NDSU BISON* @ UNI

[clenz]

So, I have a question, Is NDSU's offense just THAT terrible??

Yes.

Double yes.


UNI really only rushed four or five at most the majority of the game and came away with 11 sacks

[JBB]

In my pre game analysis I expected to see a robust NDSU BISON running game. In the end the Herd had -40 yds on the ground.

Is the team that bad? Last night the UNI defense line dominated the front. Our offensive line was completely stymied. It was a spectacular performance by UNI and the rest of the league should be put on notice.

As for the NDSU offense there hasnt been much to cheer about. Im beginning to doubt Mohler. He made a lot of mistakes last night and gave up the ball several times. On the other hand he was sacked 11 times and running around all night long, something I thought the NDSU defense would do to UNI. Our O line and offensive play will have to improve or we may have seen the best game already.

There were some bright spots for NDSU, mainly the defensive line and LB play. UNI was able to put up a lot of yards on big plays but they couldnt break through when they got close. UNI either has no punch or NDSU has a very strong defensive team. UNI should have scored far more points but were simply unable to come up with the right plays when the field got short. Hats of to the NDSU defese for that.

The NDSU football team is young. It was a good, hard fought, physical football game. For UNI fans its a big win. Any time you beat the NDSU BISON its big. For NDSU it was a discouraging loss but certainly not the end of the world. BISON fans are watching a new team develop. This was another step in that direction with a lot of positives for BISON fans.

[clenz]

UNI doesn't have that "punch" around the goal line yet. We are running Carlos Anderson at the goal line, that won't get it done. We need Strathman to step up down there...we also need to get under center around the goal line. Had we had any semblance of a power game last night the score would have been 35-3 at half, but we didn't so it wasn't.


However, we *may'* be the fastest team in the league on both sides of the ball.

[JBB]

Ill agree with you on the speed. You have a couple guys, and Anderson and your QB are among them, that can run. NDSU was overwhelmed with your speed, we have a lot of our own, but speed is good and UNI has that.

As far as the punch at the goal line goes I have not wanted to get pointed in my remarks, but you had it. Fact is NDSU was stronger. You may be able to do better as the season wears on, but last night the BISON defense was very physical with the Panthers and they just didnt have what it took to score when the field got short.

[clenz]

Ill agree with you on the speed. You have a couple guys, and Anderson and your QB are among them, that can run. NDSU was overwhelmed with your speed, we have a lot of our own, but speed is good and UNI has that.

As far as the punch at the goal line goes I have not wanted to get pointed in my remarks, but you had it. Fact is NDSU was stronger. You may be able to do better as the season wears on, but last night the BISON defense was very physical with the Panthers and they just didnt have what it took to score when the field got short.

Right now we don't have it down there, but that will change I bet. 5 new starters on the line, and a new QB it will come along. Our oline last night went on average something like 6-5' 305.

The fumble by Anderson that was called a touchback I want to see a replay on. They didn't show one in the dome, and I forgot to TiVo the game. I could have swore he was down. The play where he dove to the endzone but they marked him out at the 2 was crap. He dove with his foot touching the hash mark, not the end line. Finally that last fumble is where I really lost it with the officiating crew. The pile was stopped, there was no movement happening, forward progress was stopped. Next thing you know a Bison lineman is running the other way with the ball. I thought it was a bunch of shit but whatever. What really got my goat was on the ensuing drive we sacked Mohler but got called for a late hit even though the hit was a spinning tackle. Apparently he was down as soon as he was touched according to the ref.




Oh well, such is life. I thought the refs were terrible both ways, maybe they have early season jitters too.

[JBB]

The pass interference call that brought back the winning TD for the BISON was a thing of beauty. Best play of the day for UNI.

This game was won on the razors edge. Look at any stats you want this was a very close football game. I was impressed with UNIs d line, QB and Anderson.

I was also impressed with NDSUs D line and LB play.

[JayJ79]

The fumble by Anderson that was called a touchback I want to see a replay on. They didn't show one in the dome, and I forgot to TiVo the game. I could have swore he was down.

Ball was out before he was down. I could see that on the tape of the broadcast. I don't agree with the whole touchback thing, but that's what it says in the rulebook, so the officials have to go by it.

