UT-Martin

[AFCAT]

Kinda crazy that both times UTM has made it to the second round they've played Montana State and at the same time those two times the local high school team has made it to the state championship game with a Simpson at QB.

Not only that — it looks like each team features twin brothers. You have the Maddox brothers and we have the Dowler brothers. Your kicker is named Van Winkle. Our shared high school football stadium is named Van Winkle Stadium.

And twin Perkins brothers.

[Montanabob]

Kinda crazy that both times UTM has made it to the second round they've played Montana State and at the same time those two times the local high school team has made it to the state championship game with a Simpson at QB.

Not only that — it looks like each team features twin brothers. You have the Maddox brothers and we have the Dowler brothers. Your kicker is named Van Winkle. Our shared high school football stadium is named Van Winkle Stadium.

And twin Perkins brothers.

yeah, but they got no brody's.

[Skyhawks84]

I watched some the UTM vs. Tennessee Tech game....and I wasn't that impressed. I felt like I was watching an NAIA game. Not saying that I think we are going to absolutely destroy them, but I really think if the Cats show up like they have all season and the crowd is 15K-18K and up, we shouldn't have much of a problem.

I wouldn't base your opinion off our worst game of the year.

Coach Simpson said it best on the podcast this week about the 2021 game. We were a shell of ourselves offensively and it was a 13-7 game going into the fourth quarter. Now I know someone is gonna say this 2024 is waaaay better than your 2021 team. Guess what? We're waaaay better than our 2021 team too.

Who knows we might get blown out, but having that 2021 experience of playing there is invaluable, and like I said earlier having it be a one score game going into the fourth. We weren't overwhelmed last time in that environment. Just my opinion.

[GoldstoneCat]

I watched some the UTM vs. Tennessee Tech game....and I wasn't that impressed. I felt like I was watching an NAIA game. Not saying that I think we are going to absolutely destroy them, but I really think if the Cats show up like they have all season and the crowd is 15K-18K and up, we shouldn't have much of a problem.

I wouldn't base your opinion off our worst game of the year.

Coach Simpson said it best on the podcast this week about the 2021 game. We were a shell of ourselves offensively and it was a 13-7 game going into the fourth quarter. Now I know someone is gonna say this 2024 is waaaay better than your 2021 team. Guess what? We're waaaay better than our 2021 team too.

Who knows we might get blown out, but having that 2021 experience of playing there is invaluable, and like I said earlier having it be a one score game going into the fourth. We weren't overwhelmed last time in that environment. Just my opinion.

You're not wrong, that having been here will help. Coach and the couple handfuls of kids that were here will know at least generally what to expect. It will be fuller and louder by a whole bunch this week than it was that day. Attendance was 15k in 2021, and will be bigger Saturday based on what's left for tickets.
I don't think we're going to blow you out. You guys have some thumpers on defense and a qb that can make and extend some plays. So i think this game could be uncomfortable for us for awhile. But I do think we are significant better all over the roster, and this group of seniors has been in enough moments like this together, that i think we'll make a play that breaks the dam sometime after halftime, and we end up winning fairly comfortably. Your coach makes a good point, that this is 1 game, not a series, which is to your benefit, but in the same breath almost, said he doesn't think you're at the point to compete for national championships. I think ultimately our speed is the biggest factor, depth of talent as well, to us winning something like 38-14, 38-21.

[Bocephus]

For some reason the Bobcat D is still highly underrated. Most points allowed at home were 24 by Maine and 10 of those came against the backups in the 4th.

[cats2506]

I would bet Colter will try and have an interview with their Coach this week.

The OVC-Big South has a weekly coaches call, I bet local reporters will be on that. It should drop tomorrow.

[4KornerKat]

I watched some the UTM vs. Tennessee Tech game....and I wasn't that impressed. I felt like I was watching an NAIA game. Not saying that I think we are going to absolutely destroy them, but I really think if the Cats show up like they have all season and the crowd is 15K-18K and up, we shouldn't have much of a problem.

I wouldn't base your opinion off our worst game of the year.

Coach Simpson said it best on the podcast this week about the 2021 game. We were a shell of ourselves offensively and it was a 13-7 game going into the fourth quarter. Now I know someone is gonna say this 2024 is waaaay better than your 2021 team. Guess what? We're waaaay better than our 2021 team too.

Who knows we might get blown out, but having that 2021 experience of playing there is invaluable, and like I said earlier having it be a one score game going into the fourth. We weren't overwhelmed last time in that environment. Just my opinion.

I hope you are correct on this. Eddie George made similar comments in his post game the other night, that he feels like they have potential resources in the Big South-OVC to build into some decent programs. With the decline of the CAA and Southern conferences, there is certainly an opportunity to step up and try to catch up to the MVFC/Big Sky, which would be great for the FCS as a whole.

