How do Cats stack up against Griz

[MrGoodKat]

The problem is that the grades assume a comparable level of football across the FCS. So maybe Harvard’s defense has graded higher than MSU relative to competition, but if they came to Bozeman, they’d lose by 50.

Montana’s offense is better than 8 of the teams in that list.

[kwcat]

Tripp talks some in this pod about how the Griz rotate subs in early and it prevents them from boat racing teams. I’ve heard a lot of Griz fans cite that as the reason why they’re winning games a lot closer than the Cats.

What’s so funny to me about that is that virtually no one rotates like the Bobcats. They play backups like crazy— even in 1st quarters. The difference is that their subs dominate on a level fairy comparable to their starters.

So I have no doubt that Bobby is rotating and that it partially explains UM’s slumps after Q1. But it’s certainly not true that MSU blows teams out just because they keep their ones in all game.

Well, that explains why the gris almost lost to EWU and ISU - the subs were playing. Subs played the whole first half against Cal Poly.

Frankly, if playing subs is why the gris are not running up scores, that is a real turn around from past years.

I’ve come to learn that when a reporter has bias you just need to learn what’s between the lines. I thought there was a lot to gain from that interview.
The older I’ve gotten the thicker my skin, and probably the softer my heart. Winning in Missoula would be all that much more sweet.

[technoCat]

Tripp talks some in this pod about how the Griz rotate subs in early and it prevents them from boat racing teams. I’ve heard a lot of Griz fans cite that as the reason why they’re winning games a lot closer than the Cats.

What’s so funny to me about that is that virtually no one rotates like the Bobcats. They play backups like crazy— even in 1st quarters. The difference is that their subs dominate on a level fairy comparable to their starters.

So I have no doubt that Bobby is rotating and that it partially explains UM’s slumps after Q1. But it’s certainly not true that MSU blows teams out just because they keep their ones in all game.

Well, that explains why the gris almost lost to EWU and ISU - the subs were playing. Subs played the whole first half against Cal Poly.

Frankly, if playing subs is why the gris are not running up scores, that is a real turn around from past years.

Sounds like some really bad coaching decisions if you are barely beating teams because you are playing backups. Sounds like they SHOULD be playing the starters more to create the gap THEN play your back ups when you know you have the game in hand. Because what are you going to do when you HAVE to play your starters the most of the game?? fatigue, mental lapses, potential injuries due to NOT playing through full games. Sounds like a dereliction of duty if you ask me to put your team in a position to lose a game by playing guys who aren't quite ready. You also are showing that you DON'T have depth, which would become part of my game plan in playing you. I would do everything I could to wear down your 1s so I can get your 2s because they obviously aren't anywhere near as good as the 1s......

You should have been here at the end of the Rob Ash era...

[nanacat]

So when the Cats beat the griz in their house it's going to be because Bobby played the backups. Got it.

[ilovethecats]

Tripp talks some in this pod about how the Griz rotate subs in early and it prevents them from boat racing teams. I’ve heard a lot of Griz fans cite that as the reason why they’re winning games a lot closer than the Cats.

What’s so funny to me about that is that virtually no one rotates like the Bobcats. They play backups like crazy— even in 1st quarters. The difference is that their subs dominate on a level fairy comparable to their starters.

So I have no doubt that Bobby is rotating and that it partially explains UM’s slumps after Q1. But it’s certainly not true that MSU blows teams out just because they keep their ones in all game.

Well, that explains why the gris almost lost to EWU and ISU - the subs were playing. Subs played the whole first half against Cal Poly.

Frankly, if playing subs is why the gris are not running up scores, that is a real turn around from past years.

Sounds like some really bad coaching decisions if you are barely beating teams because you are playing backups. Sounds like they SHOULD be playing the starters more to create the gap THEN play your back ups when you know you have the game in hand. Because what are you going to do when you HAVE to play your starters the most of the game?? fatigue, mental lapses, potential injuries due to NOT playing through full games. Sounds like a dereliction of duty if you ask me to put your team in a position to lose a game by playing guys who aren't quite ready. You also are showing that you DON'T have depth, which would become part of my game plan in playing you. I would do everything I could to wear down your 1s so I can get your 2s because they obviously aren't anywhere near as good as the 1s......