Haven't gotten to the other disputed calls yet (and may not get to them today, before I have to go into work)

[JayJ79]

The pass interference call that brought back the winning TD for the BISON was a thing of beauty. Best play of the day for UNI.

winning TD? UNI had a 7 point lead at the time, so the TD would have only brought you within 1, with the XP tying it (assuming it wasn't blocked again). Or do you think they would have gone for 2?

[clenz]

The pass interference call that brought back the winning TD for the BISON was a thing of beauty. Best play of the day for UNI.

This game was won on the razors edge. Look at any stats you want this was a very close football game. I was impressed with UNIs d line, QB and Anderson.

I was also impressed with NDSUs D line and LB play.

Without that OPI that pass gets picked off.

Look at the stats anyway I want?

Carlos Anderson 167 yards of offense, NDSU 207 yards of offense

3.1 yards per play for NDSU, 7.2 yards per play for UNI.

-40 yards rushing for NDSU, 262 for UNI.

The only thing NDSU had going for them was they had the same number of first downs as UNI, and held the ball longer.

Here is a photo of a scene NDSU fans better get used to seeing if their line doesn't get better

[clenz]

The fumble by Anderson that was called a touchback I want to see a replay on. They didn't show one in the dome, and I forgot to TiVo the game. I could have swore he was down.

Ball was out before he was down. I could see that on the tape of the broadcast. I don't agree with the whole touchback thing, but that's what it says in the rulebook, so the officials have to go by it.

Haven't gotten to the other disputed calls yet (and may not get to them today, before I have to go into work)

Thanks for the clarification on that. Like I said, I didn't tivo the game and the replay wasn't shown in the dome.

[JayJ79]

Thanks for the clarification on that. Like I said, I didn't tivo the game and the replay wasn't shown in the dome.

They dont' show the controversial replays in-house, it seems. Don't know if that is an official NCAA or MVFC guideline, or just considered "ettiquette" (like not "running up the score" or whatever)

[clenz]

Thanks for the clarification on that. Like I said, I didn't tivo the game and the replay wasn't shown in the dome.

They dont' show the controversial replays in-house, it seems. Don't know if that is an official NCAA or MVFC guideline, or just considered "ettiquette" (like not "running up the score" or whatever)

I think that is because a couple years ago there was a TD that was called incomplete, they showed a replay and the crowd went ape shit on the refs for a while.

[JBB]

Clearly there is subjectivity on the calls. The winning TD pass for NDSU was called back. Andersons fumble was recovered by the BISON.

Stats are what you look at before a game. They help you visualize what to expect. Each game unfolds in its own way. This game had some impressive big plays that padded the stats. Those plays meant little if the TD pass isn't taken away from NDSU. If NDSU doesnt get the winning TD called back this game is completely different.

Thats the razors edge. A victory for UNI indeed. Decisive? No.

Ps. they dont show controversy at the Fabulous Fargo Dome and even at the Twins game the other night they didnt replay a controversial call.

[houndawg]

Clearly there is subjectivity on the calls. The winning TD pass for NDSU was called back. Andersons fumble was recovered by the BISON.

Stats are what you look at before a game. They help you visualize what to expect. Each game unfolds in its own way. This game had some impressive big plays that padded the stats. Those plays meant little if the TD pass isn't taken away from NDSU. If NDSU doesnt get the winning TD called back this game is completely different.

Thats the razors edge. A victory for UNI indeed. Decisive? No.

Ps. they dont show controversy at the Fabulous Fargo Dome and even at the Twins game the other night they didnt replay a controversial call.

Have you ever actually played organized football?

Eleven sacks! -40 (minus forty) yards rushing!

Dude, you got beaten like Pee Wee Herman's pecker at a porn double-feature. Panthers got a strong pimp hand.

[DJH]

be careful with the smack houndawg. You don't want to make gil cry.

[JBB]

35-3 was the beating I was watching on the Big 10 network. Didnt see SIU do anything except provide great tackling dummies. I have never seen a team get kicked around and pounded like Illinois pounded SIU yesterday.

Even after the -49 yds rushing and 11 QB sacks UNI still needed the referees to win it for them when NDSUs winning TD pass was called back.

I dont take anything away from UNI. They won the game and have a good team.

