UNI v Wisconsin: Anyone Watch the Game?

[Cap'n Cat]

Fvck. A true David and Goliath thriller. Bret Bielema said after the game that there are a whole lot of other teams in FBS he'd rather play than "these guys".

[Grizalltheway]

Honest question, no smack intended: why is it that UNI can show up and give great performances in these games, but generally flop come playoff time? Do they just blow their wad right off the bat?

[JayJ79]

Honest question, no smack intended: why is it that UNI can show up and give great performances in these games, but generally flop come playoff time? Do they just blow their wad right off the bat?

hey, they can lose by 5 in the playoffs too.
just not at Montana. (it was neither loud, nor cold, in Camp Randall Stadium)

[JohnStOnge]

Fvck. A true David and Goliath thriller. Bret Bielema said after the game that there are a whole lot of other teams in FBS he'd rather play than "these guys".

Yeah I read that quote. It is:

''There's a lot of FBS schools that I'd rather play than those guys,'' Bielema said. ''They're a really, really good football team.''

I didn't see UNI play at Montana but I did see the Panthers play North Dakota State and even though I think North Dakota State looked like the better team UNI looked good and what happened to them at Montana perplexes me.

[Grizalltheway]

Fvck. A true David and Goliath thriller. Bret Bielema said after the game that there are a whole lot of other teams in FBS he'd rather play than "these guys".

Yeah I read that quote. It is:

''There's a lot of FBS schools that I'd rather play than those guys,'' Bielema said. ''They're a really, really good football team.''

I didn't see UNI play at Montana but I did see the Panthers play North Dakota State and even though I think North Dakota State looked like the better team UNI looked good and what happened to them at Montana perplexes me.

All cliches aside, it really is a difficult place to get a win, especially in December. It was cold as balls that night, and UNI are used to playing inside. I think it's hard to overstate the advantage we have playing there. IMO, if we had played SHSU there instead of in Texas, it would have been at least a 14-17 point win for us.

[JohnStOnge]

All cliches aside, it really is a difficult place to get a win, especially in December. It was cold as balls that night, and UNI are used to playing inside. I think it's hard to overstate the advantage we have playing there. IMO, if we had played SHSU there instead of in Texas, it would have been at least a 14-17 point win for us.

I actually agree with all of that. In fact, I think one of the most important things for a Southland team to do if it wants a shot at getting to the title game is to get a high enough seed to avoid playing AT Montana. I think Montana has the best home field advantage in FCS. I think last year's Sam Houston State team's chances of winning at Missoula in the playoffs would have been, as the cliche goes, between slim and none. But I was still surprised that the 2011 UNI team got beaten THAT badly. I think it was a really good team.

[Cap'n Cat]

Honest question, no smack intended: why is it that UNI can show up and give great performances in these games, but generally flop come playoff time? Do they just blow their wad right off the bat?

Grizzway,
I think it's a situational thing. They've been to the semifinals seven times, so they do progress deep into the playoffs. Regardless, their tits-up performances in recent years are maddening for UNI fans.

It will all come together one day.

[bison95]

I watched the entire game, uni looked solid on d, suprised they didn't run out of gas. I really liked the QB, solid, smart, and no mistakes.

[Gil Dobie]

I watched part of the game. UNI looked good on defense and has a good QB and receiver. Wisconsin does have trouble with teams like UNI that can stop the run. Cal Poly was a kicker away from beating the Badgers a couple years ago. The MVFC will be tough again.

[HI54UNI]

We looked pretty good. Holding Montee Ball to 3.8 yds per carry is pretty impressive since he averaged something like 4.5 last year. Wisconsin didn't score a TD until about 1 minute left in the 1st half. If we had held them that would have been the first time they hadn't scored a 1st half TD since 2010. I thought Kollmorgen looked pretty good too. The years we have been successful have been when we can pass and they were doing it yesterday.

I wish we would have opened with the Hawkeyes instead of Wisconsin. The way we played and the way the Chokeyes played yesterday I think we could have gotten our first W in Iowa City.

[Trapped in CA]

Not to nit-pick, but Ball's average per carry last year was 6.3. That said, O'Brien is no Russell Wilson. By no means terrible, but does not have that extra "it", at least so far.

It was a solid performance. Especially for as many new starters (and backups) that were involved.