Illinois State

[ZebraCat]

Rarely do you see a team come out of nowhere, get hot one year, and win it all, whether that’s high school, college, or the pros.

We did it in '84. Illinois State could do it this year. The Cats had better have their poop in a group.

I'm surprised you even think we have a chance.

.
Of course we have a chance. A better than average one.

But don't underestimate ISU. They're a cinderella team on a roll with a whole bunch of really big strong guys who believe they can win this thing. And they could, if the Cats don't do everything right.

Well, considering you thought the Cats were toast 2 weeks ago, I'm just flabbergasted you think we can win.

[VimSince03]

From a poster on the Redbird Forum:

Just watched the UCD @ Mont St game from Nov 15. MSU won 38-17. Couple observations as this score was very misleading. MSU struggled to consistently move the ball against UCD. First some stats:

First downs were UCD 28 to 15. Rush 1st downs were 19 to 7 in favor of UCD ... that was the stunner given Mont St runs so much and so well.

Total Yards were UCD 424 to 377. Not surprisingly, UCD out-passed MST by 234 to 144.

Problem was Pinnick threw 2 picks .. a horrendous throw and pick 6 for 83 yards, and then another pick returned 30+ yards to the 20, that they scored a TD a few plays later. On the pick 6 for 83 yards, down 17-7, UCD had drive to their 26. Could have closed score to 17-10 or 17-14. Instead MSU goes up 21-7.

So it wasn't like UCD was getting beat decisively at all. They were moving the ball far better than MDSU was. IN 12 drives, UCD's best starting field position all game was at 27 twice. But their avg field position all game was the 20 yard line. Ours was slightly worse, just below 18 yard line.

But comparing drive chart stats against UCD is what jumped out the most for me:

- MSU had the following drives against UCD: 80, 75, 63, 56, 25, 23, 20, 9, 6, 2. MSU punted 4 times, and missed a FG.
- ISU had the following top drives against UCD: 94, 93, 80, 80, 75, 67, 33 (pick), 12. ISU punted once, threw a pick, and missed a FG

Games were played 4 weeks apart. MST was playing at Home. We were on the Road of course. To say nothing of what we did to the Bison on the Road. Bison stats are even more dominant than MST.

MSU also struggled to move the ball against SDSU and lost in OT in a low scoring game. Granted that game was week 2. Our was week 11 and QB was out for our game. We jumped to 35-0 lead with some great plays and a little bit of good fortune. Now whether we went conservative much earlier than usual (i assume), or SDSU battled back to lose just 35-21 .. I dont know. But this Bobcat offense has struggled to move the ball against our 2 common opponents.

Game will still come down to the play in trenches. But their OL isnt big .. just 1 guy over 300 at 315, 2 guys at 300, and then 2 guys around 285-290. Theyve got what looks like their 4 go to guys on offense .. #8 QB true dual threat will run a lot, #32 RB looks more dominant but nowhere near as physical as Dawson or Wright. Then #23 RB looks very solid, and the #14 WR (5'9" 170).

I was also looking at our offensive stats the last 3 games ... sure our defense has stepped up in playoffs. But what I didn't expect was how much offensive improvement against these 3 very good teams. I looked at their historical Comparisons of prior opponent .... ignoring the 2 FBS games (UCD and Nova), our offense outplayed every single opponent (34 teams) except maybe 2 or 3. And for NDSU, it wasn't close for any of their 12 FCS opponents. I was looking at stats like Total Yards, First Downs, Pass vs Rush, etc.

We will have to spy their QB all game, because he will run at any time .. seems like the coach gives him a full green light to take off. He runs pretty well, but straight up a lot. Not super fast or quick, just fast enough and sees field very well at 6'2". Couple big hits on his tall frame could change his attitude about running so much.

I hope our OL is healing up and we get Wenkers Wright back to spell Dawson some. Starting to feel like our physicality and skill play will surprise them a fair amount. To see their offense struggle at Home against a defense we dominated on Road.

Cool, their posters sound like they like to play the transitive property game too. But they seem to leave out is UC Davis had a bad case of the injury bug and also I believe a number of their players literally had the bug when they were playing them. They also got the joy of playing SDSU when their team was completely handicapped.

Jacob Psyk (who I believe was 2nd in voting for DPOY in the Big Sky) did not play against Illinois State. They also had another dlineman go down I think or LB. Regardless, defensively UC Davis was way outperforming expectations and they finally just ran out of gas.

We do need to limit the explosives on the ground or just the 1st down production. These guys are not afraid to play the TOP game like Ecks Idaho teams did for years. We need to get up on them and make Rittenhouse do it again through the air.

[kwcat]

[Montanabob]

Guy on the right could be poster child for Buc-ee's!

