NDSU @ Montana State

[Gil Dobie]

Question: does NDSU have a QB at least marginally competent throwing the ball?

He's back and recovered from a broken collarbone. Still has some Freshman nerves in the first half, but he's the best since Walker graduated.

[FargoBison]

The QB that played on Saturday actually has a great deep ball but due to injury he had only played about a half of football in the past six games and was rusty as hell. Hopefully he finds some rhythm this week in practice, he did seem to improve slightly as the game progressed last week.

The other QB we have is the polar opposite, doesn't throw the deep ball well but is very accurate with short passes. But it seems like our coaches want the guy that can stretch the field, which means our offense shifts from west coast to more of a pro style offense. I don't know how much the coaches will want our QB running, but before he got hurt he was a very proficient runner. Not a threat to break a huge run but he is very capable of getting 10-15 yards a time.

[JBB]

I like what TheHerd is saying. NDSU has shown resiliency. Last year we had the morale problems and the injuries. We lost a lot of games but if you squinted you could see the core of a real good football team. Coach got things straightened and some good players started coming our way. This team could have been here last year, it was that close.

Talk about turn-arounds! Last year NDSU had the best offense, or close to it, and the worst defense. This year its just the opposite. I like the direction the offense is going. I think they are improving. They got the chance to show what they could do against RMU. Thats a big step forward from the MSU game.

The defense only gets better as they get healthy.

[houndawg]

They got all they could handle from a team with 30 fewer scholarships. If I'm a Bison fan I'm praying for the worst weather possible.

Dawg,
I've seen you post on our forums on every website there is and you say the same Sh** every time. You basically belittle anything NDSU has done and also throw in your excuses why SIU sucked it up this year. What are you gonna say if the Bison beat the Cats?? I'll tell ya..you"ll say the BSC must be down this year too. You'll say anything other than giving credit where credits due. You also keep saying the MVFC is down this year...why? cuz there isn't two teams with a one or two loss season and the rest with a five and six loss season....I say it is tougher this year, because of the parity in the league, look at the CAA very similiar although a stronger league overall. You say next year it will be back to SIU and UNI again in the MVFC and I don't doubt both will field strong squads, but I am sorry to tell ya that the Bison are gonna be in the mix for years to come with the young squad we have right now. I think UNI will be the favorite, because they are even younger than the Bison. I know SIU had a lot of injuries this year, but so did NDSU last year, our O-line and especially our LBing core was decimated! We had our RB McNorton play a game or two at LB last year we were so decimated and you know what you would have said and probably said when NDSU fans gave an excuse of injuries, so please quit spewing your injury excuses...its football everybody has them. We have been playing with two missing O-line starters and two LB amongst a few others, but we have still managed a nice season. SIU is a good program, but not superior too NDSU as you keep trying to imply....the last four years we have two wins and you have two wins. How about a little support for your conference mates for once......it is the playoffs!

Get over yourself, Herbert. I haven't spewed injury excuses for a while now. For me the war is over. Before you catch the vapors and start sniffling, do a little more research. You can look it up, I said that I thought NDSU would go the farthest of the MVC field. I've also said that they can win if they score first, get a couple of short fields from the defense, and win the special teams game. So you can cry til your eyes fall out for all I care.

As for the MVC being down, you haven't addressed my argument. Parity within the league is a different issue, I'm talking about the MVC vs. the other conferences. We were among the teams last in, and helped by an expanded bracket, our at large teams have seven conference losses between them, and our conference does not have a good OOC record. Our conference champion, who held NDSU to negative yards rushing, was just beaten by Lehigh, Robert Morris with half the scholarships you have was within 3 pts. in the 4th qtr. and WIU got out of Carolina by the skin of their teeth againt a 6-5 CCU team. Please, young Skywalker.....

[DJH]

If you have been following the MVFC for more than 3 years, you'd know that this is most certainly a "down" year.

There have been some really really great teams in this conference in the past, and there is no such team this year. Not even close.

