GREELEY — Northern Colorado sophomore safety Marcel Gibbons knows that only one thing will calm his nerves as he gets ready for his first start in a road game at Weber State on Saturday in the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams.
“I’ve got to come downhill and put my face in on somebody,” Gibbons said. “Once I put my face on somebody one time, than the rest of the time will be easy.”
Playing on the road has been anything but easy for UNC since joining the Big Sky in 2006. The Bears are 1-15 away from home in conference play, with the only win coming last year at Idaho State.
— Read the full story at .
<!–
However, the Bears believe they now are better prepared to win on the road in the Big Sky. One reason is because UNC has its most experienced team, with 18 seniors who now understand what it takes to win away from home. That will only help more inexperienced players such as Gibbons know how to handle it.
“It has been tough to win on the road, but primarily, it has just been tough to win in the Big Sky Conference,” UNC coach Scott Downing said. “I think we have got some guys now that they understand what it takes and physically they are up to the challenge. Now does that help us win better? I hope so.”
The Bears will have to be ready for what will certainly be one of the biggest road tests of the season. The Wildcats have made the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs the last two seasons. Not only that, but it will be the home opener for the Wildcats before a big crowd under the lights at Stewart Stadium.
UNC quarterback Dylan Orms believes this team is built to win on the road more than it has ever been.
“I think this team is more prepared to win than any other team that I have been on,” Orms said. “We are focused on making this a business trip and going out to Weber to prove to everybody that we can compete in this league.”
–>
