How Playing an FBS Team Prepared Villanova to Win the NC

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

So I guess playing D2's would have the affect of weakening you in that regard then? I mean if playing up toughens you then playing down certainly has to weaken ya right?

3 of our first 5 games in 1995 were against D2's and yet we still won the NC.

I'm not saying it helps/hurts either way. I'm simply pointing out that the stats AZ used for his logic are ridiculous, and make no sense. Especially considering that the exact opposite applies to his own school.

If nova's coach thinked it helped his team this year, than it did.

I can buy that.

[CatMom]

Aren't you all tired of rehashing this issue? I sure as hell am tired of it.

[kemajic]

You are pulling random stats from the last 20 years, and relating them to things that don't necessarily even correlate, just to further your own opinion.

In this perticular year, nova's coach felt that it helped them prepare for the playoffs. Just because they have never won a title before this year has nothing to do with it.

I just checked montana schedules from their two title years, and in both cases, they played an FBS team. So, in other words, Montana has NEVER won a national title in a year that they did not play an FBS team.

So I guess playing D2's would have the affect of weakening you in that regard then? I mean if playing up toughens you then playing down certainly has to weaken ya right?

3 of our first 5 games in 1995 were against D2's and yet we still won the NC.

More important was that we played four teams that are FBS today and won two. Each time we won a NC, we lost at least one FBS game. Most teams learn far more from losing a tough game than they do by winning an easy one.

[andy7171]

You are pulling random stats from the last 20 years, and relating them to things that don't necessarily even correlate, just to further your own opinion.

In this perticular year, nova's coach felt that it helped them prepare for the playoffs. Just because they have never won a title before this year has nothing to do with it.

I just checked montana schedules from their two title years, and in both cases, they played an FBS team. So, in other words, Montana has NEVER won a national title in a year that they did not play an FBS team.

So I guess playing D2's would have the affect of weakening you in that regard then? I mean if playing up toughens you then playing down certainly has to weaken ya right?

3 of our first 5 games in 1995 were against D2's and yet we still won the NC.

JFC You sound like me argueing with JMU fans about the last time we beat them...

[BlueHen86]

Aren't you all tired of rehashing this issue? I sure as hell am tired of it.

Yeah. Let's start a thread about the CAA is too big.

[andy7171]

I'm not saying it helps/hurts either way. I'm simply pointing out that the stats AZ used for his logic are ridiculous, and make no sense. Especially considering that the exact opposite applies to his own school.

If nova's coach thinked it helped his team this year, than it did.

Wait a tic! Is someone using common sense!?!

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

So I guess playing D2's would have the affect of weakening you in that regard then? I mean if playing up toughens you then playing down certainly has to weaken ya right?

3 of our first 5 games in 1995 were against D2's and yet we still won the NC.

JFC You sound like me argueing with JMU fans about the last time we beat them...

Dude, it was one of our title years that makes the point that the old argument about playing D2's hurts you in the playoffs.

I don't have any arguments that the tougher contests teach you more but saying that is the overriding factor is just fucking dumb.

[andy7171]

JFC You sound like me argueing with JMU fans about the last time we beat them...

Dude, it was one of our title years that makes the point that the old argument about playing D2's hurts you in the playoffs.

I don't have any arguments that the tougher contests teach you more but saying that is the overriding factor is just **** dumb.

I haven't heard a non Griz fan bring this up. You guys are overly self conscious and it's an easy target.
You guys don't need to play a FBS to pay for your programs, the lack of need to play up is self explanatory

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Dude, it was one of our title years that makes the point that the old argument about playing D2's hurts you in the playoffs.

I don't have any arguments that the tougher contests teach you more but saying that is the overriding factor is just **** dumb.

I haven't heard a non Griz fan bring this up. You guys are overly self conscious and it's an easy target.
You guys don't need to play a FBS to pay for your programs, the lack of need to play up is self explanatory

andy, I don't know how you haven't seen this before? You were on here and AGS this summer, and every time a schedule is released so there are literally thousands of posts on this matter. If you want to think that I am overly self concious feel free to do so.

[AZGrizFan]

So I guess playing D2's would have the affect of weakening you in that regard then? I mean if playing up toughens you then playing down certainly has to weaken ya right?

3 of our first 5 games in 1995 were against D2's and yet we still won the NC.

I'm not saying it helps/hurts either way. I'm simply pointing out that the stats AZ used for his logic are ridiculous, and make no sense. Especially considering that the exact opposite applies to his own school.

If nova's coach thinked it helped his team this year, than it did.

