[FCS Playoffs] Semifinals - Montana @ Sam Houston State

I imagine this will be a much tougher game than Montana State.

 

Hopefully the home field advantage will help. Montana looks like a tough team.

I've been browsing the FCS Football Forums lately and they typically pick SHSU to lose every week. Last week they talked about how good MSU was and that it would be SHSU's biggest test.

This week they're saying how MSU was just bad all season and SHSU has still not been tested.

I'm excited for this game and hopefully getting to see what next weeks excuses could be out of the FCS forums.

Best thing is the national coverage and exposure for the University as a whole.

 

CAN'T WAIT!

FYI...more for logistical reasons and totally not trying to look ahead but the championship game is 1/7, not next week.

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This team was picked to finish 4th in the SLC before the season started. LOL.

And the reason SHSU hasn't been tested all year is because they're just that good. They've already beaten one D-1 opponent and one soon-to-be D-1 opponent this year, both on the road.

That being said, I do agree that this will be our toughest test. These 2 teams have been on a collision course all year long. The winner of this game will probably win it all.

Eat 'em up, Kats!

 

Last week was the 1st time I've seen SHSU play. (Just a flat out football fan, no ties to Sam). With that being said, I was convinced to go back and watch them again. I was really impressed with their D. Their DE's from OU and A&M are monsters in that level.

I hope they do well. Georgia Southern may be tough in the final. If they scored 21 on Alabama, I am certain they could score at least that against SHSU.

 

If you're going to the game GET THERE EARLY. There are commencement ceremonies that start at 6:30. Check the SHSU athletic site as they have a parking plan to accommodate the influx of people.

This might be the most people on campus at any one time ever*



*except maybe when there were the protests for the execution of the first woman back in 1998. That was a pretty fun time. Wasn't actually protests so much as it was a huge party.

 

Well, I am one who hopes SHSU loses this game as I am an alumni of Montana!

Montana is a perennial Div II/FCS powerhouse with a record 17 straight years of playoff appearances from 93-'09. They also have been in the championship game in 7 of those seasons winning it all twice.

I have followed the Grizzlies this year and they had 2 bad losses at the start of the year but have come on strong towards the end.

Montana State...the team you just beat...is the Grizzlies big rival (think Texas vs. A&M). Montana played @ Montana State this year last month and thoroughly whipped em so you are right they will be a tougher test.

Should be fun. Good luck!

 

Cool! Do you live here in Houston? You going to the game?

Montana is the perfect example of why I think schools like North Texas and (Southwest) Texas State shouldn't go Division I. I mean, what's the point? You're never going to win anything in Division I. Ever.

Why go that route when you can compete for a (real) national championship every year in FCS?

 

SHSU is a D-1 school. Really wish they would just go back to calling it D-1AA. Too many people call the FCS Division II, when Division II is entirely different.

Anyways, congrats on beating a 1-11 FBS team.

You do realize that #2 & #3 are playing in the other semi-final? You've got the greatest FCS program in history, that put up over 300 yards rushing on Alabama, and the only program to pitch a shutout in the playoffs.

 

boise st. has never been anything until recently and they acheived national success in the same conference texas st. is going to be in. plus, i imagine the amount of money texas state will see from the wac and from more people attending the football games, will dwarf what they were getting from the southland.

the excitement this move is bringing, at least among those i talk to who went to or are currently attending swt, hasn't been seen in san marcos since the glory days of the early-80s...or so i'm told.

but yeah, i will miss an actual playoff system instead of computers, corrupt coaches and idiot sportswriters deciding who gets a chance to play for the national championship.

 

South Florida is a school that recently made the jump successfully.

Georgia Southern recently commissioned a study to help determine whether or not they should make the jump to FBS. Basically the study showed that financially it would prove to be incredibly difficult. It was a very interesting read. It is a very high risk decision.

 

SHSU did a feasibility study last year as well. I don't know whether they released the results of it, but I think they are staying put.

As an alum and a fan, I'd rather they stay in FCS. To me, there is more to play for with the playoff system. At least you have a shot at a national championship. In FBS, the highest they can achieve is a conference title and being able to play in some obscure bowl game. Maybe they could eventually build up the program to be at the level of UH and get that kind of attendance, but it would take a long time and the chances at even getting to a BCS game is still minute (ie it would take a miraculous season like UH had this year), much less getting to a national championship.

 

Yeah I live in the Champions area and yes I was thinking about going. I have to work early Saturday though so I haven't made up my mind yet.

I agree with your sentiments about staying FCS. Maybe if the state of Montana only had the one major university instead of 2 they could compete ala Nebraska or Iowa.

Alas...

 

There's no good reason for Sam to go to the FBS. There will never be the fan support to sustain it. It's taken an undefeated year and games on ESPN to sell out the place. Huntsville is a town of maybe 50,000 and the next closest town of nearly that size is Conroe. The alumni base just isn't that interested or close by. At least in Texas State's case, many alum stayed in Central Texas.

I'd rather they build a consistent winner in FCS and play in an actual playoff system. I just wish Coach Marlin stuck around so the basketball team would have continued its successes.

 

I still call it I-AA. I'm not even sure when they changed it to FCS. I don't even know what Football Championship Subdivision means.

Not disrespecting the other side of the bracket at all, although it probably sounded like that. I'm just more familiar with Montana, since we played them a few years ago, and I know they have also spent time at #1 this year like us. Plus, they're in the playoffs pretty much every year.

And I know New Mexico sucks on ice, but it's still an accomplishment any time a I-AA....er, an FCS team beats an FBS team on the road. It's like the B team beating the A team. Even if the A team sucks, it's still an impressive win for the B team.

Go to the game and just suffer through work the next day, man! When is the next time your alma mater is going to be anywhere near Houston?

I couldn't go last weekend because of an early gig on Saturday. But this Saturday, we don't start til late. So wouldn't you know it....they schedule the game for Friday night...when I have another gig. I'll just have to DVR it and watch it when I get home.

 

Agreed. The area around the stadium and the Johnson Coliseum is going to be a logistical nightmare on Friday night. Leave yourself plenty of time to get where you're going.

 

Eat'em Up Kats...hope I can stay awake to watch the game - having a vasectomy on Friday and may be doped up on valium etc..

 

I'm with you. I still call it I-AA for the most part. I think they switched the names to FBS and FCS because the NCAA wanted to send the message that FCS is not a lesser brand of football, it's just different. Of course, we all know that's a load of crap.

 

If only the girl with the "we want LSU!" sign last weekend knew that... Gotta admire the enthusiasm though!