This is the start of a weekly review of what happened last year on the BRN…from the perspective from the press box. Kelly and Brian will focus on a new topic each Saturday of the summer.

For week #1, Brian focuses on the Beaver Football team.

To say the last few seasons have been a struggle on the field would be accurate. College football has changed, and I’m not sure it’s changed for the good!

Almost every team in the country is moving (or has already) to an up-tempo style. You’ll have a lot of three-and-outs. You’ll give your opponent the chance to run a lot of plays (and score a lot of points). You just want to have as many plays for your own offense.

There was no game this past season that shows off this new style in college football like the game at Upper Iowa did. Upper Iowa won the game 43-30.

BSU had 30 first downs to UIU’s 15. BSU threw for 328 yards. UIU threw for just 259. BSU had 549 yards of offense. Yes, 549 yards of offense. UIU had JUST 505 yards of offense. BSU ran 107 plays…UIU ran JUST 71.

Total Plays – 178
Total Yards – 1054
Total Points – 77

You look at those numbers and have to wonder just how BSU lost the game.

The very next week, BSU led MSU Mankato at the half. They lost that game too. Recruiting is changing. Teams don’t need as many 300 pounders anymore. They need guys that are fast…and can get up the field FAST. They also need guys that can stay on the field. With the hurry up offenses we see every Saturday now, D-Lineman can’t get off the field. BSU exectued their offense to the gameplan perfectly against UIU…and lost by two touchdowns!

In 2004, BSU scored more than 42 points in EACH OF THEIR FIRST FIVE GAMES! They won 4 of those. Typically in 2004, each team would run around 65-70 plays. Not now! The only loss in the first five in 2004 came at Chadron State, where Danny Woodhead ran 23 times for 306 yards and FIVE touchdowns. Woodhead went on to a great NFL career. BSU lost 50-43 that day. That day, BSU had 658 yards of offense on 97 plays.

That used to be an aboration. Now, it’s the norm! Something has to give!

Have a great week!

Next week, Kelly recaps the women’s hockey players playing…or trying out for…their National Teams this summer.