Football Preview For 2009 (this is long so bear with me)

Let's try not to end up like this man and HIS empire

Pictured above is the Archduke himself, Franz Ferdinand. He was the heir to the Habsburg Throne of Austria-Hungary. 4 years after his death on June 28th, 1914, Austria-Hungary ceased to exist after many years of steady decline. 91 years after the demise of that empire, Idaho State's football program is seemingly heading down the same path of non-existence. Replacing France, Italy, Britain and Czarist Russia are Oklahoma, Arizona State, Weber State and Montana. A powerful host of enemies that might serve as the fatal knockout blow to ISU Bengal football. ISU is currently sporting a 6-28 record since 2006 and is in dire straits (with the terrible economy and a fuming population in Pocatello). Like Austria-Hungary, ISU has not done anything of real value since 1982 (the last time we were in the playoffs). The Big Sky Championship earlier this decade was shared with Montana and Montana State; ISU was 1 game away from the playoffs. Since that high of 8-4, ISU has declined slowly to become the laughing stock of the Big Sky. And this year will be the biggest test; this season will test the resolve and heart of this team. So let's look at this team's challenges this year and what needs to be done (in my opinion) to not become another Austria-Hungary (sans countless ethnic divisions, of course).

9/5 @ Arizona State--This game sees ISU taking on another PAC-10 opponent, this time a program with some actual tradition. Corvallis has nothing on the wacky atmosphere at Tempe, the old site of the Fiesta Bowl. The Sun Devils are coached by Dennis Erickson, who is a bit of a journeyman (but knows how to build winners; he won a title with Miami and actually built Idaho into a good program back in the 80's). ISU actually has a bit of experience with him; the Bengals played against his Vandals team back in 2006 and lost by 3 (on several questionable calls, no doubt an attempt by I-U to save some dignity). However almost all those players are gone. Not that it matters. ASU will most likely get a good warm-up and roll over ISU (and the best punching bag in recent memory, Rudy Carpenter, is gone. Seriously, you could sack that guy all you wanted and he just kept coming back for more).

9/12 @ Oklahoma--I pointed this out in an earlier post. The only thing ISU can do in this game is hope to decleat Sam Bradford and REALLY ruin the Sooners' season. Actually, ISU can do a few things in this game. Big 12 defenses are nothing to be afraid of, because all of them seem to like watching the offense light up the scoreboards. The past few years have seen the Sooners put up (pardon the French) in-fucking-credible offensive numbers, the kind you see in basketball games and NCAA Football video games. ISU should put a few touchdowns on Oklahoma, but don't expect anything here. It's going to be worse than Tannenberg. And we're the Russian Army playing right into the Imperial German army's entrenched defensive positions.

9/19 @ Weber State--As if this month of September isn't rough enough, Franz Ferdinand's ghost is leading us straight to the defending conference champion's lair in Ogden. Weber State has almost everyone back from last year and considering the numbers Weber State put up on us, that's not a pleasant prospect. ISU can put up a fight, provided the first two games didn't totally wreck our football team (like the way Alexsei Brusilov wrecked the Austro-Hungarians with the Brusilov Offensives). It's going to be very difficult, but ISU can pull off an incredible upset and make this a rivalry.

9/26 vs CWU--Coach Zamberlin's old haunt and gig comes to Pocatello, where ISU can do 1 of 2 things. The Bengals could win this and go 3-0 all-time against CWU and get some morale back, or totally blow it in front of a dangerously small crowd and potentially derail the season. This would also make October a matter of life-or-death. ISU wins this one, but should be on guard because CWU is a good D-2 team and has the potential of being another North Dakota.

10/03 vs Eastern Washington--ISU should put up a very good fight here. EWU is on NCAA probation and despite having key players back, this season is probably going to be worthless to the Eagles. ISU played EWU very tough last year in Cheney; almost pulling off an upset but losing late in the 4th quarter. I say ISU wins this but it will take some serious effort.

10/10 @ Sacramento State--CSUS is angrier than the Romanian minorities in Transylvania. ISU's lone win last year was this game in a dramatic overtime victory on a 16 yard run on 3rd down by Kenyon Blue. ISU should also win this game and hopefully in regulation.

10/17 vs Northern Colorado--ISU wins this, because NC, even with their win in Greeley last year, is still adjusting to the Big Sky (hence the 8th place rankings). This is big for ISU because a win here plus hopeful wins over CSUS, EWU, and CWU would get 4 wins (and God willing a win over Weber nets us 5). ISU could realistically be sporting a 4-3 record by this time (we can pray), but a 3-4 record wouldn't be a disaster either (but not as good as we want it to be).

