That is a very thorough article and pretty much shows how moving to FBS would be impossible for at least, what, 8 years or so?
I find it refreshing that Appy State isn't even considering moving up. Could it be because they are surrounded by FBS schools and would have to fight for recruits to be even an average FBS team? As it is now, they get some mid-to-low level FBS talent just by offering the opportunity to win titles. The Griz get the same sort of athlete from the NW. There is no reason to move up and struggle to be a .500 team.
Nice work Colin. I can't help but feel that this administration at UM have their respective heads in the sand on this issue. Some of O'days comments are really head scratchers. Personally I am tired of the No. Colorado's and Sac State's but O'day gives me the impression that DII programs like Fort Lewis are the future of OOC games at WGS. If that is the case I seriously doubt that I will be a part of it.
If anyone tells you that they are not envious of the Griz, they are lying.
Nice job! A well researched and written piece. I guess the person(s) that have said APP State has made it public they are going to move up were simply making it up. Not a real surprise, since they never posted anything to back up the claim.
Idaho's AD blaming pathetic facilities as part of their difficulties. No facilities upgrades from 1982-2004. O'Day being proactive about continually upgrading facilities at UM. Huge difference.
Also, the Tyler Joyce example didn't seem relevant to me. From what I understand about the situation, he chose a full-ride at UM over a walk-on spot at CU. If he chose UM over offers from struggling FBS schools like CU, CSU, and UI, then that would be a big deal, but I don't think that's the case. 9 kids out of 10 will take full-tuition, books, fees, and free rent over $50,000 in student loan debt. Not a huge recruiting victory IMO.
Nice work Colin. I can't help but feel that this administration at UM have their respective heads in the sand on this issue. Some of O'days comments are really head scratchers. Personally I am tired of the No. Colorado's and Sac State's but O'day gives me the impression that DII programs like Fort Lewis are the future of OOC games at WGS. If that is the case I seriously doubt that I will be a part of it.
Elk,
I would hate to see you stop going, but there is a waiting list for tickets, so it doesn't appear you are going to make any statement if that is your motive. On the other hand, say the Griz do move up, have the inevitable losing seasons, there will be tickets aplenty so you can return. I will be rooting for the Griz either way, just as I did in Dornblaser when the team and facilities were sub standard. Once a Griz, Always a Griz.
My recollection is that Joyce was hoping for offers from CU and KSU, but had some lesser I-A offers. Thus, I think his situation was relevant.
I don't know why some of you can only focus on the worst teams UM has played in recent years, like Fort Lewis--and can't seem to remember the good competition, good games and playoffs. However, if that bothered me that much, I would find something else to do on Saturdays.
Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 2539 Location: The Zoo 2279 eGriz Bucks
PlayerRep wrote:
My recollection is that Joyce was hoping for offers from CU and KSU, but had some lesser I-A offers. Thus, I think his situation was relevant.
I don't know why some of you can only focus on the worst teams UM has played in recent years, like Fort Lewis--and can't seem to remember the good competition, good games and playoffs. However, if that bothered me that much, I would find something else to do on Saturdays.
He had grayshirt offers at CU and CSU and a scholarship offer at Idaho.
My recollection is that Joyce was hoping for offers from CU and KSU, but had some lesser I-A offers. Thus, I think his situation was relevant.
I don't know why some of you can only focus on the worst teams UM has played in recent years, like Fort Lewis--and can't seem to remember the good competition, good games and playoffs. However, if that bothered me that much, I would find something else to do on Saturdays.
Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 2539 Location: The Zoo 2279 eGriz Bucks
PlayerRep wrote:
I believe a greyshirt offer is an offer of a schollie in the second semester or at some point, but not in the fall.
My recollection is that Balogh's offer at UW was turning into a greyshirt offer, so he opted to come to UM--in part so he could play right away.
AtHome, good article. Can you explain your 5th paragraph?
That's the # of schools who have officially declared themselves in the transition or exploratory phase. Those schools are allowed to continue the process even with the moratorium bc they started before it did.
Nice work Colin. I can't help but feel that this administration at UM have their respective heads in the sand on this issue. Some of O'days comments are really head scratchers. Personally I am tired of the No. Colorado's and Sac State's but O'day gives me the impression that DII programs like Fort Lewis are the future of OOC games at WGS. If that is the case I seriously doubt that I will be a part of it.
Elk,
I would hate to see you stop going, but there is a waiting list for tickets, so it doesn't appear you are going to make any statement if that is your motive. On the other hand, say the Griz do move up, have the inevitable losing seasons, there will be tickets aplenty so you can return. I will be rooting for the Griz either way, just as I did in Dornblaser when the team and facilities were sub standard. Once a Griz, Always a Griz.
I think you misunderstood me GB1. I think you know it would be a stretch for me to miss the Griz/Cat game or even EWU, NAU, WSU and PSU (I'm not giving up my tickets yet) but the noncompetitive games are more like watching YMCA soccer than DI football. I haven't missed a game in WGS in over 16 years but I could see where a September day flyfishing on the Bitterroot or elk hunting in the Pintlars might sound more appealing than a game against Fort Lewis.
IMO Montana should be scheduling home and home games with the GSU's YSU's and ASU's instead of the DII teams we have been seeing in WGS. The Griz have the budget to allow it and should be making it a reality. IMO it is very myopic of O'day to fail to understand and address this issue.
If anyone tells you that they are not envious of the Griz, they are lying.
