Choking the chicken...

[EWURanger]

The beauty of the FCS vs. the BCS is that neither of these games matter. FCS teams (unlike BSU v Georgia where their seasons are ruined if they loose the 1st game) have a chance to use these games to find a rhythm, get past injuries, try to work on timing, work new players in, or just find problems to work on like I think we have exposed and I know the coaches will fix.

I would much rather play tough competition early when it does not matter and find weaknesses or flaws then wait until later in the season when it will matter. As a HS coach, with far less knowledge then our staff, I learn way more about our team in losses then in wins. 2 years ago we had a fairly new team and we played a easy game to start the season that made us feel overconfident. Luckily we played a much larger school the next week before we started our season that exposed players and our scheme that we were able to correct. Long story short we went undefeated in league, made the playoffs and unfortunately lost to the State Champions, then followed that season up with a Undefeated State Champion Team. I credit that loss to the school with over 4 times our enrollment with our ability to do that.

Talking to coaches in my area ISU used their game with WSU to play many 2nd and 3rd team players so they could get them on film in a game as well as keeping 1st string players from getting hurt. May be just HS coaches B.S.'ing me but not a totally bad idea when you think that they made a good paycheck that helps the program and used the game to evaluate what they have before starting their season.

EWU is a great school, with a great football team and coaches, and I am proud to be associated with this school and team and win or loose I have picked my side and will stay here supporting it!

Thanks for the support. Stick around, it'll get better. Only comment would be that USD is an FCS school, so we were playing at our level of competition. We just got worked. In regards to the UW game, though, I'll agree with what you said.

 

[LBCoach]

USD is a FCS school that made the playoffs last year (I thought they were the team we beat in the semi's - correct me if I'm wrong) and after watching the webcast should have a successful season where we can possible play them again! I felt they ran a balanced attack with solid O and D lines and have a crazy winning percentage at home. UW was a great game where we earned some respect, even though it would have been better to win, I would still rather see us playing up then padding our schedules like some BCS teams do..ie playing Toledo.

 

[EWURanger]

USD is a FCS school that made the playoffs last year (I thought they were the team we beat in the semi's - correct me if I'm wrong) and after watching the webcast should have a successful season where we can possible play them again! I felt they ran a balanced attack with solid O and D lines and have a crazy winning percentage at home. UW was a great game where we earned some respect, even though it would have been better to win, I would still rather see us playing up then padding our schedules like some BCS teams do..ie playing Toledo.

We played NDSU in the semi's, but I agree their style of play was somewhat similar. USD's QB was a LOT better than the NDSU QB IMO. Way more mobile and a much better arm and really elusive.

 

[LBCoach]

Thanks for the correction...I'm a new fan :notworthy:

 

[Grizfanatic]

Why was my other post deleted cant handle the truth?

 

[LDopaPDX]

Wow Dopa, you let the guys have it.

As far as calling out Chris Powers and Gabe Jackson - they held off the bigger, faster Huskies all game long last weekend. Our O Line has been fantastic for a long time running now, as we haven't lost for some time. BoLevi was never touched that game. So SD came out and they were equally as big as UW and more prepared for us. They lost big last weekend and came into the game ready to battle.

Then there's Jeff Minnerly, who had 5 tackles at UW - fourth most. And if you want to be technical, 3rd because Ronnie Hamlin and Zach Johnson both led with 8. Check out the stats, Dave Cook is very good about getting those up after the games. And correct me if I'm wrong - but I'm pretty sure he and Allen Brown shouldn't be leading tacklers.

As far as Tyler Washburn, I don't know. Did you travel to SD? Looks like he started, but perhaps he came out of the game with the flu or tweaked ankle? If you went and could actually see what was what - (because that feed was downright awful) fill us in.

This game is on the coaches, if something aint broke - don't fix it. If it is, fix it. They didn't do either of those things. And while Bo Levi was phenomenal against UW and had near as good numbers yesterday, we JUST CAN'T THROW 2 picks every game. If it sounds like a BLM call out, it's not. Play calling comes into play here.

It's fans like you that these kids don't need. One unexpected loss was all it took for you to single out players. Did you do a call out after the loss to UW? And what makes your post rididculous, and I usually find your posts worthy of reading, is that you say "all season long". Jesus dude, it's two games. Both of which we could have won AND are non-conference matchups. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't you say last year when the schedule was released that we could start 0-2, or possibly 0-3? Baldwin himself said earlier we have to win the turnover battle in our games to win. Unfortunately thus far, we are giving the ball to the opponent for easy scores. That does tend to make it a little harder to win.