[Cledus]

Playing in the natty last year will keep everyone grounded...losing by 3 last year really irked the young men, so I don't see them squandering this moment. I think that is the piece not enough people are factoring in. Almost everyone on the team was in frisco last year. They were good enough to win, and they know it. I see them coming out super focused and ensuring we get the win.

Yeah, I think Vigen’s pointing out ISU beat the team that MSU hasn’t been able to beat since 2009, on the road. Plus, at this point nobody wants to be the one who loses to an unseeded team.

[RyeCat]

From a poster on the Redbird Forum:

Just watched the UCD @ Mont St game from Nov 15. MSU won 38-17. Couple observations as this score was very misleading. MSU struggled to consistently move the ball against UCD. First some stats:

First downs were UCD 28 to 15. Rush 1st downs were 19 to 7 in favor of UCD ... that was the stunner given Mont St runs so much and so well.

Total Yards were UCD 424 to 377. Not surprisingly, UCD out-passed MST by 234 to 144.

Problem was Pinnick threw 2 picks .. a horrendous throw and pick 6 for 83 yards, and then another pick returned 30+ yards to the 20, that they scored a TD a few plays later. On the pick 6 for 83 yards, down 17-7, UCD had drive to their 26. Could have closed score to 17-10 or 17-14. Instead MSU goes up 21-7.

So it wasn't like UCD was getting beat decisively at all. They were moving the ball far better than MDSU was. IN 12 drives, UCD's best starting field position all game was at 27 twice. But their avg field position all game was the 20 yard line. Ours was slightly worse, just below 18 yard line.

But comparing drive chart stats against UCD is what jumped out the most for me:

- MSU had the following drives against UCD: 80, 75, 63, 56, 25, 23, 20, 9, 6, 2. MSU punted 4 times, and missed a FG.
- ISU had the following top drives against UCD: 94, 93, 80, 80, 75, 67, 33 (pick), 12. ISU punted once, threw a pick, and missed a FG

Games were played 4 weeks apart. MST was playing at Home. We were on the Road of course. To say nothing of what we did to the Bison on the Road. Bison stats are even more dominant than MST.

MSU also struggled to move the ball against SDSU and lost in OT in a low scoring game. Granted that game was week 2. Our was week 11 and QB was out for our game. We jumped to 35-0 lead with some great plays and a little bit of good fortune. Now whether we went conservative much earlier than usual (i assume), or SDSU battled back to lose just 35-21 .. I dont know. But this Bobcat offense has struggled to move the ball against our 2 common opponents.

Game will still come down to the play in trenches. But their OL isnt big .. just 1 guy over 300 at 315, 2 guys at 300, and then 2 guys around 285-290. Theyve got what looks like their 4 go to guys on offense .. #8 QB true dual threat will run a lot, #32 RB looks more dominant but nowhere near as physical as Dawson or Wright. Then #23 RB looks very solid, and the #14 WR (5'9" 170).

I was also looking at our offensive stats the last 3 games ... sure our defense has stepped up in playoffs. But what I didn't expect was how much offensive improvement against these 3 very good teams. I looked at their historical Comparisons of prior opponent .... ignoring the 2 FBS games (UCD and Nova), our offense outplayed every single opponent (34 teams) except maybe 2 or 3. And for NDSU, it wasn't close for any of their 12 FCS opponents. I was looking at stats like Total Yards, First Downs, Pass vs Rush, etc.

We will have to spy their QB all game, because he will run at any time .. seems like the coach gives him a full green light to take off. He runs pretty well, but straight up a lot. Not super fast or quick, just fast enough and sees field very well at 6'2". Couple big hits on his tall frame could change his attitude about running so much.

I hope our OL is healing up and we get Wenkers Wright back to spell Dawson some. Starting to feel like our physicality and skill play will surprise them a fair amount. To see their offense struggle at Home against a defense we dominated on Road.

Cool, their posters sound like they like to play the transitive property game too. But they seem to leave out is UC Davis had a bad case of the injury bug and also I believe a number of their players literally had the bug when they were playing them. They also got the joy of playing SDSU when their team was completely handicapped.

Jacob Psyk (who I believe was 2nd in voting for DPOY in the Big Sky) did not play against Illinois State. They also had another dlineman go down I think or LB. Regardless, defensively UC Davis was way outperforming expectations and they finally just ran out of gas.

We do need to limit the explosives on the ground or just the 1st down production. These guys are not afraid to play the TOP game like Ecks Idaho teams did for years. We need to get up on them and make Rittenhouse do it again through the air.

That UCD team that played ISU was a glimmer of what came to Bobcat stadium and had showed up against Rhode Island. I keep seeing all of these ISU fans warning everyone not to underestimate the Redbirds because they dethroned
NDSU. I hope they’re over confident and keep pounding their chests just like SFA and the Griz over the last few weeks.

