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Post by grizfan1 on Sept 22, 2024 10:13:36 GMT -5
I know it wasn't the outcome you wanted, but it was a good game.
Hope those who made the trip the the Last Best Place enjoyed it.
Hope your team wins out and gets into the playoffs.
Lastly - penalties were even in the game:
WCU - 11 for 100 yds GRIZ - 12 FOR 101 yds.
It wasn't the refs...gotta stop the run...
Take care.
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Post by FLCATAMOUNT on Sept 22, 2024 10:17:55 GMT -5
I guess you don't know the reason for the new press box and chancellor's box. The concrete on the upper level of the east side of Whitmire has been crumbling for years and has basically been condemned. Construction on a new press box, chancellor's box and a third level will begin on the west side after this season is completed. Eventually more seating will replace the east side upper level with a structure somewhat like the west side and a new seating section will be built on the west side beside when the bands currently sits. You're not just funnin' us are you? Construction starts at the end of the season, really? I believe it will start. I have heard it from multiple people. I just think it is ironic that we have been living with the bad concrete and subpar press box for decades and all of a sudden that has to be done now and can’t wait another day. Also, I have been around a longtime and have heard the word eventually many times, but eventually never comes. I don’t buy that building a new press box and chancellors box is the most important. What will happen is that we will get the new chancellors box and then the money will dry up. If we are serious about making athletic facilities improvements, we would have asked for more bond money when interest rates were near zero. We only asked for $30 million and we should have asked for $80 million while money was cheap. So I think the leadership wants a new chancellors box and we will have to wait a long time for more seats and amenities that benefit our student/athletes. We are not serious about real changes or we would have asked for more money. The people in charge have rationalized their decision, but they have lost sight of the students and student/athletes. I would gladly debate this in public but they will not do that because deep down they know I am correct.
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Post by wcugamer2 on Sept 22, 2024 10:21:29 GMT -5
Everyone knew the OOC schedule was going to be difficult and we were easily going to be 2-2 or 1-3. We expected this even before the first snap of the NC State game.
Well here we are, 1-3. Do I think we are better than our record? Emphatically, Yes! We were a few plays/calls away from a potential win in arguably the toughest FCS town in college football. The Cats showed they can play with anyone.
Now, we have to play one game at a time. Don't worry about the playoffs, national rankings, pre-season individual watch lists or accolades. Just go play football!
The Cats can win the SoCon this year. I believe that with all my heart. Our offensive line can protect and create openings. We just need to capitalize on them. Hit running lanes hard and downhill. Get the ball out to receivers in space. Tamarez showed yesterday he can be a huge difference maker. This will help as teams are focusing on Columbo. Makes the passing game more dangerous.
Defensively, we have made great improvements. We are causing turnovers, something we haven't done in several seasons. We are getting tackles for loss. Again, something we haven't done in a long while.
I imagine the inconsistencies in the kicking game will cause us to go for it on 4th and manageable more frequently in our conference games.
I'm thinking 6-2 or 7-1 in conference is realistic and achievable. Hoping for 8-0! But expecting to go 1-0 against Citadel in two weeks.......Let's Go CATS! One week at a time!
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Post by FLCATAMOUNT on Sept 22, 2024 10:34:12 GMT -5
I know it wasn't the outcome you wanted, but it was a good game. Hope those who made the trip the the Last Best Place enjoyed it. Hope your team wins out and gets into the playoffs. Lastly - penalties were even in the game: WCU - 11 for 100 yds GRIZ - 12 FOR 101 yds. It wasn't the refs...gotta stop the run... Take care. I watched the game on TV and the venue looked great. Hats off to Montana. I did not expect a very close game. I expected that you guys would dominate from start to finish. I am proud of the ways The Cats played and we showed a lot of of improvement. That was the best we played all year so far. You are correct that we did not stop the run and that was a big factor in the outcome of the game. I had the benefit of the instant replay and in a couple of key drives, there were some missed calls and “over officiating” that derailed us and changed the momentum of the game. We are used to bad officiating at Western because the SoCon officials are the worst in all of the NCAA. I now think the BigSky officials are a close second to being the worst in the NCAA. With that said, the best team won on Saturday.
