Perspective

[nanacat]

After looking through all the posts tonight following the game it caused me to get some perspective.

Cats lost to SDSU in a slugfest by 4 with a very real chance to win in the final seconds. Can't remember the expected point spread but I feel like it was more than 4. Disappointing result but alot to be positive about looking ahead.

Lost to Idaho in a very ugly game by 3 with a very good chance to win in the final seconds. Cats were favored but honestly could have lost by alot more. Extremely disappointing result but still alot to be positive about looking ahead.

It's very easy to have a doomsday perspective but I think that's incorrect and way too reactive.

This is still a very special and talented team with all the ability to make it to Frisco again. I'm choosing to have that perspective.

[John K]

Look at how down and frustrated and upset everyone was after Cat-griz in 2021, myself included. I predicted that we might win one game in the playoffs, and then get blasted by SHSU in the quarterfinals. We all know how that season turned out

[TomCat88]

It’s tough to beat good teams on the road back to back. MSU played a late game and turned around on a short week to play a team that had a bye. Not too many teams have played a tougher road schedule and it’s not like the Bobcats are getting blown out.

[catscat]

I think most Cat fans share your perspective, but are disappointed because most likely our path to the chipper most likely just got harder. Someone did an analysis of how important home field is to getting to and winning the championship and it's the path of least resistance by a significant margin. Can we do it? Sure and I will be at every home game yelling my a__ off trying to help us get there. I believe the most disheartening thing for most fans is that despite Idaho's game plan and play - which were good -- they didn't beat us as much as we beat ourselves.

[WYCAT]

I think most Cat fans share your perspective, but are disappointed because most likely our path to the chipper most likely just got harder. Someone did an analysis of how important home field is to getting to and winning the championship and it's the path of least resistance by a significant margin. Can we do it? Sure and I will be at every home game yelling my a__ off trying to help us get there. I believe the most disheartening thing for most fans is that despite Idaho's game plan and play - which were good -- they didn't beat us as much as we beat ourselves.

This exactly. Our road just got significantly harder and it feels like the road schedule finally caught up with us.

[Hawks86]

[nanacat]

I think most Cat fans share your perspective, but are disappointed because most likely our path to the chipper most likely just got harder. Someone did an analysis of how important home field is to getting to and winning the championship and it's the path of least resistance by a significant margin. Can we do it? Sure and I will be at every home game yelling my a__ off trying to help us get there. I believe the most disheartening thing for most fans is that despite Idaho's game plan and play - which were good -- they didn't beat us as much as we beat ourselves.

Completely agree

[nanacat]

Look at how down and frustrated and upset everyone was after Cat-griz in 2021, myself included. I predicted that we might win one game in the playoffs, and then get blasted by SHSU in the quarterfinals. We all know how that season turned out

Exactly my thoughts

[nanacat]

It’s tough to beat good teams on the road back to back. MSU played a late game and turned around on a short week to play a team that had a bye. Not too many teams have played a tougher road schedule and it’s not like the Bobcats are getting blown out.

You're very correct. And the fact that we didn't get blown out, with how bad that game was called, is a testament to this team. I truly feel bad for the players. They tried, hard. Coaches, in this case, did not set them up to succeed.

[MinnesotaBobcat]

Good news is the toughest part of our schedule is behind us. Looking at the schedule at the beginning of the year I thought a split in these 2 road games was a likely outcome. I just don’t understand why our early game play calling includes trick plays and more passing than running. Maybe they are trying to set things up for later….but I hope to see a lot more of Davis up the middle early and often in our remaining games. Davis has an 8 yard run in our first drive, problem was it was third and 10 after 2 pass plays. If we win out we should get at worst a three seed…..and I’d like to see the Cats get another crack at Idaho.

[MSUBRONCO]

After sleeping yes I'm not to concerned knew coming in losing was possible just way it happend only playing half the game makes it worse

[1984champ]

Serious question and it is hard to quantify but with the talent on the offense do you think we lose either game so far this year if we had the play caller from Sac State or Idaho? I sure don’t and the point is that I would bet both of those OC’s would love to have the talent of our O-line, QB’s, RB’s, TE’s. Even with the struggles on defense the last couple of games, there is no way we should lose that game yesterday.

[tdub]

Perspective. These coaches built this team in so many ways other than play calling on game day. A good coach goes far beyond just in-game play calls. No, they’re not perfect. If they were, they probably wouldn’t still be at MSU. I enjoy discussing alternatives to what was called, but this entire notion that they are terrible coaches is silly.