[GoCats18]

So, the NDSU team that lost to Illinois State was nowhere close to the Bison teams of the past. QB out, they looked horrible and the list goes on. The one thing I hope the Cats do differently this year, is just go there and play the damn game. Don’t worry about the history, the alumni, the past players, the other team…..just go play 4 freakin quarters of Montana State football and let’s get this thing done. 51 weeks since we almost put together a come back and won the last one, in a game that we should have controlled from the beginning. Best of luck Cats. Hope we pack that place in Blue and Gold!!!

[TomCat88]

So, the NDSU team that lost to Illinois State was nowhere close to the Bison teams of the past. QB out, they looked horrible and the list goes on. The one thing I hope the Cats do differently this year, is just go there and play the damn game. Don’t worry about the history, the alumni, the past players, the other team…..just go play 4 freakin quarters of Montana State football and let’s get this thing done. 51 weeks since we almost put together a come back and won the last one, in a game that we should have controlled from the beginning. Best of luck Cats. Hope we pack that place in Blue and Gold!!!

What all was off with NDSU? The QB didn't get hurt until the last possession when he was sacked, fumbled the ball away and broke his thumb. So, I don't think that was why they were so bad on offense that day. Did Lance get hurt? His only catch was right at the beginning of the game for a long TD. I think RB Kpeenu played all game.

Against UCD, ISU got a 91-yard KO return TD and a 93-yard TD pass in the first quarter. They had a couple other big plays in that game 37-yard TD pass, 58-yard TD run. UCD fumbled at the end of a 65-yard pass play.

ISU held NDSU to about 180 yards, then allowed around 530 to UCD the next week. They played good defense against SELa and Nova.

[Bocephus]

So, the NDSU team that lost to Illinois State was nowhere close to the Bison teams of the past. QB out, they looked horrible and the list goes on. The one thing I hope the Cats do differently this year, is just go there and play the damn game. Don’t worry about the history, the alumni, the past players, the other team…..just go play 4 freakin quarters of Montana State football and let’s get this thing done. 51 weeks since we almost put together a come back and won the last one, in a game that we should have controlled from the beginning. Best of luck Cats. Hope we pack that place in Blue and Gold!!!

What all was off with NDSU? The QB didn't get hurt until the last possession when he was sacked, fumbled the ball away and broke his thumb. So, I don't think that was why they were so bad on offense that day. Did Lance get hurt? His only catch was right at the beginning of the game for a long TD. I think RB Kpeenu played all game.

Against UCD, ISU got a 91-yard KO return TD and a 93-yard TD pass in the first quarter. They had a couple other big plays in that game 37-yard TD pass, 58-yard TD run. UCD fumbled at the end of a 65-yard pass play.

ISU held NDSU to about 180 yards, then allowed around 530 to UCD the next week. They played good defense against SELa and Nova.

Reading NDSU threads, there was a bunch of complaining about the offensive play calling. Could that just have been a function of ISU’s D?

[PortlandCat90]

Ah, damn. I bought airline for 4, AirBNB for 8, 4 game tickets, Uber, etc. for Nashville. Appears that we are playing in Frisco. Can somebody confirm before I start making changes?

0:33 second mark: "This isn’t Little League soccer…we’re not playing for participation ribbons…we are here to win. And that is what we going to Frisco to do – is win.”

[TomCat88]

So, the NDSU team that lost to Illinois State was nowhere close to the Bison teams of the past. QB out, they looked horrible and the list goes on. The one thing I hope the Cats do differently this year, is just go there and play the damn game. Don’t worry about the history, the alumni, the past players, the other team…..just go play 4 freakin quarters of Montana State football and let’s get this thing done. 51 weeks since we almost put together a come back and won the last one, in a game that we should have controlled from the beginning. Best of luck Cats. Hope we pack that place in Blue and Gold!!!

What all was off with NDSU? The QB didn't get hurt until the last possession when he was sacked, fumbled the ball away and broke his thumb. So, I don't think that was why they were so bad on offense that day. Did Lance get hurt? His only catch was right at the beginning of the game for a long TD. I think RB Kpeenu played all game.

Against UCD, ISU got a 91-yard KO return TD and a 93-yard TD pass in the first quarter. They had a couple other big plays in that game 37-yard TD pass, 58-yard TD run. UCD fumbled at the end of a 65-yard pass play.

ISU held NDSU to about 180 yards, then allowed around 530 to UCD the next week. They played good defense against SELa and Nova.

Reading NDSU threads, there was a bunch of complaining about the offensive play calling. Could that just have been a function of ISU’s D?

Complaining about offensive play calling is a 'go-to' excuse among fans. I'm not saying they're wrong but there's usually more to it than that, such as the opposing defense as you mentioned or execution. NDSU lost possessions due to the punt and INT return TDs, so that skewed its stats and could've gotten it out of sync. But I just expected to hear that a bunch of players were injured, or they had the flu.