You're still getting used to the griz and their entire schtick. This drivel is pretty common place.

Plus I guess their backups are actually better than their starters.

Hauck might be playing chess while we're playing checkers with this unique strategy. Or it could be like when he spent a week preparing for our linebacker to play qb and then when that linebacker didn't play at all and he lost by a million, he blamed it on that linebacker not playing.

[TomCat88]

Tripp talks some in this pod about how the Griz rotate subs in early and it prevents them from boat racing teams. I’ve heard a lot of Griz fans cite that as the reason why they’re winning games a lot closer than the Cats.

What’s so funny to me about that is that virtually no one rotates like the Bobcats. They play backups like crazy— even in 1st quarters. The difference is that their subs dominate on a level fairy comparable to their starters.

So I have no doubt that Bobby is rotating and that it partially explains UM’s slumps after Q1. But it’s certainly not true that MSU blows teams out just because they keep their ones in all game.

Well, that explains why the gris almost lost to EWU and ISU - the subs were playing. Subs played the whole first half against Cal Poly.

Frankly, if playing subs is why the gris are not running up scores, that is a real turn around from past years.

Sounds like some really bad coaching decisions if you are barely beating teams because you are playing backups. Sounds like they SHOULD be playing the starters more to create the gap THEN play your back ups when you know you have the game in hand. Because what are you going to do when you HAVE to play your starters the most of the game?? fatigue, mental lapses, potential injuries due to NOT playing through full games. Sounds like a dereliction of duty if you ask me to put your team in a position to lose a game by playing guys who aren't quite ready. You also are showing that you DON'T have depth, which would become part of my game plan in playing you. I would do everything I could to wear down your 1s so I can get your 2s because they obviously aren't anywhere near as good as the 1s......

All good points.

Reminds me of a team that's trying to get the passing game of its offense more involved, so they call a lot of pass plays early and they don't work and then they find themselves in a tight game for a while. It makes sense on paper and I get it, but you have to be careful. MSU would do this when Mellott/Chambers were here, but they'd quickly get away from it unless it was working. I agreed with the tactic...if they were playing Norfolk St. or Mercyhurst (2024), not a mid-level conference team.

I don't know what Hauck is doing but he might just be trying to build depth and having it backfire on him. Considering that it hasn't completely backfired, then I suppose it's working to a point, however, at some point it has to work completely. It's not doing him much good to try to work in the backups early if they aren't going to be able to stop anyone at this point of the season.

[Catsrgrood]

A lot to unpack here in regards to UC Davis, as well as Cat Griz. Definitely worth the listen if you know what to expect. Jordan trip is well spoken and a smart football player. Lots to learn for the average listener about the team over the hill and how they think. I’ll probably post this in multiple spots.
For sake of thread length, maybe we can separate the two discussions that are covered on this video clip.

That was….interesting.

Always take it with a grain of salt and read between the lines and try to look through the strongly maroon tinted glasses that Tripp is looking through and there is some decent and interesting info in there. Colter is more than fair in his coverage, it’s frankly getting annoying hearing people complain that it’s one sided one way or another.

With that said, when he’s interviewing someone on the griz side, it’s going to lean that way, when it’s an interview on the Cat’s side, it does the same. So seeing that this is an interview with a former griz player and current griz play by play, it’s obvious which way this interview was going to lean.

Bobby’s record speaks for itself, he wins far more than he loses, it’d be silly to suggest it’s bad coaching.

But… Tripps take that the griz could be stomping these teams if they wanted to, but they choose to play these close games by way of playing guys that may not be ready is certainly something.
Nobody, at any level, is risking a win in a situation like that. EWU fumbled on a play I’ve literally never seen someone fumble before, and if not for that, the griz very likely lose. That wasn’t because the griz did just enough to win, EWU did more than enough to lose.
It’s disingenuous to say otherwise.

And Colters part about “if Bobby had his way, he’d get the road grader type OL and big backs and run for 300/game” was an interesting take.
Well he does have his way, he’s the head coach, and he has been for what, 7 years now in stint #2?

