4th and long

[Purple Reign]

Like most of you, I was angry and disappointed after yesterdays loss. I said it myself, "Bye Bye Chatty." But today, add "worried" to the way I feel.

We are now at a crossroads. Toss in the towel, play for next year, move on to the winter sports. But, how would we feel if that was what the team was saying? WE AIN"T OUT OF THIS! Do we need breaks, yes. Have we gotten breaks in years past, absolutely. So, as fans what direction will we go?
7,000 in the Dome in two weeks? Well, maybe. What message will that send to the coaches and players? Maybe, "well I see our fans have given up." What would be the discussion on this board if half of our team, quit right now?
If there were ever a time when we need to pack the Dome---it's in two weeks. Think of the message that would send to the team. That's what I now worry about. That our fans have given up. WE CAN"T DO THAT.

How many times have we had fans leave a game early because they "knew it was over" only to have them reach their car, turn on the radio and learn about a dramatic turn of events and they try to get back in to see the finish.

Folks, it's 4th and long. Two ticks left on the clock. Are you turning your back on the team and heading to the parking lot? Or, are you going to be an integral part of a possible spectacuar finish? Remember 2005?

Should the team give up? No? Neither should we.

4th and long folks, 4th and long. I can hear Al Michaels famous words now.


PR

[Purrrrrfect]

Re: 4th and long

I agree. And from every source possible I've heard from, we are still very much in the playoff hunt if we win out. We wouldn't even be the last in. I'm not really worried yet. One more loss and we're done, but 8-3 will get to you in. As long as everyone who is supposed to win in the next 3-4 weeks wins, and no suprises as AQ...UNI is in with 8-3 with ease.

[06panther10]

Re: 4th and long

I'm going to be there, no doubt. Its pretty hard to swallow right now though.

[Panther789]

Re: 4th and long

Ok experts:

What do we need to get in? Is it an absolute miracle at this point, or do we have a decent shot?

I follow UNI football fairly closely (but less so than hoops), but I don't have a strong grasp of the at-large selection process.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: 4th and long

We'll be there...still loud and proud.

[06panther10]

Re: 4th and long

Ok experts:

What do we need to get in? Is it an absolute miracle at this point, or do we have a decent shot?

I follow UNI football fairly closely (but less so than hoops), but I don't have a strong grasp of the at-large selection process.

Thats a good question. I think it basically depends on how the dozen or so other "bubble teams" play. So we won't even have much of an idea until the selection day.

So, lets just win out, and hope.

[BCPanther]

Re: 4th and long

First of all, I agree if we get to 8-3 we are in. We have too much tradition and a big building that looks really attractive for a first round bid. Take care of business and we are in, and hopefully we catch lightning in a bottle and make a big run!

PR referenced attendance in his outstanding post. I hate to be a downer, but we better pray that ABC/ESPN doesn't select Iowa @ Ohio State for a primetime game on October 14. We are a 6:30 kick that night to accommodate PSN that night (After the Notre Dame game that day). The combination of the Iowa game plus being able to see us on TV means 4,000 people in the Dome that night...

[Panther789]

Re: 4th and long

Thats a good question. I think it basically depends on how the dozen or so other "bubble teams" play. So we won't even have much of an idea until the selection day.

So, lets just win out, and hope.

Are there websites out there that project this sort of thing? Sort of an FCS "bracketology."

[jegbomb52]

Re: 4th and long

A couple of things would help. SDSU beating SIU would help. If SIU finishes 10-1 and SDSU finishes 8-3 it would be difficult to take two 8-3 teams from the same conference. Especially when we have no signature win (if I could slap every Iowa fan that says that loss hurt us less than it would have them I would right now, it could cost us a chance at our National Title).

We need MSU to keep winning. The more they win, the better our dominating win over them looks.

We need Iowa to stay in the spot light. They can't trip up against an Northwestern or Indiana. They need to finish out with 1 or less losses.

We need Richmond to win out. That will give Bill and Mary and Villanova more losses knocking some teams off the bubble in the CAA. We need Montana to win out. We can't have them losing to Weber or Montana State. Wins for those schools would make them bubble teams.

