Mr. & Mrs. Link

I’m the luckiest College Football fan in the world.

Lately, my teams have been really, really good.  Take, for example, 2004, when they were playing in 3 separate National Championships.  The Trojans beat Okalahoma 55-19 to win a National Championship (undisputed).  The Montana Grizzlies played the James Madison Dukes in the I-AA Championship Game (they lost 31-21 on a famously torn up turf).  The Carroll College Saints won their third National Championship of what eventually become a streak of five in the NAIA Division.

This year was a down year for my Trojans.  After peaking early in Columbus, they never gelled as a team, and lost some ugly games.  But I still get to cheer for my Montana Grizzlies who will play in the I-AA (FCS) National Championship Game against the Villanova Wildcats tonight.

The Griz come into the game 14-0, and a perfect example of what college football playoffs can look like.  Being the top seed after the undefeated regular season, the Griz earned the right to play at home, and Montana’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium (“the toughest venue in I-AA”).

Round 1 vs. South Dakota State featured an offensive performance of epic proportions.  Down 48-21 with about five minutes left in the 3rd Quarter, the Griz Office came alive and scored 40 unanswered points to win 61-48.  It was one of the greatest comebacks I’ve ever seen (thanks to streaming video at KPAX-TV).

Round 2 vs. Stephen F. Austin was all about the defense who recovered no fewer than 10 turnovers in the 51-0 shutout.  Texas boys, in their big coats and sleeves, do not fair well in sub-freezing Montana weather.  The Griz had now scored 91 unanswered points in the Playoffs.

Round 3 vs. Appalachian State was a clinic in coaching and clock management, as the game rolled down to the final seconds following a number of lead changes and some monster hits from the fired-up Griz.  The Montana fans were a big part of the game.  Which reminds me – Montana fans are the best fans in the world.

So now, the Griz play the Wildcats from Villanova.  If all the pieces from the Playoffs can show up at game time tonight (offense, defense, coaching) I can’t see how we lose.  Plus, the Grizzlies have a pretty strong track-record against cats.