Big Sky thriving a midst college conference changes

[EverettGriz]

Those numbers aren't bad. For DII programs.....

 

[WILDCATFAN]

Those numbers aren't bad. For DII programs.....

Strange thing is, Weber State football outdrew Weber State basketball

 

[Paytonlives]

Lets see what Websters thinks:

Definition of THRIVE
intransitive verb
1: to grow vigorously : flourish
2: to gain in wealth or possessions : prosper
3: to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances —often used with on <thrives on conflict>


Hummmmmmm.........

 

[MissoulaMarinerFan]

Those numbers aren't bad. For DII programs.....

Strange thing is, Weber State football outdrew Weber State basketball

Holy crap. Has that ever happened?

 

[MT Jack]

The BSC is thriving if you like members that draw 2500 and have members over 2000 miles apart on frugal budgets. Really thiving.

Only 1 school in the conference averaged less than 5,000 fans last year, and that was 0-11 UNC.

Those numbers aren't the best, but for schools like ISU and Weber and even NAU and SAC who havent had the success that the Montana's had those numbers are NOT bad at all, especially Eastern's since they are over capacity, and considering Idaho the school you want to be affiliated with so much averaged 11,979. UNC went 0-11, im sure even Montana wouldnt average 25K if they were 0-11.

Away with your facts, WILDCATFAN. There'll be none of that around here.


The Big Sky as a whole will never have an "SEC" attitude towards football. The travel distance and budget issues kemajic mentioned are immense hurdles. But there have been some notable improvements in facilities and coaching across the conference.

I think Griz fans expecting a "Washington-Grizzly Stadium" style experience at every BSC venue are out of touch with the collegiate sports market facing every Big Sky school outside UM and MSU. Weber State could win four straight FCS football championships and they would still be a 30 second lead in on the nightly sports to BYU and Utah coverage. Same goes with PSU/Oregon and Oregon State. NAU/U of Arizona and Arizona State. UNC/U of Colorado and Colorado State. ISU/Boise State. Sacramento State/every Pac 12 team in California. EWU/U of Washington and Washington State. The Griz are still at the top of the heap in Big Sky football and will continue to do so until proven otherwise. But...MSU, EWU, Weber and Sac State have shown the ability to recruit talent and challenge recently. The Big Sky Conference is far from being the dregs many like to imply.

 

[WILDCATFAN]

Those numbers aren't bad. For DII programs.....

Strange thing is, Weber State football outdrew Weber State basketball

Holy crap. Has that ever happened?

Not for a very long time.

WSU football -8,487
WSU basketball- 6,770 largest- 9,359 vs Utah State

However things are looking up at Weber, our averages in both hoops and football rise every year, they arent the greatest numbers, but heck at least they are both going up, and not down.

 

[sdgriz_24]

Those numbers aren't bad. For DII programs.....

Strange thing is, Weber State football outdrew Weber State basketball

Holy crap. Has that ever happened?

Not for a very long time.

WSU football -8,487
WSU basketball- 6,770 largest- 9,359 vs Utah State

However things are looking up at Weber, our averages in both hoops and football rise every year, they arent the greatest numbers, but heck at least they are both going up, and not down.

Don't worry. UM will be here waiting for you guys to catch up :lame:

 

[EverettGriz]

The BSC is thriving if you like members that draw 2500 and have members over 2000 miles apart on frugal budgets. Really thiving.

Only 1 school in the conference averaged less than 5,000 fans last year, and that was 0-11 UNC.

Those numbers aren't the best, but for schools like ISU and Weber and even NAU and SAC who havent had the success that the Montana's had those numbers are NOT bad at all, especially Eastern's since they are over capacity, and considering Idaho the school you want to be affiliated with so much averaged 11,979. UNC went 0-11, im sure even Montana wouldnt average 25K if they were 0-11.

Away with your facts, WILDCATFAN. There'll be none of that around here.


The Big Sky as a whole will never have an "SEC" attitude towards football. The travel distance and budget issues kemajic mentioned are immense hurdles. But there have been some notable improvements in facilities and coaching across the conference.

I think Griz fans expecting a "Washington-Grizzly Stadium" style experience at every BSC venue are out of touch with the collegiate sports market facing every Big Sky school outside UM and MSU. Weber State could win four straight FCS football championships and they would still be a 30 second lead in on the nightly sports to BYU and Utah coverage. Same goes with PSU/Oregon and Oregon State. NAU/U of Arizona and Arizona State. UNC/U of Colorado and Colorado State. ISU/Boise State. Sacramento State/every Pac 12 team in California. EWU/U of Washington and Washington State. The Griz are still at the top of the heap in Big Sky football and will continue to do so until proven otherwise. But...MSU, EWU, Weber and Sac State have shown the ability to recruit talent and challenge recently. The Big Sky Conference is far from being the dregs many like to imply.

