McNeese State at Northern Iowa

[JohnStOnge]

Yes I know that Eastern Washington at Sam Houston State is the game of the week. But in most weeks this one would be.

I personally think McNeese has a tough row to hoe. I think this is the best team on McNeese's schedule and the toughest place to play on McNeese's schedule. We're going to find out if the Cowboys can compete.

They won't if they play like they did this past week. They had 8 false starts on offense. Also dropped a number of passes. And the QB missed open receivers. No margin for error this week. They'll have t play their absolute best to have any shot.

I

[AZGrizFan]

UNI was less than impressive against UNC...McNeese might just win this one.

[JohnStOnge]

UNI was less than impressive against UNC...McNeese might just win this one.

UNI is an enigma. Last year they took Wisconsin to the wire in losing 26-21 and also lost to Iowa by only 27-16. Then they lost a bunch of competitive games in conference. That includes losing to national champ North Dakota State by 12. And yes I consider that fairly competitive as Sam Houston State lost to the Bison by 26 in that national championship game.

Now they've opened by beating Iowa State. Iowa State is 0-2 by virtue of losing to UNI but the other loss is by 27-21 to Iowa. You have to ask yourself this question: Would you pick any other team on McNeese's schedule to beat Iowa State?

And I think the answer is "no."

[Mvemjsunpx]

UNI was less than impressive against UNC...McNeese might just win this one.

UNI is an enigma. Last year they took Wisconsin to the wire in losing 26-21 and also lost to Iowa by only 27-16. Then they lost a bunch of competitive games in conference. That includes losing to national champ North Dakota State by 12. And yes I consider that fairly competitive as Sam Houston State lost to the Bison by 26 in that national championship game.

Now they've opened by beating Iowa State. Iowa State is 0-2 by virtue of losing to UNI but the other loss is by 27-21 to Iowa. You have to ask yourself this question: Would you pick any other team on McNeese's schedule to beat Iowa State?

And I think the answer is "no."

I would pick several FCS teams to beat Iowa State. Just because they happened to play their rival close (a lot of bad Cyclone teams have beaten Iowa) doesn't mean a lot. Sam Houston, McNeese, and EWU would probably beat ISU, and UCA or even SELU would have a shot.

[JohnStOnge]

I would pick several FCS teams to beat Iowa State. Just because they happened to play their rival close (a lot of bad Cyclone teams have beaten Iowa) doesn't mean a lot. Sam Houston, McNeese, and EWU would probably beat ISU, and UCA or even SELU would have a shot.

Any of those teams would "have a shot" But would you pick them to win against Iowa State?

Seriously. Let's say you're betting your house. You'd be nuts if you did.

[Mvemjsunpx]

I would pick several FCS teams to beat Iowa State. Just because they happened to play their rival close (a lot of bad Cyclone teams have beaten Iowa) doesn't mean a lot. Sam Houston, McNeese, and EWU would probably beat ISU, and UCA or even SELU would have a shot.

Any of those teams would "have a shot" But would you pick them to win against Iowa State?

Seriously. Let's say you're betting your house. You'd be nuts if you did.

I wouldn't bet a house on any football game, even a non-DI game.

I did pick UNI to beat Iowa State. Iowa State just isn't good, and there's a lot more overlap between FCS & FBS than most people think.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

UNI wins this one in CF. UNI 31-21

If it was in Lake Charles it would be a toss-up.

[JohnStOnge]

a lot more overlap between FCS & FBS than most people think.

I agree with that point. But consider the fact that until McNeese beat South Florida this year no Southland team had ever beaten a team from a BCS automatic qualifier conference before. And South Florida really, really sucks this year. Plus the conference it's in also really, really sucks by BCS automatic qualifier conference standards.

A FCS team beating a Big 12 team is no small matter. Nobody in McNeese's conference has ever done it and there have been numerous "chances."

[clenz]

What's amazing is how dominant UNI was without looking dominant....