If that’s what he wants, then do it.

If that’s what he wants and doesn’t do it, then that’s a recruiting and coaching/development issue.

It feels like the conversation for years now is “Bobby would like to do it another way, but he has to do it a different way this year” as if he’s not the one in charge of this team for the better part of a decade and fully in charge of the players he puts into the program. It makes it sound like he took over the team this year and is playing with another coaching staff’s recruits.

I like the vast majority of what Colter puts out. That comment just stuck out to me because it’s been a recurring theme for a long time now.

[iaafan]

Dear Leader Hauck is an average coach. He’s been at UM for 14 years. It’s one of the top four facilities in the fcs and one of easiest to recruit to. He has no national championships, has only won one BSC championship in the last six years. Three of the national championship games he got to were pre ndsu/sdsu.

[coloradocat]

Dear Leader Hauck is an average coach. He’s been at UM for 14 years. It’s one of the top four facilities in the fcs and one of easiest to recruit to. He has no national championships, has only won one BSC championship in the last six years. Three of the national championship games he got to were pre ndsu/sdsu.

The Cats and griz should finish in the top 3 in the conference every year with both of their advantages and yet Bobbi 2.0 has gone 3-6-1-5 while Vigen has gone 2-1-2-1 and the only reason it wasn't all 1s is because he lost Cat-griz those years.

[BobcatBuiltTexan]

Tripp talks some in this pod about how the Griz rotate subs in early and it prevents them from boat racing teams. I’ve heard a lot of Griz fans cite that as the reason why they’re winning games a lot closer than the Cats.

What’s so funny to me about that is that virtually no one rotates like the Bobcats. They play backups like crazy— even in 1st quarters. The difference is that their subs dominate on a level fairy comparable to their starters.

So I have no doubt that Bobby is rotating and that it partially explains UM’s slumps after Q1. But it’s certainly not true that MSU blows teams out just because they keep their ones in all game.

Well, that explains why the gris almost lost to EWU and ISU - the subs were playing. Subs played the whole first half against Cal Poly.

Frankly, if playing subs is why the gris are not running up scores, that is a real turn around from past years.

Sounds like some really bad coaching decisions if you are barely beating teams because you are playing backups. Sounds like they SHOULD be playing the starters more to create the gap THEN play your back ups when you know you have the game in hand. Because what are you going to do when you HAVE to play your starters the most of the game?? fatigue, mental lapses, potential injuries due to NOT playing through full games. Sounds like a dereliction of duty if you ask me to put your team in a position to lose a game by playing guys who aren't quite ready. You also are showing that you DON'T have depth, which would become part of my game plan in playing you. I would do everything I could to wear down your 1s so I can get your 2s because they obviously aren't anywhere near as good as the 1s......

You're still getting used to the griz and their entire schtick. This drivel is pretty common place.

Plus I guess their backups are actually better than their starters.

Hauck might be playing chess while we're playing checkers with this unique strategy. Or it could be like when he spent a week preparing for our linebacker to play qb and then when that linebacker didn't play at all and he lost by a million, he blamed it on that linebacker not playing.

That's insane for a coach to say......LOLOLOLOL.....absolutely hilarious or sad, I'm really not sure which it leans more towards

[Cataholic]

A lot to unpack here in regards to UC Davis, as well as Cat Griz. Definitely worth the listen if you know what to expect. Jordan trip is well spoken and a smart football player. Lots to learn for the average listener about the team over the hill and how they think. I’ll probably post this in multiple spots.
For sake of thread length, maybe we can separate the two discussions that are covered on this video clip.

That was….interesting.

Always take it with a grain of salt and read between the lines and try to look through the strongly maroon tinted glasses that Tripp is looking through and there is some decent and interesting info in there. Colter is more than fair in his coverage, it’s frankly getting annoying hearing people complain that it’s one sided one way or another.

With that said, when he’s interviewing someone on the griz side, it’s going to lean that way, when it’s an interview on the Cat’s side, it does the same. So seeing that this is an interview with a former griz player and current griz play by play, it’s obvious which way this interview was going to lean.

