Yale at No. 2 Montana State - Skyline Sports

[AFCAT]

I like what JP said about the Yale football player mentality, that they're meatheads who love football. It's easy to focus on the "nerdy" side of being students at Yale, but they're also very smart, intelligent young men. And let's not forget, the Cats QB is a graduate of Stanford, not exactly a community college. In order to graduate from schools like that you must be a very good student. Not to discount the students at MSU, especially the engineering students, but the days of football players being "big, dumb, jocks" is gone.

Brody Grebe was recruited by Yale and Adam Jones was recruited by Columbia.

[nanacat]

I like what JP said about the Yale football player mentality, that they're meatheads who love football. It's easy to focus on the "nerdy" side of being students at Yale, but they're also very smart, intelligent young men. And let's not forget, the Cats QB is a graduate of Stanford, not exactly a community college. In order to graduate from schools like that you must be a very good student. Not to discount the students at MSU, especially the engineering students, but the days of football players being "big, dumb, jocks" is gone.

Brody Grebe was recruited by Yale and I believe Adam Jones was recruited by Columbia or Yale, can’t remember which one.

Interesting! I wasn't aware of that. But ya, Montana guys are not the dumb hicks the rest of the country thinks they are. There are some truly intelligent student athletes in Montana!

[AFCAT]

I like what JP said about the Yale football player mentality, that they're meatheads who love football. It's easy to focus on the "nerdy" side of being students at Yale, but they're also very smart, intelligent young men. And let's not forget, the Cats QB is a graduate of Stanford, not exactly a community college. In order to graduate from schools like that you must be a very good student. Not to discount the students at MSU, especially the engineering students, but the days of football players being "big, dumb, jocks" is gone.

Brody Grebe was recruited by Yale and I believe Adam Jones was recruited by Columbia or Yale, can’t remember which one.

Interesting! I wasn't aware of that. But ya, Montana guys are not the dumb hicks the rest of the country thinks they are. There are some truly intelligent student athletes in Montana!

I checked and Adam was recruited by Columbia.

[nanacat]

I like what JP said about the Yale football player mentality, that they're meatheads who love football. It's easy to focus on the "nerdy" side of being students at Yale, but they're also very smart, intelligent young men. And let's not forget, the Cats QB is a graduate of Stanford, not exactly a community college. In order to graduate from schools like that you must be a very good student. Not to discount the students at MSU, especially the engineering students, but the days of football players being "big, dumb, jocks" is gone.

Brody Grebe was recruited by Yale and I believe Adam Jones was recruited by Columbia or Yale, can’t remember which one.

Interesting! I wasn't aware of that. But ya, Montana guys are not the dumb hicks the rest of the country thinks they are. There are some truly intelligent student athletes in Montana!

I checked and Adam was recruited by Columbia.

Wow that's impressive. But I think he did better here

[Colter_Nuanez]

I like what JP said about the Yale football player mentality, that they're meatheads who love football. It's easy to focus on the "nerdy" side of being students at Yale, but they're also very smart, intelligent young men. And let's not forget, the Cats QB is a graduate of Stanford, not exactly a community college. In order to graduate from schools like that you must be a very good student. Not to discount the students at MSU, especially the engineering students, but the days of football players being "big, dumb, jocks" is gone.

Brody Grebe was recruited by Yale and I believe Adam Jones was recruited by Columbia or Yale, can’t remember which one.

Interesting! I wasn't aware of that. But ya, Montana guys are not the dumb hicks the rest of the country thinks they are. There are some truly intelligent student athletes in Montana!

I checked and Adam was recruited by Columbia.

Wow that's impressive. But I think he did better here

Adam joined me this week on Nuanez Now
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6dhJO4 ... ff4f874a36

[WalkOn79]

I love having new posters during the playoffs. Can you break down Yale’s strengths, weaknesses, and players to watch?

