The Official-Unofficial GOLD RUSH Game Thread - MSU vs Maine

[nevadacat]

NAU playing Arizona tough, same Arizona that blew the doors off New Mexico. I’ll be honest, I’m glad we don’t play them. They seem to be a team that, aside from last year, always have played us down to the wire.

I think I’d rather have them on the schedule than Idaho.

[rfischer94]

Anyone at the game, how is the new scoreboard and sound system?

It's sick. So much better. I hope your can come sometime and see it!

I agree with this statement. I found myself watching the screen A TON. Not that I wanted to, it was just more convenient at times. My seats are at the north 5 yard line and the vast majority of action seemed to be in the south end zone. Blown away by the sheer size of that thing. My “2” year old daughter couldn’t stop watching it.

I really enjoyed the video clips they played during timeouts and such. You couldn't do that with the old board -- the resolution was so low you could count the pixels from anywhere in the stadium!

[Travelingcat]

2nd and 3rd stringers did not play well but finally got meaningful reps. Maine never took starters out. If you feel bad about this win, just remember it was 35-0 early in the 2nd quarter. I get practice is important but my eyes tell me Wilson is a gamer when the lights come on. I'm really hoping for a big third year move in his development in 2025. Reed...I just don't see his arm overcompensating for his lack of mobility.

Thought Maine's QB was a good player for what its worth.

Agree Wilson looked good, live and confident out there. Encouraging. No idea why they forced Reed to play so vanilla, though. Still tend to agree with folks who suspect our starting QB next year is probably not on our roster. Even though we don't throw a ton, we'd be a very tempting landing spot for some pretty good FBS QBs who want to play.

Puzzling that Vigen went to the deep backups as early as he did but it almost seemed like Maine was being sporting in not really pressing things time-wise to "make it a game" and force us to put the starters back in. Maine coach appreciated that we really could have embarrassed them and didn't Backup defense didn't look great, but they hung in there and improved.

Agree that Maine's QB was actually quite good. Was also very effective at getting away from several sack situations and throwing the ball away rather than making a stupid pass that would have been picked off.

Another game that felt a bit strange but a good win nonetheless. Hopefully we can get back some of our OL that have been injured.

[SparkCat]

NAU playing Arizona tough, same Arizona that blew the doors off New Mexico. I’ll be honest, I’m glad we don’t play them. They seem to be a team that, aside from last year, always have played us down to the wire.

I think I’d rather have them on the schedule than Idaho.

Perhaps, although I feel like the team probably has a chip on their shoulder for Idaho. Although their win today was over and FBS team, Wyoming so definitely a one trick Poke, as there may be better quarterbacks in D2 than what Wyoming had.

[BelgradeBobcat]

I don't know anything about offensive line play, but I swear I saw Marcus Wehr maul like three guys out of the way leaving gaping hole for the running back. I'll have to watch the replay. Interesting that Utah Tech was much more stout against the run than Maine.
Did we call the dogs off a tad too early? Holding Tommy out the 2nd half proved wise. We are in a lot of trouble without him.
Gonna be a long couple of weeks and then Mercyhurst-ugh. That one will be ugly, but we should probably have a good idea who our true backup quarterback is though because they should get a lot of work.

[technoCat]

I'm just waiting for them to actually turn Reed loose. Let him stand in the pocket and throw over the middle. Heck maybe, just maybe, let him throw over 5 yards. Just seems like he's got a muzzle on every time they put him in. Even with a half to play.

[AFCAT]

My only real disappointment, other than the offensive and defensive back-ups in the second half, was that the Cats sold out the Rodeo team run out to a sponsor and included their flag with an 8th horse and rider. Okay, I get it, more money for the program, but I don’t have to like it.

[Travelingcat]

Vigen's press conference here is not just coach-speak. Some actually revealing comments about some disappointments re: depth and a possibility of maybe some switches in place further down the depth chart.

Definitely seemed to like Wilson's performance more than Reed's and intimated that QB2 could be up for grabs.

[Colter_Nuanez]

[MSUBRONCO]

Back from work, time to watch the game lol

[TomCat88]

The OL and DL were fantastic for MSU tonight. I don’t recall a game where they both played this well. This is mind-boggling:

[TomCat88]

Mellott had the best start of his career and perhaps the best game in some ways. He had a couple completions that he didn’t place the ball in the exact right place. I thought the stretch where MSU called three straight pass plays and he completed all three was a good sign.

[TomCat88]

I thought Wilson looked really good. Much better than I anticipated. The pass to Providence was nasty. It was the wrong thing to do because he should’ve ran it but not too many quarterbacks can make that throw.

[grizzh8r]

I thought Wilson looked really good. Much better than I anticipated. The pass to Providence was nasty. It was the wrong thing to do because he should’ve ran it but not too many quarterbacks can make that throw.

Yep, turned to my neighbors after the completion to Provience and said "that's something Reed can't do"...

[Colter_Nuanez]

[nevadacat]

My only real disappointment, other than the offensive and defensive back-ups in the second half, was that the Cats sold out the Rodeo team run out to a sponsor and included their flag with an 8th horse and rider. Okay, I get it, more money for the program, but I don’t have to like it.

So the figures on my Gold Rush shirt are corporate cowboys? Frankly, that is troubling.

[RobertSebastianCat-81]

I'd been looking forward to seeing Wilson play since he announced he was coming to MSU and I'd seen some of his high school footage. Glad he completed that gutsy pass on the run. We may have seen something better from both QBs if Reed and Wilson were playing while the 1st team offense was still in the game. I'd also like to see them both in to execute our 2-QB system from the Mellot-Chambers years. That might make a better replacement for when we let Tommy come out for preservation's sake.

[Cats92]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the #1’s on defense have only given up an average of 8 points a game. That’s pretty good?

[rfischer94]

There are moments where Reed looks like it’s going to click. I’d like to see him get reps with the 1’s at some point

They score again and Tommy's going to be back in. And as I've said before he's all we have.

We need one of these for Tommy.

[PapaG]

Kicking game was solid, but did else anyone see during halftime that Maine had two FG kickers bombing from 52 yards and making them by a good 8-10 yards.

It was kind of funny. Sansted was warming up from about 12 yards closer with a holder and the two Maine guys were blasting them over his head and getting more distance while making them.

It was the most impressive thing the Bears did by far up to that point of the game and made me wonder if the MSU coaches noticed. The starter #40 is a sophomore while the other guy #43 a freshman.