Bobby’s record speaks for itself, he wins far more than he loses, it’d be silly to suggest it’s bad coaching.

But… Tripps take that the griz could be stomping these teams if they wanted to, but they choose to play these close games by way of playing guys that may not be ready is certainly something.
Nobody, at any level, is risking a win in a situation like that. EWU fumbled on a play I’ve literally never seen someone fumble before, and if not for that, the griz very likely lose. That wasn’t because the griz did just enough to win, EWU did more than enough to lose.
It’s disingenuous to say otherwise.

And Colters part about “if Bobby had his way, he’d get the road grader type OL and big backs and run for 300/game” was an interesting take.
Well he does have his way, he’s the head coach, and he has been for what, 7 years now in stint #2?

If that’s what he wants, then do it.

If that’s what he wants and doesn’t do it, then that’s a recruiting and coaching/development issue.

It feels like the conversation for years now is “Bobby would like to do it another way, but he has to do it a different way this year” as if he’s not the one in charge of this team for the better part of a decade and fully in charge of the players he puts into the program. It makes it sound like he took over the team this year and is playing with another coaching staff’s recruits.

I like the vast majority of what Colter puts out. That comment just stuck out to me because it’s been a recurring theme for a long time now.

Great post. Spot on. I would love to hear Colter’s response on “Bobby would do it another way”. You are right. Bobby has been the guy in charge for some time. That is just pointing out that Bobby hasn’t succeeded in his strategy.

[MrGoodKat]

And Colters part about “if Bobby had his way, he’d get the road grader type OL and big backs and run for 300/game” was an interesting take.
Well he does have his way, he’s the head coach, and he has been for what, 7 years now in stint #2?

If that’s what he wants, then do it.

This is a good point and I think some of it comes down to in-state recruiting.

The Cats currently have two really good starting offensive linemen from the state of MT. Last year, they graduated three starting OL from the state of MT. There are currently 6-7 players lower on the depth chart who all have a shot to be good starters in the future (not all of them will, of course; but if you have that many to start with, 2-3 will pop).

You look at the 2026 class and the most highly regarded in-state OL recruit-- Tommy Lewis-- is committed to MSU.

In the 2025 class, the two highly regarded offensive linemen from MT-- Winters and Wirkus-- came to MSU.

In the 2024 class, the best OL recruit from MT who stayed in state for college-- Noble-- came to MSU.

I actually don't remember the last time that the Griz landed a great OL recruit from the state. Austin Buehler is the last, best guy who comes to mind and he's not on the 2-Deep yet.

It's really hard to find the big people. Obviously neither team could ever field a great OL of only in-state players. But if you're getting the best ones every year, it's a really good start. It creates a base to build upon.

[kwcat]

A lot to unpack here in regards to UC Davis, as well as Cat Griz. Definitely worth the listen if you know what to expect. Jordan trip is well spoken and a smart football player. Lots to learn for the average listener about the team over the hill and how they think. I’ll probably post this in multiple spots.
For sake of thread length, maybe we can separate the two discussions that are covered on this video clip.

That was….interesting.

Always take it with a grain of salt and read between the lines and try to look through the strongly maroon tinted glasses that Tripp is looking through and there is some decent and interesting info in there. Colter is more than fair in his coverage, it’s frankly getting annoying hearing people complain that it’s one sided one way or another.

With that said, when he’s interviewing someone on the griz side, it’s going to lean that way, when it’s an interview on the Cat’s side, it does the same. So seeing that this is an interview with a former griz player and current griz play by play, it’s obvious which way this interview was going to lean.

Bobby’s record speaks for itself, he wins far more than he loses, it’d be silly to suggest it’s bad coaching.

But… Tripps take that the griz could be stomping these teams if they wanted to, but they choose to play these close games by way of playing guys that may not be ready is certainly something.
Nobody, at any level, is risking a win in a situation like that. EWU fumbled on a play I’ve literally never seen someone fumble before, and if not for that, the griz very likely lose. That wasn’t because the griz did just enough to win, EWU did more than enough to lose.
It’s disingenuous to say otherwise.

