SE Missouri St line?

[Al_4_State]

As long as I can remember, UNI is almost never a comfortable game. They always find a way to keep it close and like I said earlier, there's a reason Iowa almost never plays them anymore.... The juice isn't worth the squeeze. I personally wish we scrapped them, if you are going to schedule a FCS opponent you want it to be a SEMO type.

The only comfortable UNI games I can remember are 2004, 2010, 2015, and 2017.

Every other one is a nail biter or a loss.

 

[Al_4_State]

As long as I can remember, UNI is almost never a comfortable game. They always find a way to keep it close and like I said earlier, there's a reason Iowa almost never plays them anymore.... The juice isn't worth the squeeze. I personally wish we scrapped them, if you are going to schedule a FCS opponent you want it to be a SEMO type.

Pollard said on Coach's Corner that we've sold 56K tickets for SEMO, and might get up over 57K by kick off.

UNI would have been sold out last week. We're going to keep getting UNI games.

 

[bluestarcyclone]

Margin of victory in past 10 openers that ISU won … NOT factoring losses, so this goes back further than your list … 2007(!):

UNI 6
UNI 3
UNI 18
UNI 24
Tulsa 15
UNI 1
Northern Illinois 17
North Dakota St. 17
South Dakota St. 27
Toledo 2

Avg: 13.0

It doesnt help that that sample consists of:

UNI, (who has always been a pain in the ass) 3 FBS-level teams (teams we should beat but a blowout is less likely), and the #1 FCS NDSU.

We also lost out on the 2018 game against SDSU where we would have likely rolled them over if not for the rainout.

We've honestly been pretty bad about bringing in the type of team you want as a warm-up in the opening game.

And then there's the FBS teams we've brought in for week 1, in which we've gotten extraordinarily unlucky the last few times

Louisiana 2020: Sun Belt champion
Tulsa 2012: CUSA champion
Northern illinois 2010: finished 11-3 and played for the MAC championship

 

[bluestarcyclone]

Pollard said on Coach's Corner that we've sold 56K tickets for SEMO, and might get up over 57K by kick off.

UNI would have been sold out last week. We're going to keep getting UNI games.

Ok, so we might've sold a couple thousand more cheap seats. At what cost?

What damage have we taken over the years because we brought in UNI instead of someone we can slap around? Not just in the worst case scenario (L's taken) but the more hard-fought games being more likely to deliver injuries to more key players (since the best players will be in for more plays vs a UNI than a true slappy).

 

[CascadeClone]

And then there's the FBS teams we've brought in for week 1, in which we've gotten extraordinarily unlucky the last few times

Louisiana 2020: Sun Belt champion
Tulsa 2012: CUSA champion
Northern illinois 2010: finished 11-3 and played for the MAC championship

I think I posted once, if you want to know who is gonna win the MAC in 5 years, just look at who ISU has on the schedule that year.

 

[jakemcilroy]

Ok, so we might've sold a couple thousand more cheap seats. At what cost?

What damage have we taken over the years because we brought in UNI instead of someone we can slap around? Not just in the worst case scenario (L's taken) but the more hard-fought games being more likely to deliver injuries to more key players (since the best players will be in for more plays vs a UNI than a true slappy).

This has been my point for years. Go up to Pollard five minutes after any opening season 1-AA loss and say “you can change your record from 0-1 to 1-0 for $50,000…do you want to do it?” I guarantee he pays the money instantly.

4000 empty seats is worth it to play an inferior opponent like Southeast Missouri State.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Ok, so we might've sold a couple thousand more cheap seats. At what cost?

What damage have we taken over the years because we brought in UNI instead of someone we can slap around? Not just in the worst case scenario (L's taken) but the more hard-fought games being more likely to deliver injuries to more key players (since the best players will be in for more plays vs a UNI than a true slappy).

And lower the prices for those single game tickets. Sorry, but not a lot of families are going to pay $57 to watch SEMO and Ohio. IMO there is a mental toll that takes place on the players when we open with UNI. We get pushed to the brink and then you have Iowa who goes through the motions and has an easy win.

 

[Proton]

Confidence is too easy to discount. A warm up arse kicking is exactly what the team needs.

 

[Al_4_State]

Ok, so we might've sold a couple thousand more cheap seats. At what cost?

What damage have we taken over the years because we brought in UNI instead of someone we can slap around? Not just in the worst case scenario (L's taken) but the more hard-fought games being more likely to deliver injuries to more key players (since the best players will be in for more plays vs a UNI than a true slappy).

Look, I’m on your side here.

I’m explaining how JP probably looks at it.

 

[Kinch]

This has been my point for years. Go up to Pollard five minutes after any opening season 1-AA loss and say “you can change your record from 0-1 to 1-0 for $50,000…do you want to do it?” I guarantee he pays the money instantly.

4000 empty seats is worth it to play an inferior opponent like Southeast Missouri State.

Pollard is also responsible to make sure the bills get paid.