Big Game This Afternoon: The 'Cats Meet the Vikes

Time to put some fannies in Stewart Stadium seats
Weber County Forum Special: Live internet television feed

Just a quick reminder for Emerald City citizens of the big game scheduled for this afternoon. The 7-2 Weber State Wildcats meet the Portland State Vikings at Stewart Stadium. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m.

The 'Cats are plainly on the brink of establishing a new winning tradition. It's time we think, for Emerald City citizens to get aboard the bandwagon.

Thursday's Standard-Examiner editorial provides a persuasive argument supporting the idea that all Emerald City football fans should consider making it to this afternoon's game:

Even if Weber State makes the FCS playoffs, a home-field game may not be guaranteed. FCS rules state that only the top four seeds of the 16-team playoff field are guaranteed home-field advantage through the quarterfinals. Weber State’s current 13th ranking makes it unsure it will be a top-four seed.
In order to be considered for a homefield playoff berth, the FCS considers more than one factor. One is how well the community — business and personal — supports the football program. Are there adequate lodging accomodations for a playoff game? Is there ample community support promoting FCS football? Weber State University Athletic Director Jerry Graybeal is working hard to build support in the community for the team’s playoff drive.
Another factor is a school’s attendance figure for home games. This does not bode as well for the Wildcats. Although 7,000 fans — a healthy increase — watched the Wildcats defeat Northern Colorado two Saturdays ago, that number still dwarfs the routine sellouts at Montana, a ranked Big Sky team also fighting for a playoff berth. In fact, the Standard’s Asay reports today that WSU football is eighth in Big Sky attendance. Only Northern Colorado sells fewer tickets. [...].
Weber State is having a remarkable season. The team is playing well enough to contend for the FCS national championship. They deserve a sellout this Saturday.
It would be a letdown if the Wildcats won the Big Sky Conference, rose to the Top 10 of the rankings, and had to go on the road for the team’s first playoff game in many years because local fans wouldn’t fill the seats at Stewart Stadium.

An FCS national championship would surely put Ogden City "on the map." And that's exactly what Emerald City citizens want, right? ...to put Ogden City on the map?

We're hoping to see a full stadium this afternoon.

First reader back here with a half-decent game recap gets his/her own front page article.

Update 11/01/8 4:16 p.m. MT: The Wildcats prevail 31-21, and go on undefeated 6-0, in the Big Sky Conference (8-2 overall).