And Colters part about “if Bobby had his way, he’d get the road grader type OL and big backs and run for 300/game” was an interesting take.
Well he does have his way, he’s the head coach, and he has been for what, 7 years now in stint #2?

If that’s what he wants, then do it.

If that’s what he wants and doesn’t do it, then that’s a recruiting and coaching/development issue.

It feels like the conversation for years now is “Bobby would like to do it another way, but he has to do it a different way this year” as if he’s not the one in charge of this team for the better part of a decade and fully in charge of the players he puts into the program. It makes it sound like he took over the team this year and is playing with another coaching staff’s recruits.

I like the vast majority of what Colter puts out. That comment just stuck out to me because it’s been a recurring theme for a long time now.

I think in Bobbi’s situation it comes down to the fact that he does not recruit well to develop players. He recruits for immediate needs because they have been losing the recruiting battle when it comes to getting players that are good but need developed

[iaafan]

A lot of people talk about how um has all these explosive players on offense.

They have 54 explosive (20 or more) to our 48 vs FCS teams.

We have 37 to their 35 in BSC games.

Not a big difference.

[cat_stache_fever]

My favorite part about the Tripp interview is the dichotomy of when they talk about how knowledgeable Montanans are about their football, and a few breaths later Tripp is talking about how Hauck arbitrarily uses back ups in critical situations and games. Just because, you know, he can.

And i believe him.... because I'm a knowledgeable Montana football fan....

Uh huh.....


Ps....the stache is back

[tetoncat]

Sounds line there are 3 options.
Status quo and risk getting down or losing lead to a quality team that doesn't make mistakes in crunch time.
Pmay backups early but go to all starters as needed in se one half.
Decide backups aren't ready and go all starters. Risk here is they are gassed in 2nd half and good teams that rotate are fresh.

[BFcatfan]

Not fair examples? You are kind of tossing Tommy under the bus there. You are saying we shouldn’t have expected him to play well because it was a big game?

I'm saying that Tommy got tight before virtually all big games, so using him as an example that's characteristic of all MT born players isn't really fair.

I never said one chokes, they all choke. Many, many, many Montana-born players in both programs rise to the occasion in the rivalry game. And so do many non-native Montanans. I think what you say about Tommy kind of illustrates TexasBuiltBobcat’s point. McDowell wasn’t raised in the heat (or the venom) of the rivalry, so he didn’t carry that kind of baggage to trip over.

Poor Ah Yat. Growing up as a legacy child of a Gris great who played in the game. The pressure of the rivalry has to be overwhelming. As you said, he will have lots of “baggage of the rivalry” to trip over.

You could be absolutely right. We’ll get to see because it’s why they play the game. If he’s wired like Tommy Turnover and throws to the wrong colored jersey in the big game, the Griz are toast.

I just thought you would have more confidence in Ah Yuck. Another turncoat PCP Panda fan turning on their players. That sucks!

Where did I turn on him? I said we shall see. It’s funny how an open mind and objectivity are confusing to Bobcatnation. We won’t know until game day if he’s closer to his dad (whose 1997 performance in the rivalry game sent Cat fans into thumb-sucking floor fetal position for years) or closer to Mellott. I’m certainly hoping for the former.

So you are arguing that the game didn’t mean much to McDowell so he played well and won? Wouldn’t that mean AhYuck is doomed because of all the pressure? So disappointing that a Panda would turn on his QB. You guys are terrible fans.

You don’t get it. The game meant everything to McDowell and he showed it. What he didn’t care about was what his childhood buddies and his elementary school teachers and his mom’s co-workers thought about the game, because he didn’t have to. He cared solely about the game and none of the extraneous rivalry lore. Tommy, on the other hand, choked on a hairball. You ask if Ah Yat will feel the pressure. We don’t know. If I had an answer for you, I’d be a liar. But I’m starting to get a sense of the kind of fan you are.

Coming from a person who knows Tommy personally, you have zero idea what you are talking about. What a moronic take by a moronic troll. And that game meant so much to McDowell that he left the program. Since you never played the game, you wouldn’t know. Your idea of rivalry is posting on a rivals board.