So, that begs the question: If it helped him THIS year, why didn't it help him the OTHER 11 times they played a FBS team?

And why didn't it help the 14 out of the other 15 playoff teams?

Face it: There is no logical connection between playing an FBS team and being "better prepared" for the playoffs.

All that really is is Talley taking a shot at Montana's schedule. Period. We beat SDSU, SFA and ASU, ALL of whom played an FBS school.

[AZGrizFan]

So I guess playing D2's would have the affect of weakening you in that regard then? I mean if playing up toughens you then playing down certainly has to weaken ya right?

3 of our first 5 games in 1995 were against D2's and yet we still won the NC.

More important was that we played four teams that are FBS today and won two. Each time we won a NC, we lost at least one FBS game. Most teams learn far more from losing a tough game than they do by winning an easy one.

So you don't think we learned anything from WINNING tough games against UC Davis, NAU, EWU, ISU, SDSU or ASU?

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I'm not saying it helps/hurts either way. I'm simply pointing out that the stats AZ used for his logic are ridiculous, and make no sense. Especially considering that the exact opposite applies to his own school.

If nova's coach thinked it helped his team this year, than it did.

So, that begs the question: If it helped him THIS year, why didn't it help him the OTHER 11 times they played a FBS team?

And why didn't it help the 14 out of the other 15 playoff teams?

Face it: There is no logical connection between playing an FBS team and being "better prepared" for the playoffs.

All that really is is Talley taking a shot at Montana's schedule. Period. We beat SDSU, SFA and ASU, ALL of whom played an FBS school.

I think the simple answer here AZ is that Villanova had better personell this year that did learn a little more than the other teams that played the FBS schools.

Talley was taking a shot but as the victor you get the last word.

[BlueHen86]

I'm not saying it helps/hurts either way. I'm simply pointing out that the stats AZ used for his logic are ridiculous, and make no sense. Especially considering that the exact opposite applies to his own school.

If nova's coach thinked it helped his team this year, than it did.

So, that begs the question: If it helped him THIS year, why didn't it help him the OTHER 11 times they played a FBS team?

And why didn't it help the 14 out of the other 15 playoff teams?

Face it: There is no logical connection between playing an FBS team and being "better prepared" for the playoffs.

All that really is is Talley taking a shot at Montana's schedule. Period. We beat SDSU, SFA and ASU, ALL of whom played an FBS school.

As I said before, I thnk it helps to play tough opponents in order to prepare for the playoffs, but the tough opponent doesn't have to be FBS. I hope that Talley isn't taking a shot at Montana's schedule, if he is then shame on him.

[DJH]

I'm not saying it helps/hurts either way. I'm simply pointing out that the stats AZ used for his logic are ridiculous, and make no sense. Especially considering that the exact opposite applies to his own school.

If nova's coach thinked it helped his team this year, than it did.

So, that begs the question: If it helped him THIS year, why didn't it help him the OTHER 11 times they played a FBS team?

And why didn't it help the 14 out of the other 15 playoff teams?

Face it: There is no logical connection between playing an FBS team and being "better prepared" for the playoffs.

All that really is is Talley taking a shot at Montana's schedule. Period. We beat SDSU, SFA and ASU, ALL of whom played an FBS school.

Maybe it DID help them all those other years. Just because you don't win a national title, does not mean playing an FBS game is stupid.

I didn't even think about if he was "taking a shot at Montana" with that comment. You are really digging for things to be offended by right now.

[JMU DJ]

I didn't even think about if he was "taking a shot at Montana" with that comment. You are really digging for things to be offended by right now.

Z, I heard Andy Talley questioned your reading capabilities too!



The win over Temple definitely put the team off on the good foot, having that momentum. As for preparation... do Temple and the Griz run the same type of offense? I don't know, but I'd guess not. Over the past decade, Nova has beat Temple twice and Rutgers once. Beating Rutgers took them to the Semis, Beating Temple this year took them to the NC (2003 they beat Temple, lost to National Champ UD, playoff bound UMass... and missed the playoffs... going 7-4, obviously the Temple game didn't prepare them for the loss to 2-10 Hofstra ).

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I didn't even think about if he was "taking a shot at Montana" with that comment. You are really digging for things to be offended by right now.

Z, I heard Andy Talley questioned your reading capabilities too!



