theblackgecko
Well-known member
As to the MSU question, one must consider the scenario under which the Griz would join the WAC.
After King George is indicted due to financial scandals, a new president, Harry Fritz, is appointed to the University of Montana. Unlike King George, this president has a policy that departments are allowed to keep the money that they bring in. This policy especially helps the athletic department, as King George had been taking money from the athletic department for years, and diverting it to his friends.
Now, the athletic department goes to president Fritz and explains that the department is well, but could be better. Specifically, the department would be able to award more scholarships if it were in the Western Athletic Conference rather than the Big Sky Conference. To offset these scholarships, the athletic department would raise more revenue through increased television payouts, payouts for traveling to road games, and the ability to schedule 12 or 13 football games, rather than 11 games. It will also help bring people to basketball games. There are some additional costs to being in the WAC, but these are minor, as the program has already been operating at a WAC level.
A formal analysis is done, and it is determined, by those who balance costs and benefits, that the Griz athletic department can better fulfill its mission as a member of the WAC. The athletic department will increase revenue and scholarships, which are its goals. An oracle is consulted, a statistician known as Jeff Sagarin, who announces that the Griz will be an upper tier program in the WAC, and should expect to win between 7-9 games most seasons, and the MPC bowl in the next five seasons. Some bald guy with a beer gut predicts a gloomy future, but he is ignored, as Sagarin is respected enough to help make the $100 million decision known as the BCS bowl bids. However, in response to the bald guy with a beer gut; while some fans may no longer attend if the Griz have a bad season, that will be counterbalanced by fan attendance for home-home deals with Wazzu and Wyoming.
When asked why this was not done earlier, the athletic department explained that King George would not allow the athletic department to discuss moving to the WAC. Many in the department suspected that it was a good move, but Dennison would never allow it to happen, as the world would know the bad things he did to the athletic department.
Fritz takes this news to the Board of Regents, a strange organization indeed. Initially, the Board of Regents is skeptical, but is swayed by the dollar signs. However, one regent dressed in blue and gold starts taking about a rivalry, and how it would not be fair for Montana to be in the WAC when Montana State competes in the Big Sky Conference. Fritz points out that there is no reason why Montana State would not be able to join Montana in the WAC, if they can demonstrate that it would be the best course for Montana State. The other regents agree, and Montana State studies its athletic department.
However, at Montana State, things are not as well. The department heavily relies on money from the state, money diverted from academic endeavors. For Montana State to join the WAC, it would have to greatly increase it spending, to comply with Title IX, and greatly improve its facilities. Montana State would not be a desirable opponent, and would not be paid nearly as much as Montana to play football at Oregon or Iowa. For Montana State to join the WAC, much money will be required. Undeterred, the regent asks who will pay the millions of dollars needed each year for Montana State to be in the WAC.
The regent first asks the students. However, the students voted not to support the athletic department last time they were asked, and were forced to support the athletic department against their will. Next, the regent asks the faculty, who laugh and point out that Montana State University already gives too much money to the athletic department. The regent tries to ask the taxpayers. However, other regents point out that Montana State is already diverting one millions dollars per year of taxpayer money into its athletic department, above that which Montana does. Therefore, the regent goes to the Bobcat fans, who whine and moan about the Grizzlies moving, but aren't willing to buy the tickets or make the donations necessary for the Bobcats to be in the WAC. Eventually, the regent is forced to talk about rivalry and fairness, but not bring up the issue of money, lest the regents realize that Montana State needs to reconsider how it spends its money.
However, at this point, the regents have had more than enough. They send additional indictments to Deer Lodge and Dennison over the handling of athletic department money and tell Montana State that it needs to reconsider how it uses the money it is given by the state. They also tell Montana State that there is no way Montana will be forced to stay in the same conference as Montana State due to Montana State running an inept athletic department. The regents are reminded of an important history lesson by President Fritz, that money talks and bullshit walks. Montana is allowed to do what it sees best, regardless of what Montana State wants.