10/24 @ NAU--ISU HAS to win this game. NAU has had some great run defenses and very good athletes but has not been able to capitalize on this (they somehow squander it every year. It could make a grown man cry sometimes). ISU's record in the J. Walkup Skydome isn't the best but this is crucial and a must-win for the Bengals.

10/31 @ MSU--Montana State/Idaho State games have usually been pretty good. If it weren't for horrible play calling all season, ISU could very well have taken it to MSU, and 2 years ago ISU played MSU very tough in Bozeman before bowing out. This is another must-win for ISU and hopefully the Bengals can pull off some trickery for the treat of getting a win in Bozeman and close out October on a good note (if the month has been bad) or a great note (if ISU runs the table and become worldbeaters).

11/7 vs Montana--Ahhhhh! Hell Day! ISU-Montana games, for reasons more mysterious than Earle Bruce's firing, have been very close, hotly contested games. Montana, although ranked #1 in the conference polls and the runner-up for D-1AA, has lost a LOT of personnel, and in key positions too. The eternal optimist in me says, by the Grace of God and Imperial Germany, we win in a barnburner. This is ISU's best chance for the upset of the decade (because Montana, we all know, will be ranked in November. No question).

11/14 vs Portland State--The Elvis Guy returns to Pocatello to try and avenge the incredible collapse of the 2007 season, where PSU had the lead and the Bengal defense forced fumbles left and right to return them for TD's and the 38-30 win. This game is winnable because it's at home and ISU, provided they conquer October, could end the season at a 5-7 or a 6-6 record. (we all want a 7-5 but I don't see that happening. Of course if it does, I'm going to be damned euphoric).

So ISU, judging by the schedule, will most likely live or die in October. September has one winnable game, a potential upset, and two complete slaughterings. November only has 2 games because of the lack of a bye week this season. ISU should be much better this season with a desperately needed overhaul on offense and a new, kick-ass mentality on defense. Look for the Bengals to run the ball a little more and to actually--GASP!!!--pass downfield more. Russell Hill has the experience in the system and 2 years under his belt but the masses are clamoring for Kyle Blum, who has athleticism and a rocket-powered arm (Russell Hill has the potential of being a Rudy Carpenter. That is, somebody who has been playing for 4-5 years and never gets anything accomplished other than being a defense's favorite target). The defense should be more aggressive with the 4-3 and hopefully we'll see some blitzes ala' Hutier tactics. ISU cannot afford to nosedive into catastrophe. Support is already at dangerous levels and the discontent is very audible, if not downright abrasive. Another horrible season and we'll be hearing the calls for axing the program to save money and dignity. In these financially uncertain times, it's a distinct possibility.


This is what we should aim for. Don't go for the book, think like a Prussian!

The Bengal Fan's Schedule Review for Fall 2009

I posted this on bengals.bigskyfans.com but felt compelled to post here on the Ol' Blog.

August

What to look for: The end of summer and sleeping in, the start of classes, and a soccer team that's height/size deprived.

The Bengal Faithful get 2 soccer matches this month, one on Tuesday 18th against Northwest Nazarene (11AM at Davis Field) and the first ever meeting with the Lobster-Lovers from Maine (Sunday the 30th, 1PM at Davis). These two games are great previews of the smaller, faster quark-women that will probably dominate the soccer field (I believe we won't have the players of Okamura's and Quigley's size this year, as Noelle Sanders and Michelle Harrison left)

September

What to look for: Anybody. Rugby is the only team home every other weekend. Oh and football is home the 26th after some tomfoolery by 550 Memorial Drive that sends us to ASU, Oklahoma AND Weber State on the road with no bye week this season. Look for signs of the Soccer and Volleyball teams, they're here somewhere.

September is where things start getting going for the Bengal Faithful (even if there were plenty of games last year this month). There are rugby matches against Utah and the North/South Game (both at Bartz Field at 1:00 PM; Utah on the 12th and the N/S Game on the 19th). Soccer gets only 1 home game against Utah Valley on Wednesday the 23rd (4:00PM at Davis). Volleyball gets their first home matches on the 25th (Friday) and 26th (Saturday) against EWU and PSU; both at 7:00PM in Reed Gym. Football is very absent this month with only 1 home game against Central Washington (many, including me, have said this is a trap game); kickoff at 3:30 on the 26th. Be sure to catch both the Volleyball game and the Football game on the 26th!

October

What to look for: Soccer's Atomic Reactor impersonation (little things flying all over the place), Volleyball's defiant defense of the home court and hopeful gradual improvement into a Big Sky Contender, and Football lives or dies here. Look for the 2 million rugby matches at Bartz Field too. Also, though it's hard to find, look for ASISU to hopefully schedule Homecoming the week of the 12th-17th.