Only from the perspective of the bum in row 37 who's a couple deep. So don't believe anything I say.

• I think most of what you'll find out there is largely right. The offense runs through Pitsenberger and the strength of an offensive line that will be missing its starting left guard, a senior. Dante Reno has had his moments and frankly I've been pleasantly surprised by him; for all the ups and downs, he plays rather like you'd expect a raw guy in his first year of starting to play.
• The secondary is very capable in man coverage but has at times struggled with big receivers. Neither starting corner is taller than six feet. On the other hand, the nickel (number 4) has an NFL future, the linebackers get all over the field (watch especially for 24, the team's leading tackler) and number 2, an end –- if he plays –- has caused a lot of trouble up front.
• Tony Reno's wife is named Toni. That's a strength, right?

What I don't really buy is the suggestion that Yale will be intimidated by the setting or the moment. This team played in front of 52,000 people two weeks ago; they played on the road in front of 31,000 last year; Dante Reno has been on the field in SEC stadiums. Does MSU have a fantastic home field advantage? No question. Will altitude come into play? Probably -- the Yale basketball team struggled to adjust in its first-round NCAA tourney game in Denver this past March. Does all of that mean that these guys will be deers in headlights, and Tony Reno will have to take out the world's longest tape measure and do his best Norman Dale impression? I don't see it. I think this is a special season, the guys are fired up and don't really have anything to lose, and there's nothing really to feel pressure about.

Does all of that preclude them from losing 55-7? Of course not.

I was really bummed to hear Yale said no to Colters interviews.

Yeah, they tend to run a pretty tight ship. It's also finals season...and frankly I have no idea how the team is handling that (everything about this is new!), but I wouldn't be surprised if that's part of it.

A couple other thoughts:

• I had a conversation with a buddy on how we'd describe this game. I don't think it's Yale's most important of the last fifteen years (in retrospect, Harvard in 2016), or the biggest (couple options, maybe Harvard a couple weeks ago), or would even be the most gratifying if Yale won (probably Army in 2014)...but it might be the most fun.
• Everyone's talking in another thread about chili and whatever else in their tailgates. Where do I find those, and what should I bring?

I would concentrate on the Northwest side of the stadium. Just walk around and you won’t have any trouble finding food and drinks. With the early kickoff I doubt the tailgates will fill up until about 1030 or 1100 allowing for a great opportunity to get fed. You will be welcomed at most tailgates. Enjoy!

Bunch of Pussies!! I'm setting up at 8:30

[Colter_Nuanez]

[RockyBearCat]

A whiskey ditch is probably not known too many places outside Montana??

I asked for one in New York once and only got a blank stare in response.

Have you tried ordering a Caesar or even a red beer outside Montana. I once got a pint of Miller Lite and a pint of Tomato juice next to each other.

[D-Wreck]

A whiskey ditch is probably not known too many places outside Montana??

I asked for one in New York once and only got a blank stare in response.

I was today years old when I learned this was a Montana thing. I was 11 years old when I learned how to make a Jim Beam ditch the way my buddy's grandpa liked them. I did well enough I was welcome over anytime to use their pool table as long as I would bartend when needed. That old man was great!

[CodyCat]

I love having new posters during the playoffs. Can you break down Yale’s strengths, weaknesses, and players to watch?

Only from the perspective of the bum in row 37 who's a couple deep. So don't believe anything I say.

• I think most of what you'll find out there is largely right. The offense runs through Pitsenberger and the strength of an offensive line that will be missing its starting left guard, a senior. Dante Reno has had his moments and frankly I've been pleasantly surprised by him; for all the ups and downs, he plays rather like you'd expect a raw guy in his first year of starting to play.
• The secondary is very capable in man coverage but has at times struggled with big receivers. Neither starting corner is taller than six feet. On the other hand, the nickel (number 4) has an NFL future, the linebackers get all over the field (watch especially for 24, the team's leading tackler) and number 2, an end –- if he plays –- has caused a lot of trouble up front.
• Tony Reno's wife is named Toni. That's a strength, right?

