UNI vs. North Dakota

[Panthers to the Bone]

This is the preview that has been in the supporting members forum for the past month or so.

UNI vs North Dakota: 9/9/06 4:05PM
TV: None currently
The Venue: UNI-Dome (16,500)

The Stats:
UNI leads the all-time series 25-13, and have won the last 3 games played against the Fighting Sioux. Two of the three games were decided by 3 points or less. UND is ranked #13 nationally in one D2 football poll. Four players on UND's squad have been named to a Division 2 Preseason All-American Team. Seniors Trent Christensen (Fullback) and Jason Hoffschneider (Cornerback), and Juniors Weston Dressler (WR/KR/PR) and Brent Halfmann (Punter). Junior Weston Dressler is the only returning regular season All-American on the team. UND returns one additional third team all-conference performer in Senior RB Chris Beatty.

Offense: 5 returning starters. UND returns their starting quarterback Chris Belmore who passed for 1870 yards, 18 TD's, and 8 INT's. The feel tends to be that Weston Dressler is the guy that needs to be stopped. He is their WR/Return Specialist. With a returning QB and a solid athlete on the outside, stopping the pass will probably be a main priority heading into this UND game. North Dakota only returns 2 starters on the O-line, so there is probably some inexperience to play into the equation. But, like all good teams, which UND is a D2 powerhouse, they will reload.

Defense: UND lost 6 of their top 11 athletes recording tackles. I haven't been able to decifer just how good this defense is. Almost all of UND's all-region award winners on defense were seniors. My guess is that they will be struggling in the secondary and defensive line, where most of their key losses occurred.

Regardless of all the stats and returning players, this game will mean alot to UND. This is their first D1-AA game in a long time (if at all). They are going to go Division 1 in a couple years, so this is going to be a guage game to see where they stand in competitiveness in Division 1 football. The UNI/UND rivalry goes back several years, when both were members of the NCC. These two teams haven't played since 1978, when UNI left the NCC.

UND has been to the playoffs 4 of the past 5 years. They were National Champions in 2001, Runner-Ups in 2003, and semi-finalists in 2004. This in itself shows just what kind of athletes UND has been recruiting the past 5 years, and what expectations these current players have in accomplishments. This should be a great game.

UND Message Board: http://siouxsports.com/forums/index.php?showforum=5

This preview was compiled by Panthers to the Bone.

[UND9299]

Greetings. To the extent we can tell much from one game, UND's offensive strength will be its passing game. The starting quarterback is Reed Manke, who took over for a struggling Belmore late last season. He's very poised and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He's neither particularly large nor super fast, but he ran the veer in high school and is quite effective when he does scramble.

The definite go-to guy is receiver Weston Dressler. He's VERY small but also very fast. Maybe the fastest guy ever produced the state of North Dakota. The top running back is Brandon Strouth, who missed most of last season with a knee injury. He's another pretty small guy with good speed. The line is a bit unsettled due to injuries. One full-time starter returns from last year, but two others who started in 2004 but who missed 2005 with injuries also return. UND got a transfer from SDSU who was second-team all Great West last year, but he missed the opener. Not sure of his status. In addition to Dressler, the receiving corps is deep, although most are possession guys.

Defensively, UND is quite experienced despite the losses of several standouts from last year. The defense rotates a lot of players, so although there are several new starters, all the starters have played a lot of football. Some names to watch are nose tackle Adam Wolff, who had three sacks last week, inside linebacker Dan Ullsperger, outside backer Steve Brennan, and safety Rory Manke. Both corners are returning starters and are pretty decent.

At this point, I would say the weaknesses for UND are whether they'll be able to consistently run the ball due to the offensive line not playing much together yet, and a very inconsistent kicker after about 10 years of having great kickers.

I think most UND fans are just hoping to be competitive and use this game as a measuring stick for how far we need to go to be a good I-AA program. As some of you may know, UND will be going division I in 2008. Good luck on Saturday.

[Newsbreaker]

I think most UND fans are just hoping to be competitive and use this game as a measuring stick for how far we need to go to be a good I-AA program. As some of you may know, UND will be going division I in 2008. Good luck on Saturday.

To this extent, it will be a very good measuring stick for you guys. You're coming into one of the 5 toughest places to play in IAA, on what will be a fairly emotional day, against a team ranked in the top-3 nationally.

The devil will be in the details, as far as comparisons go.

[UNI Fight]

From what it looked like UND has a nice sized o-line, I think I saw one guy coming in at 6'7" 320 pounds? I think he was the right guard? At least that's what the UNI scouting report board said by the locker room.

