Week 2: Sac State @ Southern Utah

[SactoHornetAlum]

Thoughts from the game.
1. The grass was high, slowing our speed down.
2. 6000 ft altitude. I think that affected Flemmings game as well as running for his life.
3. That QB is a smart big accurate mutha.
4. we just seemed plain flat
5. Defense got tired at the end.

I noticed this right off the bat. I know that our practice field grass is never that high because its bermuda grass. Eccles Coliseum grass is rye and that was at least 3-4" thick...I don't think we even knew how bad the grass height probably threw us off.

 

[SDHornet]

Thoughts from the game.
1. The grass was high, slowing our speed down.
2. 6000 ft altitude. I think that affected Flemmings game as well as running for his life.
3. That QB is a smart big accurate mutha.
4. we just seemed plain flat
5. Defense got tired at the end.

I noticed this right off the bat. I know that our practice field grass is never that high because its bermuda grass. Eccles Coliseum grass is rye and that was at least 3-4" thick...I don't think we even knew how bad the grass height probably threw us off.

The tall grass didn’t seem to affect their speed. Look year after year we try and make excuses for failure and lack of execution. Sperbeck is in his 5th year and this team is loaded with seniors. I’m not buying into any excuses for lack of execution this year.

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

Thoughts from the game.
1. The grass was high, slowing our speed down.
2. 6000 ft altitude. I think that affected Flemmings game as well as running for his life.
3. That QB is a smart big accurate mutha.
4. we just seemed plain flat
5. Defense got tired at the end.

I noticed this right off the bat. I know that our practice field grass is never that high because its bermuda grass. Eccles Coliseum grass is rye and that was at least 3-4" thick...I don't think we even knew how bad the grass height probably threw us off.

The tall grass didn’t seem to affect their speed. Look year after year we try and make excuses for failure and lack of execution. Sperbeck is in his 5th year and this team is loaded with seniors. I’m not buying into any excuses for lack of execution this year.

They probably practiced on it all week to prepare SD. You know, one of the benefits of being at home. Of course it didn't effect their speed...Saint Mary's did something similar back in 2000 to slow down Charles Roberts. That was a close game, but in the end, SMC's offense wasn't as good back then as what SUU has right now.

 

[superhornet]

I think we can all agree that there's nothing in the rulebook about grass height. But an argument might be made that playing loose with that may be akin to a baseball team screwing around with the height of the mound. So, while it might not be technically illegal, could this nonetheless be considered cheating, at least in terms of ethics?

 

[Sac Rat]

The grass wasn't the issue. The defense giving up 399 yards today and 496 yards last week is more troublesome.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

I don't recall a single pass between the hash marks. Everything was sideline. On the other hand, SUU had WR's all day in the hash markers wide open. It wasn't that SUU was that good, we were that bad. Why the *^%$ were the Hornet's playing prevent at any point in the game!?

I have voted the Horners out of my Top 25, at this point they are completely undeserving. Especially after watching OSU get throttled.

This is Sperbecks fifth year, he is the highest paid coach in the BSC, has one of the biggest budgets, in a 'gold mine' of recruits and new facilities. This was a no excuse loss. SUU's HC played a perfect game and completely punked the Hornets.

 

[Hornet25]

Expectations are the highest they've ever been, so the criticism will be more biting. If you want to be the top dog, then you impose your style on the opponent. SUU should have been adjusting to our team and situation, not the other way around.

This hurts ticket sales and media coverage more than it does our overall season. It might even help the team to be humbled like this. But I've said this before. We are not going to sneak up on anyone like we may have done last year, so we'll know very soon if our team is for real. Might know as early as next Saturday. Time to win the games against teams who are not overlooking us, but gunning for us.

 

[SDHornet]

I don't recall a single pass between the hash marks.

That is where Deadder caught all his passes on the drive that ended with the dropped 4th and goal play. There were some Hornet catches between the hashes, but not nearly enough to make a difference. The Hornets also went away from Hilliard in the second half. Not exactly sure why as they didn’t need to abandon the run until the last possession or two of the game.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

The Hornets also went away from Hilliard in the second half. Not exactly sure why as they didn’t need to abandon the run until the last possession or two of the game.

Lack of confidence in Hilliard being able to hold onto the ball?
Two weeks, two drive/momentum busting fumbles.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Just another episode of Battered Hornet Fan Syndrome y'all. The good news? We play another Saturday.

SR, your preaching to the choir brother. :kisswink:

So true, for as frustrating and demoralizing as it is, we have football. Can't say that for many California college campuses.

 

[SDHornet]

The Hornets also went away from Hilliard in the second half. Not exactly sure why as they didn’t need to abandon the run until the last possession or two of the game.

Lack of confidence in Hilliard being able to hold onto the ball?
Two weeks, two drive/momentum busting fumbles.

Only Sperbeck knows. We were only down 14 much of the 2nd half. There is no reason why the running game was not in play there. There were a couple of draws that broke some yards.

 

[WILDCAT]

We looked terrible as well, USU totally dismantled us in the 2nd half.

This weekend's game is gonna be a rough one.

Any Hornet fans making the trip?

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

The Hornets also went away from Hilliard in the second half. Not exactly sure why as they didn’t need to abandon the run until the last possession or two of the game.

Lack of confidence in Hilliard being able to hold onto the ball?
Two weeks, two drive/momentum busting fumbles.

