UNM early thoughts

[Justwinbaby]

Howdy Bobcat fans. We are really looking forward to the game, and looking forward to meeting some MSU fans in the tailgating area of the stadium.

And yes, it’s true, we are a mishmash of portal players from all over the place, and so are our coaches. You will learn about what Mendenhall plans to run, at the same time UNM fans are. I’m thinking we’ll run some kind of RPO offense, as our QB Devin Dampier is a pretty good dual threat QB. We’re lucky to have guys that have player together before, on the offensive side of the ball. We are thinking we have a pretty good group of running backs as well, so really curious to see how Bronco puts the pieces together, against a quality opponent, right off the bat. We’re thinking on defense, we’ll see a 3-4 or 4-3 type defense, with some kind of hybrid 3-3-5 stunting on big 3rd down plays. Should see lots of movement in that configuration to try to confuse your O-line.

SUN BLOCK - HEAD COVER & COOLING TOWELS - HYDRATE! Safe travels to all that are coming down for the game!

And yes, TV (FOX1/CBSSN), dictates when we play, and trust me, Lobos fans are not looking forward to baking in the sun either! Won’t be a lot shape in the stadium come game time, but the west stands will see some later. For your fans and ours sitting in the north end zone and the east side stands, it’s gonna be all sunshine, all the time… come prepared for a dry heat!

Yes, we only have 5 home games. Since the athletic department is strapped for cash, we always schedule “body bag games” every year, but this year, we have two on the schedule, at Arizona and at Auburn. Gonna be a ruff first season for Bronco’s team, and we’ll be using some of the same terms we’ve been using around here for years… at least be competitive, and show some improvement. Terms I’m sure that are seldom heard about your program. And we are hoping for an injury free game, for both teams.

You guys have every right to be pretty confident about this game, should consider it a win. We just hope we’ll be competitive!

I was on your board yesterday. Made an account. Only to see some idoit gris fan highjacking the threads. Really really odd to me that a gris fan would troll their rivals opening weekend team. I cant even wrap my mind around that sort of obsession with someone elses team.

Impossible! Just ask @Justwinbaby, Bobcat fans are the only fanbase that talks/thinks about their rival.

Well - this thread makes my point pretty clearly. It's friggin amateur hour around here sometimes.

[coloradocat]

What kind of game do we want?
IMHO I think a close win is the best outcome. It will be important to be challenged but come out on top. It will help our confidence while testing our toughness.
A big win (2 TD's or more) would be fun but might lead to apathy.
A close loss is tolerable because we are on the road at an FBS team.
A big loss sucks and I believe signifies a very long season.

I'd go with the classic "tight game in the first half and then the superior team (MSU) pulls away in the second half".

I expect UNM to come out strong in the first quarter with a set of scripted plays. After that their inexperience together will likely start to show if they don't stop us from scoring on the first 2-3 drives. I we have a double digit lead at any point after the first quarter I don't think we give it up.

[Cats and Dogs]

Cats don't punt until the 4th quarter! Tommy has their heads on swivels. Too much offensive fire power. Problem is, maybe they don't punt either!? I think defense gets a couple crucial stops and Cats roll 37-24! Yes, we make a field goal, but miss an xp!
Go Cats!

[RickRund]

Massey has the CATS at 31-24...

[Joe Bobcat]

Exactly one week from right now the 2024 Bobcat football season begins!
Let's go Cats!

[Montanabob]

Exactly one week from right now the 2024 Bobcat football season begins!
Let's go Cats!

tommy sits out 2nd half. up 21-3 at the half.

[94VegasCat]

Exactly one week from right now the 2024 Bobcat football season begins!
Let's go Cats!

tommy sits out 2nd half. up 21-3 at the half.

As much as I’d love that scenario, Vigen hasn’t sat on a 3 TD lead. At least not like Ash would when we were up 10 (pissed me off when he’d do that)

4 TDs and I could see halfway through the 3Q Tommy coming out.

[CodyCat]

Exactly one week from right now the 2024 Bobcat football season begins!
Let's go Cats!

tommy sits out 2nd half. up 21-3 at the half.

As much as I’d love that scenario, Vigen hasn’t sat on a 3 TD lead. At least not like Ash would when we were up 10 (pissed me off when he’d do that)

4 TDs and I could see halfway through the 3Q Tommy coming out.

Tommy will play this whole game. Barring an injury.

[catatac]

Exactly one week from right now the 2024 Bobcat football season begins!
Let's go Cats!

tommy sits out 2nd half. up 21-3 at the half.

