The Sicatoka

20? Four "final five" format regionals. But 16 is already more than 25% of the number of DI teams and 25% is the target number. They'll never go to 20 teams until DI gets to about 75 teams.

< musing to self > ... I wonder if Trent Burnham wants to be a pilot ...

Stig didn't mess around: He took not one but two second half kill-shots (to 38, to 45). He knew he was coming for the king and he best not miss.

The portion of their fanbase that can do "24 divided by 8" was deflated ... so about a quarter. Going for one was a white-flag move.

If UND starts this Friday like last Friday the visitor side of the scoreboard will be spinning like a slot machine.

Precisely. Their best defender ran out of eligibility yesterday.

The NDSU defense from yesterday ...

Lindenwood's biggest problem? Conditioning. You could see the tank go empty both nights. If that's the biggest problem you see in a new DI team that cobbled a schedule together in March, beware, because that had to be noted by Zombo and can be easily resolved.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35412825/sources-northwestern-hire-north-dakota-state-david-braun-dc Seems real.

NDSU could be looking for a new DC already: https://twitter.com/espnrittenberg/status/1612500463013732352?s=46&t=OjHIUaMLaf_qA59gc6cAeg The comments ... "He good?" "His defense gave up over 500 yards and 45 points in the National Championship game yesterday." Ouch.

The poor game management (scoreboard and clock and lack of urgency) yesterday by NDSU still astounds me. Did Klieman take all the Cliff Notes and Schawm Outline cards with him to KSU? When third tier ABC announcers are dumbfounded at going for one, and they're right, that ain't a good look.

That's why I keep harping on improved play at the line of scrimmage. That was crystal clear yesterday. I want a DL that makes our LB and DBs bored spectators and an OL that teams cringe from in fear.

Why not make him sit out the Packers opening playoff ga... nevermind. Sorry @Oxbow6, but I had to do it.

https://theanalyst.com/na/2023/01/jackrabbits-leave-no-doubt-unanimous-no-1-in-the-final-stats-perform-fcs-top-25/

They (19 pages of A-gap power plays in their book*) aren't built for urgency or coming back. It's just more of the "1980 Soviet" problem. Down 17 with 11 to play (and it should've been down 18 or 16 but that's a different matter) they couldn't even drop into a 4-minute soft-huddle offense. Why? *OK, that's a lie. It's only 12.

A comment "elsewhere" was they were like the Soviets in 1980: They had no idea how to respond to being down and outplayed.

UND Football's two greatest problems played yesterday. What can be learned, what are the take-aways from that game? 1. Line of scrimmage - SDSU won it, owned it, had better size and depth, and it was the reason for their win <- this one is 100x more important than next ones 2. Scoreboard management - down 38-20 they kicked the EP, ... and stayed down three scores. Making a two-point makes a two-possession game. In a game with nothing going for you, being down two possessions with 11 to go is something to build from 3. Clock management - NDSU fans question not using their TOs late in first half to get ball one more time (no opinion) Other items?

That's the only good the Rams did yesterday: Detroit's (from LA) draft pick got better because of the Rams loss.

That is "The Motor City Kitties" to you good sir.

The Rams had one thing, just one thing to do, and they failed. Yes, I was quietly cheering for the roar to be restored.

I approve of that penalty for that infraction.

Word is Lovie Smith met with ownership before the game. My guess is he had a long talk about a certain Lombardi quote versus picking 1 or 2. "Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing." -- Vince Lombardi Lovie had them going with good habits to end the season; why accept less as the thing that stays with them during the offseason.

The NAIA would like a word also.

I’ve had an NDSU insider tell me they are in need of their “Schafer and Kennedy”. Not sure they exist.

UND did its heavy lifting under Schafer and Kennedy.