Takeaways

[84CatGrad]

We have a great program and will be right back in the mix next year. Tommy was a (perhaps) one in a lifetime homegrown top-tier QB and we all wish we could have got one for him. Thank you Tommy, you made us ALL better with your heart, your play and especially your class.

Ortt was EVERYWHERE. What a stud. Hat's off to that young man. Great, great Bobcat.

[84CatGrad]

NDSU’s head coach is an even bigger asshole than Bobby. His postgame interview on ESPN showed his true character. Teams take after their coach, and that probably explains the three personal fouls along with an inexplicable non-review of Taco getting helmet-to-helmet brained while falling to the ground. Great team though, kudos to their players. Their coach really did nothing other than sustain success.

Already gave my thoughts on how proud I am of the heart the Bobcats showed, but I had to get that off my chest.

It baffles me when the opportunity to give credit to a tough opponent arises, some coaches just choose to be jerks.

I haven't coached kindergarten flag football and I could take over at NDSU and win 38 games in four years.

[luckyirishguy25]

We were owned on both lines again. We have to figure that out to get over the hump.

[Cledus]

The team was off in the first half. Mental errors, jittery mistakes, etc. The long Cam Miller run was a game breaker. That was coaching/scouting. I really think they were the best team in the country this year, but you can’t have a half like that and expect to win.

I think part of that was due to offensive play calling. What worked against every other opponent this year won't work against NDSU. First and second down runs, then let Tommy do his thing on third down. It was utterly predictable and NDSU responded exactly the way you'd expect. The guys just couldn't get into a rhythm, which was obvious in hindsight when we saw the playbook open up in the second half.

That, and leaving the middle of the field open was a fatal error. And that low percentage fourth down attempt in the first half.

[Cledus]

[bobcatfan123]

Takeaway from NDSU fans after the game and reading their forum,

1) they couldn’t believe that we didn’t pass more the first half. It’s been their Achilles heel all season and something they thought would be exploited early.
2) not prepped for cam qb running game.
3) many NDSU fans saying they played close to a perfect game, we did not have our best game.
4) NDSU line play was better

[2015cat]

- We struggled in the trenches on both sides but not as much as you think. Staff didn’t help the players out enough.
- The offensive staff didn’t give Tommy enough of a chance to affect the game in the first half. Seems like all we did was run until we couldn’t and then throw on obvious passing down. That makes it hard to run block on run downs and pass pro on pass downs. I think Walker is a good coach and this was his first real challenge as an OC and it showed. He will get better and I’m sure he’ll reflect back on his play calling this game.
- The defensive staff didn’t seem to have a great plan vs the +1 run game. When it was 3rd and short, it was Miller Time, I think all their 3rd and 4 or less they ran Miller and converted most of them (4/5 from what I remember). Have to add a number in the box when they add a number in the run game.
- The staff was worried about Lance and it showed. Played soft quarters all game and gave up free access speed outs most of the game. Didn’t see much of the aggressive man blitz packages that we saw most of the year. The one time we did we had a safety playing 10 yards off on 3rd and 5… If you blitz, the ball is gonna come out quick so you can’t play that far off.
- I don’t get not putting a guy back to at least fair catch and give yourself 1 more offensive snap. But it’s a decisions the coaches thought gave us a best chance to win, it was not them giving up. If we block them with 11 up and return it for a score, Vigen is a genius. Judge the decision not the outcome.
- I think MSU got out coached, I think that’s the thought of most and I’m sure the coaches themselves would say the same. But no one on our staff deserves to be fired. We were only a few plays away and our staff has showed they learn from mistakes.

[nanacat]

- We struggled in the trenches on both sides but not as much as you think. Staff didn’t help the players out enough.
- The offensive staff didn’t give Tommy enough of a chance to affect the game in the first half. Seems like all we did was run until we couldn’t and then throw on obvious passing down. That makes it hard to run block on run downs and pass pro on pass downs. I think Walker is a good coach and this was his first real challenge as an OC and it showed. He will get better and I’m sure he’ll reflect back on his play calling this game.
- The defensive staff didn’t seem to have a great plan vs the +1 run game. When it was 3rd and short, it was Miller Time, I think all their 3rd and 4 or less they ran Miller and converted most of them (4/5 from what I remember). Have to add a number in the box when they add a number in the run game.
- The staff was worried about Lance and it showed. Played soft quarters all game and gave up free access speed outs most of the game. Didn’t see much of the aggressive man blitz packages that we saw most of the year. The one time we did we had a safety playing 10 yards off on 3rd and 5… If you blitz, the ball is gonna come out quick so you can’t play that far off.
- I don’t get not putting a guy back to at least fair catch and give yourself 1 more offensive snap. But it’s a decisions the coaches thought gave us a best chance to win, it was not them giving up. If we block them with 11 up and return it for a score, Vigen is a genius. Judge the decision not the outcome.
- I think MSU got out coached, I think that’s the thought of most and I’m sure the coaches themselves would say the same. But no one on our staff deserves to be fired. We were only a few plays away and our staff has showed they learn from mistakes.