But I'll pull a "Dopa" now and call out Nick Edwards. Nicely done yesterday Nick. That kid came away, much like in the national championship, with some downright difficult catches. His will to win was there yesterday. As I'm sure it was for ALL OF THEM.

Dopa - got any eligibility left? Perhaps you could go show the kids who are working their butts off in 95 degree heat, traveling, late meetings, early lifts, etc how it's done.

Give me a fuckin break; I'll change the post, but this was total failure. These kids get to go to college for free. Are you going to tell me they wouldn't face more heat for their performances at any other school? This is big boy stuff now; high school is over. You gotta face the heat when you play like garbage. The only thing important to note is that this was TOTAL failure, not just the fault of a few kids. The wheels fell off.

When you are getting All-American accolades, you don't take games off. Other kids would like those rewards. We didn't show up and got our asses handed to us by a much lesser team. That is wholly unacceptable. We are now 0-2 and facing must wins in some of our hardest games of the year because we sluffed one off. We've got some kids who need a major gut-check right now, because just like in 2008, they thought it would be easy and it wasn't.

Frankly, the one group I don't get too upset about is the coaches. They said all week, don't let this one go... this one is important.. Did anyone see what coach was saying? He practically predicted this. But the coaches can't go out on the field and play for the team. And the old adage applies, for every 11 kids on the field at one time, at least one didn't pay any attention all week long in practice. It may have been all 11 this week.

 

[LDopaPDX]

USD is a FCS school that made the playoffs last year (I thought they were the team we beat in the semi's - correct me if I'm wrong) and after watching the webcast should have a successful season where we can possible play them again! I felt they ran a balanced attack with solid O and D lines and have a crazy winning percentage at home. UW was a great game where we earned some respect, even though it would have been better to win, I would still rather see us playing up then padding our schedules like some BCS teams do..ie playing Toledo.

We played NDSU in the semi's, but I agree their style of play was somewhat similar. USD's QB was a LOT better than the NDSU QB IMO. Way more mobile and a much better arm.

No... we beat Villanova in the semifinals. South Dakota was 4-7 last year and wasn't in the playoffs.

 

[EWURanger]

USD is a FCS school that made the playoffs last year (I thought they were the team we beat in the semi's - correct me if I'm wrong) and after watching the webcast should have a successful season where we can possible play them again! I felt they ran a balanced attack with solid O and D lines and have a crazy winning percentage at home. UW was a great game where we earned some respect, even though it would have been better to win, I would still rather see us playing up then padding our schedules like some BCS teams do..ie playing Toledo.

We played NDSU in the semi's, but I agree their style of play was somewhat similar. USD's QB was a LOT better than the NDSU QB IMO. Way more mobile and a much better arm.

No... we beat Villanova in the semifinals. South Dakota was 4-7 last year and wasn't in the playoffs.

Yeah, should have read quarterfinals....I always switch those around for some reason.

 

[LDopaPDX]

USD is a FCS school that made the playoffs last year (I thought they were the team we beat in the semi's - correct me if I'm wrong) and after watching the webcast should have a successful season where we can possible play them again! I felt they ran a balanced attack with solid O and D lines and have a crazy winning percentage at home. UW was a great game where we earned some respect, even though it would have been better to win, I would still rather see us playing up then padding our schedules like some BCS teams do..ie playing Toledo.

We played NDSU in the semi's, but I agree their style of play was somewhat similar. USD's QB was a LOT better than the NDSU QB IMO. Way more mobile and a much better arm.

No... we beat Villanova in the semifinals. South Dakota was 4-7 last year and wasn't in the playoffs.

Yeah, should have read quarterfinals....I always switch those around for some reason.

Yeah, I assume the OP confused North Dakota State and South Dakota. Damnit, it sucks to make that little pissant pu$$y JBB think he's right.

 

[kalm]

Frankly, the one group I don't get too upset about is the coaches. They said all week, don't let this one go... this one is important.. Did anyone see what coach was saying? He practically predicted this. But the coaches can't go out on the field and play for the team. And the old adage applies, for every 11 kids on the field at one time, at least one didn't pay any attention all week long in practice. It may have been all 11 this week.

This x 1000.

Pretty sure they didn't forget how to prepare a team in a week. This isn't their first rodeo or first trap game. They put in a game plan that wasn't executed. Knowing these guys, I'm sure they're introspective and already smarter for the loss.