[Gil Dobie]

As for the MVC being down, you haven't addressed my argument. Parity within the league is a different issue, I'm talking about the MVC vs. the other conferences. We were among the teams last in, and helped by an expanded bracket, our at large teams have seven conference losses between them, and our conference does not have a good OOC record. Our conference champion, who held NDSU to negative yards rushing, was just beaten by Lehigh, Robert Morris with half the scholarships you have was within 3 pts. in the 4th qtr. and WIU got out of Carolina by the skin of their teeth againt a 6-5 CCU team. Please, young Skywalker.....

UNI was almost a season ago, new QB, matured young team, but we can't replay it now can we. The conference was very young this year, and with the maturation of the young players, the MVFC will get better over the next few seasons.

[DJH]

As for the MVC being down, you haven't addressed my argument. Parity within the league is a different issue, I'm talking about the MVC vs. the other conferences. We were among the teams last in, and helped by an expanded bracket, our at large teams have seven conference losses between them, and our conference does not have a good OOC record. Our conference champion, who held NDSU to negative yards rushing, was just beaten by Lehigh, Robert Morris with half the scholarships you have was within 3 pts. in the 4th qtr. and WIU got out of Carolina by the skin of their teeth againt a 6-5 CCU team. Please, young Skywalker.....

UNI was almost a season ago, new QB, matured young team, but we can't replay it now can we. The conference was very young this year, and with the maturation of the young players, the MVFC will get better over the next few seasons.

It was a long time ago for UNI too. NDSU was the only team we could beat in that first chunk of our schedule. And we dominated the game.

[DJH]

Here is a question for everyone. If the MFVC is down this year, how is it that they got in three teams and the Big Sky only has two? I mean, wouldn't you think that a committee would elect a third Big Sky, especially the likes of Montana, over NDSU? Consider that, according to most of you, NDSU played in a down MVFC this year?

A) The big sky sucks too.

B) Lack of good teams all across the country.

C) Montana did not have enough wins.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Here is a question for everyone. If the MFVC is down this year, how is it that they got in three teams and the Big Sky only has two? I mean, wouldn't you think that a committee would elect a third Big Sky, especially the likes of Montana, over NDSU? Consider that, according to most of you, NDSU played in a down MVFC this year?

Pretty simple answer to that one. Montana had a down year as well and did not have 7 D1 wins. If they had then they would have been in over NDSU and WIU. That argument doesn't work for this. Watching the MVFC from the outside it certainly appears to be a down year for them. Doesn't mean the two teams left don't have an even chance.

[DJH]

A) The big sky sucks too.

B) Lack of good teams all across the country.

C) Montana did not have enough wins.

They had the same overall record and a better conference record than NDSU. I'm not trying to argue that NDSU shouldn't of gotten in.

One of montanas win was a non-DI, thus did not count.

[Gil Dobie]

UNI was almost a season ago, new QB, matured young team, but we can't replay it now can we. The conference was very young this year, and with the maturation of the young players, the MVFC will get better over the next few seasons.

It was a long time ago for UNI too. NDSU was the only team we would beat in that first chunk of our schedule. And we dominated the game.

Well you beat 1 team that won a playoff game

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

A) The big sky sucks too.

B) Lack of good teams all across the country.

C) Montana did not have enough wins.

They had the same overall record and a better conference record than NDSU. I'm not trying to argue that NDSU shouldn't of gotten in.

Ahh, I see your a "new guy" to the whole playoff thing.

NDSU got to 7 D1 wins, Montana did not. That matters in the selection process.

[cats2506]

There are a few things I look at when trying to decide who win's a game. I notice that within conference statistics, NDSU and MSU are very very different. Hell, both conferences are vastly different. Your thorwing alot in the Big Sky, while the MVFC is running the ball. (Hence all this discussion about weather) When it comes down to it, can you create turnovers, can you play disciplined football and who has the knack for the big play. I give the edge to the Bison in turnover margin, MSU for play displine and MSU for getting the big play. You can throw out the QB talk because McGhee is a redshirt freshman and this is his first time in a playoff game. He will be shaky to start and so will Jensen. It will be which team can come up with an early big play and get the Mo. I like MSU but just by a little.

ask some fizz fans about McGhee, Selle said the same thing before that game

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

There are a few things I look at when trying to decide who win's a game. I notice that within conference statistics, NDSU and MSU are very very different. Hell, both conferences are vastly different. Your thorwing alot in the Big Sky, while the MVFC is running the ball. (Hence all this discussion about weather) When it comes down to it, can you create turnovers, can you play disciplined football and who has the knack for the big play. I give the edge to the Bison in turnover margin, MSU for play displine and MSU for getting the big play. You can throw out the QB talk because McGhee is a redshirt freshman and this is his first time in a playoff game. He will be shaky to start and so will Jensen. It will be which team can come up with an early big play and get the Mo. I like MSU but just by a little.

