Couldn't have started better!

[catscratchfever4]

Unless you were being unrealistic about our chances with NDSU, things have set up really well for the Lions. Winning two games on the road to open our first D1 season was great! Now we face the rest of our schedule with the knowledge that we went into the den of the most successful FCS program in history and went toe to toe with them until our own mistakes and their depth got the best of us.

There should be no reason for us to be anything but confident against whoever we take the field with after battling the team who is, let's face it, going to steamroll the division once again.

[brandon]

I think I said at the beginning of the season, I only see 1-2 losses on the schedule, (baring something like last year)

And the 2 I was worried about was NDSU and UWF. I think I'm not as concerned about UWF anymore.

[unafied]

Sept 16, 2018 19:51:00 GMT -6 brandon said:

I think I said at the beginning of the season, I only see 1-2 losses on the schedule, (baring something like last year)

And the 2 I was worried about was NDSU and UWF. I think I'm not as concerned about UWF anymore.

I agree, every game left is winnable. UWF may be tough, but at least it's at home. 

My only fear would be injuries. Jaylin Dailey, I don't believe he played against NDSU, right? And then of course Jakobi Byrd was in a boot on the sideline. Any word on those guys? Lopez is obviously less than 100%, but I do feel a little better now that I've seen Chris Weaver in action. I think we could win with him. 

[nodak]

Sept 16, 2018 19:42:46 GMT -6 catscratchfever4 said:

Unless you were being unrealistic about our chances with NDSU, things have set up really well for the Lions. Winning two games on the road to open our first D1 season was great! Now we face the rest of our schedule with the knowledge that we went into the den of the most successful FCS program in history and went toe to toe with them until our own mistakes and their depth got the best of us.

There should be no reason for us to be anything but confident against whoever we take the field with after battling the team who is, let's face it, going to steamroll the division once again.

Ideally "undefeated" would have been better, but probably not realistic (as you point out).  Going 2-1 on the road against solid teams from very good conferences is an outstanding outcome.

As I said in another post, I think UNA is a playoff-caliber team, or very close to it.  And the game against NDSU was a lot closer than the final score indicates.  I think NDSU was the better team but not by as wide a margin as the final score.  As UNA gets time in the FCS, builds on the reputation you achieved at DII, and can start cashing in I wouldn't be shocked if you start getting into the playoffs as a "ranked" team with a bye and home-playoff game in the 2nd round.  I believe that right now you are capable of beating some teams that will be "at-large" bids in the playoffs.  But I have always believed that the elite at one level can more than "compete" at one level higher.

[roaringsince96]

Thanks nodak. We at least now know what it looks like and NDSU is definitely it. We all sort of had an outcome from the game in mind. I know we had some mistakes that are not typical, but playing in a dome against such a well coached team is also not typical. NDSU and the atmosphere did it's job Saturday. I know the fans that watched the game were impressed by it all, the fans for NDSU, the dome atmosphere, the team, and the coaches. We hope to one day have something similar here in Florence. Southern Utah looks like a solid program too, we were fortunate to win that game, either team could have won it. I know we are ready for a home game. The future looks bright, we expect our program to continue to grow and compete. Hope to watch you guys win another national title this year. My father in law called me a couple of years ago talking about how good this team from North Dakota is in football, he too is now a fan down here in Alabama.

Do you know what the buffalo said to his son when he left for North Dakota State?

[roaringsince96]

Bison

[nodak]

Sept 17, 2018 18:38:03 GMT -6 roaringsince96 said:

Thanks nodak. We at least now know what it looks like and NDSU is definitely it. We all sort of had an outcome from the game in mind. I know we had some mistakes that are not typical, but playing in a dome against such a well coached team is also not typical. NDSU and the atmosphere did it's job Saturday. I know the fans that watched the game were impressed by it all, the fans for NDSU, the dome atmosphere, the team, and the coaches. We hope to one day have something similar here in Florence. Southern Utah looks like a solid program too, we were fortunate to win that game, either team could have won it. I know we are ready for a home game. The future looks bright, we expect our program to continue to grow and compete. Hope to watch you guys win another national title this year. My father in law called me a couple of years ago talking about how good this team from North Dakota is in football, he too is now a fan down here in Alabama.

Do you know what the buffalo said to his son when he left for North Dakota State?

You definitely have 2 things going in your favor:
1.  A winning tradition.  Not just a couple of years but I saw that UNA has a .900+ Win% since 1990 or something like that.  After a while fans just EXPECT you to win.  And teams expect to win.  That is something that shouldn't be underestimated.

2. Put your money where your mouth is.  I read in several places that UNA is fully funding its scholarships right away rather than "phasing" them in.  Apparently Northern Colorado tried the "phase in" approach and have never recovered.  When they were DII they were neck-and-neck with the Bison and routinely one of the elite teams in DII.  But they got behind in their recruiting by not fully funding their scholarships and have never recovered.  They had a solid base to be a really good Big Sky team and it just never came together for them.

[unafied]

Sept 17, 2018 21:30:21 GMT -6 nodak said:

Sept 17, 2018 18:38:03 GMT -6 roaringsince96 said:

Thanks nodak. We at least now know what it looks like and NDSU is definitely it. We all sort of had an outcome from the game in mind. I know we had some mistakes that are not typical, but playing in a dome against such a well coached team is also not typical. NDSU and the atmosphere did it's job Saturday. I know the fans that watched the game were impressed by it all, the fans for NDSU, the dome atmosphere, the team, and the coaches. We hope to one day have something similar here in Florence. Southern Utah looks like a solid program too, we were fortunate to win that game, either team could have won it. I know we are ready for a home game. The future looks bright, we expect our program to continue to grow and compete. Hope to watch you guys win another national title this year. My father in law called me a couple of years ago talking about how good this team from North Dakota is in football, he too is now a fan down here in Alabama.

Do you know what the buffalo said to his son when he left for North Dakota State?

You definitely have 2 things going in your favor:
1.  A winning tradition.  Not just a couple of years but I saw that UNA has a .900+ Win% since 1990 or something like that.  After a while fans just EXPECT you to win.  And teams expect to win.  That is something that shouldn't be underestimated.

2. Put your money where your mouth is.  I read in several places that UNA is fully funding its scholarships right away rather than "phasing" them in.  Apparently Northern Colorado tried the "phase in" approach and have never recovered.  When they were DII they were neck-and-neck with the Bison and routinely one of the elite teams in DII.  But they got behind in their recruiting by not fully funding their scholarships and have never recovered.  They had a solid base to be a really good Big Sky team and it just never came together for them.

I remember attending one of the D2 championship games in Florence that Northern Colorado was in. I think they won it, as well. Anyway, I watched them as they transitioned to FCS and wondered why they seemed to fall off the map. Now I have my answer.