As much as I’d love that scenario, Vigen hasn’t sat on a 3 TD lead. At least not like Ash would when we were up 10 (pissed me off when he’d do that)

4 TDs and I could see halfway through the 3Q Tommy coming out.

Tommy will play this whole game. Barring an injury.

I really hope not, but you're probably right.

[St George]

CBS sports has MSU as 8.5 point favorites.

[CodyCat]

Exactly one week from right now the 2024 Bobcat football season begins!
Let's go Cats!

tommy sits out 2nd half. up 21-3 at the half.

As much as I’d love that scenario, Vigen hasn’t sat on a 3 TD lead. At least not like Ash would when we were up 10 (pissed me off when he’d do that)

4 TDs and I could see halfway through the 3Q Tommy coming out.

Tommy will play this whole game. Barring an injury.

I really hope not, but you're probably right.

Why?

[grizzh8r]

Exactly one week from right now the 2024 Bobcat football season begins!
Let's go Cats!

tommy sits out 2nd half. up 21-3 at the half.

As much as I’d love that scenario, Vigen hasn’t sat on a 3 TD lead. At least not like Ash would when we were up 10 (pissed me off when he’d do that)

4 TDs and I could see halfway through the 3Q Tommy coming out.

Tommy will play this whole game. Barring an injury.

I really hope not, but you're probably right.

Why?

Hypothetical situation, MSU is up 35-7 in the 4th quarter. Why would you risk injury to your senior starting QB? At the same time, why wouldn't you try to get the second string QB some live game reps? I think this is what he's saying. Wouldn't that be a good thing?

[technoCat]

Exactly one week from right now the 2024 Bobcat football season begins!
Let's go Cats!

tommy sits out 2nd half. up 21-3 at the half.

As much as I’d love that scenario, Vigen hasn’t sat on a 3 TD lead. At least not like Ash would when we were up 10 (pissed me off when he’d do that)

4 TDs and I could see halfway through the 3Q Tommy coming out.

Tommy will play this whole game. Barring an injury.

I really hope not, but you're probably right.

Why?

SMU <insert mike drop emoji>

[CodyCat]

Exactly one week from right now the 2024 Bobcat football season begins!
Let's go Cats!

tommy sits out 2nd half. up 21-3 at the half.

As much as I’d love that scenario, Vigen hasn’t sat on a 3 TD lead. At least not like Ash would when we were up 10 (pissed me off when he’d do that)

4 TDs and I could see halfway through the 3Q Tommy coming out.

Tommy will play this whole game. Barring an injury.

I really hope not, but you're probably right.

Why?

Hypothetical situation, MSU is up 35-7 in the 4th quarter. Why would you risk injury to your senior starting QB? At the same time, why wouldn't you try to get the second string QB some live game reps? I think this is what he's saying. Wouldn't that be a good thing?

Oh well yes. In that regard absolutely. But no where in my brain is an absolute demolishing of an FBS opponent.

[catatac]

Ya, my post was saying I hope not because I hope we have a comfortable enough lead in the 4th to get backup QB reps. I also said "but you're probably right" because I also know that's unlikely.

[grizzh8r]

Exactly one week from right now the 2024 Bobcat football season begins!
Let's go Cats!

tommy sits out 2nd half. up 21-3 at the half.

As much as I’d love that scenario, Vigen hasn’t sat on a 3 TD lead. At least not like Ash would when we were up 10 (pissed me off when he’d do that)

4 TDs and I could see halfway through the 3Q Tommy coming out.

Tommy will play this whole game. Barring an injury.

I really hope not, but you're probably right.

Why?

Hypothetical situation, MSU is up 35-7 in the 4th quarter. Why would you risk injury to your senior starting QB? At the same time, why wouldn't you try to get the second string QB some live game reps? I think this is what he's saying. Wouldn't that be a good thing?

Oh well yes. In that regard absolutely. But no where in my brain is an absolute demolishing of an FBS opponent.

It happened a couple of times in the last few seasons where FCS teams the same or similar caliber of what we think this 2024 version of MSU will be absolutely steamrolled teams that were arguably better than UNM is this season. Now, that's not say that I'm expecting that kind of performance from MSU in this game, but I wouldn't be shocked if it happens. Any Given Saturday...

[Prodigal Cat]

Big Sky vs MWC
MSU vs UNM
Sac St vs San Jose St
Sac St vs Fresno St
UNC vs CSU
Idaho vs Wyoming


You could tell me 1-4 or 4-1 and I would believe both. UNC will lose most likely. The other 4 who knows. Fresno wasn’t very good last year while San Jose was. It will be interesting to watch.

[St George]

CBS sports has MSU as 8.5 point favorites.

CBS Sports raised it to Cats by 9.5.