bigskychamps07 said:
native said:
bigskychamps07 said:
Once again like in 2008, I believe this will make or break Weber or Sac State's season. I expect a close and hard-fought game in which the winner will get an added measure of confidence to be able to compete for the BSC championship. WSU 38 Sac 35.
For a true championship caliber team, no single game can make or break a season. The EWU loss in 2008 did not break Weber, who went on to demolish the #3 Cal Poly in the playoffs. In and of itself, Montana's loss last week to CP-SLO is likewise not going to break the Grizz season or make the Mustangs' season.
Sac State is a crucual game for Weber State, but we have a lot of football left to play in 2010.
Weber needs to make a statement. If the Wildcats hold onto the ball this time, I think they beat the Hornets by double digits.
Native,
As a huge fan of your posts and analysis, I respectfully disagree. A loss here would be devastating, with games against the Montana schools, EWU, and Northern Arizona looming. I doubt this young team makes it through those unscathed. If we lose the Sac game, we will have to rely on other teams losing/underdogs winning to be BSC champs. The EWU loss in 2008 was at the end of the season when there was little left to prove and we had already locked up the championship. The Cal-Poly game was non-conference which means little to the Griz's long-term and playoff future. A win in Sac puts WSU at 2-0, EWU or UM will have to start out 0-1. I feel this game is equivalent to the Sac game in '08, and the Montana State game at home in '09, each game dramatically affected the Big Sky Conference crown race.
Thank you very much for your kind and generous post, bigskychamps07!
Potato, potatoe... Perhaps we agree more than we disagree. I take your points about the importance of a victory and a young team making it through a very tough conference schedule. And I agree the 2009 vistory over MSU was a major key on our road to the playoffs.
A win in Sacramento will indeed have immediate beneficial short term impact in favor of Weber in the polls, conference standings and self-confidence, while the other strong teams are left to struggle. But I do not consider early season games to be "make or break."
Although we agree on several points, I am respectfully sticking with my guns on some key issues!
1. The 2008 EWO loss was very meaningful because we lost a seed and homefield advantage to the Grizz! What might the second round outcome have been had the game been played at home in Stewart Stadium?
2. I am looking at the long term, not the short term. Yes, a win is important, but a championship caliber team can overcome obstacles. On the other hand a win this early will not make the Weber season. Young, inexperienced teams become experienced championship caliber teams by overcoming adversity. A loss to Sac State would be devastating, but a loss followed by an otherwise flawless conference performance would give Weber the conference title. Our performance against Cal Poly in 2008 was an example of a championship caliber response to adversity.
3. On the other hand, if we lose to Sacramento State this week, it tells me that we have major performance problems, far more than it speaks to me of the importance of the game itself. I don't like to think this way, but there it is...
Alone on top of the conference, Weber is indeed in the catbird's seat! Let's hope the boys can keep it that way!
