Takeaways

[Bobcat Sig]

I just hope we aren’t picked to win the Big Sky Conference next season. That thing is a curse to the team that is picked to win it.

Heh, I sure hope not. Despite a massive rebuild, the griz got the nod this year, no?

We’ll be starting a new QB, a few portal losses, and some graduations - perhaps that drops us to second or third in the preseason conference rankings…

If you had a vote, who would you put above the Cats? UM was pretty mediocre & lost a lot of their best players. The entire Idaho program is decimated. Davis? Without Hastings & Larison?

Sure, someone is going to have a breakout year, but out of the 4 BSC playoff teams, MSU lost by far the least & has more depth to backfill dudes like Humphry & Tommy than anyone else in the conference, maybe in all FCS.

Too early to tell... other than like death, taxes, and the sun rising; the griz will yet again be over-hyped to start the season. It never fails.

That said; you aren't wrong about the other top Big Sky seemingly depleted. Our big question mark will be our QB and that will sway too many voters, I'm afraid.

[GoCats18]

After leaving Frisco and having a few days to think, I think I am finally on board with moving up to the Mountain West, Pac 2-12….there is no longer any point in staying in the FCS.

[RICO CAT]

I almost feel we were a bit intimidated starting the game. Don’t see how you could be overconfident against a team you haven’t beaten in years. Plus you had to know they were pissed Tommy won the Payton Award over their guy and used that as motivation. We’ve had other slow start games during the season but were able to recover. The quickness and speed of NDSU was evident as the holes for our running backs closed quickly so we didn’t see the results on the ground we are accustomed to. As for our passing, some big plays were made but others were inaccurate due to pressure. I am proud of the team and wanted the victory for them. Football like life, can be cruel and disappointing at times.

[Bobcat Sig]

I almost feel we were a bit intimidated starting the game. Don’t see how you could be overconfident against a team you haven’t beaten in years. Plus you had to know they were pissed Tommy won the Payton Award over their guy and used that as motivation. We’ve had other slow start games during the season but were able to recover. The quickness and speed of NDSU was evident as the holes for our running backs closed quickly so we didn’t see the results on the ground we are accustomed to. As for our passing, some big plays were made but others were inaccurate due to pressure. I am proud of the team and wanted the victory for them. Football like life, can be cruel and disappointing at times.

I had a gut feeling that if Tommy won the Payton; Cam Miller and the biSon would have a bit extra motivation. And sure enough...

[BelligerentBobcat]

I almost feel we were a bit intimidated starting the game. Don’t see how you could be overconfident against a team you haven’t beaten in years. Plus you had to know they were pissed Tommy won the Payton Award over their guy and used that as motivation. We’ve had other slow start games during the season but were able to recover. The quickness and speed of NDSU was evident as the holes for our running backs closed quickly so we didn’t see the results on the ground we are accustomed to. As for our passing, some big plays were made but others were inaccurate due to pressure. I am proud of the team and wanted the victory for them. Football like life, can be cruel and disappointing at times.

I had a gut feeling that if Tommy won the Payton; Cam Miller and the biSon would have a bit extra motivation. And sure enough...

I think stuff like this is just stuff for fans to say.

It’s the national championship game. They’re all motivated, and if they aren’t, or need losing an award to be properly motivated, there’s bigger issues at hand.

[RickRund]

I just hope we aren’t picked to win the Big Sky Conference next season. That thing is a curse to the team that is picked to win it.

I don’t see another team to vote for though. Sac maybe just because of the tons of FBS kids pouring in. But the Eck gone I think the conference is going to be weak.

I think UC Davis could get #1. If you look back over the last several years, I don’t remember once when the team picked to win the conference actually won the conference.

Everybody knows the gris are preseason champs! Haven’t you heard about their QB transfer?!

No I haven't. Is he as good as Vidlak and McDowell and Fife?

Are you kidding? You haven't heard about him. People who are in the know say he has all the tools...

From what little I read he has 4 snaps in 3 games. Yeah. Go figure. I was "having a conversation" with a gris and just mentioning the stats, that the kid is a total unknown, that he may or may not not be a success, they will know nothing until the season starts, sent the gris into to total rage. Called me every name but white boy. It was actually hilarious. I was actually complimentary towards the kid...

[aucat]

After leaving Frisco and having a few days to think, I think I am finally on board with moving up to the Mountain West, Pac 2-12….there is no longer any point in staying in the FCS.

Sounds like fun to me. We win 3 or 4 games a year. Half empty stadium. What would constitute a great year? Winning six games and going to some meaningless exhibition "bowl" game in a stadium that's about a third full. No more exciting playoff games in front of a packed Bobcat Stadium. Yeah, sounds like loads of fun.

[mslacatfan]

As far as moving up…. I used to be adamantly against it!

Now….. I think I’m more like 70% yes to moving up.

Mostly because of how much the Portal/NIL landscape has completely destroyed the FCS level (in my opinion). I don’t want to be in a farm league, which is what we have become.

[MSU01]

After leaving Frisco and having a few days to think, I think I am finally on board with moving up to the Mountain West, Pac 2-12….there is no longer any point in staying in the FCS.

Sounds like fun to me. We win 3 or 4 games a year. Half empty stadium. What would constitute a great year? Winning six games and going to some meaningless exhibition "bowl" game in a stadium that's about a third full. No more exciting playoff games in front of a packed Bobcat Stadium. Yeah, sounds like loads of fun.