[DJH]

Even after the -49 yds rushing and 11 QB sacks UNI still needed the referees to win it for them when NDSUs winning TD pass was called back.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Sounds like UNI kicked the living dog fuck out of NDSU. 11 sacks is a fucking shit load. Did you guys say -40 yds. rushing? Even if it was 40 yds. that's an ass kicking. If it weren't for a couple of big plays for NdSU it would have been even worse?

Sounds like both teams have real solid defenses.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Even after the -49 yds rushing and 11 QB sacks UNI still needed the referees to win it for them when NDSUs winning TD pass was called back.

You can always tell how big of fucking excuse making douchebag a guy is just by seeing a line like that.

[JBB]

I was happy with the NDSU defense. UNI popped off some big plays and that happens but when they needed it they couldnt score. That is about the most encouraging thing coming out of the game.

It was a one play game for both teams:

For NDSU the winning TD pass was called back.

For UNI they pop off a 75 yd punt from their own 14 hd line to pin the BISON deep in their own territory late in the 4th.

[DJH]

I was happy with the NDSU defense. UNI popped off some big plays and that happens but when they needed it they couldnt score. That is about the most encouraging thing coming out of the game.

It was a one play game for both teams:

For NDSU the winning TD pass was called back.

For UNI they pop off a 75 yd punt from their own 14 hd line to pin the BISON deep in their own territory late in the 4th.

Ok, JBB a couple of things.

a) It was our first game of the season. We were playing with ALL five new starters on the offensive line. And a QB playing in his first division 1 game of his entire life. Our offense wasn't going to completely click when you have all that kind of inexperience, and that is why we failed to finish some drives. But it clicked well enough for nearly 500 yards of offense, and the bison had no answer for it. The experienced bison linemen got whipped by the inexperience of the UNI line.

b) NDSU's "winning" TD was called back on a correct call. Our guy was sitting right under the ball waiting to make the easy pick, and the bison player shoved him right in the back. It was an obvious easy call. Not to mention it wouldn't have been a game winning TD. It would have been to tie the game, since UNI destroyed the NDSU line and blocked their XP on the series before.

[clenz]

The fact is NDSU had about 120 yards of offense before the last two posessions. At that point, especially the TD drive for NDSU, UNI stopped brining pressure (only rushed three instead of 4 ) and we gave mohler and the wr all kinds of room. You got 70 or so of your yards on one drive.

The reffs did bail us out. When I get home and am not on my blackberry anymore ill post a picture of a UNI player holding the ball in the endzone during the touchback play. You didn't see the OPI play. Without that giant push your guy used that pass is picked.

[JBB]

Its a good win for UNI. They are 1-0 in the MVFC but I still stand by my statement that the game was much closer than the stats indicate and it did not establish UNI as a superior team. The teams were equally matched but in different ways. Both are very young but UNI overall had more experience.

NDSU did have an answer for the 500 yd offense: Make them pay for the yardage and when the field gets shorter stuff em. Thats just what they did.

NDSU has played more like a team on defense then they did last year. I cant think of one player for NDSU that dominated like Anderson or the QB whose name slips my mind. Both are good runners. The QB has an accurate arm and seems to make good decisions. That was a position I thought NDSU might have an advantage but that turned out to be wrong.

From the NDSU side of the ball I liked:

1) The strength of our linebackers. We have a maturing crew that should continue to get better.
2) The D line is young but you can see the future. It is bright.
3) Our D backs made the critical plays

Overall the defense got burned for some yards but UNI didnt get the prize. They eeked out a win by a single score. A win that hinged on a TD pass and/or a punt.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

How can a game winning touchdown be called back (rightly, or wrongly) when you lost by seven?

SERIOUSLY HOW THE FUCK CAN THAT BE CALLED A GAME WINNING TOUCHDOWN??!!!!!!!!!

Oh my god that is fantastic.

I suppose after losing the last two to UNI you are gonna call next year's game in Fargo "The Rubber Match"?



My sides hurt.

[clenz]

Here is a photo of the fumble that resulted in a touch back. Notice that #2, Tirrell Sinkfield, has the ball in his possession and isn't out of bounds...thus making it a touchdown. Good call ref.






I also don't understand the bitching about the OPI. I just saw the replay on TV. Craig James, a saftey for UNI was waiting on the ball just like an OF would in a baseball game, and the Bizun WR pushed him in the back to get him out of the way to make the catch. There were two flags hitting the grounds by the time the catch was actually made.