[Cataholic]

Ah, damn. I bought airline for 4, AirBNB for 8, 4 game tickets, Uber, etc. for Nashville. Appears that we are playing in Frisco. Can somebody confirm before I start making changes?

0:33 second mark: "This isn’t Little League soccer…we’re not playing for participation ribbons…we are here to win. And that is what we going to Frisco to do – is win.”

It was an old speech from 11 years ago. Not sure why it was reposted here.

[PortlandCat90]

Ah, damn. I bought airline for 4, AirBNB for 8, 4 game tickets, Uber, etc. for Nashville. Appears that we are playing in Frisco. Can somebody confirm before I start making changes?

0:33 second mark: "This isn’t Little League soccer…we’re not playing for participation ribbons…we are here to win. And that is what we going to Frisco to do – is win.”

It was an old speech from 11 years ago. Not sure why it was reposted here.

Haha...you think if I would have stopped and thought for a moment I wouldn't have made that dUMb mistake. And I'm still a week away from Broadway Street on Saturday night. Promise to make amends on the upcoming Look-a-Like Thread.

[Cataholic]

Ah, damn. I bought airline for 4, AirBNB for 8, 4 game tickets, Uber, etc. for Nashville. Appears that we are playing in Frisco. Can somebody confirm before I start making changes?

0:33 second mark: "This isn’t Little League soccer…we’re not playing for participation ribbons…we are here to win. And that is what we going to Frisco to do – is win.”

It was an old speech from 11 years ago. Not sure why it was reposted here.

Haha...you think if I would have stopped and thought for a moment I wouldn't have made that dUMb mistake. And I'm still a week away from Broadway Street on Saturday night. Promise to make amends on the upcoming Look-a-Like Thread.

Haha! I only checked the video date after you mentioned it. I am guessing the original poster never noticed either.

[St George]

First let me congratulate the Red Birds for their Cinderella Season so far. For them to understand the grit and determination of the Montana State Bobcats I suggest they watch the Documentary “The Miracle in Missoula”. The young man leading the Bobcats that year as Quarterback is a linebacker and now plays in the NFL. This team this year is an even better team.

[CodyCat]

First let me congratulate the Red Birds for their Cinderella Season so far. For them to understand the grit and determination of the Montana State Bobcats I suggest they watch the Documentary “The Miracle in Missoula”. The young man leading the Bobcats that year as Quarterback is a linebacker and now plays in the NFL. This team this year is an even better team.

This years team is light years better than the Miracle in Missoula team.

[DMMDCats]

Nice deal for ISU students:

Illinois State Football is traveling to Nashville to take on Montanta St in the FCS National Championship, and we want YOU to be there!

ALL students to submit their request through this promo code will get the special price of $50 tickets to the game. Once tickets are allocated to you on the 29th, your card will be charged.

https://goredbirds.evenue.net/promotions/ISUFCS

[WalkOn79]

So, the NDSU team that lost to Illinois State was nowhere close to the Bison teams of the past. QB out, they looked horrible and the list goes on. The one thing I hope the Cats do differently this year, is just go there and play the damn game. Don’t worry about the history, the alumni, the past players, the other team…..just go play 4 freakin quarters of Montana State football and let’s get this thing done. 51 weeks since we almost put together a come back and won the last one, in a game that we should have controlled from the beginning. Best of luck Cats. Hope we pack that place in Blue and Gold!!!

What all was off with NDSU? The QB didn't get hurt until the last possession when he was sacked, fumbled the ball away and broke his thumb. So, I don't think that was why they were so bad on offense that day. Did Lance get hurt? His only catch was right at the beginning of the game for a long TD. I think RB Kpeenu played all game.

Against UCD, ISU got a 91-yard KO return TD and a 93-yard TD pass in the first quarter. They had a couple other big plays in that game 37-yard TD pass, 58-yard TD run. UCD fumbled at the end of a 65-yard pass play.

ISU held NDSU to about 180 yards, then allowed around 530 to UCD the next week. They played good defense against SELa and Nova.

Reading NDSU threads, there was a bunch of complaining about the offensive play calling. Could that just have been a function of ISU’s D?

Dom Izzo also said this OL was one of their weakest in a decade.

[Common Cat]

They have a three headed monster in Rittenhouse, Sobkowicz, and Dawson. It all comes down to Tommy Rittenhouse who is on an absolute terror through the playoffs.

[TomCat88]

They have a three headed monster in Rittenhouse, Sobkowicz, and Dawson. It all comes down to Tommy Rittenhouse who is on an absolute terror through the playoffs.

Tear. lol but he has been a terror of sorts.