I think you've just perfectly highlighted why so many of us don't believe Montana belongs at the FCS level and in the BSC. Sing along with me:

"One of these things is not like the others!"


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RABIDAWG]

Maybe the whole NCAA needs to be reshaped. Division I = the "big boys" and their bowl games. Strong contenders to move up do just that. Division II becomes the rest of the FCS (including the BSC), and the bottom half of Div. II drops to Div III, which would have to start offering scholly's. That would put a lot of pressure on the best of the NAIA to commit to Division II or stay NAIA or Div. III NCAA. Currently, most believe the NAIA is a step up from the current Div. III, and watching any NAIA or Div. III play off games you would agree. Division II , III, and the NAIA would still have their bracketed championship, and the sportswriters could still vote for the Div. I champion! Our Griz or the Kitties will never be able to afford to compete with the FBS schools. But, whatever you want to call the next level down (FCS or Div. II), our size of school would likely make a playoff appearance most years. BTW, this will never happen, but it sure seems that the NCAA really doesn't know how to class Div. I.

For what it is worth, O'day believed/believes, in time there will be 3 classifications in DIv1. The top tier will definitely be what we know as the SEC, PAC12,Big 12, Pac Ten, ACC, and Big East. I do believe Boise State has earned the right to be at this level. As to what those conferences will be called and how many teams in each, well there will be more movement. They even might be separate from the NCAA.

The Mid level will have the most teams, consist of the mid level div 1 programs from the current BCS, and upper level FCS. This is where the GRIZ belong, and the move up crowd believe the GRIZ should set their goal for. I believe it is a realistic goal.

The 3rd level will likely be the programs that do not get good fan support (less than 7,500 average attendance (most the Big Sky falls into this group), and small schools that move up from what is now DIV II, and move from NAIA.

I admit, I will be disappointed, if the GRIZ choose to be at the 3rd level. There will also be provisions, and expectations driven by attendance to be dropped, and given an option to go up. Which I feel would go for college athletics. Something needs to be done to drive attendance for schools that lack that now (rest the Big Sky Conference-outside of Montana and Montana State). Finances would also be more evenly distributed, and allow for gradual growth. The upper level, would accommodate the most scholarships as well. I would love to see programs be penalized for off the field issues. I doubt that would happen, being it would be so hard to monitor fairly.

Either way, we will see a lot more changes, and the GRIZ and Cats will be impacted, one way, or the other. If/When this happens, where do you want to see the GRIZ?

UP!!!! :thumb:

 

[MT Jack]

I think you've just perfectly highlighted why so many of us don't believe Montana belongs at the FCS level and in the BSC. Sing along with me:

"One of these things is not like the others!"

EverettGriz -
I don't debate that your football program would be competitive with lower level FBS programs. The Griz could end up like Boise State and have success beyond fan's wildest dreams? The Griz could end up like Idaho and suffer years of hardship? The Griz could end up like .... I don't know... Marshall and have some middling success?

But are you willing to throw the rest of the U of M sports under the bus in order to achieve football success? I realize this is a "football" forum and all but any college's athletics program is more than just Saturdays in the fall. Is UM's collective athletic department ready to step up and compete with the big boys? Will the U of M spend the money necessary for facilities upgrades in your other sports that FBS conferences will most likely expect? The other Grizzly athletic programs are often competitive but rarely dominate the conference like football does.

Reading a Sesame Street reference on egriz made my day.

 

[EverettGriz]

But are you willing to throw the rest of the U of M sports under the bus in order to achieve football success

You've got it precisely backwards. One of the primary reasons I support the move to a real conference is specifically to BENEFIT programs at UM besides football. Frankly, I am sick and tired of seeing both UM's men's and women's BB teams suffer as a result of their conference having FIVE teams (with the two spectacular additions, it'll be now by SEVEN) with RPIs under 300. That's ridiculous as well as outrageous.

Wouldn't it be nice to finish the year 24-6 and not have to worry about absolutely having to win a title game to get an NCAA invitation, and then even if you do win, automatically getting stuck with a 15 seed because your RPI droped 116 points during an undefeated conference season because the quality of play is so bad?

And thanks for getting the SS reference!! :thumb: