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This is the Griz team we've been waiting for

mthoopsfan said:
Or at least the positive and knowledgeable fans have been waiting for. It always seemed the team had this potential. Bobby had said during season several times that he didn't think the team had played its best ball yet. And, now, finally, it arrived today.

SDSU put up a good fight and obviously has some talent. But except for a few plays, the Griz handled and sometimes manhandled SDSU. The Rabbits run game was completely shut down. The QB could throw, but he got some pressure, missed some throws, and our defenders made alot of nice plays.

It was obviously great and huge to have Loud back. He looked very good.

Ah Yat, Gillman, Wortham, Deck and others had big games. Tremendous diving catch by Deck in end zone. 552 to 417 TO, even with the couple big/bad plays, one 95, and late drives during prevent. 31-19 first downs. 30-38 passing for 361 and 4 TD's for Ah Yat. No picks, no fumbles, 2 punts for 54.5 average. Gillman was 24-135. He is terrific and a beast.

Each team had 1 sack. Pressure caused the first of 2 picks of SDSU.

Rabbits gained 61 yards rushing, averaging 2.5. Mason was 19-36, for 356. 2 long plays were a big part of that. One a blown coverage later in game. They were 95 yards and I think 38 yards on the blown coverage. I thought the D was relentless, drive after drive, play after play.

Two blocked punts by Griz. The backup kicker did well after Morrison doinked his first extra point. Not much for returns on kicks by either team, except for a couple short ones by Rabbits.

It was a ton of fun. I was surprised that the crowd was as big as it was, given the out of town and local weather, bad driving, and the lack of activity outside the stadium early. 18,197. A very good and very loud crowed, who stayed and cheered until the end. Great NEZ crowd again. Lots of caused false starts including first play of game for SDSU.

The OL played well or very well, despite having some problems with severel very good Rabbit DL's. I sat next to former UM OL Chuck Burton. Neither Griz line got man-handled by SDSU's line. I thought our lines got the best of SDSU's line. So much for the frequent comment around egriz.

The refs made some goofy calls.

The fans were and are excited, and judging from being on the field after the game, the team is too. They known they are good. I suppose they probably did all along.
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what this dude said.
 
"They were all part of a 552-yard day for the Grizzly offense – the most for UM since putting up 647 yards against another Missouri Valley Football Conference foe in Indiana State back in September. The Griz had zero three-and-outs and put points on the board on eight of 11 drives." Gogriz.com

[The Griz were able to do all this against a tough MV team, because the Griz have a bad OL.]

"The Grizzlies scored 30 consecutive points between the second and third quarters to gain control of the game."

"Ah Yat completed 29-of-37 passes and connected with nine different receivers"

"Montana leads the all-time series, 9-2, including a 3-2 edge in FCS playoff games"

"SDSU dropped to 25-14 all-time in FCS playoff games"

I think I read that SDSU hasn't given up as many points and as many yards since 2018, but I couldn't find where I read it. I used AI and got this: "Prior to the loss to Montana on Saturday (December 6, 2025), the last time South Dakota State allowed both 50 or more points and 550 or more total yards was back in 2009. That game, coincidentally, was also against Montana in the first round of the FCS playoffs."
 
All year they seemed good to flashes of great but it just felt if something hadn't clicked yet fully. This game it was all there. They were not just great but something special, something rare, something you can't quite put tangible stats or words, tough to describe but you know it when you see it. They were a complete team a total effort magical.
 
cclarkblues said:
I was told that there was no crowd...
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I hope the team keeps playing like they did on Saturday. That was the best Griz football I have watched in years.

There were a whole lot of empty seats from what I saw on TV.

I remember once upon a time, if it was a first round game seats were generally 3/4 filled. Second round was usually filled, maybe to capacity, maybe not but close. Quarterfinals are filled to capacity, and forget the semi-finals.

I get that the weather is bad, but it's Montana... It's November/December. It's always cold and the roads are going to always be a toss-up.

There were almost 1500 more people at the Puds/Yale game than there were the UM/SDSU game. It's kind of sad that there were something like 18,500 in the seats on Saturday to the Puds 20K, especially when Wa-Griz can seat 25K+ and the game is a better draw. Has the fan population shifted that much? I mean I understand bandwagon fan bases, and the fact there are a lot of people who have moved to Bozoland that jumped on that wagon.
 
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SinCityGriz2005 said:
I hope the team keeps playing like they did on Saturday. That was the best Griz football I have watched in years.

There were a whole lot of empty seats from what I saw on TV.

I remember once upon a time, if it was a first round game seats were generally 3/4 filled. Second round was usually filled, maybe to capacity, maybe not but close. Quarterfinals are filled to capacity, and forget the semi-finals.

I get that the weather is bad, but it's Montana... It's November/December. It's always cold and the roads are going to always be a toss-up.

There were almost 1500 more people at the Puds/Yale game than there were the UM/SDSU game. It's kind of sad that there were something like 18,500 in the seats on Saturday to the Puds 20K, especially when Wa-Griz can seat 25K+ and the game is a better draw. Has the fan population shifted that much? I mean I understand bandwagon fan bases, and the fact there are a lot of people who have moved to Bozoland that jumped on that wagon.
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"From what you saw on TV?" The 18,500 who made the game could care less about what fans like you "saw on TV". Best crowd of the year....including the MSU game.
 
mousegriz1 said:
"From what you saw on TV?" The 18,500 who made the game could care less about what fans like you "saw on TV". Best crowd of the year....including the MSU game.
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18,500 is actually pretty decent historically for the 1st playoff game, and yep, always usually louder! I expect 24,000 this weekend. And that will be ROCKIN
 
SinCityGriz2005 said:
I hope the team keeps playing like they did on Saturday. That was the best Griz football I have watched in years.

There were a whole lot of empty seats from what I saw on TV.

I remember once upon a time, if it was a first round game seats were generally 3/4 filled. Second round was usually filled, maybe to capacity, maybe not but close. Quarterfinals are filled to capacity, and forget the semi-finals.

I get that the weather is bad, but it's Montana... It's November/December. It's always cold and the roads are going to always be a toss-up.

There were almost 1500 more people at the Puds/Yale game than there were the UM/SDSU game. It's kind of sad that there were something like 18,500 in the seats on Saturday to the Puds 20K, especially when Wa-Griz can seat 25K+ and the game is a better draw. Has the fan population shifted that much? I mean I understand bandwagon fan bases, and the fact there are a lot of people who have moved to Bozoland that jumped on that wagon.
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Couple of things;
The forecast for western Montana sucked as far as driving over on Friday. That definitely cut down on those who live hundreds of miles away.

As to the crowd sizes, your memory is somewhat correct though you’ve inflated the attendance. We have never sold out a playoff game. Never, not even when App State came to town as the three times defending National Champions.

Saturday the south end zone was almost empty. It was exactly like that when we had the unbelievable comeback to beat So. Dakota State in 2009. That might have been a quarter final.

I hope we fill the place this weekend but we won’t. Though I’m sure it will be a large and raucous crowd. Our playoff crowds are always louder and more boisterous. Get to the game if you can. The more the merrier. Go Griz
 
mousegriz1 said:
"From what you saw on TV?" The 18,500 who made the game could care less about what fans like you "saw on TV". Best crowd of the year....including the MSU game.
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I live in OHIO. I kinda don't have a choice because I'm not independently wealthy and can just "fly" to Missoula to attend games. You gonna be in Nashville for the NC if they make it? If so, good to see you made it if not enjoy watching the game from home. I'll be in the stands in Nashville.
 
Grizzlies1982 said:
Couple of things;
The forecast for western Montana sucked as far as driving over on Friday. That definitely cut down on those who live hundreds of miles away.

As to the crowd sizes, your memory is somewhat correct though you’ve inflated the attendance. We have never sold out a playoff game. Never, not even when App State came to town as the three times defending National Champions.

Saturday the south end zone was almost empty. It was exactly like that when we had the unbelievable comeback to beat So. Dakota State in 2009. That might have been a quarter final.

I hope we fill the place this weekend but we won’t. Though I’m sure it will be a large and raucous crowd. Our playoff crowds are always louder and more boisterous. Get to the game if you can. The more the merrier. Go Griz
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NDSU was sold out. The south endzone was practically empty. Yeah man the 09 game was a trip. I was seriously considering popping out and heading back down to Hamilton, then Boom! Marc Mariani becomes a Grizzly God. I am SO happy to have been at that game. There are five games that stick in my brain that I was able to have been there for. I wish I had been there to watch NDSU get defeated in '23.
 
Playoffs are difficult. People forget that of the 18,500 season ticket holders, many (including my wife and me), live more than 8 hours away. And you may ask, "But those people attend all regular season games". And that's true, but those are scheduled months in advance, allowing people ample opportunity to plan. With playoffs, you often get 6 days. Six days to book travel, get a hotel, find a pet sitter, etc. Toss in often questionable/dangerous travel conditions and....

Plus, December is difficult as people have other prior commitments, such as work holiday parties, volunteer jobs, etc.
 
EverettGriz said:
Playoffs are difficult. People forget that of the 18,500 season ticket holders, many (including my wife and me), live more than 8 hours away. And you may ask, "But those people attend all regular season games". And that's true, but those are scheduled months in advance, allowing people ample opportunity to plan. With playoffs, you often get 6 days. Six days to book travel, get a hotel, find a pet sitter, etc. Toss in often questionable/dangerous travel conditions and....

Plus, December is difficult as people have other prior commitments, such as work holiday parties, volunteer jobs, etc.
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Exactly, AND, I know that people hate comments about the weather but for the older folk it's a very real thing. My parents have their two season tickets and then my sister has two so there's normally four of them during the regular season because they usually get someone else to go to the game with them. But when the playoffs roll around they go from 4 tickets to 2 because it's too cold for my mom and they have no need to pick up another extra seat just to give it away to somebody. I think there's a lot of people who don't pick up all of their season tickets for the playoffs for similar reasons.

So there's a lot of valid reasons for why the playoff crowds are smaller.
 
After going 11-1 in the regular season, the players and coaches got some much needed rest and family time. Then coming back after a loss, they played their best game and most complete game against a very good opponent. The coaches are doing an amazing job with this team and have them peaking at the right moment. We did have the early mistakes coming off a bye, but for the most part we dominated the rabbits. All 3 phases played well. These kids are locked in and focused and they are just playing good team ball. Go GRIZ!
 
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