The win over Temple definitely put the team off on the good foot, having that momentum. As for preparation... do Temple and the Griz run the same type of offense? I don't know, but I'd guess not. Over the past decade, Nova has beat Temple twice and Rutgers once. Beating Rutgers took them to the Semis, Beating Temple this year took them to the NC (2003 they beat Temple, lost to National Champ UD, playoff bound UMass... and missed the playoffs... going 7-4, obviously the Temple game didn't prepare them for the loss to 2-10 Hofstra ).

I can see both sides of the issue in regards to Talley. From the Griz fan perspective he is suspect due to last years quote so there is a hyper sensitivity about it. From the opposing perspective I could easily see him just being happy for what happened and trying to document his own feelings about it and how they got to where they are today. Since I don't know what his meaning was I'm not gonna assign my own to it. Hell, he may have meant it both ways for all I know.

[BlueHen86]

Z, I heard Andy Talley questioned your reading capabilities too!



The win over Temple definitely put the team off on the good foot, having that momentum. As for preparation... do Temple and the Griz run the same type of offense? I don't know, but I'd guess not. Over the past decade, Nova has beat Temple twice and Rutgers once. Beating Rutgers took them to the Semis, Beating Temple this year took them to the NC (2003 they beat Temple, lost to National Champ UD, playoff bound UMass... and missed the playoffs... going 7-4, obviously the Temple game didn't prepare them for the loss to 2-10 Hofstra ).

I can see both sides of the issue in regards to Talley. From the Griz fan perspective he is suspect due to last years quote so there is a hyper sensitivity about it. From the opposing perspective I could easily see him just being happy for what happened and trying to document his own feelings about it and how they got to where they are today. Since I don't know what his meaning was I'm not gonna assign my own to it. Hell, he may have meant it both ways for all I know.

I used to think that Talley was a dick. As I recall, there was a feud between him and Tubby Raymond for a while. I have a lot of respect for him now, primarily because of the bone marrow donor program he started. He might be one of those guys who just puts his foot in his mouth. I give him the benefit of the doubt because the good stuff he has done outweighs the stupid stuff.

[AZGrizFan]

So, that begs the question: If it helped him THIS year, why didn't it help him the OTHER 11 times they played a FBS team?

And why didn't it help the 14 out of the other 15 playoff teams?

Face it: There is no logical connection between playing an FBS team and being "better prepared" for the playoffs.

All that really is is Talley taking a shot at Montana's schedule. Period. We beat SDSU, SFA and ASU, ALL of whom played an FBS school.

Maybe it DID help them all those other years. Just because you don't win a national title, does not mean playing an FBS game is stupid.

I didn't even think about if he was "taking a shot at Montana" with that comment. You are really digging for things to be offended by right now.

Whatever floats your boat.

[CSUBUCDAD]

My philosophy about this is that when I was a young buck, I used to train against the best and toughest competition I could find. Playing cream puffs never prepared me for what was ahead like playing the badasses.

[∞∞∞]

FBS team prepared them for CAA play.
CAA play prepared them for playoff play.
Thus, FBS team prepared them for playoff play.

[AZGrizFan]

My philosophy about this is that when I was a young buck, I used to train against the best and toughest competition I could find. Playing cream puffs never prepared me for what was ahead like playing the badasses.

And my only point is that for about 50 other FCS teams, playing an FBS team did NOTHING for their playoff hopes.

[JMU DJ]

My philosophy about this is that when I was a young buck, I used to train against the best and toughest competition I could find. Playing cream puffs never prepared me for what was ahead like playing the badasses.

And my only point is that for about 50 other FCS teams, playing an FBS team did NOTHING for their playoff hopes.

Unless I'm mistaken... and do feel free to correct me if I'm wrong as I've had a few scotches, hot butter rums, and butter scotch coco's... but I do believe the four teams that beat FBS opponents this year made the playoffs... 100% making it to the quarter finals... 50% making it to the Semi Finals.... 25% making it to the national championship game and winnings... just sayin'

[BlueHen86]

My philosophy about this is that when I was a young buck, I used to train against the best and toughest competition I could find. Playing cream puffs never prepared me for what was ahead like playing the badasses.

And my only point is that for about 50 other FCS teams, playing an FBS team did NOTHING for their playoff hopes.

How do you know that? How do you know that playing an FBS didn't make a team better than it otherwise would have been?

[Tailbone]

... Griz defenders could not tackle that unique athlete Matt Szczur.

I'm blamin' it on mothers.
Kids been told all their lives not to run with Szczurs.

[BlueHen86]

... Griz defenders could not tackle that unique athlete Matt Szczur.

I'm blamin' it on mothers.
Kids been told all their lives not to run with Szczurs.

Agreed, instead they should have been told not to let Szczurs run.