After King George is indicted due to financial scandals, a new president, Harry Fritz, is appointed to the University of Montana. Unlike King George, this president has a policy that departments are allowed to keep the money that they bring in. This policy especially helps the athletic department, as King George had been taking money from the athletic department for years, and diverting it to his friends.
Now, the athletic department goes to president Fritz and explains that the department is well, but could be better. Specifically, the department would be able to award more scholarships if it were in the Western Athletic Conference rather than the Big Sky Conference. To offset these scholarships, the athletic department would raise more revenue through increased television payouts, payouts for traveling to road games, and the ability to schedule 12 or 13 football games, rather than 11 games. It will also help bring people to basketball games. There are some additional costs to being in the WAC, but these are minor, as the program has already been operating at a WAC level.
A formal analysis is done, and it is determined, by those who balance costs and benefits, that the Griz athletic department can better fulfill its mission as a member of the WAC. The athletic department will increase revenue and scholarships, which are its goals. An oracle is consulted, a statistician known as Jeff Sagarin, who announces that the Griz will be an upper tier program in the WAC, and should expect to win between 7-9 games most seasons, and the MPC bowl in the next five seasons. Some bald guy with a beer gut predicts a gloomy future, but he is ignored, as Sagarin is respected enough to help make the $100 million decision known as the BCS bowl bids. However, in response to the bald guy with a beer gut; while some fans may no longer attend if the Griz have a bad season, that will be counterbalanced by fan attendance for home-home deals with Wazzu and Wyoming.
When asked why this was not done earlier, the athletic department explained that King George would not allow the athletic department to discuss moving to the WAC. Many in the department suspected that it was a good move, but Dennison would never allow it to happen, as the world would know the bad things he did to the athletic department.
Fritz takes this news to the Board of Regents, a strange organization indeed. Initially, the Board of Regents is skeptical, but is swayed by the dollar signs. However, one regent dressed in blue and gold starts taking about a rivalry, and how it would not be fair for Montana to be in the WAC when Montana State competes in the Big Sky Conference. Fritz points out that there is no reason why Montana State would not be able to join Montana in the WAC, if they can demonstrate that it would be the best course for Montana State. The other regents agree, and Montana State studies its athletic department.
However, at Montana State, things are not as well. The department heavily relies on money from the state, money diverted from academic endeavors. For Montana State to join the WAC, it would have to greatly increase it spending, to comply with Title IX, and greatly improve its facilities. Montana State would not be a desirable opponent, and would not be paid nearly as much as Montana to play football at Oregon or Iowa. For Montana State to join the WAC, much money will be required. Undeterred, the regent asks who will pay the millions of dollars needed each year for Montana State to be in the WAC.
The regent first asks the students. However, the students voted not to support the athletic department last time they were asked, and were forced to support the athletic department against their will. Next, the regent asks the faculty, who laugh and point out that Montana State University already gives too much money to the athletic department. The regent tries to ask the taxpayers. However, other regents point out that Montana State is already diverting one millions dollars per year of taxpayer money into its athletic department, above that which Montana does. Therefore, the regent goes to the Bobcat fans, who whine and moan about the Grizzlies moving, but aren't willing to buy the tickets or make the donations necessary for the Bobcats to be in the WAC. Eventually, the regent is forced to talk about rivalry and fairness, but not bring up the issue of money, lest the regents realize that Montana State needs to reconsider how it spends its money.
However, at this point, the regents have had more than enough. They send additional indictments to Deer Lodge and Dennison over the handling of athletic department money and tell Montana State that it needs to reconsider how it uses the money it is given by the state. They also tell Montana State that there is no way Montana will be forced to stay in the same conference as Montana State due to Montana State running an inept athletic department. The regents are reminded of an important history lesson by President Fritz, that money talks and bullshit walks. Montana is allowed to do what it sees best, regardless of what Montana State wants.