[bincitysioux]

From what it looked like UND has a nice sized o-line, I think I saw one guy coming in at 6'7" 320 pounds? I think he was the right guard? At least that's what the UNI scouting report board said by the locker room.

You're probably referring to Taylor Murray. He transferred to UND this year after earning All-Great West honors at SDSU last season. Unfortunately, he has a bad back and did not play last week. I haven't heard anything about his status for this Saturday. Actually the offensive line is one of the biggest question marks on this year's UND team.

Here are my thoughts on UND's game against Northern Iowa that I posted on SiouxSports.com

Well, I'm also looking forward to this game but I am really hoping that we are not on the wrong end of a blowout. UNI is obviously a great team, ranked #4 in I-AA and last years national runner-up, and playing in their house.

Here is how I think we can keep it close and be competetive:

Special teams. Weston Dressler and Ryan Chappell need to bust off a few long runs on kick returns, and keep giving us good field position. Our kick return game is one of the strongest parts of our team. And Hellevang needs to make field goals when given the chance. We can't leave points on the field against UNI.

Offensive Line. It needs to get healthy this week and it needs to get some push for the running game. UNI's D-line is young and inexperienced. If we don't run the ball better than we did last week, we have no chance. And we need to effectively run between the tackles, because our backs aren't fast enough to run around UNI's linebackers.

Front 7. Our front seven needs to at least get in the backfield and knock around UNI's quarterback and get him rattled. He is too good to just allow him to sit back and make clean throws. And I don't think our secondary is good enough to allow him to do that either.

UND has nothing to lose and everything to gain in this game. If we lose we were supposed to. UND has had this game circled on the calender, UNI has not. We are to them what Ferris St. is to us. They just rolled past non-scholarship Drake last week, so they are confident. Perhaps over-confident and looking past UND. They see just a DII warm-up game on their schedule. The following week they have SDSU who just lost to a DIII program, perhaps they are even looking past them to Iowa State which they feel will likely be their first true test of the season. I hope UND can be their first true test of the season. Ya never know!

I know you can't get anywhere from comparing common opponents between two teams, but just for the heck of it I looked back at UNI's schedule from 2004 & 2005. In 2004 the Panthers finished the season 7-4. They played Mankato that year and shut them out 40-0. Last year they played Duluth and won by 35. It should be noted that they started last year 4-3 before rattling off 7 straight wins before they fell to Appalachian St. in the title game.

I hate to predict a Sioux loss , but I'm going to say UNI by 19. UND keeps it within a touchdown until midway through the third quarter.

[Marc Wigim]

I will say this right now: UND will provide us with a better gauge than Drake did. UND has 30 players on scholarship as opposed to Drake's none, and I am fully convinced that UND will provide us with a ballgame. I actually kind of hope I'm right, because UNI needs a test before we go to Ames.

[Panthers to the Bone]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=124709

UND is getting a $50,000 guarantee for playing Saturday at Cedar Falls

[Herdman]

I took the following from another message board. I thought you guys might like to see how people on the other side look at the game. Enjoy.
Post #18


Starter


Group: Members
Posts: 312
Joined: 12-April 06
Member No.: 131



#4 UNI (1AA) vs #6 UND (DII) should be a game everyone associated with DII football needs to get behind and for crying out loud, have some faith in UND. This one not only might be close, but UND in going to be alot more inspired to play the game of their life than the effort UNI will put on the field come Saturday. But even if they both come to play 100%, too many DII fans still think a DII matchup vs a D1AA is like pitting a first team college team vs the second team. I don't buy it. Just like basketball parity has been become evident for more than several years and the gap closing every year, the same is happening with football between D1AA vs DII . . . especially with upper tier teams.

One game doesn't prove anything, but you still have to consider last week's game between perennial power D1AA James Madison (ranked #12) vs Bloomsburg (ranked #11 in DII). Sure JM won 14-3, but Bloomsburg gave them all they could handle. Bloomsburg had 17 first downs to JM's 9 first downs. Bloomsburg also had more total yards. Consider also, that James Madison won the D1AA National Championship game in 2004. I remember they were ranked high last year 2005 thru most of the season (since I follow Northern Iowa somewhat), but not sure where they finished.

UND will benefit that they will already be accustomed to playing in an indoor facility since they are fortunate to have a similar stadium. That's an adjustment most teams have to make when they visit UNI. UNI brings the noise, but hopefully, UND feeds off that. I support all my Iowa teams (GO HAWKEYES!), but I'd love to see North Dakota make a DII statement in this game. This will be a hard-fought game. I'd like to think an upset will happen. If not, UND will make the final score respectable.

