The best of the best

[MarkCCU]

What would be the PERFECT matchup? The best game played by the best teams?

[89Hen]

What would be the PERFECT matchup? The best game played by the best teams?
Easy, whomever plays in December in Chattanooga!

[blackfordpu]

Easy, whomever plays in December in Chattanooga!

Haha good one, and an excellent point. :nod: :rotateh:

[DuckDuckGriz]

Is this all-time or this year? If it's all time....

`96 Montana vs. `99 Georgia Southern. Talk about fireworks from two completely different offensive styles.

[colgate13]

So far this year? I want to see UNH play UNI or Harvard play Lehigh... oh wait, that's in two days! woo-hoo!!!!

[Hansel]

"best of the best"

that line keeps me thinkin about Top Gun

and

iceman

http://www.planetkilmer.com/biography/iceval.jpg

[Chi Panther]

So far this year? I want to see UNH play UNI or Harvard play Lehigh... oh wait, that's in two days! woo-hoo!!!!


I'll be watching the Lehigh vs Harvard game this weekend.

As for UNI and UNH.....I like UNI's chances in the UNI-Dome.....but don't like their chances in Durham....

[MR. CHICKEN]

Is this all-time or this year? If it's all time....

`96 Montana vs. `99 Georgia Southern. Talk about fireworks from two completely different offensive styles.

IFIN' IT'S ALL-TIME......'03 HENS....vs......????????.......BRAWK!

[DemiGS]

IFIN' IT'S ALL-TIME......'03 HENS....vs......????????.......BRAWK!
Now I dig the Hens, but I don't think the '03 Hens come close to half of a "best of all time"

[89Hen]

I don't think the '03 Hens come close
It's hard for me as a Hen fan to not be a homer on the issue, but to say the '03 Hens weren't even close to one of the best teams ever is a little hard to swallow. The regular season maybe wasn't the best ever (even though it was 11-1 including a I-A win), but you'd be hard pressed to show me a better post-season run. The Hens beat the #3, 4, 7, 2 and 6 ranked teams in their final six games.

[HenHouse1]

The game I would want to see is the '03 Hens versus the Randy Moss era Marshall (not sure of the year).
By the way... The Hens were 15-1 in '03, I think that qualifies them for one of the best of all-time, plus look at the margin of victory that they beat their playoff opponents by... Sick!

[ChickenMan]

The '03 Delaware team may not have been the 'best'... but it was certainly one of the best. The evidence...

A... UD was 11-1 in the regular season including a win over a bowl bound Navy squad

B... 'total' domination of four playoff opponents who had a combined record of 47-4

C... outscored those playoff opponents by 145 to 23

D... allowed less than 6 points per game during their playoff run

E... only team to shutout their opponent in I-AA title game history

[Eagle_77]

Here is how Montana 96, GSU 99, and Delaware 03 all match-up.

Montana 96-
14-1 National Runner-up. Lost to Randy Moss' Marshall.

Complete Season:
638 total points
42.53 PPG
264 total points allowed
17.6 PPG allowed

Playoffs Only
191 total points
47.75 PPG
73 total points allowed
18.25 PPG allowed

Georgia Southern 99-
14-1 National Champs. Beat YSU in NC game 59-24. AP ran for "The Run"

Complete Season:
747 total points
49.8 PPG
245 total points allowed
16.33 PPG allowed

Playoffs Only
197 total points
49.25 PPG
91 total points allowed
27.75 PPG allowed

Delaware 03-
15-1 National Champs. Beat Colgate in NC game 40-0. Only team to have shut out in NC game.

Complete Season
555 total points
37 PPG
230 total points allowed
15.33 PPG allowed

Playoffs Only
149 total points
37.55 PPG
23 total points allowed
5.75 PPG allowed

Going by these numbers alone I would have to say that my vote for all time best of the best teams still in I-AA I would like to see GSU 99 v. Delaware 03. The most explosive offensive team v. most dominate defensive team. With that being said its hard for me to pass up another Griz v. Eagle matchup.

[ChickenMan]

I thought most GSU fans would go with the Tracy Ham led team ('89?) as their 'best'???

[Chi Panther]

I understand that the Montana 96 team was AWESOME....but is it better than your NC teams?

I also understand you lost to Marshall in the National Championship game at Marshall and obivously that Marshall team was as good as I-AA has EVER seen.

I could make an argument that the 1996 UNI team was better than the 96 Montana team. We lost to Marshall in the Semi Finals in a closer game than Montana.

UNI vs Ranked teams in 1996
#1 Marshall Lost 31-14
#3 SFA Won 38-12
#5 Missouri State Won 38-31
#7 William & Mary Won 38-35 (ahead 35-0 at Halftime)
#8 WIU Won 30-6
#16 EIU Won 21-14
#21 YSU Won 23-10
#21 Ind State Won 35-19
***also beat McNeese State
***lost at Iowa State

QB Beard 3433yds 26TDs
RB Stovall 1105yds 15TDs
WR Ward 1556 17TDs
Talton KR Avg 34.3yds 3TDs
Ward PR 11.1yds 2TDs

So I guess to finish this....there have been many good teams who havn't won the championship......I have a hard time justifying the 96 Montana team....even though they played Marshall.