Now, how about a Missoula barn burner that ends up on the right side of things this time?

 

[LDopaPDX]

The horrifying thing is that we go into Montana with zero momentum and a gamefilm of ideas of how to exploit of weaknesses. We're a very talented team that doesn't do the fundamental things very well- specifically, blocking and tackling. If you force us into situations where we need to make one-on-one tackles or overload us at the line of scrimmage, we don't respond well.

I simply can't get over how bad both our OL and DL looked. It was almost liked we faced a team that wanted to challenge us physically and we got scared and didn't respond.

I hope everyone puts this behind them and finds a way to turn it around next week. It sure would have been nice to have been playing a walkover game and getting our entire rotation in the game.

 

[kalm]

The horrifying thing is that we go into Montana with zero momentum and a gamefilm of ideas of how to exploit of weaknesses. We're a very talented team that doesn't do the fundamental things very well- specifically, blocking and tackling. If you force us into situations where we need to make one-on-one tackles or overload us at the line of scrimmage, we don't respond well.

I simply can't get over how bad both our OL and DL looked. It was almost liked we faced a team that wanted to challenge us physically and we got scared and didn't respond.

I hope everyone puts this behind them and finds a way to turn it around next week. It sure would have been nice to have been playing a walkover game and getting our entire rotation in the game.

Soooo you're saying you didn't like the scheduling? :mrgreen:

You of course we're vindicated a bit, but I still wouldn't trade the opportunity for an extra DI win at this point. Now if we go and lose at Montana, you might be winning me over. :?

 

[marceagfan5]

The horrifying thing is that we go into Montana with zero momentum and a gamefilm of ideas of how to exploit of weaknesses. We're a very talented team that doesn't do the fundamental things very well- specifically, blocking and tackling. If you force us into situations where we need to make one-on-one tackles or overload us at the line of scrimmage, we don't respond well.

I simply can't get over how bad both our OL and DL looked. It was almost liked we faced a team that wanted to challenge us physically and we got scared and didn't respond.

I hope everyone puts this behind them and finds a way to turn it around next week. It sure would have been nice to have been playing a walkover game and getting our entire rotation in the game.

Soooo you're saying you didn't like the scheduling? :mrgreen:

You of course we're vindicated a bit, but I still wouldn't trade the opportunity for an extra DI win at this point. Now if we go and lose at Montana, you might be winning me over. :?

I wanted to wait a day before I posted to let myself calm down.

First off, the team didn't play well. It was a tough week coming off a tough loss to a Pac 12 team and there was naturally going to be a let down. The issue is that we just didn't flat show up and had our butts kicked from the start.

I have been against this years scheduling from the minute it was announced. I get trying to play another FCS team, but making the defending champs play 7 road games and 4 home games is insane and a terrible, terrible job by the administration. There is a reason most FCS teams schedule a lower tier game, to work on your offense, get a win under your belt, and not lose a game, which won't hurt us conference wise, but will KILL us for seeding in the playoffs. I said this months ago, but if we would have played an FCS road game last year and lost, rather than playing central washington, we never would have been seeded in the playoffs and the outcome of last year may have been entirely different playing all the playoff games on the road.

We should have worked harder to schedule another home game, captitalize on the nat. champ, and play another home game, generating fans and $$$, rather than trying to play a FCS team. We could be staring 0-3 in the face in one week, and all momentum we had last year will be gone, and the fan base we were starting to improve could be gone.

Enough of my rant, I know a lot disagree with it, but it is just my opinion. I am still a diehard fan, will continue to buy season tix and support the program.

The good thing is S. Dakota was a non-conf loss. We still can win the big sky and it starts with winning the next 2 weeks. I think we will smoke MSU in 2 weeks, we just need to bring our A game agains the Griz next weekend. The goal is always to win the big sky, and then win the nat. champ. Both are still possible at this point, we just need to beat the Griz next week, you never want to play a must win game, in Missoula, but next week is as close to a must win as we can get.

Looking forward to kicking some Griz butt next week!

 

[FormerEag]

The horrifying thing is that we go into Montana with zero momentum and a gamefilm of ideas of how to exploit of weaknesses. We're a very talented team that doesn't do the fundamental things very well- specifically, blocking and tackling. If you force us into situations where we need to make one-on-one tackles or overload us at the line of scrimmage, we don't respond well.