[nanacat]

Listened to both the Tripp interview and the one with Tootell. The "Bobby plays backups to develop them" thing was mentioned in both interviews, first by Tripp, then repeated by Colter when he was talking to Tootell. I think Tootell nailed it when he commented, essentially, that if that's what Bobby is doing, his timing is really bad because playing around with your team is a September/October thing but by November you better have a team identity and the Gris really don't. With all the success and such that Bobby has had, you'd think he'd know better by now. Personally, I don't buy it, but I did find it entertaining that Tootell called it out.
The other thing that stood out to me was Tootell talking about the chip on their shoulder that the Cats have this year due to being compared to last year's team, and the concerns they wouldn't measure up. He's right of course. This team has something to prove and has a swagger that I don't really think last year's team had.
Reading between the lines in these interviews, it's pretty obvious that they all really want to say that the Cats are the better team by far, but they have to try to remain unbiased. The only real claim to fame the griz have is that 10-0 record, which is certainly admirable. However, I struggled a bit last year with the undefeated record the Cats had because there's just extra pressure to keep it. All teams are gunning for you, all eyes are on you and that record. It's been a little frustrating that the Cats haven't been getting much love this season due to the two losses, but it's actually working out fine because, as Tootell said, they're just doing whatever the heck they want to other teams.

[91catAlum]

Listened to both the Tripp interview and the one with Tootell. The "Bobby plays backups to develop them" thing was mentioned in both interviews, first by Tripp, then repeated by Colter when he was talking to Tootell. I think Tootell nailed it when he commented, essentially, that if that's what Bobby is doing, his timing is really bad because playing around with your team is a September/October thing but by November you better have a team identity and the Gris really don't. With all the success and such that Bobby has had, you'd think he'd know better by now. Personally, I don't buy it, but I did find it entertaining that Tootell called it out.
The other thing that stood out to me was Tootell talking about the chip on their shoulder that the Cats have this year due to being compared to last year's team, and the concerns they wouldn't measure up. He's right of course. This team has something to prove and has a swagger that I don't really think last year's team had.
Reading between the lines in these interviews, it's pretty obvious that they all really want to say that the Cats are the better team by far, but they have to try to remain unbiased. The only real claim to fame the griz have is that 10-0 record, which is certainly admirable. However, I struggled a bit last year with the undefeated record the Cats had because there's just extra pressure to keep it. All teams are gunning for you, all eyes are on you and that record. It's been a little frustrating that the Cats haven't been getting much love this season due to the two losses, but it's actually working out fine because, as Tootell said, they're just doing whatever the heck they want to other teams.

Listen to the new Sammy Akem podcast, he says unequivocally that the Cats have the better team and thinks we're close to being on par with ndsu.

[nanacat]

Listened to both the Tripp interview and the one with Tootell. The "Bobby plays backups to develop them" thing was mentioned in both interviews, first by Tripp, then repeated by Colter when he was talking to Tootell. I think Tootell nailed it when he commented, essentially, that if that's what Bobby is doing, his timing is really bad because playing around with your team is a September/October thing but by November you better have a team identity and the Gris really don't. With all the success and such that Bobby has had, you'd think he'd know better by now. Personally, I don't buy it, but I did find it entertaining that Tootell called it out.
The other thing that stood out to me was Tootell talking about the chip on their shoulder that the Cats have this year due to being compared to last year's team, and the concerns they wouldn't measure up. He's right of course. This team has something to prove and has a swagger that I don't really think last year's team had.
Reading between the lines in these interviews, it's pretty obvious that they all really want to say that the Cats are the better team by far, but they have to try to remain unbiased. The only real claim to fame the griz have is that 10-0 record, which is certainly admirable. However, I struggled a bit last year with the undefeated record the Cats had because there's just extra pressure to keep it. All teams are gunning for you, all eyes are on you and that record. It's been a little frustrating that the Cats haven't been getting much love this season due to the two losses, but it's actually working out fine because, as Tootell said, they're just doing whatever the heck they want to other teams.

Listen to the new Sammy Akem podcast, he says unequivocally that the Cats have the better team and thinks we're close to being on par with ndsu.

Really? Okay I'll have to do that. Thanks!!