Hilliard didn't fumble, McCowan did when it was the momentum killer. The last fumble was just garbage time and the game out of reach.

 

[OldHornet]

It has taken me a few days to cool off - my frustration with the Hornets was at an all time high on Saturday.

A couple of thoughts:

1. There are no excuses for this, you can't expect to be a top level team without beating the teams you're capable of beating. Trap game, the grass was too long - none of these things matter. Top level teams show and win, period.
2. The Hornets weren't prepared and didn't seem to make enough adjustments.
3. Who scheduled this game? Why schedule an OCC road game with a team you know is going to be really good? Especially when you build a schedule with 5 of the first 6 on the road. If you want to be a playoff team coming out of the BSC you can't make your OCC schedule so difficult. Why not find a lower level FCS team to bring in - pay them to come or give them a two for one. Bottom line is set your self up to be successful. Yes Sac should have or could have won but why make it so tough so early?

 

[SDHornet]

It has taken me a few days to cool off - my frustration with the Hornets was at an all time high on Saturday.

A couple of thoughts:

1. There are no excuses for this, you can't expect to be a top level team without beating the teams you're capable of beating. Trap game, the grass was too long - none of these things matter. Top level teams show and win, period.
2. The Hornets weren't prepared and didn't seem to make enough adjustments.
3. Who scheduled this game? Why schedule an OCC road game with a team you know is going to be really good? Especially when you build a schedule with 5 of the first 6 on the road. If you want to be a playoff team coming out of the BSC you can't make your OCC schedule so difficult. Why not find a lower level FCS team to bring in - pay them to come or give them a two for one. Bottom line is set your self up to be successful. Yes Sac should have or could have won but why make it so tough so early?

1. :clap: :clap: :clap:
2. Agree. However I don’t think there were any defensive adjustments that would have slowed down SUU. SUU started out with a bunch of 3 step drop quick hits to counter the blitzing. Then the Hornets backed into the zone and got shredded underneath as their RB’s were much more athletic than our LB’s. Had we cheated up on coverage SUU would have burned us deep as they did on that called back TD as well as a couple of other plays. The SUU OL did a great job at neutralizing the pass rush which allowed that offense to do whatever it wanted.
3. It was either SUU or a D-2 game to be scheduled. A loss to SUU and a win over a D-2 game are the same thing as far as playoffs are concerned. I don’t know why a home and home with USDiego isn’t sought after. USD presents close travel to a destination location so Hornet fans would probably go to, USD is (or at least should) be a win for the Hornets; but most importantly USD counts towards the playoffs as they are a D-1 program. With the coming BSC expansion, USD is now the only non-conference school in the west available to schedule. The next closest are Southland and MVFC programs.

 

[Kadeezy]

For the most part I agree with you SD. But, you can't equate a loss to SUU to a win over a D-II. A big win over a D-II as opposed to this loss to SUU would've been much more helpful if the committee is trying to decide between us and the Thunderbirds for an at-large bid. There'd still be an element of mystery. That's out the window now...

Still though, I would've rather had SUU on the schedule for a shot at a quality DI win. So I can't say that I oppose the intent!

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

For the most part I agree with you SD. But, you can't equate a loss to SUU to a win over a D-II. A big win over a D-II as opposed to this loss to SUU would've been much more helpful if the committee is trying to decide between us and the Thunderbirds for an at-large bid. There'd still be an element of mystery. That's out the window now...

Still though, I would've rather had SUU on the schedule for a shot at a quality DI win. So I can't say that I oppose the intent!

I agree, however, this game should have been at home. When we agreed to go there, it gave them a 4th home game for the year, that's all they have. No offense to them, but we should have said our place or no deal.

 

[Kadeezy]

For the most part I agree with you SD. But, you can't equate a loss to SUU to a win over a D-II. A big win over a D-II as opposed to this loss to SUU would've been much more helpful if the committee is trying to decide between us and the Thunderbirds for an at-large bid. There'd still be an element of mystery. That's out the window now...

Still though, I would've rather had SUU on the schedule for a shot at a quality DI win. So I can't say that I oppose the intent!

I agree, however, this game should have been at home. When we agreed to go there, it gave them a 4th home game for the year, that's all they have. No offense to them, but we should have said our place or no deal.

Yes, a home game with anyone would've been huge... Especially following the OSU game, can you imagine the turnout???

 

[SDHornet]

For the most part I agree with you SD. But, you can't equate a loss to SUU to a win over a D-II. A big win over a D-II as opposed to this loss to SUU would've been much more helpful if the committee is trying to decide between us and the Thunderbirds for an at-large bid. There'd still be an element of mystery. That's out the window now...

I completely disagree. I don’t think the playoff committee even considers D-2 games (nor should they) regardless if that D-2 win is over the defending D-2 champ or basement dweller. On paper, an FCS loss and a D-2 win is the same thing as far as the playoff committee is concerned, and that is a game that doesn’t get a team to the 7 win D-1 total to qualify for a playoff at-large berth. Case and point are last seasons Montana and CP schedules. Both had 7 wins but only 6 D-1 wins. Both were at home watching the playoffs from their couch.

Still though, I would've rather had SUU on the schedule for a shot at a quality DI win. So I can't say that I oppose the intent!

I completely agree.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Just like basketball, here we go again. If we are deserving we will get a playoff berth, if not we will be parked in the worn LazBoy that is used every November.