Spring 2021 FCS: Scouting for the next Donald Parham

[MGB01]

And that's it as Idaho knocks off Eastern 28-21, which I kind of expected: Aaron Best (coach) out with COVID, Eric Barriere without his top two receivers--and the other two were horrible, only one returning starter on the OL, three assistants just recently left. OTOH Idaho was ranked for the first time in forever--although that's mostly due to opt-outs, two legit NFL prospects at LB in Christian Elliss and Trey Walker, the basketball team just got their first W yesterday, and Mike Iupati (who's still pretty big in the program) retired this week. Add it all up and I would have expected Idaho to run away from Eastern in the first half like they did in 2019, not Eags going up 14-0.

EWU hasn't won at Idaho in a Big Sky game since 1991.

[Firecop]

Yea, the Eagles looked way out of syynch. Dropped passes and overthrows by Barriere sure didn't help. Going to be tough rebounding after this game in a six game season. Kaw Kaw was more like Cough Cough!

[Tank55]

UT Martin scores a touchdown to cut the Murray State lead to 14-9 with 0:59 left. Rather than go for 2 and try to make it a field goal difference, they kick an extra point. They didn't convert the onside kick, so it's all the same, but WTF.

[johnnyangryfuzzball]

Kind of annoying that ESPN has gobbled up so many of these games only to bury them on ESPN+.

[Tank55]

Well, I think ESPN already held the rights to most (all?) of these conferences' games. The season being in the spring is making everything weird, but this wouldn't be a bad setup in a normal fall season. Sure beats being stuck on FloSports like the CAA.

Agree it's a shame that there isn't a place for an FCS game of the week somewhere on television.

[MGB01]

More add-ons and changes

Montana to play Portland State April 17, giving them a two-game season (they play Central Washington April 10). Why not have BOTW if you're gonna have just a couple games? Missoula/Bozeman aren't exactly next door to Portland.

Howard and SC State series is off due to travel restrictions. SCSU to play Alabama A&M Saturday in their place.

[Firecop]

Yea, I cannot fathom why Montana and Montana State aren't scheduled to play each other. It is by far the biggest and most fun game of the year in MT; everyone is either for one or the other.

[MGB01]

North Dakota gets the week started with a 21-10 win over South Dakota.

So if you're keeping track, that's MVFC newbie UND off to a 3-0 start (all against ranked teams, though it should be noted that all were at home) while NDSU is coming off their first loss in three years--they play in a couple weeks.

[Tank55]

Great game in Manchester. UAlbany was up 24-14 in the 4th; New Hampshire scored, XP was blocked, and forced a three and out. They converted on fourth down once to move into the red zone, but the Great Danes just forced a turnover on downs and will try to kill the clock with 2:14 left.

[Tank55]

UAlbany can't move the sticks and lines up to punt. The punter drops the snap and tries to kick the ball off the ground, soccer style. It actually covers quite a lot of distance, but that's apparently a penalty. UNH gets the ball half the distance to the goal from the spot of the kick, so they're suddenly inside the 10.

Here's the play: https://twitter.com/UNH_Football/status ... 7570340866