Elk, UM has scheduled home-and-homes with Cal Poly and Cal-Davis for this coming fall. This was done as soon as the budget deficit was paid off. Just because you may prefer other teams, I don't see you can say that UM has the budget and isn't scheduling I-AA home-and-homes, and O'Day has failed to recognize any issue. Also, there is no assurance that any of those teams you mentioned would be interested or available.
Central Washington is no Fort Lewis. You may not like D-II's, but many teams, including App St and other big names, schedule D-II's.
I don't miss home games either, but if you don't like a particular game, then I see nothing wrong with going fishing.
And yes, I think a number of us may have misinterpreted your post. You are probably not alone in your view.
Nice work Colin. I can't help but feel that this administration at UM have their respective heads in the sand on this issue. Some of O'days comments are really head scratchers. Personally I am tired of the No. Colorado's and Sac State's but O'day gives me the impression that DII programs like Fort Lewis are the future of OOC games at WGS. If that is the case I seriously doubt that I will be a part of it.
Elk,
I would hate to see you stop going, but there is a waiting list for tickets, so it doesn't appear you are going to make any statement if that is your motive. On the other hand, say the Griz do move up, have the inevitable losing seasons, there will be tickets aplenty so you can return. I will be rooting for the Griz either way, just as I did in Dornblaser when the team and facilities were sub standard. Once a Griz, Always a Griz.
I think you misunderstood me GB1. I think you know it would be a stretch for me to miss the Griz/Cat game or even EWU, NAU, WSU and PSU (I'm not giving up my tickets yet) but the noncompetitive games are more like watching YMCA soccer than DI football. I haven't missed a game in WGS in over 16 years but I could see where a September day flyfishing on the Bitterroot or elk hunting in the Pintlars might sound more appealing than a game against Fort Lewis.
IMO Montana should be scheduling home and home games with the GSU's YSU's and ASU's instead of the DII teams we have been seeing in WGS. The Griz have the budget to allow it and should be making it a reality. IMO it is very myopic of O'day to fail to understand and address this issue.
Elk,
Thanks for clearing it up for me. I certainly did misunderstand you. I agree with the DII's for the most part, but also realize most of them were NOT scheduled by O' Day. I have posted multiple times that in years the Griz play a DII that they also play an FBS school, otherwise nothing but FCS schools. I think that O' Day should send a simple postcard to each season ticket holder and ask them if they would pay a premium ticket price so that UM could begin scheduling the APP States, GA Southerns, McNeese, YSU's and really make it a day to rival cat/Griz. Your thoughts.
what gets me is not the incredible number of hurdles that would have to be overcome to move up: the end of the moratorium, better facilities, feasbility studies, more sports programs, an invite from a conference, additional revenues, i.e., the fleas of life.
no, it's the attitude of those griz fans perfectly happy to be in the shoes of a 14-year-old playing little league baseball, of being the school bully and proud of it, of beating up on smaller schools with half the budgets or fan base, of bringing in 40 christian kids from a division 2 school and watching them get slaughtered by the lions while 25,000 cheer themselves hoarse in our very own colisseum. it's the reluctance to strive for better in a world that teaches kids you need to be better, you can be the best you can be, and you get to be the best by going up against the best, and it's the fear of failure of so many here to make the effort we urge every day on our own kids.
the nattering naysaying ninnines will cite idaho--LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO IDAHO!!!!!!--but i give idaho this credit: there's not one alum over there that would vote to return to the big sty.
What exactly makes some think Montana should move up to the FBS? Two titles since '95 and a string of regular season championships is enough to convince that the Griz could compete? How about doing this first. Beat the likes of Wofford, Cal Poly, or UMass at home in the playoffs. Win three straight FCS national championships. Schedule and beat an FBS power or two on the road. I think talk of moving up is prompted by fear. Fear of eventually being beaten by the poor stepchildren of the Big Sky. Fear of losing another home playoff game, or of not making one at all. Fear of falling attendance and revenue. A big leap to FBS and you've got built-in enthusiasm, a built-in excuse, and a way to escape the fear.
What exactly makes some think Montana should move up to the FBS? Two titles since '95 and a string of regular season championships is enough to convince that the Griz could compete? How about doing this first. Beat the likes of Wofford, Cal Poly, or UMass at home in the playoffs. Win three straight FCS national championships. Schedule and beat an FBS power or two on the road. I think talk of moving up is prompted by fear. Fear of eventually being beaten by the poor stepchildren of the Big Sky. Fear of losing another home playoff game, or of not making one at all. Fear of falling attendance and revenue. A big leap to FBS and you've got built-in enthusiasm, a built-in excuse, and a way to escape the fear.
Sounds like you're affraid that the momentum is starting build for the Griz to finally leave the worthless conference that they are in.
That EWU team of yours isn't going to have much to play for once the single relevant team in the conference leaves. Have fun with that.
What exactly makes some think Montana should move up to the FBS? Two titles since '95 and a string of regular season championships is enough to convince that the Griz could compete? How about doing this first. Beat the likes of Wofford, Cal Poly, or UMass at home in the playoffs. Win three straight FCS national championships. Schedule and beat an FBS power or two on the road. I think talk of moving up is prompted by fear. Fear of eventually being beaten by the poor stepchildren of the Big Sky. Fear of losing another home playoff game, or of not making one at all. Fear of falling attendance and revenue. A big leap to FBS and you've got built-in enthusiasm, a built-in excuse, and a way to escape the fear.
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