[nevadagriz]

I would have to go with 95 over 96' griz hell DD was gone in 96'. They were not the most talented just the best "TEAM" that year. Also the paly off run was pretty damn high scoring and they won the chipper.

[DuckDuckGriz]

I wouldn't say the 96 Griz was necessarily better than the NC teams -- but I would say it had the most explosive offense between all of them. I would say the `95 team comes in a close second as far as offense, sorry DD fans.

Just check out the playoff scores alone

1995
vs. Eastern Kentucky 48-0
vs. Georgia Southern 45-0
vs. Stephen F. Austin 70-14
@ Marshall 22-20
(includes wins over ranked Boise State 54-28

1996
vs. Nicholls State 48-3
vs. East TN St 44-14
vs. Troy State 70-7
@ Marshall 29-49
(includes wins over ranked opponents Eastern Washington, 35-30, Northern Arizona 42-33, and Pac 10 Oregon State 35-14)

[Tod]

I understand that the Montana 96 team was AWESOME....but is it better than your NC teams?

I also understand you lost to Marshall in the National Championship game at Marshall and obivously that Marshall team was as good as I-AA has EVER seen.

I could make an argument that the 1996 UNI team was better than the 96 Montana team. We lost to Marshall in the Semi Finals in a closer game than Montana.

UNI vs Ranked teams in 1996
#1 Marshall Lost 31-14
#3 SFA Won 38-12
#5 Missouri State Won 38-31
#7 William & Mary Won 38-35 (ahead 35-0 at Halftime)
#8 WIU Won 30-6
#16 EIU Won 21-14
#21 YSU Won 23-10
#21 Ind State Won 35-19
***also beat McNeese State
***lost at Iowa State

QB Beard 3433yds 26TDs
RB Stovall 1105yds 15TDs
WR Ward 1556 17TDs
Talton KR Avg 34.3yds 3TDs
Ward PR 11.1yds 2TDs

So I guess to finish this....there have been many good teams who havn't won the championship......I have a hard time justifying the 96 Montana team....even though they played Marshall.


Chi, I'm not going to argue with you, hell you might be right. The most amazing thing about what you posted is that UNI had eight games against ranked teams in '96 :eek: :eek: and went 7-1 in those games.

But I will say I'd need more information to back your statement 100% (that UNI may have been better than the Griz). First, since you played two teams ranked #21, that means you took their current ranking as of the date the game was played, not final rankings. I'd like to know where those teams were in the final rankings.

Also, even though you lost to Marshall by 17 and the Griz lost to them by 20, I don't know where that game was played. Was it a home or away game?

[skinny_uncle]

Here is how Montana 96, GSU 99, and Delaware 03 all match-up.

Montana 96-
14-1 National Runner-up. Lost to Randy Moss' Marshall.

Complete Season:
638 total points
42.53 PPG
264 total points allowed
17.6 PPG allowed

Playoffs Only
191 total points
47.75 PPG
73 total points allowed
18.25 PPG allowed

Georgia Southern 99-
14-1 National Champs. Beat YSU in NC game 59-24. AP ran for "The Run"

Complete Season:
747 total points
49.8 PPG
245 total points allowed
16.33 PPG allowed

Playoffs Only
197 total points
49.25 PPG
91 total points allowed
27.75 PPG allowed

Delaware 03-
15-1 National Champs. Beat Colgate in NC game 40-0. Only team to have shut out in NC game.

Complete Season
555 total points
37 PPG
230 total points allowed
15.33 PPG allowed

Playoffs Only
149 total points
37.55 PPG
23 total points allowed
5.75 PPG allowed

Going by these numbers alone I would have to say that my vote for all time best of the best teams still in I-AA I would like to see GSU 99 v. Delaware 03. The most explosive offensive team v. most dominate defensive team. With that being said its hard for me to pass up another Griz v. Eagle matchup.
How about:
1983 SIU Salukis
Complete Season
344 total points
31 PPG
157 total points allowed
14.3 PPG allowed
(Schedule included DI-A teams Arkansas State, New Mexico State and Wichita State)

Playoffs only
89 total points
29.7 PPG
21 total points allowed
7 PPG allowed
13-1 National Champs
Beat Western Carolina 43-7 in title game.
:beerchug:

[Eagle22]

I thought most GSU fans would go with the Tracy Ham led team ('89?) as their 'best'???

Raymond Gross quarterbacked the '89 and '90 GSU championship squads.

The '89 team was the best at winning ... but was not quite the offensive machine the '99 team was. For that matter, the '86 championship team Ham commanded had only 2 losses (Florida, ECU) and was a darn good team as well.

Also, while the '89 team is a sentimental favorite of mine due to that being my senior year at Southern, the Eagles had 3 D2 teams on the schedule that season .... West Georgia, Valdosta State and Savannah State. The rest of the schedule was I-AA, so as far as schedules go, it wasn't the most challenging one a GSU championship team faced. Still, hard to argue with 15-0.

