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We're just one week removed from the news breaking of Matt Entz taking a job with Southern Cal. In that time the team was elimiinated by Montana & Tim Polasek was named the next head coach.

The change of leadership played a role in several members of the latest recruiting class flipping to other universities and the dust has not yet settled on all the moves that may result from the choice. As far as I'm concerned, Matt Larsen managed to get the women's basketball team back on track so he's earned some latitude.

Tyler Roehl will be a head coach some day. Might not be at his alma mater but just because he was a popular name doesn't mean he would have been the right choice, right now. So instead of overreacting, lets see what Polasek does with the coaching staff, with player recruitment and retention and move importantly, when the games begin in Colorado next Fall.

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As for the season finale, it played out as something of a micro-cosm of the season. Mistakes and missed opportunities foiled what should have been a two-touchdown victory.

It's simplistic but that's the takeaway. They should have won. They should still be on the road to the 10th championship but because all three phases failed at different times during the contest they will learn of the score next month like everyone else.

Prior to kickoff a pair of All-American honors were announced with Cole Wisniewski & Jake Kubas leading the way.

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Football ending Saturday also applied to the pro team. Yeah, the Purple still have three remaining on their slate but the loss to Cincinnati put a significant damper on their chances.

A .500 team, maybe a first round exit and a selection in the high-teens or low-20s.

Having this season ended by Detroit seems okay, as long as they beat Green Bay - there will never come a time when losing to them is okay.

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The figurative baton went to Anthony Edwards Saturday evening as they handled a fiesty Indiana outfit with ease to reach 19 wins.

19 in 24 chances.

They better not start counting the chickens too soon but all the long-suffering fans deserve to dream about 60+ wins, series victories, Finals appearances. The window of opportunity will not get better than this season so enjoy every minute of it and let your minds go to those places because it's been earned 10-fold!

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Fargo's hockey team also continues to be a force to be wreckoned with! While forward Mac Swanson was setting a new assist record at the World Juniors, the Bolts continued to extend their lead on the West and the League as a whole.

They're setting a bar for themselves that anything less than another cup appearance will be a failed season. It doesn't get much more lofty than that but 22 wins in 26 chances creates that sort of expectation!

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High expectations are also coming the way of Moorhead State's men's basketball as they maintained their undefeated status and reached #2 in the coaches poll! With nearly three weeks until their next game you'll have to wait to see them but once they come back they should be good to go for the final two months of the season.

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