The Bobcat Nation

We are three days away from the best sporting event in the world.

I love Cat/Griz and the anticipation is intense every year.

So here's the question-- what has you confident going into this game and what has you nervous going into this game?

Here's mine.

Confident:

-The Cats are the better team in virtually every category. They score more points and they allow fewer points and the margins aren't all that close. Even the strength of schedule argument that Griz fans leaned on so hard all season has evaporated.

-The Cats are at home. They have not lost a regular season game inside Bobcat Stadium in 1,866 days. They haven't lost a Brawl inside Bobcat Stadium in 3,287 days. Bobcat Stadium isn't Wa Griz, but the homefield advantage has become even more pronounced.

Nervous:

-Last year, the Griz settled their QB controversy and caught lightning in a bottle. The whole team started playing better after they benched Vidlak and rode with McDowell. One concern I have is that the forced switch to Fife will create a similar dynamic.

-The rumors are that Hauck has been working on his gameplan for this contest basically all season. Vigen has come to understand and vocalize that this isn't just another game, but you can tell that he still brings the mindset that he wants to keep his approach the same and just execute. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm a little nervous that Hauck will have a lot of surprises in this one that could end up creating big swings.

It's a fuuny game. If this was Cal Poly or someone and they had the exact same record and stats as the Griz coming in, I'd say the Cats roll by 30 at home. But Cat griz is just something different. I can't think of a single aspect of their team that they are better than the Cats. And I still like us winning big. But nothing in this game would shock me.

But I've said all along this team is just different. After the way we got smashed in Missoula last year, the way our season ended with NDSU, and what is in front of us with a win Saturday, I just can't fathom the Cats losing.

As long as I’m alive I will always be nervous and anxious about this game. That 97 game scarred this guy, hard. Last week’s finish didn’t help either.

Confident: same stuff that you listed above, and we have a senior led team that shouldn’t get overwhelmed or panic if some stuff doesn’t go right.
The Cats are just the better team, and it’s clear, the most important matchups are in our favor. Our run game and OL vs their front 6. That should be enough right there. And then our D line vs their O-line, advantage Cats again.


Nervous: I mean it’s Cat/griz, anything can happen. 2011 happened.
A big part of why the griz offense has been so inconsistent and pedestrian at times is because of the goofy ass 2 qb system they’ve been trying all year. I don’t think that’ll be the case this game. I think they go with Fife for the whole game and there is no doubt the griz offense flows better with him back there. So the question is; how much better? Cats should win by a couple scores still, but is it a 45-34 type game where Cats have to score to keep pace/stay ahead? Or does the Cat D just dominate the griz offense regardless of who is at QB and we turn it into another run away to keep with the current trend?

Confident: In addition to the above, we have depth and the ability to adapt to what opponents throw at us during the game without waiting for halftime. We're not as one dimensional as we've been in the past. Our defense is smart enough to recognize what the griz are doing and shut it down. We won't fold if things don't go well.

Nervous: As much as we can adjust to what comes, you just never know what Bobbi is going to come up with for this game. The griz have no problem headhunting and if Tommy goes out Chance will be overwhelmed.

Griz haven't won in Bozeman in nearly a decade. I don't see that run ending Saturday

as stated above, gris ride fife the whole game. they have no chance with ah yat. i think they will come out slinging the ball, lots of slants and 5 wr sets.

if they use the 2qb system fife will be gone when they are out of the playoffs.

Does anyone know what the most amount of points a team gas scored in Bobcat stadium? If this somehow turns into an offensive battle I have a very hard time seeing Fife being able to keep up with our squad. They have incredible wr and rbs but their ol is just average and it will be the difference.

hokeyfine wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 20, 2024 10:34 am

if they use the 2qb system fife will be gone when they are out of the playoffs.

If Fife is smart he may be gone anyway even if they don't use the 2 QB system. Hauck Tuah wants to show he can groom a freshman Quarterback and mold him into a winner. You know he will run 2 QB's next year.

Confident: We're 11-0 and just don't lose at home. We're relatively healthy. We have a very good team and good coaches.

Nervous: The griz have a good team. What are they, 8-3? They're arguably the 3rd best team we'll play in the regular season. I don't expect a Sac State type blowout in this one. Their funky defense sure stopped our offense last season-will it work again-especially with the wrinkles they'll install. UC Davis showed that our run game can be held down. Potential bad weather and an oblong ball make for funny, lucky bounces and griz luck is boundless.

1st team D has not given up much at home this year. The most scored in Bobcat Stadium this year was 24 by Maine. At least 10 of those points came against the 2nd and 3rd stringers.

