Reader comments
Weber State football: WSU gets Cal Poly in playoffs

Wow | 7:34 a.m. Nov. 24, 2008

Good luck to Weber, because Cal Poly is pretty darn good. They just got beat, in overtime, by Wisconsin at Camp Randall by 1 point. They have a receiver who will probably be a top 5 draft pick.

Strap it on tight, Wildcats! Cal Poly is for real and is my pick to win the FCS.

Mike Johnson Fallon NV | 8:14 a.m. Nov. 24, 2008

Good luck Weber State. Cal Poly has the game at home, not because they have been a better team this year, but because they have had a higher attendance:

Weber State average attendance: 6,910

Montana Western5,182
Dixie State8,201
Montana3,753 (conference weekend affects another Utah school's attendance)
Northern Colorado7,320
Portland State8,164
Eastern Washington8,841

Cal Poly average attendance:10,017

Montana10,035
South Dakota11,075
Southern Utah10,075
Idaho State7,014
North Carolina Central10,825
UC Davis11,075

Given up | 8:44 a.m. Nov. 24, 2008

I've given up thinking that anyone else even cares about this team. Only 8000+ show up to the game Saturday (pathetic), ESPNU messes up and announces that the Cats will host, and KSL's story on the playoff game is the very last story of a 1/2 hour sports show (they even ran a story about soccer before getting to Weber). And then their sports anchor states that it is Weber's first playoff bid ever (it's Weber's 3rd). I know everyone else is only concerned with those teams down south, but at least Weber has an actual real shot at a national title. I guess the team will just need to do it for themselves and those few fans who have supported them for years. Perhaps this, coupled with Saturday's heart breaker, will make Mac's team angry and hungry. See you in Chattanooga!

Comments continue below

sob | 10:30 a.m. Nov. 24, 2008

good luck to wsu. bring it home and add to the luster of football in this state. maybe the rest of the state will pay attention too.

Attention | 10:59 a.m. Nov. 24, 2008

It is simple, Win and people will pay attention. Weber State is a great university and has a very good athletic program. Nobody knows this cause the local media is all about three things Jazz Utes and the Y.

TrueCatFan | 11:13 a.m. Nov. 24, 2008

I agree with the fact that the local media absolutely snubs Weber State any chance they get, and it is upsetting! The game against Eastern Washington was heartbreaking. We didn't play to our potential, but I believe in coach Mac and the Boys and hope that when we get a good result against Cal Poly and the others we'll have to face in the playoffs that maybe we will get more than just a sentence or two at the end of the newscast, who knows we may even get a box with our Weber Logo in it in the sports page online LIKE THE REST OF THE TEAMS IN THE STATE! COME ON Deseret News Weber has good teams too! Go Cats! I Back MAC!

Ratman | 11:45 a.m. Nov. 24, 2008

Ooh. Tough draw. That EWU loss really hurt Weber's bracketing. Good luck, Mac & the boys. Play tough & anything can happen.

playoff | 11:58 a.m. Nov. 24, 2008

cal poly got the game because of their bid no attendance. 8,000 or 10,000 wasn't the deciding factor.

who care's, weber can go into cal poly's dump and win!

btw, cal poly's place holds 10,000 so that means every game was a sellout.

beating a I-A is impressive but i think half the 'sky would beat sdsu.

wisconsin just showed how down hill the big ten has gone. the badgers were ranked 9th or 10th when the season started.

i think weber could beat wisconsin. we did after all do better at Utah than BYU did. Utah is #6.

Cal Poly lost to Montana this year and we creamed Montana.

Go Weber!! Keep the TO's low!!!!!

Run the ball | 12:48 p.m. Nov. 24, 2008

Its going to be a tough game but if the Wildcats stay true and pound the ball with Trevyn Smith they wont be stopped. Go cats!

run hard Cats | 2:02 p.m. Nov. 24, 2008

Mike:
University of Montana averaged over 25,000 fans a game this year. Their rival game last weekend drew over 26,000! Three times as many fans at each game will get you some serious coin to bid.
Montana Western is a tiny D3 school.
Cal Poly wanted a home game, they probably bid in the $50-75K range.

All this means: Time to win on the road boys!

Toni | 3:50 p.m. Nov. 24, 2008

I truly beleive that Weber State is a very blessed team. When prayers go up,blessing come down. They are a force to reckon with. The Lord did not bring them this far to fail. The State of Utah will have to give them a box with Weber's logo on the sports page! They deserve some faith in the team. They are true CHAMPS with a awesome coach. And a great team!

Mort | 4:07 p.m. Nov. 24, 2008

weber st will be humbled by the MUSTANGS this Saturday. Our defense will surprise anyone who expects to run the ball on us.I hope they have lots of those 300lb ol's. Our smaller quicker guys eat them for snacks. Now the Dally to Barden connection is a whole different show. Sit back and enjoy your fifteen minutes.
Go MUSTANGS.......

Mike Johnson Fallon NV | 5:22 p.m. Nov. 24, 2008

Montana Western is not a D3 school. It is an NAIA school in the Frontier conference.

Cal Poly's stadium hold officially 11,075 which means only 2 games were sell outs this year and one game--Idaho State--only sold 2/3 of the seats. But, they bring in more fans than Weber State has.

Ok, Cal Poly bought their way to a home game, but that does relate to the number of fans because they buy it hoping to make the money.

