Griz Football Product

[ElrodGrizzly]

$800,000 is the number for the whole team? At a couple positions such as quarterback they can make more than $800,000 in the FBS in one season.

Which is another reason the Montana schools cannot afford to compete at the FBS level.

If you narrow it down to coach success, its even more rare.

Georgia Southern - the only team outside NDSU that can claim any kind of generational dominance. Three coaches won six nattys over 16 year stretch. Although they didn't win another their last 13 years in the division, they still made the playoffs seven more times plus a natty trip with a fourth coach.
FCS from '82-'13; 6 nattys
3 coaches won nattys in 85, 86, 89, 90, 99, 00

YSU - All four of YSU's nattys are thanks to Jim Tressel who coached at YSU from '86-'00. In his 15 years, YSU won four championships and made the playoffs 10 times. In the 30 years outside of Tressel's YSU coaching career, YSU made the playoffs nine times with one natty appearance in '16.
FCS from '81-pres; 4 nattys
1 coach won nattys in 91, 93, 94, 97

App State - All three of App St's nattys came in a three year period from one coach. The argument could be made also that two of those were on the back of one player. Granted App has always been a decent team, making the playoffs 20 times in their FCS history, with 18 of those coming from their championship coach. In the 11 years before his arrival, they had made the playoffs twice.
FCS from '78-'13; 3 nattys
1 coach won nattys in 05, 06, 07

EKU - A dominant team in the very early stages of the FCS playoffs, winning two of the first five FCS championships, both from the same coach After that, not so much. Their natty coach, made the playoffs 13 more times over the next 20 years, but never making it back to a natty. In the last 23 years since his retirement, they've returned to the playoffs six times.
FCS from '78-pres; 2 nattys
1 coach won two nattys in 79, 82

JMU - One of the most consistent teams outside NDSU and GSU, but still only managed two nattys, 12 years apart. Not too great before their first, only making the playoffs five times in their first 25 years. Even in the 12 years between nattys, they still only averaged a playoff trip every other year. After the '16 natty though, they made the playoffs every year till their FBS jump.
FCS from 80-21; 2 nattys
2 coach's won nattys in 04, 16

Marshall - Their FCS history lasted 19 years with the first nine being abysmal, missing the playoffs every year. Their Jeckyl and Hyde FCS tenure took a turn in '87 though and over the next 10 yeas they made 8 playoffs and six natty appearances, winning two. Their success largely came from one coach who took over from '90-'95, appearing in four nattys and winning one. A new coach took over in '96, their last year in the FCS and im pretty sure i dont have to say why they won that one.
FCS from '78-'96; 2 nattys
2 coach won nattys in 92, 96

MSU - we all know how shitty they were for long. One lucky year in '84 and then nothing for 41 years.
FCS from '78-pres; 2 nattys
2 coachs won nattys in 84, 25

UM - The most consistently playoff bound team in the FCS, especially since winning their first in '95 after making the playoffs for a 6th time in their first 18 years in the FCS. Since then in the last 30 years, they've missed the playoffs only five times, reaching the natty seven times, winning one more. In that stretch seven more different coaches have led the Griz to the playoffs and three of them leading the Griz to a natty appearance.
FCS from '78-pres; 2 nattys
2 coaches won nattys in 95, 01

SDSU - Has been considered a powerhouse of late but it took them nearly two decades to earn that. In their first 19 years they made 11 playoffs before winning their first in '22, all under the same coach. Their 2nd came a year later from a new coach but now he is gone and their season took a bit of a dive. Some are wondering if they will maintain or if the decline after their peak has began.
FCS from '04-pres; 2 nattys
2 coaches won nattys in 22, 23

This is a great breakdown. I know I have been saying it for a while, but Griz fans have this weird thing where we compare ourselves to NDSU and pretend that used to be us. Then so many Griz fans I know start saying "why isn't that us?!" It never has been ANY team in college football. Their run was absolutely remarkable, and it will not be duplicated.

 

[SoldierGriz]

The question is simple: is not winning a national championship for 24 years acceptable and up to standard for the Montana Grizzlies?

Let me remind you that NONE of the Dakotas were Division I the last time Montana won a national title. NDSU has only been D1 since 2004. South Dakota State, South Dakota and North Dakota have only been D1 since 2008. Montana had played in six FCS national championship games in the span of 12 years when the Missouri Valley Football Conference as even formed as a league in 2008.

