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So quick, show of hands, who knew there were two games left in the college football season? Anyone? Yea, I didn't think many hands would go up but guess what we had an FCS champion crowned this weekend! I can go into how much it sucked that we had to wait this long for a national championship, and it did suck a lot, but that is for another time and post and/or podcast topic. But we did have the game. Was it an all time classic? No, but it was still a very solid game between two really good teams. It had its sloppy moments, but you come to expect that when you have a month between games. I'll talk about some of the other stuff that has been going on in the world of FCS but for now some notes from Saturday's FCS Championship

North Dakota St 17 - James Madison 13
  • It was surprising how much the D-lines from each team dominated the line of scrimmage. JMU did it with mostly its front four and destroyed the middle of the line of NDSU. But the Bison had to have seen what Weber St did because for a large portion of the game the Bison rushed three dropped seven and had LB Jabril Cox spy on Bryan Schor. It allowed the ends to have more of a free range rush while the third lineman and Cox could funnel any step-ups in the pocket, it really confused the guards for the Dukes
  • If there has been one negative that you can point out about the Bison it is their special teams and it could have easily made this game a lot different. Nearly every NDSU punt was an adventure
    • Two punts could have been blocked
    • They had a field goal blocked 
    • D'Angelo Amos had a 21.8 average per punt return and almost took two to the house
    • And don't forget the fake punt in the 4th quarter that had been set up all game long by the Dukes
  • For a team that normally doesn't make a lot of mistakes JMU sure made its fair share of them and it really cost them. From the roughing the kicker that led to NDSU first touchdown, the two Schor interceptions (both in the red zone), and all those drops (i think I counted at least 6) ...JMU mistakes and not capitalizing on NDSU mistakes and field position
  • Speaking of JMU mistakes, Mike Houston not running one play to the end zone at the end of the first half was a huge head scratcher. At the time of the timeout, he had 6'5" WR Riley Stapleton single covered  screaming for a fade. A touchdown there and who knows how the game could have changed
  • To say this was the best attended FCS national championship would be an understatement...totally sold out. Even the standing room only was sold out. It really helps when both teams travel very, very well
    • Wonder if this game was at a bigger venue if the attendance would have been higher than that of the HBU Championship game.
    • Makes me wonder also what cities would be best to host with bigger venues (St. Louis, New Orleans, Atlanta, and maybe Baltimore?). Maybe a topic of another post
  • Did anyone see that first quarter sideline interview with Terrell Owens and Cortland Finnegan?Such a strange interview talking about some Pizza Hut deal?  It was like they both really didn't want to do it but neither can shy away from some cheap screen time so what they hell right?Would have been nice to see what they were doing at halftime but well...yea
  • It would have been really nice to see Jay Walker during the halftime show instead of another half-hearted commentary by Mack Brown and Booger McFarland. I know it'll never happen but it just can the commit just a bit more to it, it would make a huge difference. Even if it meant putting the game on ESPNU or something. I don't need to be blitzed with more stuff about Alabama and Georgia, we know already
  • Probably talk about this more in length during the offseason but the run the NDSU rivals that of the greatest college dynasties of all time (Mt Union)
    • I think the part that makes it better than what Mt Union did is that NDSU did this almost the instant they became a FCS school
    • Yes they would be able to be a good, potentially great FBS school and would be a fit for either the MAC (a bit too far) or Mountain West (same issues) but here's hoping that they don't become the next Liberty or App St
  • For next year, its hard to think that NDSU wouldn't be favored again. While there are teams who could challenge, most lose key pieces in some major spots and its unknown how the replacements will make up for it. Yes, JMU is one of those teams who should be right there to challenge the Bison but they also have to replace a few pieces on both sides of the ball. Safe to say the Bison are the top of the class though the gap to everyone else isn't as big as people want to think. Now for the fun of the offseason!

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