What I don't really buy is the suggestion that Yale will be intimidated by the setting or the moment. This team played in front of 52,000 people two weeks ago; they played on the road in front of 31,000 last year; Dante Reno has been on the field in SEC stadiums. Does MSU have a fantastic home field advantage? No question. Will altitude come into play? Probably -- the Yale basketball team struggled to adjust in its first-round NCAA tourney game in Denver this past March. Does all of that mean that these guys will be deers in headlights, and Tony Reno will have to take out the world's longest tape measure and do his best Norman Dale impression? I don't see it. I think this is a special season, the guys are fired up and don't really have anything to lose, and there's nothing really to feel pressure about.

Does all of that preclude them from losing 55-7? Of course not.

I was really bummed to hear Yale said no to Colters interviews.

Yeah, they tend to run a pretty tight ship. It's also finals season...and frankly I have no idea how the team is handling that (everything about this is new!), but I wouldn't be surprised if that's part of it.

A couple other thoughts:

• I had a conversation with a buddy on how we'd describe this game. I don't think it's Yale's most important of the last fifteen years (in retrospect, Harvard in 2016), or the biggest (couple options, maybe Harvard a couple weeks ago), or would even be the most gratifying if Yale won (probably Army in 2014)...but it might be the most fun.
• Everyone's talking in another thread about chili and whatever else in their tailgates. Where do I find those, and what should I bring?

I would concentrate on the Northwest side of the stadium. Just walk around and you won’t have any trouble finding food and drinks. With the early kickoff I doubt the tailgates will fill up until about 1030 or 1100 allowing for a great opportunity to get fed. You will be welcomed at most tailgates. Enjoy!

Bunch of Pussies!! I'm setting up at 8:30

I totally agree!!!

[91catAlum]

A whiskey ditch is probably not known too many places outside Montana??

I asked for one in New York once and only got a blank stare in response.

Have you tried ordering a Caesar or even a red beer outside Montana. I once got a pint of Miller Lite and a pint of Tomato juice next to each other.

I was shocked I couldn't get a Caesar in Las Vegas. But you can get a great bloody Mary at many bars so I survived

[rfischer94]

I like what JP said about the Yale football player mentality, that they're meatheads who love football. It's easy to focus on the "nerdy" side of being students at Yale, but they're also very smart, intelligent young men. And let's not forget, the Cats QB is a graduate of Stanford, not exactly a community college. In order to graduate from schools like that you must be a very good student. Not to discount the students at MSU, especially the engineering students, but the days of football players being "big, dumb, jocks" is gone.

Brody Grebe was recruited by Yale and Adam Jones was recruited by Columbia.

Anyone who thinks football players are dumb knows nothing about the game. It requires an astonishing amount of intelligence to understand football. No one thinks chees players are dumb, but football is just chess with big people who hit each other

[SparkCat]

I listened to most the interviews this week. Akem is always great and honestly the most neutral former griz I have heard. I do find that most Cat personalities, Rider, Flynn, and Gregorak are extremely neutral and if anything are harder on the Cats than anyone.

After this last Brawl the narrative that the griz didn’t win the game because 3-5 plays is coping to the max. I’ll call a spade a spade and admit when the Cats play like garbage and I’ll admit when the griz are decent. This Cat/griz is funny because for every excuse they are coming up with, I could counter with, the game could have been a blowout favoring the Cats.

Jordan Tripp’s interview sounded like a child asking a parent for reassurance and sometimes I wish Colter would not give that reassurance and call out personalities on both sides when they are fishing for the ‘we are still good right?’ statements.

Colter I love your work, and will always support it, even bought a dumb hat to show support, so dammit I’ll have my critiques here and there.

