OPEN INVITATION: GAME WATCHING PARTY AT TWO ROWS NEXT SAT.!

[MrMustang1965]

For any members of www.ponyfans.com or fellow Mustang fans, I am extending an invitation to join me and other fans of Sam Houston State University as we watch the Bearkats in round two of the NCAA Div.1-AA playoffs later today. Sam Houston State is facing Eastern Washington University in Cheney, WA.

We're meeting at Two Rows Restaurant and Brewery on Greenville Ave. at Southwestern Blvd. Kick-off is at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN Game Plan. We'll be watching on a widescreen TV just to the left of the entrance to the restaurant.

If you'd rather watch football playoff action the way it's MEANT to be (instead of this BCS B.S.!), come join us!

[braginator]

How bout instead you come over to campus and watch the Ponies trya dnturn this thing around versus Texas State. Attendance is going to be minimal and everyone that cares needs to come out, b/c students are in finlas and it is just that time of year when the enthusiasm begins to fade, b/c we warent playing some Big 12 team or doing so hot to begin with.

[MrMustang1965]

I've got tickets to the SMU v. Texas State (another Southland Conference team, by the way) and I plan to come over after the SHSU v. EWU game.

[braginator]

Well if its a 6:45 fottball game whihc typically take 3hrs u wont be seeing any of the Ponies game, but we will let you know how it goes.

[MrMustang1965]

Hey, thanks!

[KnuckleStang]

MM1965: I believe some congrats are in order for your Bearcats. When I got up this morning and saw that score, I couldn't believe it. I thought they were as good as dead when I saw the 3rd quarter score. Hope you stayed till the end.

ESPN must be kicking themselves. The Montana-New Hampshire game they showed on ESPN2 was a complete blowout, a lopsided snooze-fest. Every other 1-AA playoff game yesterday, all three of them, can only be described as classics for the ages. SHSU came through in the clutch on the last play of the game to edge E. Wash.; James Madison scored in the last minute of play to beat powerhouse Furman by 1; and William & Mary beat defending national champion Delaware in double OT after being down 31-10 going into the 4th quarter. Actually, the more I think about it, I doubt ESPN really cares too much. It's a shame.

Really, folks. Anybody who still harbors fondness for our 1-A bowl system needs to hunker down, bite the bullet, and take in just one 1-AA playoffs game sometime. For pure entertainment value, it is one of the greatest month-long sporting events in the country.

FYI, William & Mary hosts hated Atlantic 10 rival JMU this Friday at 8:00 p.m. CT on ESPN2, under the lights in Williamsburg. I wouldn't mind seeing SHSU and W&M in the finals in a couple of weeks, I'm rooting for both of them. T'would be a nice marquee matchup of Dustin Long and Lang Campbell, the nation's top 1-AA QB's! Must see TV!

[MrMustang1965]

Thanks, Knucklestang! A lot of folks had given up on the Bearkats' chances after halftime but faith and perseverance and determination and the downright will to win saw them thru!

You're right about Div.1-AA football, too. Give it a look sometime.

Sam Houston travels to Missoula, Montana next Saturday for a re-match of the 2001 game (except that was a quarterfinal as opposed to this semifinal) as well as a re-match from earlier this season when SHSU defeated Montana, when they were ranked #1 in the country in Div. 1-AA. That game was played in Huntsville and was televised on Fox Sports.

The game this Saturday will be televised on ESPN2 and the Bearkat Nation reps of Dallas will once again be meeting at Two Rows Restaurant and Brewery on Greenville Ave. All of my fellow Mustang fans are welcome to join us!

[ALEX LIFESON]

Congrats my friend!