Leatherneck Nation

Last one...

Game is at 1 PM on Saturday 11/18 at Hanson Field.
South Dakota is 8-2 and sitting at #5 in the STATS FCS poll with a likely shot at the #4 seed in the playoffs (#3 and #4...Montana and Montana State...play each other this weekend).
Massey also has them at #5, and we're at #116. We've got about a 2% chance of a win, with a projected score of 35-10.

Crazy last year people were ready to run Nielsen out of town 

leatherneckcountry wrote: Thu Nov 16, 2023 1:56 pm Crazy last year people were ready to run Nielsen out of town
 

I'd forgotten about that. Yeah, last year they were 3-8 overall. Only wins were over eventual 2-9 Cal Poly, Southern Illinois, and Missouri State. They lost by 44 points to UNI to close out the season.
This year, they've only lost to current FBS #9 Missouri and unanimous FCS #1 South Dakota State. It's quite a turnaround.

WGEM Prediction:  #5 South Dakota 42, Western Illinois 5
 

Scoring more than 20 points is the goal here. 

You can count on one hand how many touchdowns this offense has scored in the last six games. The lack of offense coupled with a defense that gives up big play after big play creates cause for concern. Where many of these games have gotten completely out of hand has come down to ridiculous decisions by the head coach. Going for it every 4th down with an offense that goes backwards on the first three downs is a recipe for disaster. The complete and utter ability to appreciate flipping the field is lost on Hendrickson. Managing a football game is something that must get better. No understanding of clock management either.

You can count on one hand how many touchdowns this offense has scored in the last six games. The lack of offense coupled with a defense that gives up big play after big play creates cause for concern. Where many of these games have gotten completely out of hand has come down to ridiculous decisions by the head coach. Going for it every 4th down with an offense that goes backwards on the first three downs is a recipe for disaster. The complete and utter ability to appreciate flipping the field is lost on Hendrickson. Managing a football game is something that must get better. No understanding of clock management either.

Game Day Forecast:

Abundant sunshine.
High 61.
Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
 

17 OL guys on their roster.  They are big, make that huge.  Half of them are sports and kinesiology majors.  

Why am I even watching this game???????????? As an aside, did South Dakota make their turnaround after they dropped their QB - the one from Bloomington/Normal? I don't think he panned out like they had hoped.