On the other hand, the home schedule this season was a massive snoozefest this season until the playoff semifinals when MSU finally played a team near their level. The overall experience of attending a game will always be fun in either the FCS or FBS divisions, but the games themselves this year largely weren't exciting at all. Ultimately I think we can go back and forth about this a few dozen more times if we want, but if MSU has the chance to move up and can make it work financially they're going to do it.

[BelligerentBobcat]

As far as moving up…. I used to be adamantly against it!

Now….. I think I’m more like 70% yes to moving up.

Mostly because of how much the Portal/NIL landscape has completely destroyed the FCS level (in my opinion). I don’t want to be in a farm league, which is what we have become.

It won’t make a difference.

We aren’t losing transfers to Nevada, UNLV, Utah State, etc.

Moving up is all fine, but doing it because you think we won’t lose players to transferring is just ignorant. No matter what, we aren’t going to have enough NIL to compete with the P4 schools. If Boise can’t keep their players, why think we could?

[TomCat88]

After leaving Frisco and having a few days to think, I think I am finally on board with moving up to the Mountain West, Pac 2-12….there is no longer any point in staying in the FCS.

Sounds like fun to me. We win 3 or 4 games a year. Half empty stadium. What would constitute a great year? Winning six games and going to some meaningless exhibition "bowl" game in a stadium that's about a third full. No more exciting playoff games in front of a packed Bobcat Stadium. Yeah, sounds like loads of fun.

On the other hand, the home schedule this season was a massive snoozefest this season until the playoff semifinals when MSU finally played a team near their level. The experience of attending a game will always be fun in either the FCS or FBS divisions, but the games themselves this year largely weren't exciting at all. Ultimately I think we can go back and forth about this a few dozen more times if we want, but if MSU has the chance to move up and can make it work financially they're going to do it.

That’s what it’s like for a lot of P4 teams, too. I think msu would do really well in the MW or PAC(insert #). I don’t see things slowing down in any way at MSU anytime soon.

This years schedule had about as many intriguing games as you can expect unm, Idaho, UCD, UM, Martin, Idaho, USD, ndsu. 8 of 16. Through in EWU, ISU and its 10 of 16.

Ohio State only played six ranked teams and and started with five gimmes. Very similar in relative terms. None as bad as Mercyhurst or UT.

[mslacatfan]

As far as moving up…. I used to be adamantly against it!

Now….. I think I’m more like 70% yes to moving up.

Mostly because of how much the Portal/NIL landscape has completely destroyed the FCS level (in my opinion). I don’t want to be in a farm league, which is what we have become.

It won’t make a difference.

We aren’t losing transfers to Nevada, UNLV, Utah State, etc.

Moving up is all fine, but doing it because you think we won’t lose players to transferring is just ignorant. No matter what, we aren’t going to have enough NIL to compete with the P4 schools. If Boise can’t keep their players, why think we could?

Yeh, I obviously get that, it’s gonna happen no matter what. But it would help being at that level (vs fcs). It would also significantly help with keeping coaches in place. Might be able to keep a guy like Al johnson on board for 3 or 4 years, vs the 2 we had him here (random example/hypothetical).

[GoCats18]

At this point, playing in a meaningless bowl game sounds pretty good. JMU seemed pretty excited about playing for bowl game and winning it.

[AFCAT]

At this point, playing in a meaningless bowl game sounds pretty good. JMU seemed pretty excited about playing for bowl game and winning it.

I rather enjoyed this years playoff run and going to a real championship game.

However, I’m sure every kid does grow up hoping to be a Boca Raton Bowl “champion.” That’s something special.

[Mtcatfan]

At this point, playing in a meaningless bowl game sounds pretty good. JMU seemed pretty excited about playing for bowl game and winning it.

I rather enjoyed this years playoff run and going to a real championship game.

However, I’m sure every kid does grow up hoping to be a Boca Raton Bowl “champion.” That’s something special.

Or the” Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl”.

[Bobcat Sig]

I get it; you moving up nay-sayers really don’t want to move it. Have a bit more faith in our team and the Athletics Department. As they are right now, the Cats would be highly competitive in both the Mountain West and the Pac-12. We enjoy far better support and have a much higher ceiling than other recent FCS teams that moved to the FBS.

And now I’ll brace for another smarmy, cut-rate, sarcastic comment about moving up from the nay-sayers.

[Common Cat]

Anytime anyone mentions moving up the same five posters who are clearly anti moving up jump in and post the same “oh you want to play in the …..bowl…” and just spew the same stuff over and over again. You can’t even have a conversation about it before gets torpedoed.

[Bobcat Sig]

Anytime anyone mentions moving up the same five posters who are clearly anti moving up jump in and post the same “oh you want to play in the …..bowl…” and just spew the same stuff over and over again. You can’t even have a conversation about it before gets torpedoed.

Precisely.

[onceacat]

At this point, playing in a meaningless bowl game sounds pretty good. JMU seemed pretty excited about playing for bowl game and winning it.

I rather enjoyed this years playoff run and going to a real championship game.

However, I’m sure every kid does grow up hoping to be a Boca Raton Bowl “champion.” That’s something special.

Or the” Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl”.

Every football player I knew growing up would have traded his left nut to play in the Snoop Dogg Bowl presented by Gin and Juice.

EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.

[onceacat]

Anytime anyone mentions moving up the same five posters who are clearly anti moving up jump in and post the same “oh you want to play in the …..bowl…” and just spew the same stuff over and over again. You can’t even have a conversation about it before gets torpedoed.

Did you see the guys cheering as the Pop Tart was sacrificed to the toaster in whatever the heck the Pop Tarts Bowl was?

They were living their best lives!