Those are just a few things that would help.

[06panther10]

Re: 4th and long

You know who I blame? Freaking Youngstown State. A once elite national program has fallen into the abyss of obscurity. If they wouldn't have turned so terrible the last several years, our almost assured annual win over the 'guins would give us our quality win that is needed to get in.

The rest of our conference needs to pick up the slack.

[Mudrafan]

Re: 4th and long

You people do not understand. The "committee" is comprised of East Coaster's...many of whom are not athletic supporting leaders. They have an E Coast bias & do not look at strength of schedule or anything of the sort. We are getting what we deserve by pissing the SIU game down our proverbial legs. We do not have good leadership on this team. Even if we make the playoffs, I do not foresee a run. It's time to build for next year starting w/ one Zach Davis.

[DomeRanger Posse]

Re: 4th and long

When you leave your fate in another's hands, you're screwed plain and simple. Strength of schedule, bracketology, it's all pipe dreams and whispers based on someone else's fortunes. I'll still be glued to my computer for four or five hours every Saturday for the rest of the season. If we make it in to the playoffs, I'll rejoice just as loudly as everyone else. But at some level this team needs to really evaluate what the hell has happened NOW, not the end of the season, and make those changes necessary to pull this season out of the gutter. That means evaluating who's playing and who's making the calls in the booth.

[Durf73]

Re: 4th and long

Like most of you, I was angry and disappointed after yesterdays loss. I said it myself, "Bye Bye Chatty." But today, add "worried" to the way I feel.

We are now at a crossroads. Toss in the towel, play for next year, move on to the winter sports. But, how would we feel if that was what the team was saying? WE AIN"T OUT OF THIS! Do we need breaks, yes. Have we gotten breaks in years past, absolutely. So, as fans what direction will we go?
7,000 in the Dome in two weeks? Well, maybe. What message will that send to the coaches and players? Maybe, "well I see our fans have given up." What would be the discussion on this board if half of our team, quit right now?
If there were ever a time when we need to pack the Dome---it's in two weeks. Think of the message that would send to the team. That's what I now worry about. That our fans have given up. WE CAN"T DO THAT.

How many times have we had fans leave a game early because they "knew it was over" only to have them reach their car, turn on the radio and learn about a dramatic turn of events and they try to get back in to see the finish.

Folks, it's 4th and long. Two ticks left on the clock. Are you turning your back on the team and heading to the parking lot? Or, are you going to be an integral part of a possible spectacuar finish? Remember 2005?

Should the team give up? No? Neither should we.

4th and long folks, 4th and long. I can hear Al Michaels famous words now.


PR

WELL SAID PURPLE REIGN & THIS IS WHAT ALL TRUE PANTHER FANS WILL DO!QUIT POINTING FINGERS & GET BEHIND THE TEAM & PROGRAM! IT IS ALWAYS EASY TO SUPPORT THE TEAM WHEN WE R WINNING... 8-3 AIN'T OUT OF THE PLAYOFF PICTURE!

[DomeRanger Posse]

Re: 4th and long

We're upset because we ARE supporting the team. This is a team, a coaching staff that has shown flashes, seasons of greatness in the past. The Chatty Run will be the stuff of Farley legend for decades to come. But right now things are not working somewhere in the mix. Some are blaming the players. Some are starting to point fingers at the coaches. Some blame both. The bottom line is this team is playing levels below everyone's expectations. Show up, cheer, piss and moan, but thoughtful evaluation isn't being disloyal to the party.

[Silent Earl]

Re: 4th and long

I'm looking forward to being able to get a better parking spot for the last two games. I hope there are 12K plus for each game, but I am confident there will be a minimum of 8-9K. I think there are that many "panthers first" panther fans that don't give a durn who Iowa is playing that day.

As long as that core 8-9 fans are there we will make about as much noise as 17K do because the fair weather fans don't make that much noise anyway. The team will be fine with that, they know a lot of the fans are fair weather, including unfortunately about half the student section, and apprectiate the core fans. The only downside is loss of revenue.