My appreciation for this team

[VikNut]

My take on this year's team is that we finally have a team that resembles some of the great Montana teams we have seen in the past. It really does loosely relate to the "respect the game" mantra of coach Barney. Our defense hits and tackles properly, all defenders rallying to the ball. On offense everyone plays their assignments and we seem to routinely make the easy play - no spectacular efforts needed to keep drives alive, just making the correct read and executing. But most importantly, our emotional level is of an even keel confidence. We don't get overly hyped when things go well and we don't hang our heads at the first sigh of adversity. As a fan I am not there yet as I always think things are the beginning of the end, but I am getting better as the season goes on. For me this season is a huge success even if we don't win another game as long as the team stays together and keeps this mental toughness. It is something I haven't seen since the Lomax years and am not sure it reached the level we are currently at. I am really excited at what the future could hold for our Viks!

 

[bigskyconf]

My take on this year's team is that we finally have a team that resembles some of the great Montana teams we have seen in the past. It really does loosely relate to the "respect the game" mantra of coach Barney. Our defense hits and tackles properly, all defenders rallying to the ball. On offense everyone plays their assignments and we seem to routinely make the easy play - no spectacular efforts needed to keep drives alive, just making the correct read and executing. But most importantly, our emotional level is of an even keel confidence. We don't get overly hyped when things go well and we don't hang our heads at the first sigh of adversity. As a fan I am not there yet as I always think things are the beginning of the end, but I am getting better as the season goes on. For me this season is a huge success even if we don't win another game as long as the team stays together and keeps this mental toughness. It is something I haven't seen since the Lomax years and am not sure it reached the level we are currently at. I am really excited at what the future could hold for our Viks!

I was talking to one of my Cat friends after the game and he brought up something interesting along these lines. He was thinking this Viking team this year is very similar to the Bobcat team from 1984. No superstars, no attitudes, no egos, everyone just goes out and plays, and the coaches don't ask them to do more than they can do. Just FYI, that Bobcat team from 1984 won the national championship that year.

 

[CaseyOrourke]

My take on this year's team is that we finally have a team that resembles some of the great Montana teams we have seen in the past. It really does loosely relate to the "respect the game" mantra of coach Barney. Our defense hits and tackles properly, all defenders rallying to the ball. On offense everyone plays their assignments and we seem to routinely make the easy play - no spectacular efforts needed to keep drives alive, just making the correct read and executing. But most importantly, our emotional level is of an even keel confidence. We don't get overly hyped when things go well and we don't hang our heads at the first sigh of adversity. As a fan I am not there yet as I always think things are the beginning of the end, but I am getting better as the season goes on. For me this season is a huge success even if we don't win another game as long as the team stays together and keeps this mental toughness. It is something I haven't seen since the Lomax years and am not sure it reached the level we are currently at. I am really excited at what the future could hold for our Viks!

I was talking to one of my Cat friends after the game and he brought up something interesting along these lines. He was thinking this Viking team this year is very similar to the Bobcat team from 1984. No superstars, no attitudes, no egos, everyone just goes out and plays, and the coaches don't ask them to do more than they can do. Just FYI, that Bobcat team from 1984 won the national championship that year.

I am extremely proud of what the team has accomplished this year. The last few years have been so disappointing, especially when I read of the off the field turmoil it had to endure.

A national champion would be great, but just getting in the playoffs would be a huge achievement in of itself.

I was watching some of the old videos where Coach Barnum was saying he was trying to build a program that will endure. I believe Bruce is well into achieving that goal.


Just curious, has any team gone from worst to first in the space of a season?

 

[bigskyconf]

Just curious, has any team gone from worst to first in the space of a season?

i'm sure it has happened more recently, but that '84 Bobcats team, in 1983, Montana State was 1-10.