Fun bit of perspective…

[CatsNoMatterWhat]

Reading the W&M board tonight, it’s really a great bit of perspective to see them discussing how much better the Cats are than their team and how they aren’t prepared for a prime time program like MSU.

It wasn’t too long ago we were saying the exact same thing about playoff opponents laying the wood to us.

It’s been so amazing to be a fan during our program’s amazing growth the last 6-7 years. Can’t wait to see what the next 5 years bring!

[onceacat]

Great post.

[catgrad05]

Could not agree more. I was actually wondering a couple weeks ago what sets then FBS teams so far ahead of the FCS teams and I believe it’s the bowl games…….

Hear me out, bowl games allow an extra 2-4 weeks of practice each year, if you’re a senior that’s an extra year of practice.

NDSU has had that for almost a decade over every other FCS school their players have been allowed to practice way more than most schools. We got the same benefit last year, now we get an extra month compared to none playoff teams

Deep playoff runs mean more than games if builds depth in a different manner than we may have realized 10 years ago

[Montanabob]

Could not agree more. I was actually wondering a couple weeks ago what sets then FBS teams so far ahead of the FCS teams and I believe it’s the bowl games…….

Hear me out, bowl games allow an extra 2-4 weeks of practice each year, if you’re a senior that’s an extra year of practice.

NDSU has had that for almost a decade over every other FCS school their players have been allowed to practice way more than most schools. We got the same benefit last year, now we get an extra month compared to none playoff teams

Deep playoff runs mean more than games if builds depth in a different manner than we may have realized 10 years ago

NDSU also carries 120 players and not 105 like most.

[Bobcat4Ever]

Could not agree more. I was actually wondering a couple weeks ago what sets then FBS teams so far ahead of the FCS teams and I believe it’s the bowl games…….

Hear me out, bowl games allow an extra 2-4 weeks of practice each year, if you’re a senior that’s an extra year of practice.

NDSU has had that for almost a decade over every other FCS school their players have been allowed to practice way more than most schools. We got the same benefit last year, now we get an extra month compared to none playoff teams

Deep playoff runs mean more than games if builds depth in a different manner than we may have realized 10 years ago

NDSU also carries 120 players and not 105 like most.

Is there no limit? Other than at 120, players should quit signing up.

[ilovethecats]

Reading the W&M board tonight, it’s really a great bit of perspective to see them discussing how much better the Cats are than their team and how they aren’t prepared for a prime time program like MSU.

It wasn’t too long ago we were saying the exact same thing about playoff opponents laying the wood to us.

It’s been so amazing to be a fan during our program’s amazing growth the last 6-7 years. Can’t wait to see what the next 5 years bring!

I’d be more impressed if they understood this before we played. We’re better than them at every position.

And we play clean. What a dirty bunch they were

[Pecos24]

Could not agree more. I was actually wondering a couple weeks ago what sets then FBS teams so far ahead of the FCS teams and I believe it’s the bowl games…….

Hear me out, bowl games allow an extra 2-4 weeks of practice each year, if you’re a senior that’s an extra year of practice.

NDSU has had that for almost a decade over every other FCS school their players have been allowed to practice way more than most schools. We got the same benefit last year, now we get an extra month compared to none playoff teams

Deep playoff runs mean more than games if builds depth in a different manner than we may have realized 10 years ago

Dan Davies made a similar comment on the post game radio show last night. Saying that is one of the reasons the Griz were as good as they were, you know, like 15-20 years ago.

[Joe Bobcat]

Could not agree more. I was actually wondering a couple weeks ago what sets then FBS teams so far ahead of the FCS teams and I believe it’s the bowl games…….

Hear me out, bowl games allow an extra 2-4 weeks of practice each year, if you’re a senior that’s an extra year of practice.

NDSU has had that for almost a decade over every other FCS school their players have been allowed to practice way more than most schools. We got the same benefit last year, now we get an extra month compared to none playoff teams

Deep playoff runs mean more than games if builds depth in a different manner than we may have realized 10 years ago

Dan Davies made a similar comment on the post game radio show last night. Saying that is one of the reasons the Griz were as good as they were, you know, like 15-20 years ago.

Re: Bill and Mary @ Montana State 8:15pm Friday - ESPN2
Quote
Post by Joe Bobcat » Wed Dec 07, 2022 12:18 am

Since 2018 MSU has played 7 more games than W&M. In the past 2 years alone MSU has played 4 more games than W&M. If we look only at playoff games since 2018, MSU has played 10 games to W&M's 1 and 5:1 more in the last 2 years.