I agree that this loss can be credited to the coaches. But if the articles are true, Walker won't be fixing those mistakes at MSU.

[2015cat]

- We struggled in the trenches on both sides but not as much as you think. Staff didn’t help the players out enough.
- The offensive staff didn’t give Tommy enough of a chance to affect the game in the first half. Seems like all we did was run until we couldn’t and then throw on obvious passing down. That makes it hard to run block on run downs and pass pro on pass downs. I think Walker is a good coach and this was his first real challenge as an OC and it showed. He will get better and I’m sure he’ll reflect back on his play calling this game.
- The defensive staff didn’t seem to have a great plan vs the +1 run game. When it was 3rd and short, it was Miller Time, I think all their 3rd and 4 or less they ran Miller and converted most of them (4/5 from what I remember). Have to add a number in the box when they add a number in the run game.
- The staff was worried about Lance and it showed. Played soft quarters all game and gave up free access speed outs most of the game. Didn’t see much of the aggressive man blitz packages that we saw most of the year. The one time we did we had a safety playing 10 yards off on 3rd and 5… If you blitz, the ball is gonna come out quick so you can’t play that far off.
- I don’t get not putting a guy back to at least fair catch and give yourself 1 more offensive snap. But it’s a decisions the coaches thought gave us a best chance to win, it was not them giving up. If we block them with 11 up and return it for a score, Vigen is a genius. Judge the decision not the outcome.
- I think MSU got out coached, I think that’s the thought of most and I’m sure the coaches themselves would say the same. But no one on our staff deserves to be fired. We were only a few plays away and our staff has showed they learn from mistakes.

I agree that this loss can be credited to the coaches. But if the articles are true, Walker won't be fixing those mistakes at MSU.

Wow, hadn’t even see that. Good luck to him!

[Monymony]

Hopefully this teaches our coordinators to play a bit looser. Seemed like in the first half we were just trying to not lose. Second half we HAD to make plays and we made almost all of them.

[Cledus]

- We struggled in the trenches on both sides but not as much as you think. Staff didn’t help the players out enough.
- The offensive staff didn’t give Tommy enough of a chance to affect the game in the first half. Seems like all we did was run until we couldn’t and then throw on obvious passing down. That makes it hard to run block on run downs and pass pro on pass downs. I think Walker is a good coach and this was his first real challenge as an OC and it showed. He will get better and I’m sure he’ll reflect back on his play calling this game.
- The defensive staff didn’t seem to have a great plan vs the +1 run game. When it was 3rd and short, it was Miller Time, I think all their 3rd and 4 or less they ran Miller and converted most of them (4/5 from what I remember). Have to add a number in the box when they add a number in the run game.
- The staff was worried about Lance and it showed. Played soft quarters all game and gave up free access speed outs most of the game. Didn’t see much of the aggressive man blitz packages that we saw most of the year. The one time we did we had a safety playing 10 yards off on 3rd and 5… If you blitz, the ball is gonna come out quick so you can’t play that far off.
- I don’t get not putting a guy back to at least fair catch and give yourself 1 more offensive snap. But it’s a decisions the coaches thought gave us a best chance to win, it was not them giving up. If we block them with 11 up and return it for a score, Vigen is a genius. Judge the decision not the outcome.
- I think MSU got out coached, I think that’s the thought of most and I’m sure the coaches themselves would say the same. But no one on our staff deserves to be fired. We were only a few plays away and our staff has showed they learn from mistakes.

I agree that this loss can be credited to the coaches. But if the articles are true, Walker won't be fixing those mistakes at MSU.

Wow, hadn’t even see that. Good luck to him!

And Al Johnson. Both are going to Temple.

Footballscoop.com - The Scoop

[wbtfg]

- We struggled in the trenches on both sides but not as much as you think. Staff didn’t help the players out enough.
- The offensive staff didn’t give Tommy enough of a chance to affect the game in the first half. Seems like all we did was run until we couldn’t and then throw on obvious passing down. That makes it hard to run block on run downs and pass pro on pass downs. I think Walker is a good coach and this was his first real challenge as an OC and it showed. He will get better and I’m sure he’ll reflect back on his play calling this game.
- The defensive staff didn’t seem to have a great plan vs the +1 run game. When it was 3rd and short, it was Miller Time, I think all their 3rd and 4 or less they ran Miller and converted most of them (4/5 from what I remember). Have to add a number in the box when they add a number in the run game.
- The staff was worried about Lance and it showed. Played soft quarters all game and gave up free access speed outs most of the game. Didn’t see much of the aggressive man blitz packages that we saw most of the year. The one time we did we had a safety playing 10 yards off on 3rd and 5… If you blitz, the ball is gonna come out quick so you can’t play that far off.
- I don’t get not putting a guy back to at least fair catch and give yourself 1 more offensive snap. But it’s a decisions the coaches thought gave us a best chance to win, it was not them giving up. If we block them with 11 up and return it for a score, Vigen is a genius. Judge the decision not the outcome.
- I think MSU got out coached, I think that’s the thought of most and I’m sure the coaches themselves would say the same. But no one on our staff deserves to be fired. We were only a few plays away and our staff has showed they learn from mistakes.