[umassfan]

Here is how Montana 96, GSU 99, and Delaware 03 all match-up.

Montana 96-
14-1 National Runner-up. Lost to Randy Moss' Marshall.

Complete Season:
638 total points
42.53 PPG
264 total points allowed
17.6 PPG allowed

Playoffs Only
191 total points
47.75 PPG
73 total points allowed
18.25 PPG allowed

Georgia Southern 99-
14-1 National Champs. Beat YSU in NC game 59-24. AP ran for "The Run"

Complete Season:
747 total points
49.8 PPG
245 total points allowed
16.33 PPG allowed

Playoffs Only
197 total points
49.25 PPG
91 total points allowed
27.75 PPG allowed

Delaware 03-
15-1 National Champs. Beat Colgate in NC game 40-0. Only team to have shut out in NC game.

Complete Season
555 total points
37 PPG
230 total points allowed
15.33 PPG allowed

Playoffs Only
149 total points
37.55 PPG
23 total points allowed
5.75 PPG allowed

Going by these numbers alone I would have to say that my vote for all time best of the best teams still in I-AA I would like to see GSU 99 v. Delaware 03. The most explosive offensive team v. most dominate defensive team. With that being said its hard for me to pass up another Griz v. Eagle matchup.
UMass played both of those teams and If it were up to me, I would say the 99 GSU team was better. The 03 UD team only beat us by 3 in 2OTs at their place. GSU beat us at their place as well but by 17.

[Jaxhen]

You may be right, but Mike Adams (now with the 49'ers) was injured during that game and made it back into the lineup just in time for the playoffs. I usually don't think one player can make that much of a difference, but in this case, the difference in Delaware's defense with Mike Adams in the lineup was between night and day. He made the whole defense play on another level, and was probably more responsible for Delaware's dominating defensive performance in the playoffs than Shawn Johnson.

[Tailbone]

I wouldn't say the 96 Griz was necessarily better than the NC teams -- but I would say it had the most explosive offense between all of them. I would say the `95 team comes in a close second as far as offense, sorry DD fans.
........

I've been unable to find the quote (if indeed it were ever printed) but I remember a post game interview question posed to a marshall player after the '96 NC game.The player was asked the difference between the '95 & '96 games (I assume the interviewer was fishing for a Randy Moss compliment).
The answer given? "Dave Dickenson wasn't playing."

I'll take the '95 team.

[Chi Panther]

Chi, I'm not going to argue with you, hell you might be right. The most amazing thing about what you posted is that UNI had eight games against ranked teams in '96 :eek: :eek: and went 7-1 in those games.

But I will say I'd need more information to back your statement 100% (that UNI may have been better than the Griz). First, since you played two teams ranked #21, that means you took their current ranking as of the date the game was played, not final rankings. I'd like to know where those teams were in the final rankings.

Also, even though you lost to Marshall by 17 and the Griz lost to them by 20, I don't know where that game was played. Was it a home or away game?


You are correct Tod,

I could only find rankings as of the date the game was played. But games played earlier in the season....those teams may have been mis-ranked...but games later in the season would show true/accurate ranking. I find it amazing that 8 teams were ranked and McNeese State and Iowa State were also played.

The game against Marshall was played in Huntington...as I attended. Another amazing stat is that UNI's CB Tyree Talton (short career with the Detroit Lions) was the only college player to not allow a Moss receiving TD. Moss scored on a reverse in the game. Moss scored a receiving TD in all college games I-A and I-AA besides the UNI game.

My main point is....I would rank a Montana NC team above their 96 team.

IF UNI played at Montana in 96....I'm sure UNI would have lost. IF Montana played at UNI....I think UNI would have had a shot to win.

[Toppermaniac]

It's hard for me as a Hen fan to not be a homer on the issue, but to say the '03 Hens weren't even close to one of the best teams ever is a little hard to swallow. The regular season maybe wasn't the best ever (even though it was 11-1 including a I-A win), but you'd be hard pressed to show me a better post-season run. The Hens beat the #3, 4, 7, 2 and 6 ranked teams in their final six games.

Well, the 2002 Toppers beat the # 1, # 2, and # 3 teams in the country, all in the playoffs in consecutive weeks. In addition two of the three games were on the road and the last one was in the title game. Now, I dare anybody to beat that.

[ysubigred]

In 93 3 of the 4 teams YSU played were gearing up to go 1A.

Central Florida I-AA 1st-Round Game 56-30 W YSU
Georgia Southern I-AA Quarter-Finals Game 34-14 W YSU
Idaho I-AA Semi-Finals Game 35-16 W YSU
Marshall I-AA National Championship game 17-5* W YSU 1993 Huntington, WV

Hard to compare the old with the new.
The 03 hens are the #1 champ to date in my book. Tough, very tough Hens team. Close 2nd 99 GSU. AP AP AP AP!!!!!!!!