 so there must have been a problem with his jersey. Pennington is no longer with the team due to concussion issues. I assume we all wish him well in life after football.

Thanks, suspected it was something like that, but didn't have a clue who might be involved.

 

[MadBird]

So let's say you are in the portal, a QB looking for a fresh start, some PT, etc. And Brock Spack comes calling, isn't your first question, "Who's your QB coach? What's his track record" and second question is "Who's your Offensive Coordinator? What's his track record?" Easy enough to "go shopping", show you have a need, but quite another to get yourself on the radar of one of the top potentials.

 

[Total Red]

So let's say you are in the portal, a QB looking for a fresh start, some PT, etc. And Brock Spack comes calling, isn't your first question, "Who's your QB coach? What's his track record" and second question is "Who's your Offensive Coordinator? What's his track record?" Easy enough to "go shopping", show you have a need, but quite another to get yourself on the radar of one of the top potentials.

Fair question but I'll respond with another question. Maybe that's fair, I don't know.

Why did Tre Roberson want to transfer here? The team was 5-6 the previous season (2013). That team started the season with another FBS transfer - Jared Barnett, Iowa St., who had a lackluster and short career as a Redbird in 2013. Barnett had 5 Int's in the 3 games in which he played and the Redbirds lost all three. The Redbirds finished the 2013 season scoring only 2 offensive TD's in the last 3 games. I'm sure the board was having a typical meltdown calling the situation a hopeless waste.

In 2014 with Roberson at QB the Redbirds went 13-2 and played for the National Championship.

 

[MadBird]

Fair question but I'll respond with another question. Maybe that's fair, I don't know.

Why did Tre Roberson want to transfer here? The team was 5-6 the previous season (2013). That team started the season with another FBS transfer - Jared Barnett, Iowa St., who had a lackluster and short career as a Redbird in 2013. Barnett had 5 Int's in the 3 games in which he played and the Redbirds lost all three. The Redbirds finished the 2013 season scoring only 2 offensive TD's in the last 3 games. I'm sure the board was having a typical meltdown calling the situation a hopeless waste.

In 2014 with Roberson at QB the Redbirds went 13-2 and played for the National Championship.

Well, the OC and QB coach was Kurt Beathard, with a long track record as an OC and assistant at the FCS level. He was an assistant at Illinois. He also had/has "pro connections" through his family. He had some kind of association with a QB "school" or "academy" in Tennessee. I'm not going to argue that he had the "best" resume in FCS football, but he had something to offer, some connections, some experience.

So Roberson looked at a team with HC and OC with Big 10 experience, connections to the pros, chance to play with decent guys, etc.