I do know how big Montana's stadium, which is why they will always get preference over any other Big Sky team with which they are tied. Weber State needed to beat EWU to outright win the conference and get that preference.

8841 is actually one of the largest crowds Weber State has had in a long time. It isn't a pathetic showing at their level.

hahahahaMort | 5:27 p.m. Nov. 24, 2008

You sit back and enjoy because you are the one that will be humbled Saturday. The wildcats are not to be reckoned with. WAKE UP!!!!

colgate fan | 8:31 p.m. Nov. 24, 2008

guys, i think it is the attendance and not the university bidding for the game that determines it. If it is any consolation, we (colgate) are in the same boat. We won the patriot league outright and still have to play on the road at Villanova, the runner up in the CAA. Granted, they are ranked higher than us.

Our location is in a rural and snowy area of upstate new york and home field advantage is huge for us in november. The only time in recent memory that we have ever gotten home games in the playoffs was when we were undefeated at 12-0 and got the #4 seed in 2003, the year we made it all the way to the title game in Chattonooga.

I happen to think that Weber and Cal Poly might be the two best teams in the league. Good luck. There are fans all the way across the country in New York that are looking to see what this Weber State team looks like and how they match up against an excellent Cal Poly team. Let the playoffs begin.

Willy | 11:06 p.m. Nov. 24, 2008

Gotta win, playing hard against a ranked FBS team doesn't do as much for a program as some might think. Look at Appalachian State, now everyone remembers that program for doing something extraordinary. Winning is the only way for a FCS program to get respect. I hope the Wildcats take it all the way. We need a national title. Then beat every FBS team you get on your schedule.

willy | 8:51 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

the big ten is overrated and losing to FCS teams is becoming common place. michigan and now wisconsin, even minnesota barely beat montana state this year.

How quickly you forget! | 8:58 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

It wasn't very long ago that Cal Poly tore Weber apart! September 15th, 2007 was the date, San Luis Obispo was the location, Cal Poly had 513 yards, 22 1st downs and 47 points! It was 33-3 at half time! The scary part of those numbers is that Cal Poly has all of their players back!!!!! Cal Poly has an incredible environment to play in, Montana has the best but I would have to say Cal Poly has the next best! The path to the National Championship will go through Cal Poly this year. They are the team to beat!

Bengal fan | 10:53 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

All teams that submit bids to host FCS playoff games must guarantee $30 K for a first-round game, and $40 K for a second rounder. Other factors used by the selection committee are:

Quality of facility.

* Revenue potential, plus estimated net receipts.

* Attendance history and potential.

* Teamï¿½s performance (i.e. conference place finish, head-to-head results).

* Student-athlete well-being.

Bengal fan | 10:55 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

PS--I attended the Idaho State-Cal Poly game this year, and they have a wonderful facility following the $19 million upgrade, largely financed by Alex Spanos. Cal Poly really has that program on a roll.

Wildcat 50 | 11:35 a.m. Nov. 25, 2008

Go Get'em Cats!!!!
We have battled everything from lack of press to idiotic attacks by uneducated 'fans' about division classifications for Weber State. bottom line is we are still Co-Champs of the Big Sky, 4 years ago we had only 1 victory, and we played both Utah #7 and Hawaii tough in our games this year.

Man Up, Strap Up, and Shut Up, it's time to battle. Someone is going to win, and someone is going to lose, bottom line.

2 types of people in football, Players and fans....the players are the ones who determine the games....everything else is just fluff

WEBER STATE WEBER STATE GREAT GREAT GREAT

To Bengal Fan | 12:51 p.m. Nov. 25, 2008

It wasnt long ago since I played against Cal Poly at their place. and lets hope they did have a 19 million dollar upgrade. Because the field was the worst I have ever played on including high school. We also had more fans at the game then they did at their own home game. I am just bitter cause I wanted to see my old team play at home.

thanks for the info | 1:17 p.m. Nov. 25, 2008

Thanks everyone for the input...as if we didnt know WSU had played Cal Poly the last 2 seasons.

Can Poly beat Weber 3 in a row?

And Bengal, thanks for telling us how they decide who gets the playoff game!!! Then again ur a Bengal...

Cal Poly | 1:44 p.m. Nov. 25, 2008

Hey last year Weber had a huge disadvantage, Jimmy Barnes at QB.

calpolyalum | 10:21 p.m. Nov. 25, 2008

Weber vs. Poly is the best matchup of the playoffs this week. Expect 90-100 points on the board, and turnovers are going to decide this one. Poly's pass defense is not good and they have to blitz, so Weber's QB scrambling & dump-off screens are going to go for some big gains. This is going to be a shoot-out. Poly wins 52-48. Please don't let it come down to the Poly kicker at the end.

Griz | 1:02 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

Very nice win last week for WSU. Unfortunately, I've read too many articles and blog entries about how the Wildcats WANT to go to Missoula and play the Griz again. The environment WSU played in at Cal Poly will be nothing like what they will face in Missoula...25,000 rowdy fans who all want revenge to redeem the lone blemish on the Griz's schedule this year. It will be a long day for the 'Cats this Saturday and an even longer trip home.

cal poly | 9:05 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008

very impressive cal poly: 6000 at the game. good thing it wasnt in ogden...LOL

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