Some good points dg but you are flat out wrong about Mghee. He ain't gonna be rattled about being in his first playoff game. He wasn't rattled playing at Washington State, he wasn't rattled playing a blitz heavy and hard hitting defense in Wa Griz, and he will not be rattled playing at home against NDSU. I would be very surprised if that were the case.

Welcome to the board btw.

[Gil Dobie]

Some good points dg but you are flat out wrong about Mghee. He ain't gonna be rattled about being in his first playoff game. He wasn't rattled playing at Washington State, he wasn't rattled playing a blitz heavy and hard hitting defense in Wa Griz, and he will not be rattled playing at home against NDSU. I would be very surprised if that were the case.

Not a big fan of the Griz D-Coordinator

Hope we can keep the one we have this year.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Some good points dg but you are flat out wrong about Mghee. He ain't gonna be rattled about being in his first playoff game. He wasn't rattled playing at Washington State, he wasn't rattled playing a blitz heavy and hard hitting defense in Wa Griz, and he will not be rattled playing at home against NDSU. I would be very surprised if that were the case.

Not a big fan of the Griz D-Coordinator

Hope we can keep the one we have this year.

We are. Considering the minutes on the field this year the shit they held teams down to is pretty amazing. Didn't work for you guys but he works for us at this point and worked very well in bringing the importance of a defense back to Montana.

[Gil Dobie]

Not a big fan of the Griz D-Coordinator

Hope we can keep the one we have this year.

We are. Considering the minutes on the field this year the **** they held teams down to is pretty amazing. Didn't work for you guys but he works for us at this point and worked very well in bringing the importance of a defense back to Montana.

I'm glad he worked out for you guys

[griz8791]

I think it would be smart not to base any significant part of your plan on McGhee getting rattled.

[FargoBison]

It is currently 21 degrees and snowing lightly with a 29 mph wind from the north(wind chill at 0) and the Bison are practicing outside. So I think we'll be ready to handle the cold outdoor weather.....

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

It is currently 21 degrees and snowing lightly with a 29 mph wind from the north(wind chill at 0) and the Bison are practicing outside. So I think we'll be ready to handle the cold outdoor weather.....

That would be a great counterpoint if that is what the majority of the "bad weather" posts were about. It wasn't from what I could see though.

[FargoBison]

It is currently 21 degrees and snowing lightly with a 29 mph wind from the north(wind chill at 0) and the Bison are practicing outside. So I think we'll be ready to handle the cold outdoor weather.....

That would be a great counterpoint if that is what the majority of the "bad weather" posts were about. It wasn't from what I could see though.

I've heard some NDSU being a dome team talk out there though, just wanted to point out that we practice outside, in the cold. Thank God for our Sprinturf practice field otherwise we would be inside.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

That would be a great counterpoint if that is what the majority of the "bad weather" posts were about. It wasn't from what I could see though.

I've heard some NDSU being a dome team talk out there though, just wanted to point out that we practice outside, in the cold. Thank God for our Sprinturf practice field otherwise we would be inside.

Yes, it seems like a very smart investment for this and several other reasons. The cold or shitty weather talk was mostly about it helping NDSU by slowing the pace MSU operates at though.

[Wedgebuster]

[JBB]

As NDSU moves to replace SIU and UNI at the top of the MVFC and WIU regains prominence I imagine the MVFC will be down for years.

The BISON are ascending. The MVFC some of you used to know so well has now changed.

Many of you are superficial in your analysis and have no concept of the changes now engulfing the conference. It isnt your daddies MVFC anymore. Its NDSUs MVFC. I told you this last year. Someone still has the quote in their sig line. Keep it there. The MVFC has changed.

Dont cry to me, the change has come, the MVFC is under our thumb.

[CatMom]

You keep reposting that, JBB, and maybe you'll get to 1000 posts before the game is over Saturday.