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While not identical scenarios, in 2002 there were rumblings among the educational powers that be in Kentucky that WKU drop football. In 2009, Regent Gartner is once again making references to UNI's scholarship football program.
In that 2002 season, WKU wasn't doing much to help its cause. At the halfway point in the season, the Hilltoppers were 2-3--two of the losses were 14-0 at the hands of WIU and 38-13 to McNeese State. It was widely considered among WKU faithful that the Toppers were better than what their record indicated.
WKU traveled to UNI with that same 2-3 record and trounced the (then) 3-1 Panthers 31-12, and never looked back all the way to a National Championship. Along that championship run, they exacted revenge against WIU 31-28 in the quarterfinals and 34-14 against that same McNeese team in the Championship game.
I honestly believe it is all still out there for the Panthers to take, and hope that they come out of this bye week refocused and ready to make a run. I think most of you agree with me that when this team executes, few, if any teams at the FCS level can keep up.
Closing out the comparison with WKU, the Toppers went to a theme after their 2-3 start of "Break the Rock" that included the team taking a sledgehammer with them for symbolic purposes to each game--(only downside to this was the "sledgehammer incident" at WIU in the quarters--but that's another story). While I'm not a big gimmick guy, my point is, should the Panthers come up with a theme/gimmick for the rest of the year? Perhaps a Michael Gartner voo-doo doll that they get to stick after every win?
More realistic (or appropriate) could be an empty NC trophy case where after every win from here on out, we place a replica piece of the trophy inside culminating with the final piece when the Panthers close things out in Chattanooga. What the hell, why not a sledgehammer?
In that 2002 season, WKU wasn't doing much to help its cause. At the halfway point in the season, the Hilltoppers were 2-3--two of the losses were 14-0 at the hands of WIU and 38-13 to McNeese State. It was widely considered among WKU faithful that the Toppers were better than what their record indicated.
WKU traveled to UNI with that same 2-3 record and trounced the (then) 3-1 Panthers 31-12, and never looked back all the way to a National Championship. Along that championship run, they exacted revenge against WIU 31-28 in the quarterfinals and 34-14 against that same McNeese team in the Championship game.
I honestly believe it is all still out there for the Panthers to take, and hope that they come out of this bye week refocused and ready to make a run. I think most of you agree with me that when this team executes, few, if any teams at the FCS level can keep up.
Closing out the comparison with WKU, the Toppers went to a theme after their 2-3 start of "Break the Rock" that included the team taking a sledgehammer with them for symbolic purposes to each game--(only downside to this was the "sledgehammer incident" at WIU in the quarters--but that's another story). While I'm not a big gimmick guy, my point is, should the Panthers come up with a theme/gimmick for the rest of the year? Perhaps a Michael Gartner voo-doo doll that they get to stick after every win?
More realistic (or appropriate) could be an empty NC trophy case where after every win from here on out, we place a replica piece of the trophy inside culminating with the final piece when the Panthers close things out in Chattanooga. What the hell, why not a sledgehammer?
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