Growing Pains
After the initial thrill of a victory over Iowa State wore off, this team faced many familiar challenges in the coming weeks. The excitement for an opponent such as Montana was palpable for those who knew about the workings of FCS. There were over 13,000 fans in the Dome even though Iowa and Iowa State would be kicking off soon. Unfortunately what followed was a repeat of some of the challenges this team has had to face in seasons’ past.
I have been a fan of UNI football since 2001, and I can’t say I’m surprised by much anymore. I was there in 2003 when UNI came back from a 28-7 halftime deficit to beat Southern Illinois 43-40 for the Gateway Conference Title. I watched in agony in 2005 when the Cats played Texas State and won on the famous Matt Tharp interception. I was also present for the heartbreak of the game that followed.
I’ve seen this team at the highest highs and the lowest lows. So this season is a reminder that things can quickly change from one week to the next. One week you’re beating a Big XII opponent on the road, and two weeks later you’re losing on a bold fake field goal. Those are the breaks, and Montana and Eastern Washington deserve all the credit. They have made the Big Sky a formidable conference again. Montana does it through brilliant game planning and unrelenting pressure. Eastern Washington does it by forcing you into uncomfortable territory tempo-wise. Both strategies worked against the Panthers, and in both games they just couldn’t recover.
That brings us to this week’s game against Southern Illinois for Homecoming 2016. 13,710 loyal fans showed up and the atmosphere outside the game was one of revelry. The grass lots were full of radios and bags players. Everyone seemed to sense good things on the horizon for the Panthers. The smiles on everyone’s faces reminded me of why I came here for football games long after I’d left as a student.
There were issues that reminded me of why the Dome desperately needed an upgrade. The long lines and crowded concourses are both a curse and a blessing. On one hand, people are showing up to games and cheering for the Cats. On the other hand, the overcrowded concourses and long lines for bathrooms can make for a few problems. It also might mean increased security for when the kinds of issues that arise from keeping tens of thousands of people in an enclosed space.
That being said, there were plenty of things to keep you coming back. The Panther Marching Band’s performance was top notch as always, featuring a very exciting LED light show. I could be biased though… they did play music from Daft Punk, one of my favorite musical groups. The student turnout was the stuff of legend, as I watched them spill into general admission and cheer their lungs out for a team that was clearly ready to play.
The Panthers forced their will on the Salukis from the start, controlling the line of scrimmage and getting key runs from Aaron Bailey and Tyvis Smith. Aside from a few big passing plays by Southern Illinois, they were largely unable to move the ball against a stout Panther defense. The Salukis were held to only 70 yards on the ground, whereas UNI racked up 238. It was the kind of win that Coach Farley could be proud of.
So with all the great things happening at the Dome, I say I will see you on Saturday October 8th for the watch party. Look for a tall guy with a beard in a UNI sweatshirt and a voice recorder and maybe I’ll ask you what keeps you coming back, as I am very interested in what others have to say on the subject. I’m thinking that might be this year’s overall theme since I have spent a lot of time loving the Panthers, but never asking myself why.
After the initial thrill of a victory over Iowa State wore off, this team faced many familiar challenges in the coming weeks. The excitement for an opponent such as Montana was palpable for those who knew about the workings of FCS. There were over 13,000 fans in the Dome even though Iowa and Iowa State would be kicking off soon. Unfortunately what followed was a repeat of some of the challenges this team has had to face in seasons’ past.
I have been a fan of UNI football since 2001, and I can’t say I’m surprised by much anymore. I was there in 2003 when UNI came back from a 28-7 halftime deficit to beat Southern Illinois 43-40 for the Gateway Conference Title. I watched in agony in 2005 when the Cats played Texas State and won on the famous Matt Tharp interception. I was also present for the heartbreak of the game that followed.
I’ve seen this team at the highest highs and the lowest lows. So this season is a reminder that things can quickly change from one week to the next. One week you’re beating a Big XII opponent on the road, and two weeks later you’re losing on a bold fake field goal. Those are the breaks, and Montana and Eastern Washington deserve all the credit. They have made the Big Sky a formidable conference again. Montana does it through brilliant game planning and unrelenting pressure. Eastern Washington does it by forcing you into uncomfortable territory tempo-wise. Both strategies worked against the Panthers, and in both games they just couldn’t recover.
That brings us to this week’s game against Southern Illinois for Homecoming 2016. 13,710 loyal fans showed up and the atmosphere outside the game was one of revelry. The grass lots were full of radios and bags players. Everyone seemed to sense good things on the horizon for the Panthers. The smiles on everyone’s faces reminded me of why I came here for football games long after I’d left as a student.
There were issues that reminded me of why the Dome desperately needed an upgrade. The long lines and crowded concourses are both a curse and a blessing. On one hand, people are showing up to games and cheering for the Cats. On the other hand, the overcrowded concourses and long lines for bathrooms can make for a few problems. It also might mean increased security for when the kinds of issues that arise from keeping tens of thousands of people in an enclosed space.
That being said, there were plenty of things to keep you coming back. The Panther Marching Band’s performance was top notch as always, featuring a very exciting LED light show. I could be biased though… they did play music from Daft Punk, one of my favorite musical groups. The student turnout was the stuff of legend, as I watched them spill into general admission and cheer their lungs out for a team that was clearly ready to play.
The Panthers forced their will on the Salukis from the start, controlling the line of scrimmage and getting key runs from Aaron Bailey and Tyvis Smith. Aside from a few big passing plays by Southern Illinois, they were largely unable to move the ball against a stout Panther defense. The Salukis were held to only 70 yards on the ground, whereas UNI racked up 238. It was the kind of win that Coach Farley could be proud of.
So with all the great things happening at the Dome, I say I will see you on Saturday October 8th for the watch party. Look for a tall guy with a beard in a UNI sweatshirt and a voice recorder and maybe I’ll ask you what keeps you coming back, as I am very interested in what others have to say on the subject. I’m thinking that might be this year’s overall theme since I have spent a lot of time loving the Panthers, but never asking myself why.
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