[gtapp]

Perspective: SDSU goes into a rivalry game (away) against the number 7 team in FCS and wins by over 30. We go into a game (away) against number 9 and lose. We are still not as close to SDSU as we want to pretend. We are good on offense and defense but not great at either. We still need to get better to compete for a NC.

[Clinton T]

I think most Cat fans share your perspective, but are disappointed because most likely our path to the chipper most likely just got harder. Someone did an analysis of how important home field is to getting to and winning the championship and it's the path of least resistance by a significant margin. Can we do it? Sure and I will be at every home game yelling my a__ off trying to help us get there. I believe the most disheartening thing for most fans is that despite Idaho's game plan and play - which were good -- they didn't beat us as much as we beat ourselves.

You had me until "they didn't beat us as much as we beat ourselves." Completely disagree. This sounds like a very gris thing to say and drips of arrogance. Idaho was clearly the better team for most of the game. Their guys had a lot more pop and juice than our guys did. Their coaches were better. Their QB executed at a much more efficient clip. Their WRs caught the ball. Their OL and DL played great. Idaho deserves all of the credit for a great gameplan and team win. We did not play to our ceiling, but they probably didn't play to theirs either. They probably got us at the right time with injuries, coming off of a tough game, short week, etc...but great teams battle through those things and find a way to win. We are probably not as good as we were led to believe and that is okay! Our boys play hard and the product they put on the field is orders of magnitude better than it has been for as long as I can remember. I was a freshman in 2000 sitting in a student section of about 50 drunken gluttons for punishment. Perspective.

[mslacatfan]

Perspective: SDSU goes into a rivalry game (away) against the number 7 team in FCS and wins by over 30. We go into a game (away) against number 9 and lose. We are still not as close to SDSU as we want to pretend. We are good on offense and defense but not great at either. We still need to get better to compete for a NC.

Losing Danny U on defense is a big blow…. Overall, I think our defense is plying pretty close to their maximum potential though. Which is a good defense, not great. I just don’t see them getting any better then what they have shown this year.

Our offense can be the best in the country, but the coaches are holding them back. I’m becoming less and less impressed with housewright every game.

Most concerned with our special teams. Which overall has been sub par all season. Punting and kickoffs are good. Returns are average. Field goal kicking….. yikes.

[BleedingBLue]

Good news is the toughest part of our schedule is behind us. Looking at the schedule at the beginning of the year I thought a split in these 2 road games was a likely outcome. I just don’t understand why our early game play calling includes trick plays and more passing than running. Maybe they are trying to set things up for later….but I hope to see a lot more of Davis up the middle early and often in our remaining games. Davis has an 8 yard run in our first drive, problem was it was third and 10 after 2 pass plays. If we win out we should get at worst a three seed…..and I’d like to see the Cats get another crack at Idaho.

Need things to break our way a lot to get the 3 seed. Could it still happen? Sure. I don't think winning out is any guarantee of the 3 seed though. Right now we have to hope we can get the 4, but the 5 or 6 seed seems more likely.

[SparkCat]

Perspective: SDSU goes into a rivalry game (away) against the number 7 team in FCS and wins by over 30. We go into a game (away) against number 9 and lose. We are still not as close to SDSU as we want to pretend. We are good on offense and defense but not great at either. We still need to get better to compete for a NC.

Losing Danny U on defense is a big blow…. Overall, I think our defense is plying pretty close to their maximum potential though. Which is a good defense, not great. I just don’t see them getting any better then what they have shown this year.

Our offense can be the best in the country, but the coaches are holding them back. I’m becoming less and less impressed with housewright every game.

Most concerned with our special teams. Which overall has been sub par all season. Punting and kickoffs are good. Returns are average. Field goal kicking….. yikes.

Housewright sucks. I remember thinking the BS he pulled earlier would be a blessing in disguise and we would land a more experienced and mature OC, not one they gains their inspiration from Ryan Leaf.

[MinnesotaJack]

Serious question and it is hard to quantify but with the talent on the offense do you think we lose either game so far this year if we had the play caller from Sac State or Idaho? I sure don’t and the point is that I would bet both of those OC’s would love to have the talent of our O-line, QB’s, RB’s, TE’s. Even with the struggles on defense the last couple of games, there is no way we should lose that game yesterday.

As someone very familiar with having Eck as my teams playcaller, let me assure you that he can be just as infuriating as anybody else.

[PapaG]

I’m curious to see how the playoff committee treats a close road loss to SDSU as opposed to, say, struggling to beat a Division II team at home. Is it worth it to schedule a marquee OOC game?