This game reminds me of the times 5-6 years ago when we played NDSU. Our interior lines just couldn’t hold up. Without Gubner, they are in the same boat. They have good skill players, but I think they are out matched on the O and D line. Expect Daly to dial up pressure to get Fife on his heels.

If the Cats can force the gris to not score on 2 out of 3 of their first drives, they will take control of the game.

Monymony wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 20, 2024 10:38 am

Does anyone know what the most amount of points a team gas scored in Bobcat stadium? If this somehow turns into an offensive battle I have a very hard time seeing Fife being able to keep up with our squad. They have incredible wr and rbs but their ol is just average and it will be the difference.

86 points in 1985 against Eastern Oregon is the record for points in Bobcat Stadium. The Cats have scored 86 points twice but only once in the current stadium.

The fact that it's in Bozeman makes me confident. Nobody has come close to giving us a good game there, even Idaho got their doors blown off and they are a much better team than um especially on defense.

Nervous because it doesn't matter who's favored, it's Cat-griz and anything can happen. Look at 2016, the griz were at home playing for a playoff spot, the Cats were 1-6 in conference and went into missoula with a true freshman QB who couldn't throw. The point spread was 27 points or 24 points can't remember exactly, but as we all know the Cats pulled off the huge upset. Things like that happen sometimes.

I am confident that the bobcats are the better team, offense, defense and special teams. I am confident there are a group of determined seniors that really want to win.
I am nervous because the best team doesn't always win in these emotional games. I believe the cats were the better team last year and they got trounced. Momentum is a big driver in college football. I think deputy Fife has a hot hand right now and I can see a seam route for 80 yards on the first series to set the tone for the game. I've been a bobcat fan for way to long to anticipate anything but some fortunate bounces for the dark pink guys.

Confident:
1. Our OL+TE's vs their Defensive front, they just don't have the horses they have had in the front that they have had in the past.
2. Our defensive front vs their run game. their OL is average at best, I don't think they will be able to run between the tackles, and they are not as good on the edge, and we are pretty good at holding the edge.
3. Tommy, his improvement in the pass game and his ability to take one to the house from anywhere on the field. He adds a tone of pressure to the defense in every play.
4. Its in Bozeman

Nervous:
1. Their quick passing game, if Fife can get the ball out quick our secondary is going to need to break it up or get them on the ground immediately.
2. Bobby pulling a few tricks out of his ass, if they are successful it could change momentum.
3. Turnovers, neither team has been bad on turnovers but they are closely ranked, Cats need to win the turnover game or at least not have multiple turnovers.
4. Its Cat/gris anything can happen

cats2506 wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 20, 2024 11:12 am

Their quick passing game, if Fife can get the ball out quick our secondary is going to need to break it up or get them on the ground immediately.

I'm not going to harp on the defense because they've been fantastic all year. But that tackling in the 4th quarter against Davis was pretty awful.

The more I think about that game, the happier I am. We found a way to win and finally got tested since the first game of the season. I think that bodes well for the Brawl as well as the playoffs.

Catsrgrood wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 20, 2024 10:12 am

Confident: same stuff that you listed above, and we have a senior led team that shouldn’t get overwhelmed or panic if some stuff doesn’t go right.
The Cats are just the better team, and it’s clear, the most important matchups are in our favor. Our run game and OL vs their front 6. That should be enough right there. And then our D line vs their O-line, advantage Cats again.


Nervous: I mean it’s Cat/griz, anything can happen. 2011 happened.
A big part of why the griz offense has been so inconsistent and pedestrian at times is because of the goofy ass 2 qb system they’ve been trying all year. I don’t think that’ll be the case this game. I think they go with Fife for the whole game and there is no doubt the griz offense flows better with him back there. So the question is; how much better? Cats should win by a couple scores still, but is it a 45-34 type game where Cats have to score to keep pace/stay ahead? Or does the Cat D just dominate the griz offense regardless of who is at QB and we turn it into another run away to keep with the current trend?

Regarding 2011, I can tell you for a fact the players and coaches weren’t real confident about the Cat-Griz game. Those Ash teams had talent, but they were never mentally tough.

Confident that our offense will be effective in both the run and pass game. Gris don’t have the talent to play us without stacking the box and that’s going to leave a lot of space for our receivers and tight ends to operate in the intermediate pass game. Even with a stacked box our O-line will open some holes and the RBs will get their yards.

Nervous that I won’t be able to sneak in enough Jell-O shots and schnapps to account for all of our scoring.

Hell I'm confident/nervous for every game. I think if we don't turn the ball over, we win the game going away. If we go -2 in the turnover margin, we beat them but its close. If we completely go in the tank, they win by one score.