NDSU at Montana - Game Thread

[CID1990]

This is the beauty of FCS. If this was FBS, NDSU would already be in the doldrums with no shot at the title.

But even with a season opening loss (and even one or two in the MVFC) they still have a shot

[D1B]

This is the beauty of FCS. If this was FBS, NDSU would already be in the doldrums with no shot at the title.

But even with a season opening loss (and even one or two in the MVFC) they still have a shot

Yeah, like Ohio State was last year.

[CSUBUCDAD]

Absolutely one of the best football games I have ever watched. Well done to both teams.

[Get'em_Griz]

NDSU just has to be kicking themselves. They had so many chances to put it away & they bungled it every time. With the ball up 4 and 2:30 to go, they can't even force Montana to use a single timeout..

This. Bison should have won.

They'll clean up their act and annihilate the Griz in playoffs, if the Griz make it.

Woulda shoulda coulda. Both teams played a great game, but to think the Bison are going to annihilate this Griz team is silly. The Griz are going to be a very dangerous team once this offense is firing on all cylinders. Neither team is going to blow each other out and any future matchup this year will be a close game.

[vutomcat]

Missed the game yesterday because I was busy watching Pharoah lose at Saratoga. Baffert must be saying "I told you so" to the Zayat clan.

At any rate, just watched the game on tape delay. What a great game, great venue and a great kick off for FCS football. Two excellent programs and two excellent teams that have a chance to be in the chip.

I'll be in Hartford Thursday and hope the Cats continue the great start for FCS.

[SDHornet]

I saw the first half and I was impressed with UM. I didn't know what to expect from them with the coaching change. Saw the final and wasn't surprised at the UM win given the way they were battling with NDSU. Funny thing is, this game isn't even close if UM doesn't settle for those 2 FGs in the first half.

Now where is clenz to talk up the defenses of the MVFC.

[clenz]

I saw the first half and I was impressed with UM. I didn't know what to expect from them with the coaching change. Saw the final and wasn't surprised at the UM win given the way they were battling with NDSU. Funny thing is, this game isn't even close if UM doesn't settle for those 2 FGs in the first half.

Now where is clenz to talk up the defenses of the MVFC.

Well NDSU did lose 8 or 9 starters from lat years team and had its best DB out...so....

[grizzaholic]

I saw the first half and I was impressed with UM. I didn't know what to expect from them with the coaching change. Saw the final and wasn't surprised at the UM win given the way they were battling with NDSU. Funny thing is, this game isn't even close if UM doesn't settle for those 2 FGs in the first half.

Now where is clenz to talk up the defenses of the MVFC.

Well NDSU did lose 8 or 9 starters from lat years team and had its best DB out...so....

And the Griz had their best D player, some say most athletic guy on the team, out...so...

[Vidav]

I'm crappy with predicting the polls. This is only one game but it was a loss for #1 to someone outside the top 10. What happens with NDSU and Montana in the new poll, you think?

[BDKJMU]

This is the beauty of FCS. If this was FBS, NDSU would already be in the doldrums with no shot at the title.

But even with a season opening loss (and even one or two in the MVFC) they still have a shot

No they wouldn't.
-Look at Ohio State last year. Got smacked by Va Tech in opener. Went on to run table, make 4 team playoffs as #4 seed & won NC.
-Look at Bama last year. They lost in early Oct to Ole Miss and made 4 team playoffs as #1 seed.
-Look at Oregon last year. They lost in early Oct to AZ & made 4 team playoffs as #2 seed & played in NC game.

Even before the I-A playoffs, 7 of the previous 14 teams to play in the BCS NC game had a loss. LSU made the title game with 2 losses.
07'- LSU (2 losses) & beat Ohio St (lost to Ill in Nov) in NC game.
08'- UF (lost to Ole Miss in Sept) beat OK (loss to TX in Oct) in NC game.
09' -Undefeated TX beat undefeated USC.
10' -Undefeated Auburn beat undefeated Oregon.
11'-Bama lost in Sept to LSU & beat them in NC game rematch.
12'-Bama lost in Nov to Tx A&M & spanked undefeated ND in NC game.
13'- Auburn lost to LSU in Sept then lost to undefeated FSU in NC game.

If NDSU wins out and goes 10-1 (don't think they will but wouldn't surprise me) they will definitely be a top 4 seed, maybe a top 2.

[Willie]

There were 3 pass plays where the Griz receiver dropped the ball with nothing but green grass ahead. That's 21 potential points left off the board. I said to myself early in the first half that I thought they could score 50 on the Bison defense.

The Big Sky should be very concerned for the rest of the season. There will be 70 point games in the future. Guaranteed.

[93henfan]

I'm crappy with predicting the polls. This is only one game but it was a loss for #1 to someone outside the top 10. What happens with NDSU and Montana in the new poll, you think?