[NewEra]

I listened to most the interviews this week. Akem is always great and honestly the most neutral former griz I have heard. I do find that most Cat personalities, Rider, Flynn, and Gregorak are extremely neutral and if anything are harder on the Cats than anyone.

After this last Brawl the narrative that the griz didn’t win the game because 3-5 plays is coping to the max. I’ll call a spade a spade and admit when the Cats play like garbage and I’ll admit when the griz are decent. This Cat/griz is funny because for every excuse they are coming up with, I could counter with, the game could have been a blowout favoring the Cats.

Jordan Tripp’s interview sounded like a child asking a parent for reassurance and sometimes I wish Colter would not give that reassurance and call out personalities on both sides when they are fishing for the ‘we are still good right?’ statements.

Colter I love your work, and will always support it, even bought a dumb hat to show support, so dammit I’ll have my critiques here and there.

Couldn’t agree more. I couldn’t stand Akem last year when skyline brought him on but he has done an excellent job this year with his analysis and being neutral. I really enjoy his podcasts, especially when it’s him and colter. I enjoy all of them, including Schmidt even though he is a griz homer and hates on the cats he is at least amusing and a fun listen. Tripp is honestly the one I can’t stand. Annoying and in some ways pretty whinny, especially that last pod making excuse after excuse as to why the Griz lost. I’m sure he will get better but his Griz alliance, while I do get, but it really holds him back imo during his podcasts. I’ll be skipping him going forward that’s for sure.

[94VegasCat]

@Colter_Nuanez who was the coach at the post game from Yale? He wasn’t the HC was he?

[Colter_Nuanez]

@Colter_Nuanez who was the coach at the post game from Yale? He wasn’t the HC was he?

"The Head Coach for the Defense". That's what the smartest people in the world call the defensive coordinator. And he didn't have a mic of a spot at the table. Their head coach apparently doesn't do interviews....

[coloradocat]

@Colter_Nuanez who was the coach at the post game from Yale? He wasn’t the HC was he?

"The Head Coach for the Defense". That's what the smartest people in the world call the defensive coordinator. And he didn't have a mic of a spot at the table. Their head coach apparently doesn't do interviews....

Speaking to the commoners is beneath him.

[Colter_Nuanez]

I listened to most the interviews this week. Akem is always great and honestly the most neutral former griz I have heard. I do find that most Cat personalities, Rider, Flynn, and Gregorak are extremely neutral and if anything are harder on the Cats than anyone.

After this last Brawl the narrative that the griz didn’t win the game because 3-5 plays is coping to the max. I’ll call a spade a spade and admit when the Cats play like garbage and I’ll admit when the griz are decent. This Cat/griz is funny because for every excuse they are coming up with, I could counter with, the game could have been a blowout favoring the Cats.

Jordan Tripp’s interview sounded like a child asking a parent for reassurance and sometimes I wish Colter would not give that reassurance and call out personalities on both sides when they are fishing for the ‘we are still good right?’ statements.

Colter I love your work, and will always support it, even bought a dumb hat to show support, so dammit I’ll have my critiques here and there.

I love you guys and your critiques and how smart it is!

I made a goal a long time ago as a newspaper sports reporter who got into radio to not become Skip Bayless or Jay Mariotta or Steven A Smith. I know argumentative segments get the most traction and are entertaining. And we do that form time to time. And I certainly entertain inflammatory analysts like Schmidt.

I tend to not push back on most of my analysts because I'm the facilitator and they are the expert (in that scenario) because I don't want to have an argument, I want them to unveil their opinion at the highest level.

I also hate the Griz excuse making and the spin. It's political smoke screening at its finest. You can say this, that, this, that, but at the end of the day, the Griz had the Cats in third and medium/long three times and fourth down once and couldnt' get off the field with 7 minutes left in the 4th quarter. That's the game. And I said that with Jordan.

That said, Jordan is one of the sharpest people I've EVER worked with in this business. He will be on network TV if he wants to be. I don't even think it's a debate.