My point is that any extra games that either team has been able to play have been opportunities to help that team and its players develop and improve their skills. MSU has had many more of those opportunities, especially when it comes to playoff games where the competition should be the stiffest.

[Montanabob]

Could not agree more. I was actually wondering a couple weeks ago what sets then FBS teams so far ahead of the FCS teams and I believe it’s the bowl games…….

Hear me out, bowl games allow an extra 2-4 weeks of practice each year, if you’re a senior that’s an extra year of practice.

NDSU has had that for almost a decade over every other FCS school their players have been allowed to practice way more than most schools. We got the same benefit last year, now we get an extra month compared to none playoff teams

Deep playoff runs mean more than games if builds depth in a different manner than we may have realized 10 years ago

NDSU also carries 120 players and not 105 like most.

Is there no limit? Other than at 120, players should quit signing up.

Limit of 105 on the roster until the first day of class. Limit of 125 after class starts. Limit of 56 on travel squad. Limit of number on scholarship.

[BFcatfan]

Reading the W&M board tonight, it’s really a great bit of perspective to see them discussing how much better the Cats are than their team and how they aren’t prepared for a prime time program like MSU.

It wasn’t too long ago we were saying the exact same thing about playoff opponents laying the wood to us.

It’s been so amazing to be a fan during our program’s amazing growth the last 6-7 years. Can’t wait to see what the next 5 years bring!

Agreed, on a side note I stand down by the cannon every game, we love it there. I was watching the W&M crowd as the Spirit of the West took the field before the game, the introduction on the video board with Beth Dutton, the Horses running out on the field, the fireworks….the look on their faces were priceless… they were in awe…as I am every time. I love our Cats and we’re they have come from. But as a Cat fan I always go out of my way to show opposing teams and fans respect, I refuse to be the Griz fan who always had rude comments to me over the years. If they want to start trash talking to me first, I’m all in and usually win that battle…

[js1010]

The W&M perspective of the game last night is probably similar to ours in 2018 after we went into the fargodome and got thumped 52-10. I think that day Bobcat Nation fully understood the level of physicality and line play needed to hang at the top of the FCS. MSU then committed to the proverbial arms race we needed to in order to compete for a nation championship. It'll be interesting to see if W&M learned a similar lesson or not.

[Bobcat4Ever]

Could not agree more. I was actually wondering a couple weeks ago what sets then FBS teams so far ahead of the FCS teams and I believe it’s the bowl games…….

Hear me out, bowl games allow an extra 2-4 weeks of practice each year, if you’re a senior that’s an extra year of practice.

NDSU has had that for almost a decade over every other FCS school their players have been allowed to practice way more than most schools. We got the same benefit last year, now we get an extra month compared to none playoff teams

Deep playoff runs mean more than games if builds depth in a different manner than we may have realized 10 years ago

NDSU also carries 120 players and not 105 like most.

Is there no limit? Other than at 120, players should quit signing up.

Limit of 105 on the roster until the first day of class. Limit of 125 after class starts. Limit of 56 on travel squad. Limit of number on scholarship.

Thanks. I didn’t know the 125 number. Interesting.

[onceacat]

The W&M perspective of the game last night is probably similar to ours in 2018 after we went into the fargodome and got thumped 52-10. I think that day Bobcat Nation fully understood the level of physicality and line play needed to hang at the top of the FCS. MSU then committed to the proverbial arms race we needed to in order to compete for a nation championship. It'll be interesting to see if W&M learned a similar lesson or not.

OK, so obviously, JMU managed to do it...but with that said, I think its harder to do in VA than in MT or the Dakotas. What does Virginia have, something like 8 or 10 D1 schools? A few more if you add in the DC FCS schools. And even more close by in MD, WV, NC, etc. Plus, theres competition for eyeballs from other sports...basketball, soccer, NASCAR, etc.

One of the reasons that EWU has had such success over the years is that they were the only D1 team recruiting Washington state. (That changed under Choate, when we started poaching players like Ifanse out from under them)

Anyway, point being is that the MT & Dakotas have some really serious financial & recruiting advantages over the rest of the country.

So can teams like W&M or Richmond or HC or Fordham build the sort of depth in the trenches that we can here? Maybe, but its tough sledding.