Oxbow6

Thank you...I really didn't think, based on the schedules that were played this season, that the who's in and who's out would be so difficult to comprehend given certain scenerios. NDSU was the last team in...KU got them in and that's good for them. They won enough games with strenghth of schedule to gain that last spot. Montana didn't but beating a D2 team wasn't the reason they didn't get in.

My source, from Missoula, said he heard that even a 7 win Griz team with all wins vs. D1 FCS teams still would of been out vs. this year's 7 win Bison with their win at KU. Just saying what I heard...and I don't have a dog in this fight.

"Am I speaking Chinese?" I get the 7 D1 win scenerio. IF IF IF IF the Griz would have beaten MSU, they would have received an at-large bid...PERIOD!!! That's what I'm trying to say. I get they played a D2 team. But...(exasperated)...I need to leave now and take some more blood pressure meds.

Excellent post...but of all the things you mentioned...coaching still is what drives the bus day in and day out in a big time program. From X's and O's, to play calling and in game adjustments, commuication with media, to leadership of the whole program. You can have all the other things in place that you described, but if you can't coach 'em up, if you can't create an envirioment of we will "battle" and still give us the opportunity to WIN mentality, all the other stuff is for not. Great things can be accomplished with less talent if you have a group of men that are willing to "battle" and overcome because the man leading the program is someone they'll stand in front of a moving bus for because they know he is providing them with all avenues to be successful and win games. Mussman has a long way to go IMO to accomplish that...and frankly, it doesn't take someone who has played college FB to see that.

True to an extent...he still is the main rutter on this sinking ship though. You don't think he made the call at Poly to punt it away on 4th and 1? You don't think he has input during a game to say let's diversify our play calling so we aren't constantly 3rd and 8 with a 3rd string QB because we ran it off tackle on 1st and 2nd down? Not disagreeing with your point when he was OC from '01-'07, but don't enable him for what happend this year offensively. He is ultimately in charge.

IMO if this game doesn't get renewed, it's on Faison. Why not take every other year to start with? Both sides need to put some ego aside and get this thing rolling again. Fasion needs to be the bigger man and go with the every other year deal for starters!

We'll agree to disagree...NDSU is in the playoffs mainly due to a game they shouldn't have won: The KU game. Your same record argument takes into accout that it was a given that NDSU would beat KU. It happened but wasn't a 7th win factored into the minds of Bohl and Taylor prior to the start of the season. You can point to the Griz scheduling a D2 game, which is what it is, but if the Griz beat a cupcake FCS team over a D2 team, like this year and still lose to MSU and NDSU still beats KU...the Griz are still out. Pretty obvious! Montana in the final poll was still ranked higher than NDSU so a non-conference win over a patsy FCS team instead of a D2 team doesn't get you past the fact they needed to beat MSU under any scheduling scenerio you want to propose...again pretty obvious.

The Griz beat MSU on the last game of the season and they are in and you are out...period. Scheduling arguments are hindsight for a season that is just over. Do you think the KU game was penciled in as a win before the year started? Not even 99% of Phil Hanson wannabe's from Bisonville would of predicted that. So the schedule is what it is this year for both schools. You won a game that 9 of out 10 times you lose and the Griz piss one down their legs vs. MSU. This year the Griz screwed themselves by not beating MSU in a game they should of probably won. This year NDSU gets a win vs. KU that very few thought would happen. NDSU's win vs. KU got them into the playoffs coupled with the fact that MSU beat the Griz. The two games I'm referencing are not independent in this whole playoff scenerio. Frankly, your scheduling argument doesn't hold water IMO.

Not that former Griz coach, Bobby Hauck's gig at UNLV is on solid footings...but least he has strippers, hookers and gambling! Oh wait...my Griz season ticket holder buddy said he has those things in Missoula too!

I heard from one of my good NDSU friends in Fargo, ticket sales are more than solid. He thinks 16K is a given,

Stronger schedule...no. Self inflicted...yes. If they don't give the game to MSU w one turnover after another, they go and you sit.

I can't get past the your 1st point...if you honestly believe that...wow! Great offensive minds don't punt on 4th and 1 at your opponents 40 with the game on the line. Great offensive minds, with a 2nd or 3rd string QB, don't contiually run on 1st and 2nd down so that your inexperienced QBs have to throw the ball on 3rd and long. I could go on just on this 1st point alone...

Let's cut to the chase...having seen Mussman as a head coach now for a couple years, what has anyone seen from a leadership standpoint, X's and O's coaching standpoint, communication standpoint, or overall gut feeling standpoint that this is OUR guy to lead us into the Big Sky?? UND's transitional situation is what it is, but we need a leader and coach that can help the program overcome whatever disadvantages some of you perceive and get this FB program going in the right direction.

This program, like most other FCS programs, comes down to 1 position...QB. You have to find a QB that can make plays when needed and not be a turnover machine. Defensive and special teams will keep you in games, i.e. at Montana, but you have to have someone leading the offensive that will rise to the occasion when called to do so.

I'm with you on all accounts, but at least we did get the "we went toe to toe with them" like after the Idaho game. We are going into one of the premire FCS FB conferences in the nation with a coach that gives the moral victory quotes whenever he isn't throwing players or officials under the bus.

That was a beatdown...plain and simple. Packers are getting healthier and Minny is just a total mess. GB better win the North because I still think the Bears are a complete fraud.

So the FCS playoffs are expanded to 20 teams...NDSU hosts RoMo. Of the 20 teams to get in, if one were to rate/seed them, you probably have #17 vs. #20. Just as long as the participation banner gets hung cause the Fargodome has been pretty bare since it opened!

IF the Griz don't puke it up twice in the red zone yesterday, they beat the Cats and NDSU sits at home. IMO...yes, the Griz would whup SU. Now if SU and MT. St meet in the 2nd round...ouch, that one is going to get ugly. MT. St is no MO. St. Let's face it...it took a "perfect storm" scenerio for NDSU to get in.

Kind of sad if that's the case, but it is the NC$$!

Absolutely right...that win got the Bison in and sent the Griz home. You put the Bison and Griz on a neutral field...don't think game would be close. Griz would IMO throttle SU, but it is what it is.

Very suprised that NDSU got into the playoffs and then gets to host a playoff game?!?!?. My brothers and uncle live in Springfield, MO. Uncle is NDSU grad...brothers are UND grads. All said NDSU was B-R-U-T-A-L yesterday...but obviously the body of work trumps one game. Good for NDSU, the state of ND and Fargo.

Your season is done as well you JA...so how 'bout you get outa here and go explain to your mom why/how the inside of your boxers are full of Cheeto crumbs after watching the "webcast" of today's Bison game!

Turnovers everywhere...neither team can capitalize.

9:30 to go.

Frattin hooked...no call.