The Bobcat Nation

Sorry, I'm throwing posts up here with almost everything that pops into my head. I'm even annoying myself! lol.
...
But seriously, I was thinking about how we've always wanted a Cat\Griz national championship in Frisco, or Nashville, or whatever... so we could play them for all the marbles on an even playing field. Maybe that's just me. So now, this isn't exactly the National Championship, but I think the vast majority of folks that follow FCS think it probably is... and the final game will just be a formality. So if you think that's a pretty good possibility now that the DSU monsters are out, how cool is it to realize that we get to play that game in Bobcat Stadium? This is epic.

I don’t think the natty is a formality. Whoever wins Saturday will have to play very well to win.

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 17, 2025 7:19 am

I don’t think the natty is a formality. Whoever wins Saturday will have to play very well to win.

I mean that is the professional answer and one the coaches would be hammering into the players.

But Cats or griz would likely be double digit favorites against either team on the other side in the championship.

ilovethecats wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 17, 2025 7:23 am

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 17, 2025 7:19 am

I don’t think the natty is a formality. Whoever wins Saturday will have to play very well to win.

I mean that is the professional answer and one the coaches would be hammering into the players.

But Cats or griz would likely be double digit favorites against either team on the other side in the championship.

Not saying I don’t disagree with the thought process here but let’s remember that NDSU was a double digit favorite two weeks ago as well and….

kmax wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 17, 2025 9:42 am

ilovethecats wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 17, 2025 7:23 am

CodyCat wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 17, 2025 7:19 am

I don’t think the natty is a formality. Whoever wins Saturday will have to play very well to win.

I mean that is the professional answer and one the coaches would be hammering into the players.

But Cats or griz would likely be double digit favorites against either team on the other side in the championship.

Not saying I don’t disagree with the thought process here but let’s remember that NDSU was a double digit favorite two weeks ago as well and….

No doubt! Upsets happen. Which is why the coaches and players would NEVER share this mindset. But old washed up fans can think this team is gonna roll with no effect whatsoever!

Seems like a lot of football Cinderella stories run out of steam with the two-week layoffs between semis and finals; conference championships and the Super Bowl. Illinois State is on a roll though. They've won 7 of 8, including wins over USD, SDSU, NDSU, SELA and UC Davis.

TomCat88 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 17, 2025 11:39 am

Seems like a lot of football Cinderella stories run out of steam with the two-week layoffs between semis and finals; conference championships and the Super Bowl. Illinois State is on a roll though. They've won 7 of 8, including wins over USD, SDSU, NDSU, SELA and UC Davis.

I agree 100%. Do not count them out. They are very dangerous and VERY capable of beating either Montana squad should they make it to the National Championship game! Seems like they are a team of destiny this year, and a great story!

"This is what we've always wanted."

Not me. I've never wanted to meet them in the playoffs, especially after winning the Brawl. Too much at stake, to much possible pain. I will be a nervous wreck until Saturday around 5 PM. Then I'll be either jubilant, or ready to dig a hole, crawl in, and die.

84CatGrad wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:10 pm

"This is what we've always wanted."

Not me. I've never wanted to meet them in the playoffs, especially after winning the Brawl. Too much at stake, to much possible pain. I will be a nervous wreck until Saturday around 5 PM. Then I'll be either jubilant, or ready to dig a hole, crawl in, and die.

ME, I’ve wanted to see the griz 2 x’s this year because I love the excuses and the silence from Hauck following the game. The gris have a nice team, but they are not coming into Bozeman and winning this game!

TomCat88 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 17, 2025 11:39 am

Seems like a lot of football Cinderella stories run out of steam with the two-week layoffs between semis and finals; conference championships and the Super Bowl. Illinois State is on a roll though. They've won 7 of 8, including wins over USD, SDSU, NDSU, SELA and UC Davis.

I think Illinois State would have lost last wekend to either MSU or UM. They got perfect matchup with a beat up and sick UCD. But, if they beat Nova have so.e time off and neutral site, watch out.

When we win, all this angst will have been so worth it. Sure there are no guarantees but I am very confident this team will do whatever needs to be done so they advance. We are along for one hell of a ride.

See? I told you this was what we always wanted. lol. I mean, I get it... it was a risk reward deal and if we would have lost that one it would have been majorly depressing. But, winning that one, the way they did... that's an incredible feeling.

“These are the good ol days”

wbtfg wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 21, 2025 7:23 pm

“These are the good ol days”

Need this on shirts.

wbtfg wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 21, 2025 7:23 pm

“These are the good ol days”

This is so true! Enjoy every moment of this, Bobcat Nation, it doesn't last forever. Just ask the griz.

This is while we are hot right now, we need to do our stadium expansion. Collect the money while we are a hot commodity and get it done.

Yep that one against the griz was just what I wanted. But mainly cause I knew we were way better. I thought we should have won by at least 2tds in Missoula but wasn’t going to bitch about a win.

We had a perfect storm in playoffs. Yale tested us and SFA wouldn’t go away. I was still never worried about losing those but I knew how the story would be told.

Griz were pulling out all the stops running trick plays and gimmicky crap to run up the scores. Think I read the term “fiddy burger” on egriz several times. Lol. Hauck knows EXACTLY what to do to control that fan base. They literally were convinced their offense was unstoppable and they were peaking while the Cats regressed. I loved it cause I knew it wasn’t true.

I figured we’d win by around 20 in this one. Even when they took the lead, just like when I was watching in Missoula I was never worried about losing. Then we rattle off 28 straight before they knew what hit them.

This rematch was just what I wanted. Imagine being 13-2 but your only losses were to your rival!

That was a great weekend and the one in two weeks will be even better! Keep enjoying the ride!!

The grisllies are arguably the weakest team we beat in the playoffs. Yales lines were far superior and SFA's athleticism and execution were much better.

thefrank1 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 22, 2025 12:13 pm

The grisllies are arguably the weakest team we beat in the playoffs. Yales lines were far superior and SFA's athleticism and execution were much better.

I wouldn't say the weakest. They probably have better players top to bottom than either of those teams. Most dependent on momentum? Absolutely. They showed it all year, never really playing complete games. That’s why this game turned into 3 "stanzas" and got more out of hand than the others. I do think those other teams could have given them really good games though.

That's how I planned to spell GRISLLIES from now on. You get the benefit of GRIS and then include the two losses.