The perfect opener

[Cymon]

Last night was the best situation we could have found ourselves in for an opening game.

Our young defense was tested big time. Sure they had quite a few bumps and even looked poor at times, but they were tested big time. That's what they needed right away. I thought the D looked very athletic, especially the LB's. They will get better. Remember....8 new starters. What can they not use from this game? It had everything.

Hicks...very impressed by him. Hit the hole very good when he had one. Misssed a block or two, which I'm sure he will have corrected. Overall great effort.

Meyer...great game. Makes me excited and a little nervous when he takes off.

Blythe....incredible. I would like to see Cotton test the D a little more with running him deep a few times but he came in huge at the end.

Overtime....we needed this one bad. We finally got over the "overtime hump".

Culbertson....Outstanding.

[Cyfan322]

From a spectator's standpoint this was an awesome game to watch. As a fan I would have hoped for a little less shaky defense. I do believe though, that the LBs will get things corrected and they are athletic enough to prosper in this league. When Bowen wasn't lost he made some great tackles.

[Wesley]

Alvin Bowen came to play.

Even saw a couple of big hits near end of the game from others.

RParker looks very athletic.

[Cymon]

Alvin Bowen came to play.

Even saw a couple of big hits near end of the game from others.

RParker looks very athletic.

Parker looked good when we started running stunts on D. He had his two sacks. I look for this to happen more often.

[ISUFan22]

Why was it perfect?

1. We won.

2. We were tested, hardcore.

3. No reported injuries.

4. We made Sportcenter's Top Plays

[frontrangeclone]

Listening to the game on the ol' PC here in Colorado, J. Walters and E. Heft kept commenting how athletic Bowen and McKenzie looked, which is a good thing. I agree w/ many of you, the green D got tested, and they will only get better under Skladany's watch. I get a bit annoyed by people saying we barely beat a MAC team, as if it's not an accomplishment. Folks, with scholarship limits etc.., the MAC of the 2000s isnt the MAC of the 80s. They can play football. Look at some of their alum. Randy Moss, Ben Roethlisberger, C. Pennington, Michael Turner, and a slew of others I'm probably forgetting. Remember N. Illinois in 2003? They go into Tuscaloosa and win, and beat us and Maryland in DeKalb. Point being, we beat a quality program last night. Now had we pulled off a 3 OT win vs. say... Montana or North Dakota State, I'd be a bit nervous. But for the young D to get a taste of a pressure cooker game, I think this was much better than had we hung 40 on Toledo and had the youngin's get a false sense of confidence. And I think we have a veteran offense with the calmness and confidence to get points when needed, esp. in OT.