Over 400 yards offense - 248 yards passing on 19-27 (13.1 ypc) and 154 yards rushing (Johnson with another 100 yard plus day averaging over 5 yards per carry)
Gave up just 284 - 75 rushing and 209 passing
Only punted twice (53.5 average)
Defense had 2 int's and 2 sacks


The game score should/could look a lot worse.

One of those picks was a pick 6 (with a minute something left in the game) that was called back due to the stupid "taunting" rule. He "held the ball out" as he entered the endzone...UNI then took 2 knees to end the game....would have been 33-7

UNI kicked 4 field goals - none longer than 31 yards. Could have easily been at least 21 more points bringing it closer to 40/45-7. The FG instead of TD's could be concerning, I'll grant that. However, this was as vanilla of an offense as I've seen since the second half of the 59-0 beatdown we put on a D2 last season after being up something like 52-0 at half. UNC put 8 in the box to stop DJ on every play and we didn't run any big hitting plays, and played our back up QB 3 or 4 series in the late third/fourth quater. Not too concerned about that. Add in the elevation - yes, Farley had coach speak that it wouldn't affect the players, but many players tweeted after the game #couldntbreath, #needair, etc... The team got in about 5PM central Friday night, not a ton of acclimation time. The highest elevation in Cedar Falls is 876 feet...Greeley 4,658. I'd bet 4000 feet of elevation makes a difference. We don't play well at high elevations - see Montana at 3200 feet. 4-6 times the elevation that you live in with less than a day to acclimate sucks.




Anyway...

It'll be interesting to see what UNI looks like again when we play a real time and open the playbooks up for the first time since August 31st, that's my real concern. Open with ISU, then go Drake, bye, UNC. Let's see if finally playing at full speed again knocks some of the "rusty" look off, or exacerbates it.

[HI54UNI]

Anyway...

It'll be interesting to see what UNI looks like again when we play a real time and open the playbooks up for the first time since August 31st, that's my real concern. Open with ISU, then go Drake, bye, UNC. Let's see if finally playing at full speed again knocks some of the "rusty" look off, or exacerbates it.

Sums it up pretty well.

[Grizzlies1982]

UNI wins this one in CF. UNI 31-21

From my viewpoint I would;
1. reduce that score and...
2. reverse the outcome.

[EWURanger]

I thought UNI would dominate UNC, but I wasn't overly impressed. UNI's red zone defense was pretty good, however, in holding UNC to no points several times in the red zone. UNC had their opportunities in that game, just couldn't take advantage of any of them...which is what poor teams tend to do.

As far as this game, I think I will be going with McTeam in this one, although I think it will be a close one that could go either way.


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[Gil Dobie]

Have to call this one a toss-up. Which McNeese and which UNI will show up is the key.

[JohnStOnge]

Have to call this one a toss-up. Which McNeese and which UNI will show up is the key.

I guess the "which McNeese" thing has to do with the West Alabama game. Again: I don't think you guys realize how athletic, fast, and talented West Alabama is.

I watched them play an outmatched opponent on TV last Thursday night. During the game I realized that the back I was so impressed with isn't the one on the Senior Bowl Watch List. It's this other guy who the announcers mentioned runs a 10.3 100 meters. He's a sophomore. BTW the one who IS on the Senior Bowl Watch list wasn't bad either.

I'm telling you. You guys who think McNeese should've handled West Alabama easily just don't know. I thought about that while watching McNeese play Weber State. Weber State looked SO slow and so UN athletic compared to that West Alabama team. Different universes.

[SeattleGriz]

Have to call this one a toss-up. Which McNeese and which UNI will show up is the key.

I guess the "which McNeese" thing has to do with the West Alabama game. Again: I don't think you guys realize how athletic, fast, and talented West Alabama is.

I watched them play an outmatched opponent on TV last Thursday night. During the game I realized that the back I was so impressed with isn't the one on the Senior Bowl Watch List. It's this other guy who the announcers mentioned runs a 10.3 100 meters. He's a sophomore. BTW the one who IS on the Senior Bowl Watch list wasn't bad either.

I'm telling you. You guys who think McNeese should've handled West Alabama easily just don't know. I thought about that while watching McNeese play Weber State. Weber State looked SO slow and so UN athletic compared to that West Alabama team. Different universes.

