Playoffs

[jakejc795]

well dont get me wrong, i am fine with it too. wont be shedding any tears for the bison if their season comes to an end!! but there will be 3 MVFC v big sky matchups next week and i would prefer the MVFC win all of them. and since we get a team we have played multiple times recently no matter who wins, i would just as soon that YSU beat villanova also. if YSU was playing albany or furman, i would be rooting more for us to get a new opponent. i do expect YSU to give nova all they can handle and maybe quite a bit more

The Jacks can write their own Valley versus Big Sky supremacy saga if they play Vandals or Grizz.

I'd like to do my part to cheer 'guins into multiple false starts in a couple weeks

[bigticket1]

Definitely seemed that way.

However, I'm not sure how long I'd want him in if Jacks have comfortable lead

I would be happy if there are zero called QB runs in this game, unless absolutely necessary.

[OldHare]

Will cowbells be allowed for noise during playoff games? I recall the Montana State game which allowed cowbells. Is it only the MVFC that prohibits cowbells?

[bigticket1]

Will cowbells be allowed for noise during playoff games? I recall the Montana State game which allowed cowbells. Is it only the MVFC that prohibits cowbells?

I believe that is a Valley rule.

[OldHare]

I believe that is a Valley rule.

Well, it is the season to be ringing the bells then!!

[jakejc795]

I believe that is a Valley rule.

I'd be curious if an opposing coach could lobby the officials into warning the crowd about them, as they've been prohibited in the championship.

[bigticket1]

Well, it is the season to be ringing the bells then!!

There have been some wascally wabbits that have been sneaking them in during the season - heard some on Hobo Day and at the Marker game in our area.

[jakejc795]

There have been some wascally wabbits that have been sneaking them in during the season - heard some on Hobo Day and at the Marker game in our area.

I've heard them from a couple opponents when the Jacks are on offense too, so they're definitely being smuggled in

[filbert]

I believe that is a Valley rule.

No, it's an NCAA rule, too.

[jakejc795]

No, it's an NCAA rule, too.

Just ask Lane Kiffin. There's an apparent loophole if the cowbells are "responsibly" rung when opponents aren't approaching the line of scrimmage or snapping the ball

[RahRahRabbits]

RRR's ol Hobo Day cowbell may have been in attendance during last years' playoff run. And made a return for Montana State, as there were plenty of cowbells at their home game a week prior... so thought it would only be friendly to help them feel more at home. Officially they are either not allowed or fairly frowned upon... though just don't be an a-hole with it, and you'll be fine. I either claim diplomatic immunity, or argue we fall under the NCAA rules that allow Mississippi State the ability to have cowbells due to historical tradition for home out-of-conference and home playoff games.

Official rules:
Official NCAA document states for football: "Artificial crowd noise, by conference policy or mutual consent of the institutions, is allowed. The noise level must be consistent throughout the game for both teams. However, all current rules remain in effect dealing with bands, music and other sounds. When the snap is imminent, the band/music must stop playing. As with all administrative rules, the referee may stop the game and direct game management to adjust."

Valley rules are more strict: "Noisemakers. Artificial noisemakers shall not be permitted to be brought into or used in Valley football stadiums. Member institutions shall not distribute or sell any item(s) that may be used as artificial noisemakers. The intent of the rule is to prohibit activities that disrupt play or create unfair advantage. Thunder sticks, cow bells and horns fall into those categories. Non-prohibited activities include the following: (1) Putting “make noise” on the video board (2) Shaking keys on kick offs (3) Drum cadence prior to and during a kickoff that is non-disruptive."

FCS Championship game/stadium rules do specifically say they are not permissible: "Artificial noisemakers, air horns, electronic instruments, etc. are not permissible."

And lastly, DJD official rules prohibit them, but likely due to MVFC rules. "Prohibited items: ....Strollers, umbrellas, noise-making devices, drones, fireworks..."

[SlapJack]

And lastly, DJD official rules prohibit them, but likely due to MVFC rules. "Prohibited items: ....Strollers, umbrellas, noise-making devices, drones, fireworks..."

No Fireworks?!?! What am i going to do with all the M80's I've been saving? Sure, the ROTC can fire their cannon. Why can't I celebrate with some artillery shells?

[RahRahRabbits]

As far as Mercer goes, they certainly have talent on both sides of the ball. They have a 5-9 Sr CB - Buck Buchannan Award finalist in #0 Lance Wise Jr, and a 6-2 R-Sr WR - Walter Payton Award finalist in #13 Ty James. All-conference selections out of the SoCon were - 1st team: WR #13 Ty James, DL #11 Solomon Zubairu, LB #15 Ken Standley, DB #0 Lance Wise Jr, and RS #1 Devron Harper. 2nd team - OL #73 John Thomas, WR #1 Devron Harper, and LB #3 Isaac Dowling. Freshman: WR #21 Brayden Smith and DL #90 Brayden Manley.

Weather doesn't look to be a factor, but it is interesting to note that 83 of their 87 guys are from the south (53 Georgia, 8 Alabama, 7 Florida, 7 North Carolina, 4 South Carolina, 3 Tennessee, 1 Mississippi), with 1 each from Illinois, Nebraska, New York, and Pennsylvania. I would fully expect them to all be comfortable enough in 40 degrees to play football without any qualms though, especially with the forecasted light breeze.

Helpful links:

Jackrabbit Illustrated:

• Know Your Foe article
• A-Team Podcast
• B-Team Podcast
• B-Team Scared Money Don't Make Money

Sioux Falls Live:

• What to know about Mercer at SDSU article
• SDSU attendance article
• SDSU and USD preview video

[RahRahRabbits]

No Fireworks?!?! What am i going to do with all the M80's I've been saving? Sure, the ROTC can fire their cannon. Why can't I celebrate with some artillery shells?

That does feel fair to me... we should run this concern up the proverbial flagpole!

[RahRahRabbits]

Currently 5,980 green dots remaining for the Mercer game... which puts sold "green dots" at 8,681. A good block of those do appear to be earmarked for Mercer, which may very well return a bunch as well. With students/hopefully more sales, I'd expect a playoff crowd around 10k, hopefully more.

Remember too, one of the reasons why playoff attendance always suffers is due to reporting differences from regular season where schools keep their money, to playoffs where NCAA gets ~80% of ticket revenue regardless of turnout. Some schools seem to report all ticket sales regardless of who shows up through the season, while I'd guess SDSU reports actual scanned tickets, plus maybe the band and cheer squad? Correct me if I'm wrong, but those band/cheer numbers certainly get removed from playoff attendance as well.

While I, along with everyone else on here, would love to see higher attendance numbers, even 8k would be our highest playoff attendance ever.

Playoff attendance through the years:

2012 - Eastern Illinois - 4367
2016 - Villanova - 6154
2016 - Northern Iowa - 7518
2017 - New Hampshire - 5583
2018 - Duquesne - 3042
2019 - Northern Iowa - 4102
2021 - UC Davis - 3681
2022 - Delaware - 6117
2022 - Holy Cross - 6549
2022 - Montana St - 7195

And for what it's worth... the two times we played in Montana for the playoffs, they were far from record crowds for themselves too.
2014 - Montana St - 7747
2015 - Montana - 14575