Typically the month of fun for the Bengal Fan. Has Halloween, plenty of football and in general LOTS of games! Rugby will be home all month with all matches starting at 1:00PM at Bartz Field. The breakdown of the opponents is as follows: Weber (3rd), Utah State (10th), Boise State (17th), Montana (24th), and Snow College (Halloween). Football will also be home twice against EWU (the 3rd, kickoff at 3:30) and Northern Colorado (the 17th, kickoff at 3:30). Soccer has matches with Montana on the 8th (4:00PM), NAU on the 15th (4:00PM) and the 17th (Northern Colorado, 1:00PM). The finale of the soccer season is Halloween at 1:00PM. Volleyball also has a candy bag of goodies with 6 home matches. AAAASSSS Folloooowwss: Sacramento State (9th, 7:00PM), BSU (10th, 7:00PM), Seattle (16th, 7:00PM) UVU (17th, 7:00PM), Northern Colorado (30th, 7:00PM) and NAU finishes on Halloween at 7:00PM.

The 8th-10th will feature 4 home games and the 15th-17th will be a Bengal Bonanza (why ASISU never schedules Homecoming on a week full of Bengal games defies common sense) with 6 games; 4 on Saturday alone (choose between rugby at 1PM or soccer at 1PM)

November

What to look for: The hopefully happy ending for Soccer, Rugby, Volleyball and Football

The final month for football, volleyball, soccer and rugby and the transition to the hardwood! There's the big Montana game on the 7th; Hell kicks off at 3:30 in Holt (and fill that sucker UP). Football finishes on the 14th with a 3:30 kickoff time and volleyball has 3 matches with Weber (7:00PM, the 14th), MSU (the 20th at 7:00) and Montana (21st at 7:00PM).

The Big Sky Conference: Civilization Style

Wow, I'm on a roll with these posts here! Part of the joys of summer vacation is that, despite the workout schedule and the millions of hours wasted at work, there will always be Civilization 3. Endless hours of triumph and tragedy, joy and heartache have been my best companion when playing this game.

Now we get to play it Big Sky style! If Big Sky football teams were Civilizations, what would be their attributes and outcomes? Please note: I was extremely bored when I wrote this :)

Montana Grizzlies:

Montana is definitely the world superpower. They have the technological advances, the key resources and the most powerful military units in the game. Not to mention they have a relatively happy and prosperous population (save for the occasional rantings of wanting to build a Spaceship to that great space colonization dream, the Western Athletic Conference). Montana is a Democracy, though very nationalistic. They have colonies scattered all over Big Sky Land and are well defended. Definitely a civilization that will require a brutal, even apocalyptic, war to unseat as the preeminent world power.

Montana State Bobcats:

Montana State is Montana's significant other. Though they are of the Mid-Industrial Age complete with decent military units and such, they lack important important resources like rubber and oil, which impair their ability to wage a prolonged war with Montana. The Bobcats could go to war with Montana in the colonies, but they would be sending obsolete and weaker units to their doom. MSU is also a Democracy, though it is still struggling to establish rule due to Montana's constant propaganda blitzes through MSU's outlying cities.

Weber State Wildcats:

Weber State has just barely reached the Mid-Industrial Age thanks to their massive conscription policies and the timely emergence of some great Generals. They have some good resources and with their government firmly established (a Monarchy of all things), they seek to take advantage of their newfound wealth and power to expand their designs on the world at large.

Eastern Washington Eagles:

EWU has seen better days, despite being an Industrial Age kingdom (they're a Monarchy, though slowly decaying with the abdication of King Wulff) with some units that pack some firepower. Their resources are slowly drying up and, if they don't rebound from a case of the plague (the NCAA Plague), they will find themselves a colony of Montana or even MSU or Weber State.

Northern Arizona Lumberjacks:

NAU is a Feudal Monarchy and a kingdom with tremendous potential and great resources. But their military leadership and high nobility continue to squander the great fighting abilities of their people in strange and sometimes utterly useless endeavors. They are in the High Middle Ages (teetering on the brink of Industrialization) and militarily have been impressive, even being a thorn in Montana's side at times. However, King Souers continues to squander away NAU's potential to whatever civilization nimble enough to grab it.

Portland State Vikings:

The Vikings are stuck in the Middle Ages despite the emergence of King Glanville I, who is doing everything he can to get his civilization up to speed. Despite the promise of some units and the abundance of resources, don't count on anything to come from PSU until they reach the Industrial Age (and that's if MSU or Montana don't snatch them up first).