[Herdman]

I will say this right now: UND will provide us with a better gauge than Drake did. UND has 30 players on scholarship as opposed to Drake's none, and I am fully convinced that UND will provide us with a ballgame. I actually kind of hope I'm right, because UNI needs a test before we go to Ames.

Marc,
More like 72. UND is fully funded at 36 equivalents. D2 programs do not give full rides. Mostly 1/2 scholarships and even some 1/4 and 1/8 depending on the number of people they want/need to bring in. They run a program of around 120 to 125 players which is typical for top D2 programs.

But you are right in the fact that UND will give UNI a better test than Drake. UND would dismantle Drake. UNI was very nice to Drake Saturday night and could have named the score well into the 70s if they wanted to.

[Marc Wigim]

Thanks, I didn't know DII did the eqiuvalent thing. It makes more sense, honestly. I am now enlightened. My bad for being ignorant about DII.

[Matt Trump]

Marc,
More like 72. UND is fully funded at 36 equivalents. D2 programs do not give full rides. Mostly 1/2 scholarships and even some 1/4 and 1/8 depending on the number of people they want/need to bring in. They run a program of around 120 to 125 players which is typical for top D2 programs.

Yes, but UNI has 63 equivalents. Not all of the guys are on full rides and most of the kids from this state are on halfs when they come in. Same thing happens at UNI. The thing is, though, is that UNI can give a full-ride to the big-time playmakers that will be the difference in the game.

[Chitown Panther]

Marc,
More like 72. UND is fully funded at 36 equivalents. D2 programs do not give full rides. Mostly 1/2 scholarships and even some 1/4 and 1/8 depending on the number of people they want/need to bring in. They run a program of around 120 to 125 players which is typical for top D2 programs.

But you are right in the fact that UND will give UNI a better test than Drake. UND would dismantle Drake. UNI was very nice to Drake Saturday night and could have named the score well into the 70s if they wanted to.

I don't know if UND would dismantle Drake....but I'm sure UND would win.

18 Weston Dressler WR Jr. 5-8 164 Bismarck, N.D./Bismarck High School.....I'm sure this kid is really talented....especially reading his back ground....

BUT....I have a hard time thinking this kid....
27 Brandon Strouth RB Jr. 5-9 177 Alexandria, Minn./Jefferson High School
.....is better than Phaydavong at Drake.....

[Herdman]

Thanks, I didn't know DII did the eqiuvalent thing. It makes more sense, honestly. I am now enlightened. My bad for being ignorant about DII.

No problem here Marc. Just wanted to share what I knew about the D2 scholarship situation.

Good luck this weekend. Pound the Sioux hard!

[Herdman]

Yes, but UNI has 63 equivalents. Not all of the guys are on full rides and most of the kids from this state are on halfs when they come in. Same thing happens at UNI. The thing is, though, is that UNI can give a full-ride to the big-time playmakers that will be the difference in the game.

Yes, UNI even has non-scholarship players like other D1, D1-AA and D2 programs for that matter. I was fortunate enough to growing up in Iowa when UNI was a D2 member of the NCC and following their transition to
D1-AA. I am also familiar with D1 and D1-AA recruiting and scholarship process as well. Thanks Matt.

[Herdman]

I don't know if UND would dismantle Drake....but I'm sure UND would win.

18 Weston Dressler WR Jr. 5-8 164 Bismarck, N.D./Bismarck High School.....I'm sure this kid is really talented....especially reading his back ground....

BUT....I have a hard time thinking this kid....
27 Brandon Strouth RB Jr. 5-9 177 Alexandria, Minn./Jefferson High School
.....is better than Phaydavong at Drake.....

Yes, Scott Pahydavong is a great RB, but as you probably saw Thursday night that's where their talent stops. UNI was more than generous in that game and could have named the score.

I guess it's really doesn't matter at this point since they don't play each other, but just last year when D1-AA non-scholarship teams played D2 teams, they won a grand total of 2 games. UM-Rolla and St. Joseph's to Independent D2 programs each recorded 4 wins against Pioneer League teams.

Heck, in 2004 when Upper Iowa was in their first year of D2 transition, meaning they had 6 equivalents on the roster that year, they only lost 45-27 to the Bulldogs. Yet had more yards at half time than Drake's defense gave up per game all season long that year. And if I recall correctly was the year Drake won the Pioneer League Championship (the D1-aa non-scholarship NC). Now we can put a meassuring stick to that match up since they both play each other this Saturday in Des Moines.