Northern Iowa

[GreenGiant]

It seems a little drastic to say that a team that was predicted to win no more than three games should be expected to win their first playoff game in 15 years what I saw last night was a team that was physically overmatched. However, I also saw people in the stands having a good time, they were rooting, pretty loud at times, for a team that they really don't know. They wore their Beaver or Duck gear, because they wanted to see a game. I also saw a lot of Viking gear, some of it looked like it just had the tags removed. I believe that if Barnum continues the same path, he will get the players he needs to be successful. one loss won't change that.

 

[Alan1]

It appeared to me that the Vikings were quite poorly prepared for this game. I don't think the coaches prepared well for UNI and that lack of preparation was reflected in our poor play on both sides of the ball. While every one was taking time off, the coaches and the players should have been spending a lot of quality time in the film room and on the practice field. On the flip side, it was quite clear the the UNI coaches and players were very well prepared for the Vikings.

 

[bigskyconf]

It appeared to me that the Vikings were quite poorly prepared for this game. I don't think the coaches prepared well for UNI and that lack of preparation was reflected in our poor play on both sides of the ball. While every one was taking time off, the coaches and the players should have been spending a lot of quality time in the film room and on the practice field. On the flip side, it was quite clear the the UNI coaches and players were very well prepared for the Vikings.

We were outmatched from the start. UNI knows how to win playoff games. We are like the Blazers of a few years ago, realizing that playoff football is totally different from conference season football. I watched the video posted by the UNI reporter of the team filing in to the stadium and everyone on that team was focused and dialed in. The only words spoken on the video was when a lady was walking on the sidewalk and one of the UNI players ran in to her and you can hear them say "Pardon me". Other than that, silence, and just walking. Looked like an old film Soviet invasion.

We need to use this as a blueprint for how to win playoff games. We were just taught by one of the better examples in all of FCS.

 

[goviks2]

It was a great year for the Vikings!

Frustrating as the loss to Northern Iowa was, it didn't appear to me that it had anything to do with preparation or playoff experience. Northern Iowa was a better team. They had a excellent talent in the backfield and a defense that didn't allow us to get out of the blocks most times. Passing? Well, Northern Iowa's defense kept Karesa on the run and was disciplined enough to mostly keep him bottled up when he tried to scramble. Good coaching. Good team. And, that had nothing to do with our effort. Our guys played as hard as they could. Coaching...well, our head coach was just named the Championship Division's national coach of the year.

I, for one, want to thank the team for providing so much excitement this year. I've followed Viking football for many years. This year was even more exciting than the Pokey Allen years because we were picked to do so poorly...and just kept showing up Saturday after Saturday after Saturday.

If we can rebuild on the defensive side, next year could be just as exciting. I'm getting my season tickets early.

 

[pjstano]

I couldn't agree more. A great season overall. Bright future for our program. Thanks to all the seniors for your effort. Can't wait to get next year's season tickets in the mail.

 

[martymoose]

Other than WSU, this was the most physically talented program that we've faced this season. In our first offensive play, it just struck me of the size of their defensive secondary. Tall, long, strong.

Nothing to be ashamed of, or disappointed from this loss. Down six with under ten to go in the 4th quarter against a team that is bigger, stronger, and faster than us.

Hats off to the Viking supporters and fans. We're not large in numbers or loud in noise by any means, but we were the largest and the loudest I've seen in a while.