2011BisonAlumni said:
I would disagree. I understood the rivalry between NDSU and UND very well. The bitterness and hate was unrivaled in that day and was taken off the field in a D1 move….a move that UND administration and alumni who served in the legislature actively resisted.
But NDSU moved on…..to be honest, the rivalry is the reason UM and MSU have both underperformed at a national level.
You failed to answer my question though. How would MSU winning good for UM? Did UM winning in 1995 or 2001 benefit MSU?
You can't accurately compare the NDSU/UND rivalry to the UM/MSU rivalry. It's nowhere close. I have hundreds of business associates in ND and a company that has a box in the Fargo Dome so take that for fact - they all say the same thing- it doesn't compare. So get that out of your head for starters & we can have a conversation.
MSU was beaten and battered for 16 straight years. There were a couple of close calls, but it wore mightily on the MSU faithful. (I believe this was the breeding ground for Mony-Mony but that's for another discussion) Sometime after the streak the MSU administration decided to invest in the football program. Stadium expansions, funds for more and specific coaches and trainers, the Bobcat Athletic Complex for the football team, and hiring SDSU's athletic director for expertise. They're now readying for construction of an indoor practice facility. And there's more. But back in the day UM had their way with MSU along with the Big Sky conference & most of the nation. That's why many Griz fans live in the past - it's a great past/tradition rivaled by very few. In the last 10 years +/- NDSU and the MVC has rose to the top. As a Cat fan I can tell you we're all more than tired of it - it's not good for the FCS, and we're finally closing the gap. This may be the year, we'll see in a couple weeks.
The
rivalry was the catalist for MSU to $hit or get off the pot. UM pushed MSU to get better and they have, now competing for the national title. MSU's success pushed UM to hire Bobby back. UM is now pursuing RTD - Return to Dominance, in part due to the Cats progress and the
rivalry. So my friend from the prairie, MSU's success is good for UM and the entire Big Sky Conference as it gives us all relevance, just as UM's success is the counterbalance for MSU to get better. Recruits nationally can watch BSC football competing with and beating the MVC. Kids looking at MSU can also look 210 miles to the west and find a great program steeped in tradition, the best stadium in all the FCS, rabid fans, a beauty of a town, western Montana, and a university with a different focus than MSU has.
MSU on national TV pounding the only team to beat NDSU is good for ALL of Montana including UM. It's great for the FCS too. Most folks over here (not all) get it. Both teams are loaded with Montana kids so we can all find something to root for in three weeks. The steadfast Griz fans who hate the Cats can still look at who MSU is playing and root against NDSU. The entire BSC and every other team in the MVC is likely rooting for MSU too. You guys are good. Too good. Your success pushed MSU to hire the Vigen. Do you think it's a coincidence our AD & head coach are from SDSU & NDSU? Or can you see that even your success is helping us to get better? You pretty much improve or roll over.
If the CATS win in 3 weeks, Bobby will certainly remind recruits that the Griz beat the snot out of the Cats this year. So yes, MSU's success is good for UM and I expect UM to get better - very much better! I expect both Montana teams to be paired on opposite sides of the bracket, beating MVC teams and hopefully we'll show the nation what a rivalry this one is in the Chipper.
Second question: No. UM winning in 1995 did nothing positive for MSU. MSU wasn't dedicated & ready to compete in 1995, not by a long shot. As you can see from yesterday, we are now, much in thanks to our Big Brother in Missoula.