I agree that this loss can be credited to the coaches. But if the articles are true, Walker won't be fixing those mistakes at MSU.

Wow, hadn’t even see that. Good luck to him!

And Al Johnson. Both are going to Temple.

Footballscoop.com - The Scoop

Wow. I’m sure the money is good, but that seems like a terrible job. The only player from the history of temple football that I can name is Bill Cosby.

[Lord Vigo]

Oh and one other takeaway— NDSU fans are classless jerks. They started a chant while Alexander was down, injured right in front of their side. It’s so sad to me that the fan base who has experienced so much success acts like that.

I hobnobbed with plenty of very classy NDSU fans, before, during, and after the game. Too broad a brush to make a statement like that.

I realize there’s some great folks, but that was a garbage move.

[BLACKnBLUEnGOLD]

Wow. I’m sure the money is good, but that seems like a terrible job. The only player from the history of temple football that I can name is Bill Cosby.

Randy Grossman and Matthias Nkwenti. But you have to be a real nerd to come up with Matthias Nkwenti

[technoCat]

Takeaway from NDSU fans after the game and reading their forum,

1) they couldn’t believe that we didn’t pass more the first half. It’s been their Achilles heel all season and something they thought would be exploited early.
2) not prepped for cam qb running game.
3) many NDSU fans saying they played close to a perfect game, we did not have our best game.
4) NDSU line play was better

Yep. Agree on all counts. We played off ball coverage so Cam always had a quick throw available. Our dline never had time to get home.
We needed to hit something quick over the middle in the first half. They were bringing their safeties down and daring us to throw and we just wouldn't do it. Worked great in the second.

[TomCat88]

The NDSU coach and players went out of their way to try to say Miller is better than Mellott. I mean, you win a championship and that’s what you’re focused on? That was weird. I was thinking of asking if they would trade the title for the Payton Award.

Also weird was Kopp’s big god and Jesus speech. I didnt even remember him making a play in the game. Then all the crying from Polasek and Miller.

[BleedingBLue]

The NDSU coach and players went out of their way to try to say Miller is better than Mellott. I mean, you win a championship and that’s what you’re focused on? That was weird. I was thinking of asking if they would trade the title for the Payton Award.

Also weird was Kopp’s big god and Jesus speech. I didnt even remember him making a play in the game. Then all the crying from Polasek and Miller.

Talk about sour grapes. Polasek is a tool, and I've always thought the same about Miller. Can you imagine if things were reversed? Tommy and Vigen wouldn't have said a damn word about the award and would have been complimentary of ndsu and celebrated the win. ndsu is par with the gris in my book at this point, only difference being they actually win.

[Bocephus]

The NDSU coach and players went out of their way to try to say Miller is better than Mellott. I mean, you win a championship and that’s what you’re focused on? That was weird. I was thinking of asking if they would trade the title for the Payton Award.

Also weird was Kopp’s big god and Jesus speech. I didnt even remember him making a play in the game. Then all the crying from Polasek and Miller.

Talk about sour grapes. Polasek is a tool, and I've always thought the same about Miller. Can you imagine if things were reversed? Tommy and Vigen wouldn't have said a damn word about the award and would have been complimentary of ndsu and celebrated the win. ndsu is par with the gris in my book at this point, only difference being they actually win.

Polasuck calls Vigen his friend. What a jerk.

[technoCat]

Tommy was our offense last night. Cam got lots of help.

[MinnesotaBobcat]

Oh and one other takeaway— NDSU fans are classless jerks. They started a chant while Alexander was down, injured right in front of their side. It’s so sad to me that the fan base who has experienced so much success acts like that.

NDSU fans are a pretty entitled bunch. I have a lot of family members who are fans. One of them posted on social media that the announcers were far too biased on their coverage of Tommy. Pretty sure they gushed just as much about Cam…..and rightly so. Also, one of them texted me to give me a hard time all throughout halftime, right up until we started making a run. Then it was radio silence until after the onside kick.

Anyway, they don’t like it unless all the focus is on their team….and can’t handle any talk that they aren’t the center of the football universe.

On an aside….i thought ESPN did an excellent job of covering the game, and highlighted many of the great players on both teams. The pre-game show was pretty nice too. The prime time slot gave it more of a feel of a big time game, rather than the 11:00 a.m. weekend kickoff. Anyway, both schools got some great exposure.