You called it in an earlier thread you knew this D2 team was going to be tough.

[Gil Dobie]

Have to call this one a toss-up. Which McNeese and which UNI will show up is the key.

I guess the "which McNeese" thing has to do with the West Alabama game. Again: I don't think you guys realize how athletic, fast, and talented West Alabama is.

I watched them play an outmatched opponent on TV last Thursday night. During the game I realized that the back I was so impressed with isn't the one on the Senior Bowl Watch List. It's this other guy who the announcers mentioned runs a 10.3 100 meters. He's a sophomore. BTW the one who IS on the Senior Bowl Watch list wasn't bad either.

I'm telling you. You guys who think McNeese should've handled West Alabama easily just don't know. I thought about that while watching McNeese play Weber State. Weber State looked SO slow and so UN athletic compared to that West Alabama team. Different universes.

The Gulf South has always been very athletic. West Alabama was definitely better competition on offense than the other 3 opponents for McNeese, 1 win total for the 3 teams. McNeese can score a lot of points, but the big question with real competition is the defense. UNI will provide the best defense MSU has faced, with a solid offense and a proven QB.

[clenz]

Sounds as though UNI may be getting starting TE Sam Rohr back from the dislocated elbow he sustained against Iowa State

[JohnStOnge]

The Gulf South has always been very athletic. West Alabama was definitely better competition on offense than the other 3 opponents for McNeese, 1 win total for the 3 teams. McNeese can score a lot of points, but the big question with real competition is the defense. UNI will provide the best defense MSU has faced, with a solid offense and a proven QB.

I'd be shocked if McNeese scores 44 this weekend. But part of that is because I think they're going to have a very difficult time hearing signals and making offensive line calls. West Alabama has a very athletic defense as well. Very fast. But West Alabama shut down McNeese's running game and was usually pretty darned close on passing plays. McNeese's quarterback Stroud just had an outstanding day putting the ball on the money. One thing's for sure: McNeese's skill players could NOT run away from West Alabama's defense. Those guys were very, very fast. Usually when I watch a game I feel like McNeese was the faster team whether they win or lose. I even felt like they matched up well speed wise with LSU when they played them. Not faster. But right there. And LSU coach Les Miles said after the game "I told our guys that this team will not be at a disadvantage in speed and certainly they proved that."

I didn't feel that way after that West Alabama game. I came away feeling like West Alabama was clearly the faster team. I know that's saying something when one is talking about a D-II school but those guys are fast. I'm not kidding.

McNeese may see a better defense this weekend. In fact I expect that. But they're not going to see a faster, more athletic one than they saw when they played West Alabama. Not going to happen. I've watched McNeese for many years and that West Alabama team is incredibly fast and athletic. Very unusual.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

W Alabama might be athletic but UNI is a much better team and probably more athletic.

[JohnStOnge]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

W Alabama might be athletic but UNI is a much better team and probably more athletic.

I'll go with you on the "better" part but I really don't know about that more athletic part. I haven't seen UNI play but I honestly don't think I've ever seen a I-AA/FCS team faster and quicker than that West Alabama team is. It was really scary to watch. I remember sitting there in the stands when my brother sitting next to me said, "those guys are really, really fast." And I thought the same. McNeese moved the ball because their QB was really accurate. But there was hardly any yards after catch because West Alabama defenders were usually close and once McNeese guys caught the ball they just easily ran McNeese skill players down. And McNeese does have fast skill players.

BTW after last night West Alabama has beaten the three Division II opponents it's played by 42-6, 45-3, and 71-14. We'll start to get a better feel for where they are over the next two weeks as they play Delta State and Valdosta State. But right now it's obvious that on the Division II level they're pretty tough to stop.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

W Alabama might be athletic but UNI is a much better team and probably more athletic.

I'll go with you on the "better" part but I really don't know about that more athletic part. I haven't seen UNI play but I honestly don't think I've ever seen a I-AA/FCS team faster and quicker than that West Alabama team is. It was really scary.