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Post by wcugrad95 on Sept 22, 2024 10:45:58 GMT -5
Agree on the officiating. The biggest problem was the refs made themselves part of the game. There were some egregious misses for both teams, and as FLCAT says some very egregious "ove-officiating" moments even the Montana announcers thought were too much.
In the end, we can't let a team rush for that many yards and score that many points. We especially can't do it on the road against a top-10 opponent. To me some of the real daggers came late when their starting QB who had been killing us was out and the Griz started passing the ball! We needed to breakup a few of those passes to get the football back and simply couldn't do it.
Regardless of the outcome, I sure wish I could have made the trip. And I would love for the Griz to at some point head to Cullowhee.
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catman72
Redshirt Freshman
2023 SoCon Football Pick'em Champion & 2022 SoCon Football Pick'em Co-Champion
Posts: 490
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Post by catman72 on Sept 22, 2024 11:35:43 GMT -5
We lost this game yesterday because we allowed 552 total yards and 349 of that on the ground...That opened up there passing game late and there QB picked us apart....In the second half they scored 25 points to our 8....That tells me they made there adjustments work.....The referee's didn't help the flow of the game but that's not why we lost.....Like someone said you have got to tackle people.....By the way if you haven't heard the chase for the SoCon Football Crown will go thru Johnson City, TN.
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Post by wcugrad95 on Sept 22, 2024 11:51:18 GMT -5
I think ETSU is obviously a much-improved team. But they are still just 2-2.
Wins over Elon (who we also beat) and a glorified high school team. A great showing against NDSU (similar to our's against Montana) where they couldn't hang on, with the difference being the Bucs were at home and we went on the road. Their loss to App is looking worse similar to our loss vs NC State (the luster is off both the Mountaineers and the Wolfpack).
So if WCU played ETSU's schedule I would argue that the Cats would also be 2-2. I'd say right now you still have to think things go through Macon given they are 2-0 in the SOCON and I would pick them to beat Wofford and be 3-0. From there the Bears get WCU, ETSU, and Furman all at home.
My expectation is that like always we will see some head-scratchers in league games, have 1 team emerge at probably 7-1, and then several that finish 5-3 (several teams will probably be 6-6 or 7-5 overall). Which means we'll have a champion and maybe 1 other team make the playoffs.
But as also mentioned, right now we need to get some rest and focus everything on beating Citadel and then move on from there. Coaches always talk about winning the next game/quarter/series/play and that is exactly what we need the Cats to do.
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Post by jim68 on Sept 22, 2024 12:32:45 GMT -5
We played very hard. The officiating did not go our way but we battled. I will say that I’ve been to many football games in different locations. This Montana stadium was the biggest home field advantage that I have ever seen. The 25,000+ crowd never let up. They were into the game from beginning to end. No place I’ve been comes close to this one. Did their students leave at halftime like our sorry students?
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Post by wcugrad95 on Sept 22, 2024 12:56:19 GMT -5
I have never been out there, but reading their board it sounds like you are allowed to go out in the parking lot to resume tailgating and then can re-enter for the 2nd half. Given the crowds they get and the way it looked on the TV coverage they still had plenty of people in the stands. So I think their halftime tailgating might help them keep people around for the game.
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Post by grizfan1 on Sept 22, 2024 13:05:03 GMT -5
I have never been out there, but reading their board it sounds like you are allowed to go out in the parking lot to resume tailgating and then can re-enter for the 2nd half. Given the crowds they get and the way it looked on the TV coverage they still had plenty of people in the stands. So I think their halftime tailgating might help them keep people around for the game. The stadium is usually half empty at the start of the 2nd half. People come from all over the state to the games - as such it is a huge social event. Stadium usually filled back with 8-10 min to go in the 3rd. Visiting teams are smart to be on offense to open the 2nd half...not as loud or rowdy for a drive or 2.
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