Playoffs

[jakejc795]

Furman played a schedule that was combined 47-69 and lost to a 2-9 Wofford. Montana played a schedule that was 60-61 and lost to 5-6 UNA. That manifestation will likely last 1 1/2 quarters.

I've never watched Furman play, but I can defnitely see why some expect a William & Mary repeat. I think Becton is hoping they Huff and puff and blow the Grizz house down

[LetsGoRabbits]

If Furman beats Montana I will personally exile myself to Vermillion for a year.

DEFINITELY appreciate the spirit of your comment Salem and i got a good chuckle))!!!! but i feel like those of us here should hold you to that if somehow furman pulls off a miracle, but i dont believe anyone here is mean enough to try to enforce such a consequence on anyone!! hell i even expect that most vermillion residents are smart enough to get the heck outta town as often as possible

[Prairiehaas]

Perhaps. But USeD would be better positioned for that. If Furman takes out UM I would list Coyotes as lead pipe cinch to make finals (that is if they get past Bobcats or Bison).

[LetsGoRabbits]

Perhaps. But USeD would be better positioned for that. If Furman takes out UM I would list Coyotes as lead pipe cinch to make finals (that is if they get past Bobcats or Bison).

if furman goes to UM and wins, i guess someone would have to think they have at least a bit of a shot to win in vermillion. imagine what a vacation vermillion would feel like for a road team after playing at UM!!!

that said usd is NOT gonna beat whoever wins between MSU and NDSU

[Prairiehaas]

You have a point there. Three TDs will not beat either of those 2 teams.

[jacked_up_rabbit]

This bracket definitely feels like the committee said SDSU is clearly the number 1 team and we'll put everyone else on the other side of the bracket and they can decide who the number 2 is. Winner of that group gets a shot at SDSU in Texas pending a big upset.

Feel like this was well done by the committee this year through my blue colored glasses.

[Kemo]

This bracket definitely feels like the committee said SDSU is clearly the number 1 team and we'll put everyone else on the other side of the bracket and they can decide who the number 2 is. Winner of that group gets a shot at SDSU in Texas pending a big upset.

Feel like this was well done by the committee this year through my blue colored glasses.

Agreed. Couldn't ask for a much better bracket as a Jackrabbit fan.

[ringthebells]

Any chance someone could make up an FCS pick 'em? Might be kind of fun to fill out and follow along.

[Theee Catrabbit]

To be fair, we're 0-8 vs the Griz all time, including two of the biggest fourth quarter comebacks in the history of the sport (although seven of those losses were played in Missoula).

Only counter to that is that the Griz are 2-5 in championship games.

To be fair.....this team crushes all narratives we make up about the past.

[Prairiehaas]

To be fair.....this team crushes all narratives we make up about the past.

To be fair nobody on the team was around for the last 17-24 loss against UM.

[trueblue]

To be fair, we're 0-8 vs the Griz all time, including two of the biggest fourth quarter comebacks in the history of the sport (although seven of those losses were played in Missoula).

Only counter to that is that the Griz are 2-5 in championship games.

Great stats for media or fans to spend time talking about but they mean absolutely nothing. None of the players on either team factor into either of those stats. I hate Montana for buying out the trip they were supposed to make to Brookings a few years back and not sure that feeling will ever change.

[Prairiehaas]

Regarding UM, a few stats from this season. SDSU scored 37.6 ppg and gave up 11.3 mpg against a schedule of teams that went 73-48 for the season. UM scored 30.5 ppg and gave up 14.5 ppg against a schedule that went 60-58. There is at least one team on their side of the bracket I would be more worried about.

[JackJD]

Great stats for media or fans to spend time talking about but they mean absolutely nothing. None of the players on either team factor into either of those stats. I hate Montana for buying out the trip they were supposed to make to Brookings a few years back and not sure that feeling will ever change.

I don't think I will forget watching (on TV) the melf-down of the century when we played Montana in the first round of the playoffs in 2009. I'd like to see the Jacks take on the Griz and do a little pay-back.

The 2009 season was SDSU's first D1 playoff appearance and we traveled to Missoula for a Thanksgiving weekend game. The Griz were undefeated at that point (they finished the year 14-1, their only loss coming in the National Championship game against Villanova) but the Jacks were dominating, closing out the half up 34-14 and the third quarter up 48-27. But there was one looming problem in the personna of Mark Mariani, a receiver and return specialist. To this day I wonder why we were kicking and punting anywhere near that guy. He seemed to be on a personal mission to rip the hearts out of the Jacks.

We lost -- Montana 61, SDSU 48.

Mariani seemed to announce that he was going to take over the game when in the third quarter he took a kickoff 98 yards to the house. The score at the end of the third quarter suggested the Jacks remained firmly in control but there was trouble on the horizon, starting with Mariani's kickoff return. Here's the official scoring summary retrieved from GoJacks.com:

3rd	05:25	UM - Marc Mariani 98 yd kickoff return (Brody McKnight kick failed)	48	27
4th	14:56	UM - Marc Mariani 15 yd pass from Andrew Selle (Brody McKnight kick) 11 plays, 79 yards, TOP 3:05	48	34
4th	07:35	UM - Chase Reynolds 1 yd run (Brody McKnight kick), 8 plays, 66 yards, TOP 2:15	48	41
4th	04:11	UM - Chase Reynolds 1 yd run (Brody McKnight kick), 4 plays, 52 yards, TOP 1:19	48	48
4th	01:08	UM - Marc Mariani 4 yd pass from Andrew Selle (Brody McKnight kick) 5 plays, 41 yards, TOP 1:34	48	55
4th	00:45	UM - Sev. Campbell 32 yd interception (Brody McKnight kick blocked)

Mariani's name is liberally sprinkled in the plays leading to the Montana scores in the fourth quater, He finished the game with 171 yards. Mariani played his high school ball at Havre, MT (senior year captain; 12-0 and State A champs) BUT did not play football his first year at Montana. Then he walked on and established himself as a talented wide receiver and dangerous return specialist. Montana finished the 2009 season 14-1, losing the national title game to Villanova. Mariani was drafted in the 7th round in 2010 by the Tennesssee Titans. Yeah, he has a Wikipedia page.

I wouldn't mind playing Montana. They're playing great football right now. So are we.

[AZjack]

I wouldn't mind playing Montana, our style matches up better with them. I do expect NDSU or MSU to beat JSD in Vemintown, will be a great semi-final either way.

[Cowbell]

I'm thinking most of the current Jacks were 6-8 years old in 2009. Different era and different type of athletes.