I'll take your word on that but Ferris State (D2) ran for over 200 yards on NDSU while K-State only for 41. Does this mean that Ferris is better than KSU? No.

Did W Alabama have a lot of D1 transfers?

Either way, UNI/McNeese would be a great game to see.

[JohnStOnge]

Did W Alabama have a lot of D1 transfers?

Yes.

All I'm getting at is that West Alabama being that close to beating McNeese wasn't because McNeese didn't play well. McNeese DID play well. Especially the QB. If he hadn't had the night he had in terms of accuracy they'd have been killed.

The one thing West Alabama did not do, though, is get a really good pass rush. That was a big factor. They stopped the run but McNeese's Stroud did have pretty good protection while passing. That's where I think UNI is going to be a lot better. It's not hard to see that they can get after the quarterback.

[clenz]

It sounds like West Alabama could give Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State, etc... a run for their money.


I'm not fucking buying it.


If a D2 team was the fastest team you've ever seen then holy shit...

It sounds like UNI is a bunch of fat, white, slow, unathletic fuckers we just pulled off the farm. Nevermind the fact that UNI has had multiple players qualify for the national track meet in the 4x100 meter relay, or sweep the conference sprint races (100 and 60 meter), or anything like that.

Looking at WA's schedule

Clark-Atlanta who is 0-3 and was 2-8 last year the year before
Florida Tech is 1-3...only win was vs Stetson and let's be real on that one...and this is their first year of football.

If a D2 is the most athletic team you've ever seen, you'll probably shit your pants when you see a 6'3 220lb tailback that runs a 4.5 40 and averaged over 8 yards per carry.

Or when you realize one of our players that plays RB/WR/KR/PR/and QB is 6'1 200lbs, a 4 star recruit and had offers from Nebraska, Cinci, Clemson, Georgia, Florida, Louisville, South Florida, UAB, West Virginia, and Florida State out of high school. He runs a 4.5 40 and a sub 5 shuttle.

Or our 5'11 190lb corner back that ran a verified 4.37 40 with ACC and B12 offers out of HS.


I can keep going...but apparently we can't compare to a fucking D2...pretty fucking shameful to be a top 10 all time FCS program but not have better players or be "better" than a D2 that isn't even in the top 10 for D2's.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IRNhqDQqj4[/youtube]

[JayJ79]

I don't wear D-I blinders. I think it is possible for a D2 to catch lightning in a bottle and be better than a good chunk of I-AA teams. Just like I know that it is possible for a I-AA to be better than a good chunk of I-A teams. Granted, I don't think that the former happens near as often as the latter, but I think it is possible.

[McNeese75]

It sounds like West Alabama could give Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State, etc... a run for their money.


I'm not **** buying it.


If a D2 team was the fastest team you've ever seen then holy ****...

It sounds like UNI is a bunch of fat, white, slow, unathletic **** we just pulled off the farm. Nevermind the fact that UNI has had multiple players qualify for the national track meet in the 4x100 meter relay, or sweep the conference sprint races (100 and 60 meter), or anything like that.

Looking at WA's schedule

Clark-Atlanta who is 0-3 and was 2-8 last year the year before
Florida Tech is 1-3...only win was vs Stetson and let's be real on that one...and this is their first year of football.

If a D2 is the most athletic team you've ever seen, you'll probably **** your pants when you see a 6'3 220lb tailback that runs a 4.5 40 and averaged over 8 yards per carry.

Or when you realize one of our players that plays RB/WR/KR/PR/and QB is 6'1 200lbs, a 4 star recruit and had offers from Nebraska, Cinci, Clemson, Georgia, Florida, Louisville, South Florida, UAB, West Virginia, and Florida State out of high school. He runs a 4.5 40 and a sub 5 shuttle.

Or our 5'11 190lb corner back that ran a verified 4.37 40 with ACC and B12 offers out of HS.


I can keep going...but apparently we can't compare to a **** D2...pretty **** shameful to be a top 10 all time FCS program but not have better players or be "better" than a D2 that isn't even in the top 10 for D2's.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IRNhqDQqj4[/youtube]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, now I'm scared