The SportsNetwork (or whatever it's called now) voters are a bit more conservative than CS and AGS. I'm guessing a small drop for NDSU and a larger gain for UM, but not sure they intersect. NDSU will likely fall in the 2-5 range and UM up to the 3-7 range.

If I still voted I'd have it something like UM at 4 and NDSU at 5 next week.

[NDSU6531]

Just wanted to say congrats to the Grizz on one hell of a game!

[dbackjon]

Just wanted to say congrats to the Grizz on one hell of a game!

Welcome!

[GrizFanStuckInUtah]

Yeah. Griz D looked great in the 2nd half. We'll see how NDSU reacts to this game. I still think NDSU is a great team, just glad someone was able to show they are not invincible. And playing in Wa-Griz is tough for any team. The Griz looked good....

NDSU QB was running all over Montana 1st half. 2nd half looks like NDSU didn't try to run him. He seemed more like a statue. Was it his ankle? That was the biggest diff in the game I noticed between the 1st & 2nd half..

Wentz was hurt with around 1 minute left in the 3rd quarter, he left under his own power limping a little is all. A small part of it was this but adjustments by the Griz is what prompted most of their offensive change.

[Brock Landers]

http://www.bisonville.com/forum/showthr ... n-they-win" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What a douche. I don't know why he's obsessed with the 12 fans that rushed the field... I guess it's his way of coping. And Alpha sticking up for us for once? I'm stunned.

Every other Bison fan in-person and online has been classy as hell

[Ibanez]

Congrats Griz!!! What a way to start the season.

[kalm]

There were 3 pass plays where the Griz receiver dropped the ball with nothing but green grass ahead. That's 21 potential points left off the board. I said to myself early in the first half that I thought they could score 50 on the Bison defense.

The Big Sky should be very concerned for the rest of the season. There will be 70 point games in the future. Guaranteed.

One of them was a swing that hadn't developed yet. The other two looked to be nice gains. And 70?

Let's not get carried away too early.

[Grizalltheway]

http://www.bisonville.com/forum/showthr ... n-they-win

What a douche. I don't know why he's obsessed with the 12 fans that rushed the field... I guess it's his way of coping. And Alpha sticking up for us for once? I'm stunned.

Every other Bison fan in-person and online has been classy as hell

Did he have anything to say about his insistence that the Bison would roll us? I'm guessing not.

[grizzaholic]

http://www.bisonville.com/forum/showthr ... n-they-win

What a douche. I don't know why he's obsessed with the 12 fans that rushed the field... I guess it's his way of coping. And Alpha sticking up for us for once? I'm stunned.

Every other Bison fan in-person and online has been classy as hell

Did he have anything to say about his insistence that the Bison would roll us? I'm guessing not.

Lakes is...well Lakes.

[Grizalltheway]

Did he have anything to say about his insistence that the Bison would roll us? I'm guessing not.

Lakes is...well Lakes.

I meant Alpha.

[polsongrizz]

I saw the first half and I was impressed with UM. I didn't know what to expect from them with the coaching change. Saw the final and wasn't surprised at the UM win given the way they were battling with NDSU. Funny thing is, this game isn't even close if UM doesn't settle for those 2 FGs in the first half.

Now where is clenz to talk up the defenses of the MVFC.

Well NDSU did lose 8 or 9 starters from lat years team and had its best DB out...so....

I believe our our offense had four starters back.

[Gil Dobie]

Well NDSU did lose 8 or 9 starters from lat years team and had its best DB out...so....

I believe our our offense had four starters back.

Bison Defense lost 9 starters on defense and the 10th was out injured. Still the Griz replacements were obviously better than the Bison replacements.

[Mvemjsunpx]

I believe our our offense had four starters back.

Bison Defense lost 9 starters on defense and the 10th was out injured. Still the Griz replacements were obviously better than the Bison replacements.

My suspicions that NDSU's defense would be their worst in several years may have been true. They've graduated a ton of players on that side of the ball the last two offseasons and that's gonna take a toll on any team.

Both NDSU & UM lost big-time DEs, but the Bison seemed especially reliant on Kyle Emanuel last year. He had 19.5 sacks, but no one else on the team had more than 3 (in 16 games, no less). It appears the Griz were able to deal with Wagenmann's departure better than NDSU was able to offset Emanuel's.

[grizzaholic]

Bison Defense lost 9 starters on defense and the 10th was out injured. Still the Griz replacements were obviously better than the Bison replacements.

My suspicions that NDSU's defense would be their worst in several years may have been true. They've graduated a ton of players on that side of the ball the last two offseasons and that's gonna take a toll on any team.

Both NDSU & UM lost big-time DEs, but the Bison seemed especially reliant on Kyle Emanuel last year. He had 19.5 sacks, but no one else on the team had more than 3 (in 16 games, no less). It appears the Griz were able to deal with Wagenmann's departure better than NDSU was able to offset Emanuel's.

Really!? WOW.