Did They Leave It All On the Field?

[BCPanther]

Re: Did They Leave It All On the Field?

The regression of a senior-laden offensive line was also really really disappointing. As the season went on they got worse...

On a side note, I now have my hopes up that we will get in over Weber and am preparing to be crushed again in about an hour. Stupid eternal optimism.

I just think our overall profile is stronger. They lost two FBS games to bad FBS teams and our near miss at Iowa should be a huge factor. Their only win of substance was over an EWU team that thought they were ineligible at the time. I think our profile is stronger...

[06panther10]

Re: Did They Leave It All On the Field?

It is sickening to me that the Big Sky is going to get 3 teams in. That conference is not good.

[havok58]

Re: Did They Leave It All On the Field?

They drove 70 yards in a handful of plays in only 35 seconds. With a QB that has never played before..

I was going to point that out. Despite all the support and excuses on here for Davis, ISU had a freshman QB perform extremely well against the UNI defense, especially in the closing seconds when one would think a freshman might be a little nervous.

To me, this boils down to coaching. Poor decisions made from not kicking it deep, (and if you trust your defense like Farley said he did, make it a long field), to the bend and break prevent defense that UNI runs the last few years. And if Farley has a habit of not giving his backup QBs plenty of practice time, change that too. Especially when your starting QB is an aggressive runner like Grace is who turns out to be injury prone.

We're all disappointed because we believed UNI had a championship team with experience. However, other teams showed that they are just better than UNI, either at the player skill level or at the coaching level. I have a hard time buying that UNI beat themselves, because as their record and standings indicate, they beat the lower echelon teams and fell to the higher ones.

Still, I'm looking forward to next season again. Maybe next season everybody will have that bitter taste in their mouth and without a target on their back, make another run at the conference title.

[Victory_For_UNI]

Re: Did They Leave It All On the Field?

Jeg, there's a difference between you and me -- you've earned the right to demand more because, as you say, you lived, breathed, sweat and bled for the team. Your position is fairly unique. I would venture that there are many more people like me on this board than you, so most of the *****ing and whining about a 7-4 season is coming from spoiled fans with a false sense of entitlement. With all due respect, they're the ones in need of hugs and juiceboxes.

Farley's record since he got hired as HC is 81-30, including 5 runs into the playoffs including 3 semi-final appearances and 1 NC game appearance. That's pretty damn good and he has earned the right to make his own decisions on the staff because of it.

I know talking about Iowa rankles some people on this board, but they were in a much worse spot and people were calling for the heads of Norm Parker and Ken O'Keefe because they "can't get it done". Of course, Ferentz would have none of it and it's been a while since I've heard anyone calling for their heads. Winning will do that, though.

If Farley decides there needs to be changes, fine -- as long as he's doing it because he thinks it's best for the program and not because of pressure from the AD or from disgruntled fans. Those are, quite frankly, some of the last people who should have input on a coaches staffing choices.

What fun is it to not expect a team to win a national title? That's for insu fans and ndsu. You're saying we are "spoiled" because we expect a consistently top 5 team to be able to put together a 4 game winning streak against decent competition... I don't watch sports to make the athletes feel good about themselves. I watch them because it is damn fun to see a team I pull for win. Losing games because we are outplayed us one thing, but losing 3 years in a row with a lot of the blame for those losses falling not upon the talent on the field but on the voices in their helmet, when we had a realistic shot to win a nc is frustrating, to say the least. People like you are the reason our youth think its okay to not keep score in little league; ).

[Big_Al]

Re: Did They Leave It All On the Field?

Big Al, you may think the fans are spoiled but you to understand the frustration. This was clearly UNI's best team ever in regards to talent.

Yes, we are spoiled. We are spoiled because UNI has developed a very strong tradition and we have coaches who understand and respect that tradition and consequently set very high goals for themselves and their players. As a fan, I respect that and enjoy the fruits of their labor. That's about all I can reasonably "expect" as a fan -- that when I fork over my money for PSC or tickets or whatever, the coaches and the players are putting their best effort into the game. If they do that, more often than not, we end up with a W instead of a L. The fans who complain about "Fat Grease" or call for Sallmon's job are acting like petulant brats.

I agree with you -- UNI has never fielded a more talented, more capable team. Perhaps that was the problem. Did our coaches and players let their talent go to their head? Maybe. Not my place to call them out -- Farley, if he is the coach I think he is, should be doing that right about now.

If we look back on the season, I would say we have 2 quality losses (Iowa & SIU) where the team could have won the game but we were facing teams of equal or greater talent and simply weren't able to win in the end. The losses to SDSU and IlSU, on the other hand, seem to me like the other team was simply more prepared. I don't think either team was more talented. This is what I find most troubling.

What I won't do is simply blame the QB or call for someone's head.

If anything, here is what I take away from this season:

"I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament."

Shakespeare's Julius Caesar uttered these words to those he viewed as his inferiors, not long before he was stabbed on the steps to the Roman Senate.

Simply put, he believed his own hype -- since he had been great in the past, he believed he would always be great in the future. The reality is greatness comes through hard work and preparation, talent is only a part of the equation. If you aren't prepared, then those who you view as lesser than you will stab you when you aren't expecting it.

I think many of us fans (and possibly players & coaches?) viewed UNI's greatness as a constant -- something that is without question and, at the start of the year, without any reasonable threat.

Does that make yesterday "The Ides of November"? Maybe, although I'm probably getting a little too philosophical for this crowd.

[Big_Al]

Re: Did They Leave It All On the Field?

I "want" and "hope" they'll win a NC but no, I don't "expect" it. It isn't my place -- the players and coaches are really the only ones who can "expect" a NC from each other. Everyone else is really just along for the ride.

Look, UNI only had a "good" year this year -- not a great one. That is not a reason to start tipping cars and burning mattresses.

What fun is it to not expect a team to win a national title? That's for insu fans and ndsu. You're saying we are "spoiled" because we expect a consistently top 5 team to be able to put together a 4 game winning streak against decent competition... I don't watch sports to make the athletes feel good about themselves. I watch them because it is damn fun to see a team I pull for win. Losing games because we are outplayed us one thing, but losing 3 years in a row with a lot of the blame for those losses falling not upon the talent on the field but on the voices in their helmet, when we had a realistic shot to win a nc is frustrating, to say the least. People like you are the reason our youth think its okay to not keep score in little league; ).

[TravelingPanther]

Re: Did They Leave It All On the Field?

You thought they executed well? If by execution, you mean watching the ISU recievers catch wide open balls for 30 yard gains, then you are right.

We sat back in our stupid zone, and watched them get to the 10 yard line in two plays. We needed to rush the freshman QB, hit him or hurry him into a sack or a mistake. Game over.

They drove 70 yards in a handful of plays in only 35 seconds. With a QB that has never played before..

That is play calling, not execution....

[MnPantherFan]

Re: Did They Leave It All On the Field?

Let's all say together the old John McKay quote when asked about his teams execution....."I'm for it!"

One of the most troubling aspects of this season is that this team didn't improve as the season went on, in fact got worse. The Montana fans, for example, talk a lot about how much better their team is now compared to the start of the year. I wish I had an answer for that as, I'm sure, does the coaching staff.