philgood80 wrote:
I have to say that this loss is still eating at me! I am not convinced that the best team won, but the better team for Saturday Dec 2nd showed up and they were in Navy and White.
Props to UNH. They arrived with a chip on their shoulder and had something to prove. They were the more physical team and deserved the win.
We have hosted playoff games. We have played in 2nd round games. But we had never hosted a 2nd round game prior to this year. At least not in D-I. And this is NOT an excuse. There is a huge difference from winning a first round game and going someplace like UM or EWU with nothing to lose and making a good showing. But it is a completely different animal to be able to take a week off and bring your A game against a team that has been criticized for their resume and comes in after taking a win or go home game. There is a reason UNH has been to 14 straight playoff trips. They’re good. They came in having experienced this position before and they were confident they could win.
That kind of experience can only be learned. We will be young next year and we are losing a ton of experience but I know what kind of motivation will be used for the next few months.
21-15
Go Bears!! Still proud to be one. Let’s keep our own playoff streak going.
Props to UNH. They arrived with a chip on their shoulder and had something to prove. They were the more physical team and deserved the win.
We have hosted playoff games. We have played in 2nd round games. But we had never hosted a 2nd round game prior to this year. At least not in D-I. And this is NOT an excuse. There is a huge difference from winning a first round game and going someplace like UM or EWU with nothing to lose and making a good showing. But it is a completely different animal to be able to take a week off and bring your A game against a team that has been criticized for their resume and comes in after taking a win or go home game. There is a reason UNH has been to 14 straight playoff trips. They’re good. They came in having experienced this position before and they were confident they could win.
That kind of experience can only be learned. We will be young next year and we are losing a ton of experience but I know what kind of motivation will be used for the next few months.
21-15
Go Bears!! Still proud to be one. Let’s keep our own playoff streak going.
UNH used the same philosophy as UCA uses...stop the run and make them beat
you throwing the ball. The Bears had success throwing the ball...2 big plays for
145 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hildebrand had a career day yardage wise with
27 completions, but they kept everything in front of them and made SURE TACKLES. The Wildcats got 2 interceptions on 2 balls deflected at the line of
scrimmage, one of which was returned nearly 60 yards for a TD and picked up
two fumbles as well. The pick 6 was a huge momentum swing for UNH.
You only get a limited number of possessions during a game...so take away
4 for the Bears and you get your answer.
The stats bear out that UCA was the more dominant team during the game,
but the turnovers are the equalizer. UNH was not the better team on Saturday,
they were just the team that had more points on the scoreboard and that is
how football games are decided.
This game was nearly a duplication of the Samford game a few years back.
Statistically the Bears won that game easily...just not on the scoreboard.
I certainly don't think any less of the Bears after this one. They had a tremendous
year. They are 17-1 in the conference the past two years and have nothing to
be ashamed about.
BPSG
______________________
GO BEARS