[tetoncat]

For some reason the Bobcat D is still highly underrated. Most points allowed at home were 24 by Maine and 10 of those came against the backups in the 4th.

And isn't it 3 points allowed at home in 1st half all year? And 32 total in first half all games?

[CodyCat]

@Skyhawks84

Are you the guy who hosts the talk show?

[St George]

The thing I remember most about the previous game with UTM was the wind. I recall the ref having to stand with one foot on each side of the ball so the ball wouldn't blow off its spot. No one could throw into that wind. Sam Houston made the mistake the next week thinking Tommy could not throw the ball.

[CodyCat]

The thing I remember most about the previous game with UTM was the wind. I recall the ref having to stand with one foot on each side of the ball so the ball wouldn't blow off its spot. No one could throw into that wind. Sam Houston made the mistake the next week thinking Tommy could not throw the ball.

One of Tommy's very first passes he ever attempted was into the wind, right into the SRO area and it was a complete failure. My dad and I were just scratching our head as to why that would even be an option.

[Bocephus]

For some reason the Bobcat D is still highly underrated. Most points allowed at home were 24 by Maine and 10 of those came against the backups in the 4th.

And isn't it 3 points allowed at home in 1st half all year? And 32 total in first half all games?

I think the broadcast said 4 points allowed in the 1st half in ALL games. That is astounding.

[Catsrgrood]

For some reason the Bobcat D is still highly underrated. Most points allowed at home were 24 by Maine and 10 of those came against the backups in the 4th.

And isn't it 3 points allowed at home in 1st half all year? And 32 total in first half all games?

I think the broadcast said 4 points allowed in the 1st half in ALL games. That is astounding.

The defense hasn’t been THAT salty, that’s the average 1st half points they’ve given up in all games this year. It was 4.1 pts per first half going into Cat/griz, and they gave up 3 in that game, so probably right around 4 pts on the dot now as an average.

[Catsrgrood]

For some reason the Bobcat D is still highly underrated. Most points allowed at home were 24 by Maine and 10 of those came against the backups in the 4th.

If I remember correctly, that was one of the games that the Cats were able to empty their entire bench, so literally everyone played in that game. So some of those points late in the game were against 3rd and 4th stringers.

What the starting D has given up for points this year is nothing short of amazing.

[Skyhawks84]

@Skyhawks84

Are you the guy who hosts the talk show?

I am not.

[TomCat88]

For some reason the Bobcat D is still highly underrated. Most points allowed at home were 24 by Maine and 10 of those came against the backups in the 4th.

If I remember correctly, that was one of the games that the Cats were able to empty their entire bench, so literally everyone played in that game. So some of those points late in the game were against 3rd and 4th stringers.

What the starting D has given up for points this year is nothing short of amazing.

MSU started running 3s out there in the second quarter. All the points by Maine were against 2s, 3s.

[TomCat88]

For some reason the Bobcat D is still highly underrated. Most points allowed at home were 24 by Maine and 10 of those came against the backups in the 4th.

And isn't it 3 points allowed at home in 1st half all year? And 32 total in first half all games?

I think the broadcast said 4 points allowed in the 1st half in ALL games. That is astounding.

The defense hasn’t been THAT salty, that’s the average 1st half points they’ve given up in all games this year. It was 4.1 pts per first half going into Cat/griz, and they gave up 3 in that game, so probably right around 4 pts on the dot now as an average.

MSU has only allowed 10 first half points at home this year. Maine has the only touchdown, but MSU was subbing in 2s and 3s by that time.

[cats2506]

It says "First Round" but this is this weeks OVC coaches availability

[Team10]

From the video the coach mentioned there are 7 players left from when the Skyhawks visited Montana last time in '21. There were a couple fans wondering what that count actually is.

[GoodTimesAllTheTime]

I watched some the UTM vs. Tennessee Tech game....and I wasn't that impressed. I felt like I was watching an NAIA game. Not saying that I think we are going to absolutely destroy them, but I really think if the Cats show up like they have all season and the crowd is 15K-18K and up, we shouldn't have much of a problem.

I wouldn't base your opinion off our worst game of the year.

Coach Simpson said it best on the podcast this week about the 2021 game. We were a shell of ourselves offensively and it was a 13-7 game going into the fourth quarter. Now I know someone is gonna say this 2024 is waaaay better than your 2021 team. Guess what? We're waaaay better than our 2021 team too.

Who knows we might get blown out, but having that 2021 experience of playing there is invaluable, and like I said earlier having it be a one score game going into the fourth. We weren't overwhelmed last time in that environment. Just my opinion.

Saying it was a one score game in the 4th is kind of misleading, considering that it was 19-7 at the 14:05 marker in the 4th. The Skyhawk’s only points came on a fumble return. Obviously this is a different team, and the past has little to do with it, but I don’t really think UT Martin really learned anything positive about playing in that environment. Could be wrong though, just my two cents.