Since then, the Missouri Valley has won TWELVE national titles. A league that has been around for less than two decades made up of the old DII North Central Conference has won almost twice as many D I-AA/FCS national titles than the ENTIRE Big Sky Conference, which has been playing in I-AA since its advent in 1978.

Montana, Montana State, the Dakotas are all playing FBS football in the FCS. There are 60-ish Group of 5 schools. Less than 10 could "drop down" and win the Big Sky or the MVFC. Because of the support, passion and quality of football from the MonDak crew.

It's basically written in stone who the Top 4 in the FCS are going to be for the foreseeable future. The only schools that will threaten NSDSU, SDSU, MSU and UM are North Dakota, South Dakota and UC Davis (who's probably out to the MW sooner than later). And maybe Tarleton State. Other than that, it's the MonDak bowl forever more until it all fractures.

Since 2011:

NDSU has 198 wins, 12 conference titles, 10 national titles and has played in the semifinals every season but this season.

SDSU has 146 wins, four conference titles and has played in seven semifinals and three championship games since 2017, winning two national titles.

Montana State 140 wins, six conference titles, has played in the semifinals five of the last six years, has been to three title games and now has a national title.

Montana has 127 wins, has been to two semis, one title game, has one league title.

Food for thought.

Why 2011? Seems random. Why not 2015 or so - 10 years, or 2005 or so - 20 years? What's special about 2011?

 

[alabamagrizzly]

Why 2011? Seems random. Why not 2015 or so - 10 years, or 2005 or so - 20 years? What's special about 2011?

Its the year my daughter was born, duuhhh.

 

[Colter_Nuanez56]

Why 2011? Seems random. Why not 2015 or so - 10 years, or 2005 or so - 20 years? What's special about 2011?

Its the first year that North Dakota State won the national championship and the first year in a streak of 15 years that a Big Sky team did not win a championship.

 

[5280Griz]

Its the first year that North Dakota State won the national championship and the first year in a streak of 15 years that a Big Sky team did not win a championship.

Do you think how EWU was designed as a high scoring offense and they had home playoff games in Cheney Washington, whose weather in December does not typically help high scoring offenses played a role in the Big Sky going 15 years without a title?

 

[SoldierGriz]

Its the first year that North Dakota State won the national championship and the first year in a streak of 15 years that a Big Sky team did not win a championship.

Random as hell dude.

Set up your point tho. Good on ya.

 

[Colter_Nuanez56]

Do you think how EWU was designed as a high scoring offense and they had home playoff games in Cheney Washington, whose weather in December does not typically help high scoring offenses played a role in the Big Sky going 15 years without a title?

It's an excellent question. We covered EWU as much as anyone during the first few years of Skyline Sports because Montana State was in the midst of the Rob Ash meltdown, the Griz were in the midst of the Delaney-Stitt transition and EWU was the best in the conference with some of the best talent (Vernon Adams, Cooper Kupp, Kendrick Bourne) the Big Sky has seen. I also had a previous relationship with Beau Baldwin from when he was at Central Washington and I lived in Ellensburg.

Back to your question: Those EWU teams were designed perfectly to combat the bruising style that the last 15 national champions have all played. EWU took NDSU down to the wire in Fargo in 2016 before falling 50-44 in OT. I thought that was a precursor.

The 2013 EWU team lost to Terrance West and Townson on its own field because West ran the ball down their throats.

The 2014 EWU team lost to an upstart Illinois State team than ran the zone read to the tune of a 59-42 win. Marshaun Coprich ran wild that day, rolling up 258 rush yards and 4 rushing TDs.

The 2016 EWU team lost to a rough and tumble unranked Youngstown State team in the semis on their home field when Bo Pelini & Co handled the elements on one of the worst weather days for any game I've ever covered better then EWU did.

The other factors that went into the Big Sky not winning a national title between 2011 and 2024:

- Montana, the scandal, the John K book, the BS DOJ investigation and those factors leading to having four head coaches in 8 years.

- Weber State being anemic on offense despite having a string of NFL talent

- Southern Utah being a DII program in structure with DI on the field.

- Rob Ash

 

[Colter_Nuanez56]

Random as hell dude.

Set up your point tho. Good on ya.

It's not random. The Griz (fabricated) scandal hit right after the Sam Houston State playoff game in 2011. Griz football was impacted negatively in a variety of ways because of it, which in turn led to the rise of some of the other powers that be.

2011 is also when NDSU made its first of 10 national championship runs. It's also the season after the last Big Sky team won a title.

