My post-game ramblings...

[catatac]

Most of the Eastern fans were great!

Eastern Washington will probably win the national championship IMO.

We haven’t lost at home yet, and we SHOULD beat the Griz in a close one.

IF we happen beat the Griz convincingly, it is possible that the committee would give us an at-large bid for the playoffs, but that is a very unlikely possibility. (Less than 10% IMO).

Not sure if we deserve to be in the playoffs after that performance. Although we are better than several teams that will make the playoffs. The Big Sky is the most powerful conference once again. This team has huge potential but unfortunately it has not been fully realized. Too inconsistent.

Frustrating that we didn’t play very well. Pretty much the same teams from last year when we almost beat them in the shootout, yet this year they took us to the woodshed.

Meyer is the best player in 1-AA, Kimball might be 2nd.

I don’t know if I buy into Eastern’s injury problem. Someone told me they had 16 starters gone for the season??? Their game-by-game participation stats don’t support that claim. Not trying to take anything away from them but I say the injury problem has been exaggerated.

That dip$hit that kicked Lulay in the head and raked his cleats across his face needs to be punished. We scored a TD on the very next play because of him and I’m guessing that Wulff is still chewing his a$$. Very well-coached team minus that tool.

I still love Kramer to death, and we wouldn’t even be where we are now with playoff aspirations if it weren’t for him, but he got out-coached again. From game-planning to player preparation, they owned us.

We will be ready for the Griz and the key to the game will be field position and for us to limit turnovers. (I think we’re around –10 and they’re around +10. That stat drives me up the fricking wall!!!

[MSU01]

We will be ready for the Griz and the key to the game will be field position and for us to limit turnovers. (I think we’re around –10 and they’re around +10. That stat drives me up the fricking wall!!!

I think this is the key to the game...2 years ago, we beat the Griz with defense and special teams TD's. We cannot let the Griz beat us the same way this year. If neither team turns the ball over and there are no Defensive/Special Teams TD's, I like our chances to win.

[Platinumcat]

I have a bone to pick with the EWU facilities staff:

At the end of the game, they had around 25 police officers and crowd management personnel standing facing the MSU crowd as if they were preparing for us to rush the field in anger. At the same time, there wasn't a soul over on the other side albeit for one person standing at the entry to each stair leading down.

As an adult, I was offended by this. Noone in our crowd had made any derogatory statements up until that point and I really felt it was un-necessary.

Am I being a petty whiner here?

[ChiOCat]

Unfortunately in our society I think they've come to anticipate a riot. Sad, but there is a reason they plan for them.

I would guess it had anything to do with MSU, it's probably a policy they have in place for all visitors.

[catatac]

No, that is one of the negatives that I saw. And two poor underage Cat fan girls got MIP's right below me and I though that was Hor$e$hit and I let the rent-a-cops know it...

[anacondagriz]

No, that is one of the negatives that I saw. And two poor underage Cat fan girls got MIP's right below me and I though that was Hor$e$hit and I let the rent-a-cops know it...

You think it is BS for underage girls who are drinking to get MIPs? I hope I missed your sarcasm.

[kmax]

I have a bone to pick with the EWU facilities staff:

At the end of the game, they had around 25 police officers and crowd management personnel standing facing the MSU crowd as if they were preparing for us to rush the field in anger. At the same time, there wasn't a soul over on the other side albeit for one person standing at the entry to each stair leading down.

As an adult, I was offended by this. Noone in our crowd had made any derogatory statements up until that point and I really felt it was un-necessary.

Am I being a petty whiner here?

We all noticed that too, but we just thought it was hilarious that they were even worried about it. As to no one being on the other side, personally I just think that speaks volumes to the fan support at EWU, obviously they knew nobody would be coming on the field from that side, heck most of them had already left.

[CelticCat]

That dip$hit that kicked Lulay in the head and raked his cleats across his face needs to be punished. We scored a TD on the very next play because of him and I’m guessing that Wulff is still chewing his a$$. Very well-coached team minus that tool.

I'll say, they only had TWO penalties all game, and minus that bone-headed play, just one. Who makes one penalty all game? Is that even possible?

[catatac]

No, that is one of the negatives that I saw. And two poor underage Cat fan girls got MIP's right below me and I though that was Hor$e$hit and I let the rent-a-cops know it...

You think it is BS for underage girls who are drinking to get MIPs? I hope I missed your sarcasm.

Actually, I didn't elaborate enough - it APPEARED that they were getting MIP's due to the cop scrutinizing their ID's and the fit that one of the girls was throwing - yet there were no containers. I overheard one cop say, "But I can smell beer on your breath!" Maybe he saw them drinking at one of the tailgates and followed them in or something, I'm not sure. It looked to me like they were getting singled out and harrassed.

[griz8791]

Actually, I didn't elaborate enough - it APPEARED that they were getting MIP's due to the cop scrutinizing their ID's and the fit that one of the girls was throwing - yet there were no containers. I overheard one cop say, "But I can smell beer on your breath!" Maybe he saw them drinking at one of the tailgates and followed them in or something, I'm not sure. It looked to me like they were getting singled out and harrassed.

Since when do rentacops enforce MIP laws? Especially when there aren't containers?

[SeeHarg]

Good thoughts, catatac. I saw most of it on the telly and agreed with most of what you say. Just a couple minor discussion points:

I think the reporting of EWU injuries sort of took on a life of its own. The clarification I've heard in Spokane is that 15 or 16 starters have lost playing time over the course of the season at various points - they're not all hurt right now. Some people have misinterepreted what's been reported as saying that like over half the starting roster is on IR right now, which obviously isn't the case. I was still surprised to see that Lulay had so much trouble passing on their secondary, which is pretty banged up currently. They get maligned, but when they're healthy, Hendrix and Trufant are the best cover-corner tandem in the league and have been for the last couple years. They're not healthy now, and like I said I expected Travis to be able to throw against them. Of course, he probably would have had a better chance if the Cats weren't needing to pass to catch up from about the middle of the second quarter on. And a little help from Dropsy Gatewood and the Butterfingers Posse might've helped, too. Oh well.

Agreed that less-deserving teams will probably get an at-large before the Cats. It chafes my ass that high-school-caliber-league-dominating South Carolina State will get a solid look and MSU won't. Hampton getting a seed (which they will) is fargin' ridiculous. Er, check that, I forgot my internet message board spelling: it's redicoulous.

I don't know about EWU going on to win it all... quite aside from Meyer's injury, they've got other problems too IMO. That being that, other than the big game in Missoula, the Eagles have been positively uninspired on the road this year. If they do get in, I wouldn't be surprised to see them mail in a loss and exit after their first-round road game.

Anyway, good analysis. Here's to a sloppy, no-offense Brawl that is dominated by special teams and field position!

We cannot let the Griz beat us the same way this year. If neither team turns the ball over and there are no Defensive/Special Teams TD's, I like our chances to win.

no no no No No NO NO NO NO!!!

[DaGriz]

Eastern Washington will probably win the national championship IMO.

I said the same thing when they beat us and then I think they lost the next weekend. When they are on they look unbeatable.

Hampton getting a seed (which they will) is fargin' ridiculous.

Hampton is undefeated. Weak schedule or not, it's tough to go all year and not have a down game or two and lose. That's the good thing about the playoffs though, if they are over rated they will get knocked out early.