I simply can't get over how bad both our OL and DL looked. It was almost liked we faced a team that wanted to challenge us physically and we got scared and didn't respond.

I hope everyone puts this behind them and finds a way to turn it around next week. It sure would have been nice to have been playing a walkover game and getting our entire rotation in the game.

Soooo you're saying you didn't like the scheduling? :mrgreen:

You of course we're vindicated a bit, but I still wouldn't trade the opportunity for an extra DI win at this point. Now if we go and lose at Montana, you might be winning me over. :?

I wanted to wait a day before I posted to let myself calm down.

First off, the team didn't play well. It was a tough week coming off a tough loss to a Pac 12 team and there was naturally going to be a let down. The issue is that we just didn't flat show up and had our butts kicked from the start.

I have been against this years scheduling from the minute it was announced. I get trying to play another FCS team, but making the defending champs play 7 road games and 4 home games is insane and a terrible, terrible job by the administration. There is a reason most FCS teams schedule a lower tier game, to work on your offense, get a win under your belt, and not lose a game, which won't hurt us conference wise, but will KILL us for seeding in the playoffs. I said this months ago, but if we would have played an FCS road game last year and lost, rather than playing central washington, we never would have been seeded in the playoffs and the outcome of last year may have been entirely different playing all the playoff games on the road.

We should have worked harder to schedule another home game, captitalize on the nat. champ, and play another home game, generating fans and $$$, rather than trying to play a FCS team. We could be staring 0-3 in the face in one week, and all momentum we had last year will be gone, and the fan base we were starting to improve could be gone.

Enough of my rant, I know a lot disagree with it, but it is just my opinion. I am still a diehard fan, will continue to buy season tix and support the program.

The good thing is S. Dakota was a non-conf loss. We still can win the big sky and it starts with winning the next 2 weeks. I think we will smoke MSU in 2 weeks, we just need to bring our A game agains the Griz next weekend. The goal is always to win the big sky, and then win the nat. champ. Both are still possible at this point, we just need to beat the Griz next week, you never want to play a must win game, in Missoula, but next week is as close to a must win as we can get.

Looking forward to kicking some Griz butt next week!

Fantastic post! :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:

 

[kalm]

The horrifying thing is that we go into Montana with zero momentum and a gamefilm of ideas of how to exploit of weaknesses. We're a very talented team that doesn't do the fundamental things very well- specifically, blocking and tackling. If you force us into situations where we need to make one-on-one tackles or overload us at the line of scrimmage, we don't respond well.

I simply can't get over how bad both our OL and DL looked. It was almost liked we faced a team that wanted to challenge us physically and we got scared and didn't respond.

I hope everyone puts this behind them and finds a way to turn it around next week. It sure would have been nice to have been playing a walkover game and getting our entire rotation in the game.

Soooo you're saying you didn't like the scheduling? :mrgreen:

You of course we're vindicated a bit, but I still wouldn't trade the opportunity for an extra DI win at this point. Now if we go and lose at Montana, you might be winning me over. :?

I wanted to wait a day before I posted to let myself calm down.

First off, the team didn't play well. It was a tough week coming off a tough loss to a Pac 12 team and there was naturally going to be a let down. The issue is that we just didn't flat show up and had our butts kicked from the start.

I have been against this years scheduling from the minute it was announced. I get trying to play another FCS team, but making the defending champs play 7 road games and 4 home games is insane and a terrible, terrible job by the administration. There is a reason most FCS teams schedule a lower tier game, to work on your offense, get a win under your belt, and not lose a game, which won't hurt us conference wise, but will KILL us for seeding in the playoffs. I said this months ago, but if we would have played an FCS road game last year and lost, rather than playing central washington, we never would have been seeded in the playoffs and the outcome of last year may have been entirely different playing all the playoff games on the road.

We should have worked harder to schedule another home game, captitalize on the nat. champ, and play another home game, generating fans and $$$, rather than trying to play a FCS team. We could be staring 0-3 in the face in one week, and all momentum we had last year will be gone, and the fan base we were starting to improve could be gone.

Enough of my rant, I know a lot disagree with it, but it is just my opinion. I am still a diehard fan, will continue to buy season tix and support the program.

The good thing is S. Dakota was a non-conf loss. We still can win the big sky and it starts with winning the next 2 weeks. I think we will smoke MSU in 2 weeks, we just need to bring our A game agains the Griz next weekend. The goal is always to win the big sky, and then win the nat. champ. Both are still possible at this point, we just need to beat the Griz next week, you never want to play a must win game, in Missoula, but next week is as close to a must win as we can get.