 

[mthoopsfan]

Its the first year that North Dakota State won the national championship and the first year in a streak of 15 years that a Big Sky team did not win a championship.

Like we said, you slanted things with your dates.

 

[Larry71]

The point is there are teams with over 90,000 per game attendance without names on the back of jerseys, so you can still have plenty of fans without the names on jerseys.

I LIKE names on jerseys. I LIKED knowing Patrick O'connell played last night and made a solo tackle, without having to remember his roster number. The names enhance MY experience.

 

[5280Griz]

I LIKE names on jerseys. I LIKED knowing Patrick O'connell played last night and made a solo tackle, without having to remember his roster number. The names enhance MY experience.

Yeah everyone has a different opinion and I am aware that most fans prefer having the names on the back and more alternate uniforms I just disagree with them.

 

[kemajic]

I LIKE names on jerseys. I LIKED knowing Patrick O'connell played last night and made a solo tackle, without having to remember his roster number. The names enhance MY experience.

It's easy to see a name on the jersey on TV; it's not so easy from most seats in WaGriz. Names are unnecessary, programs are widely available and free, LazyLarry.

 

[Hulapoops]

Like we said, you slanted things with your dates.

Makes sense to me Simple Jack.

 

[GriznMN]

Yes. Because they recognized that a 4.75 hour game between Boston and NY, where a pitch was happening every 50 seconds may be harming the game’s appeal. So instead of having a few beers and telling their favorite Billy Martin stories, MLB overhauled the product. Now the sport is as popular as ever. Weird how that works…

And that's not including what is happening with Banana Ball. Griz need to connect with the Banana Ball owners/operators and find what they can incorporate into the gameday experience.

For one, let the kids have fun on the field.

 

[GriznMN]

I am not saying some changes might not be needed; they probably are. But, say you fire Bobby, and the team goes 8-4, then 8-4 or so again. How are you dealing with the howling masses?

Let's say the team goes 9-4 and beats the cats and then goes 12-2 and beats the cats and then goes 15-1 and beats the cats and wins the national championship. How are feeling?

 

[GriznMN]

A lot of the revenue goes to Fargo and then to NDSU if the Griz merchandise is purchased at Scheels, and I love Scheels in Billings as a shopping destination. It just isn’t the best place to buy Griz gear if you want to support UM instead of NDSU.

Scheels is overpriced. Find what you want at Scheels and then either buy it locally in Missoula from a business that is a local Missoula business or buy it online from Sierra Trading Company.

 

[5280Griz]

Scheels is overpriced. Find what you want at Scheels and then either buy it locally in Missoula from a business that is a local Missoula business or buy it online from Sierra Trading Company.

Scheels is overpriced but the one in Billings is worth going to for the aquarium and ferris wheel when in town. They also have a large selection of nice Griz stuff. More often than not I will end up getting something since I am already there. That’s probably the point of the attractions in the store.

 

[GriznMN]

UM has improved, but not as fast as msu. That’s the problem. So we have fallen further behind. Their enrollment continues to outpace ours and their football team has gone to a title game three of the last four years, winning one. UM has won two conference titles and made one championship appearance since 2009. The ‘status quo’ isn’t going to cut it.

We don't have leadership that is from Montana, either as the president or the AD. If we want to build the University of Montana, we need to start from the inside out. Bring in a president and AD with roots in Montana and put people in places with roots in Montana. Build it from the inside out. Criss-cross the state. Meet with Montanans in person all across the state. Sell the university from Westby to Sula, from Troy to Alzada and all the points in-between.

 

[GriznMN]

Scheels is overpriced but the one in Billings is worth going to for the aquarium and ferris wheel when in town. They also have a large selection of nice Griz stuff. More often than not I will end up getting something since I am already there. That’s probably the point of the attractions in the store.

Ask yourself how they are able to afford to put an aquarium and ferris wheel in a sports store. It's the same question you should ask how a casino can offer free buffets before you start to gamble.

 

[GriznMN]

Boomers remember how poor the program was prior to '86. In the late 60's the program had such a low priority that it lost its footprint on campus and was shuffled off to that abortion on South Avenue. Only after the arrival of Read and WaGriz did cat domination begin. Boomers better than anyone understand that the program could have a lot to lose.

Only Gen X and Millennials understand what can and should be accomplished by Griz football teams. Coach Read might've been a boomer but he was all about inspiring confidence. He wasn't a shrinking violet who looked to see what the Griz could lose. He saw what the Griz could become.