Northern Colorado Bears:

The Bears are in the midst of the Middle Ages, and are a Feudal society. They have some resources scattered about and have some potential; however, being a civilization that has recently been contacted, much remains to be seen concerning their potential.

Sacramento State Hornets:

The Hornets have just reached the crucial center of the Middle Ages with some great resources and some pretty good leaders to guide them. Although their cities still echo hints of the ancient past, they are trying their hardest to move their civilization forward. The Hornets are the only civilization with a Republican form of government.

Idaho State Bengals:

The Bengals are, sadly, the weakest civilization. The land has few resources to offer and the people are notoriously rebellious and apathy runs rampant. It should be noted that the Bengals have seen 4 Kings in 6 years; instability is contributing to a once-solid civilization and unless something dramatic happens within the corridors of power, it will probably become a colony of Weber State. The Bengals show promise (indeed, their resilience is admirable), they only need a strong hand and a great vision to guide them forward.

ISU's Introduction to Pain

Cool Myspace Generators

So ISU, thanks to some wonderful budget shortfalls and a very opportunistic Athletic Department, will play Arizona State, Oklahoma (you read that right), and defending Conference Champion Weber State...in one month. And if it wasn't enough to potentially start 0-3, the Athletic Department (along with the clowns at the NCAA) threw in General Zamberlin's old haunt of Central Washington. And they're not just any team, they are a D-2 Powerhouse. Shades of the Fighting Souix!

This schedule may be eternally amusing (and it is...I've spent some beer-filled nights laughing about it), it sets ISU up for disaster not seen since the Russians were crushed at Tannenburg. And since ISU doesn't have millions of peasants to throw at the German Empire, this may be the shotgun blast that ends this mangy old Bengal's life. ISU goes 0-3; and the average Pocatello sports fan, not knowing a whole lot about the subtle things about football, will only see 0-3 and fan support, always a disappointment, will dwindle to a few diehards and Yours Truly. So ISU limps into the game against a CWU team that's going to be very excited about knocking off a bigger program. If ISU loses and goes 0-4, then the Bengals must make a desperate stand in October (because losing to a team a division lower than you is demoralizing, no matter how good they are).

This schedule, at this time in Bengal history, combined with the severe economic downturn and 4 Athletic Directors in 6 or 7 years is the recipe for total disaster. I understand the need to whore ourselves out for money. I don't have a problem with that. It's just whoring ourselves out to 1 good program(in ASU) and 1 Epic Level 80 Horde Program (Oklahoma) (there's the WoW again) isn't what I'd recommend in this noble quest to save ourselves. I liken it to a war in Civilization 3. It's like ISU is an ancient-age program, moving our little Swordsmen, Spearmen, Catapaults and War Galleys to take on the Modern Armor, Stealth Bombers, Tactical Nukes and AEGIS Cruisers of Oklahoma (and we don't even have any luxury resources to boot...hahaha Civ Joke).

Some Actual News At Last!

Sorry for any hiatus, but the Big Sky Nations haven't produced any newsworthy items until today (Frank may chasten me for missing anything).

The big news is the Preseason Polls. Yes, everyone says they never matter. I find that irritating; even downright stupid. If they don't matter, why do you all talk about them so much? Polls never matter until you defy their expectations. Then, like class and respect, they become a fantastic object to rub into your opponents' faces. But enough idle chatter!

The Big Sky polls were almost unanimous this year, with EWU and MSU switching places in the Coaches and Media's polls.

Media Poll
1. Montana (27) 283
2. Weber State (5) 261
3. Montana State 203
4. Eastern Washington 195
5. Northern Arizona 156
6. Portland State 120
7. Sacramento State 102
8. Northern Colorado 71
9. Idaho State 47

Coaches Poll
1. Montana (7) 63
2. Weber State (1) 57
3. Eastern Washington (1) 48
4. Montana State 41
5. Northern Arizona 32
6. Portland State 30
7. Sacramento State 27
8. Northern Colorado 15
9. Idaho State 10

As you can see, ISU won't be getting any love from the Big Sky. And with a schedule set up specifically for the purpose of going 0-3 (potentially 0-4 with the Central Washington game; said team is a D-2 powerhouse football program and a surmised trap game), ISU will be in the rather uncomfortable position of either living or dying in October.

Montana, as usual, for the 1,934th year in a row, is nominated #1. Weber State is ranked #2 preseason and MSU and EWU are flipped. The others really don't matter; it'll be like watching the Scramble for Africa, only without the awesome imperialist armies and incredible displays of raw military might. Whoever has the least losses of this group (ISU, PSU, NC, NAU and CSUS) will be crowned the Lesser Cousin of the British Empire.