2006 NDSU vs. 2007 NDSU vs. 2011 NDSU

[MplsBison]

For fun.

All teams had one loss during the regular season. The 2006 team's loss was to the Minnesota Gopher team in Mason's last year, the 2007 team's was on the road at SDSU (the defacto GWFC championship, no less) and the 2011 team's was at home to YSU.

I have no doubt that the SDSU loss would've motivated an epic playoff run for the 2007 team and the 2006 team could've just as well had a great playoff run with all their talent.


Which team is the best?

I will go with the 2006 team. They had all the talent of the 2007 team plus current NFL'er Craig Dahl.

Tough call though.

[HandoEX]

The 2011 team is much deeper and more disciplined...fewer turnovers and much better special teams than either the '06 or '07 teams. I give the nod to this team.

[bisonguy]

2011. Team speed is greater, especially on the lines. Depth is greater allowing subs in the defense with little to no dropoff.

The schedule for 2011 is significantly more difficult as well. NDSU will end up facing four playoff teams and another that made the quarterfinals during the regular season (UNI). There were also two top five ranked teams that NDSU faced.The 2006 and 2007 seasons didn't see NDSU facing any teams that even made the playoff field.

[MarkyMark]

I have thought about this a couple times the last few weeks.

I would have to go with the 2011 Bison. It seemed like those 2006/2007 teams had alot of thrilling come-from-behind victories. I think the 2011 Bison have only been behind twice this year, first quarter of the Gopher game and the YSU game

[Snowgoose]

I have also thought about this alot and I believe it was either 06 or 07. Here is what Sagarin has to say as these are end of the season numbers that I just posted on Bisonville.
Rating SOS Elo
2006 - 57 71.81 138 48
2007 - 71 68.80 160 72
2011 - 48 74.16 146 49

I have been saying all along that the SOS was the same and people just don't believe me. The SOS of schedule may have been better for 2006 and 07 because the 2011 numbers are as of today and include victories over 3 playoff teams with helped the SOS. By the way those 2006/07 teams have 2 linebackers and 2 safeties play in the NFL with 3 out of the 4 still playing. Plus lots of others with tryouts. I have to say it was the 2006 year.

[bisonguy]

I have also thought about this alot and I believe it was either 06 or 07. Here is what Sagarin has to say as these are end of the season numbers that I just posted on Bisonville.
Rating SOS Elo
2006 - 57 71.81 138 48
2007 - 71 68.80 160 72
2011 - 48 74.16 146 49

I have been saying all along that the SOS was the same and people just don't believe me. The SOS of schedule may have been better for 2006 and 07 because the 2011 numbers are as of today and include victories over 3 playoff teams with helped the SOS. By the way those 2006/07 teams have 2 linebackers and 2 safeties play in the NFL with 3 out of the 4 still playing. Plus lots of others with tryouts. I have to say it was the 2006 year.

The 2006/2007 teams may have had some better athletes, we'll see in the next couple of years how many from this year get NFL tryouts.

Speaking of Sagarin, 2006 Predictor -69.82, 2011 Predictor- 74.33.

2011 Team wins by 4.5 points on a neutral field, wins by 7.51 at home, and wins by 2.57 on the road. The 2011 team is obviously better.

[Snowgoose]

I was arguing that you said the 2011 team is significantly faster and had significantly better competition in the regular season which is simply not true look at the SOS on Sagarin. If you start comparing teams down the line they almost equal. In 2007 they played 3 MVC schools and CMU which is better than this years UNI, which by the way is the only playoff team we faced this year. Also, you can't use current Sagarin ratings since the 2006/07 teams never had a chance to participate in the playoffs so your numbers are not accurate. If you use the end of the year sagarin the 2011 team has a number of 71.18 which is less than than 2006 and above 2007. I say these three teams are a toss up and that was my point as the 2006/07 teams would have had a great chance to win at least one title. This is just my opinion as I believe the 2007 team was the best of these three. You also have to remember that the 06/07 teams had nothing to play for except for the Minnesota game which was their playoff. So they basically played just for pride, which does make a small difference. The current 2011 team has looked great in the playoffs, but the last half of the year they struggled. Obviously they are clearly now playing more like they were the first half of the year when we new they could win it all.

[blueballs]

As a GSU fan I saw the 2006 and 2011 teams first hand. The 2006 team was HUGE and physical but the group they have this year is more athletic. I'd give the edge to this year's group because they have the size and speed.

[Snowgoose]

As a GSU fan I saw the 2006 and 2011 teams first hand. The 2006 team was HUGE and physical but the group they have this year is more athletic. I'd give the edge to this year's group because they have the size and speed.

I will say that the 2006 team was as athletic if not more than the current team. The 2006 team had 3 linebackers (2 currently in the NFL and the other was a stud) that are more athletic than we have on the 2011 team and 2 safeties that played in the NFL (one is still playing). All three linebackers would be starters on the 2011 team. The only position that is better is cornerback on the 2011 team on the defensive side of the ball and the offense on the 2006 or 07 team is definitely better than this years team. This years team is definitely more disciplined as they might be the most disciplined defense I have seen.

[MplsBison]

I will say that the 2006 team was as athletic if not more than the current team. The 2006 team had 3 linebackers (2 currently in the NFL and the other was a stud) that are more athletic than we have on the 2011 team and 2 safeties that played in the NFL (one is still playing). All three linebackers would be starters on the 2011 team. The only position that is better is cornerback on the 2011 team on the defensive side of the ball and the offense on the 2006 or 07 team is definitely better than this years team. This years team is definitely more disciplined as they might be the most disciplined defense I have seen.

The 2006 team also had probably the best interior DL that Bohl has ever had, Justin Frick. Fairbairn at NG was also pretty good. I don't think Drevlow or Perry are better than either of them.

DE on the other hand, you probably have to give it to Boyer, Jirik and Emmanual of this year's team.


I would also say that Kyle Steffes was a better RB than either McNorton or Ojuri. Obviously Walker the best QB, even as a junior that year.