Looking forward to kicking some Griz butt next week!

Actually, I might be the only one who agreed with the schedule, but you and Dopa have made some good points in this regard. I'm just trying to be realistic about our circumstances. When it comes to scheduling, our NC doesn't mean squat to anyone but our fanbase which is too small to entice a FCS opponent into the back end of a home and home like Montana has done with Appy or to pay enough for a partial scholly to come to Cheney for a single game like MSU did with Drake a couple of years ago.

I think it really did boil down to a DII or an all DI schedule. We got a good matchup with against a team from a relatively weak conference coming off a 3-8 season. We took a chance and it failed. I'd still be for doing it again because that extra DI win is the difference between a 7-4 getting an at-large and a 9-2 team getting a seed.

 

[marceagfan5]

Kalm,

I understand and I would love to see an FCS team rather than a lower level team, but this wasn't the year or schedule to do it. If we had 5 home and 5 away games and were looking for an 11th game, then I can see it, but just not 4 home, 7 away, with 3 to start on the road. If we win against S. Dakota, it really doesn't give us that much of a boost this year because we were already ranked first, losing kills us seeding wise. On top of it, this game was sandwiched in between a Pac 12 in state game and an away game against one of the toughest FCS opponents year in, year out in the griz, a complete trap game. Next year, I believe, we play 2 FBS teams as well which is another schedule killer, even though it is the Cougs and Vandals.

Bottom line is the team needs to buckle down this week and beat the Griz. The seniors need to rally the troops, come out with something to play for and take it to Missoula, focus on winning the conference from here on out and the playoffs will come.

I hope to see those not going to Missoula at the watch party this weekend, I'm guessing the Quest and Swinging Doors will be showing the game.

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

LBcoach,
Thanks for your input, and the great words spoken/written. I am as dedicated as anyone towards our Athletic Program. We have the "Best Team" in the Big Sky, now all we have to do is to go out and prove we are. There are split practices tomorrow, I will be out to see our Players practice. I know they will correct their mistakes. What bothers me, is we lost the game, and it seems as if everyone is down on the Team and Coaches, hope I am wrong.

Games will be won and lost, we have been on the losing end the last two games, I think we can turn it around. :thumb: :thumb: Just don't stop supporting the team, we need the support, and the Players appreciate when they see a great crowd rooting them on. Lets keep the "FAITH", and support our team win or lose. "Peace" Go Eagles!!!!!Vic Wallace

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

To All,
I have attended the last two practices Monday and Tuesday, the team have been going at it very hard. I haven't seen much laughing the last two practices. Monday after the late practice, Coach Graham and others spoke to the players, don't know what was said, when the team left they were very serious, no smiles.

Will be out there again today. The gas man surely love me and my daughter, the trips we have been making out there since Football Started. It is not getting any cheaper. :thumbdown:

Cody McCarthy have been practicing very hard, along with the rest of the team. Russel Turpin, OL, I haven't seen him at practices, could have left the team. We normally lose some players after the team gets going. We have quite a few walkons, name I haven't tried to get, trying to let the Players focus on the task in front of us, "THE BIG SKY". Go Eagles!!!!! Vic Wallace

 

[FrontFive4Life]

To All,
I have attended the last two practices Monday and Tuesday, the team have been going at it very hard. I haven't seen much laughing the last two practices.

Good. They don't deserve it after that pitiful performance last week. It was an embarrassment. :evil: :evil: :evil:

 

[EWURanger]

To All,
I have attended the last two practices Monday and Tuesday, the team have been going at it very hard. I haven't seen much laughing the last two practices. Monday after the late practice, Coach Graham and others spoke to the players, don't know what was said, when the team left they were very serious, no smiles.

Will be out there again today. The gas man surely love me and my daughter, the trips we have been making out there since Football Started. It is not getting any cheaper. :thumbdown:

Cody McCarthy have been practicing very hard, along with the rest of the team. Russel Turpin, OL, I haven't seen him at practices, could have left the team. We normally lose some players after the team gets going. We have quite a few walkons, name I haven't tried to get, trying to let the Players focus on the task in front of us, "THE BIG SKY". Go Eagles!!!!! Vic Wallace

Vic, glad to hear Cody is back at it practicing. Sounds like he had a minor scope surgery similar to what Chris Polk the UW RB had prior to our game with then.

I hope you are wrong about Turpin, we are very thin on the O-Line!