CatsRback said:
mthoopsfan said:
BrownBear is correct. Your post is the delusional one.
There was a reason or twenty why CGD was in Bozeman this past year and not Missoula the year prior…. I’m guessing one of them wasn’t because UM is so much better off.
I also believe CGD won’t go to Missoula this fall. Interesting. They’re missing out.
If we want to have an honest discussion tho on the health of a program I believe there are a few undeniably key metrics to compare or judge a program on.
1. Athletic Dept. Budget -From what I can find MSU essentially broke even which is good and the UM had a small revenue which is really good. So one would say UM is superior here but just slightly.
2. Donor Money Pipeline- seems like both schools are pretty even in this regard. Montana has had Daddy Washington’s to thank for many years but over the last decade it seems like MSU has been making big strides in the big money department. These actual numbers are tougher to find but both programs are luckier than most in the FCS.
3. Facilities. One of the key measures of athletic department success. Everyone loves the facilities arms race. In this case both schools would rank among the best for FCS but Montana currently clearly has better athletic facilities. I know Cats fans will complain but anyone who has stepped foot in WaGriz and Bobcat Stadium know the differences are drastic. We both have very nice new strength training/athletic performance centers built within the last 5 years. Montana has brand new softball fields. The Adam’s center is light years ahead of the Dome in Bozeman. Montana is building the indoor facility currently and MSU currently has one in the plans. Both schools have great facilities but right now Montana is still clearly ahead.
4. Brand/Attendance- both schools are lucky to have two of the best and biggest fan bases in the nation. Montana currently has higher attendance numbers and most would agree has a more recognizable national brand thanks to the decades of success in the 90s and 2000s. MSUs recent success def has them catching up tho. But right now the Griz are still a more recognizable brand. Kinda like Oklahoma and USC. OU has been more successful on the field lately and is itself a huge brand but there’s still something about USC that gives them the nod.
5. Performance. This one is ironically the least important in measuring athletic department health but undeniably most important to the fans. And as of late the Cats are ahead in this category having two recent semis appearances and a national title loss in football. Their basketball team has has recent more success as well but you only have to go back a couple of years to once again find Griz dominance for both men and women. Overall the cats lead this category tho and I don’t necessarily see it changing this year or the next.
So the way I see it that’s 3 categories for the Griz 1 for the Cats and 1 likely wash. So idk man. It seems like if they only were going to choose one Montana is still the best choice. Not that I think only one would get the invite.
