Is it time for major change in college athletics

[mtgrizrule]

Read this then tell me what you think? Seriously, how can the likes of Montana be competitive in the current format of college athletics? http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/24518169/ap-alabama-athletic-revenues-more-than-any-nhl-teams" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[reinell30]

At our level it is about the love of the game, not the dollar!

 

[putter]

Come up to Great Falls and MSU's spring game. Their speaker is NCAA president Mark Emmert...we can complain to the man face to face

 

[tnt]

At our level it is about the love of the game, not the dollar!

There are those about who honestly believe we should be playing at that level...... While that is one thing, more amazing is they think we could be successful.................

 

[BozAngelesGriz]

i wonder how Texas generated more revenue after back-to-back less than stellar seasons and a home seating capacity 20,000 below Bama's

 

[putter]

i wonder how Texas generated more revenue after back-to-back less than stellar seasons and a home seating capacity 20,000 below Bama's

Longhorn TV Network...

 

[GrizLA]

i wonder how Texas generated more revenue after back-to-back less than stellar seasons and a home seating capacity 20,000 below Bama's

A very large tv (cable) network. A large population. A long tradition with some large rival games. A substantially large and financially strong alumni base.

 

['68griz]

At our level it is about the love of the game, not the dollar!

This is a fact. However, it may not be economically successful.

 

[mtgrizrule]

At our level it is about the love of the game, not the dollar!

This is a fact. However, it may not be economically successful.

Exactly, and the schools that can compete with Texas and Alabama are the minority in the current NCAA structure. Seriously, how many athletic programs can realistically and feasibly compete at that kind of level? I am guessing less than 50 programs. Those kind of schools need to break away and have upper level FCS and the left over BCS schools at a 2nd level. That is the level I feel the GRIZ and Cats belong. It would also be a huge improvement in level from our current level.

I hate to say it, but I think even athletic programs like WAZZU, Oregon State cannot be consistent contender as is. Fortunately for those programs they have a long bond with the other Pac 12 schools, and the PAC 12 is an elite conference. That is the saving grace for those programs. We need to be tied to the western programs not in the PAC 12. I have a feeling it is a matter of time before the likes of Boise State will come back down to earth too.

Personally, I would love for the GRIZ and Cats be in a conference with UNLV, Nevada, Boise State, Idaho, Utah State, Colorado State, Air Force, Wyoming, San Jose State, Hawaii, North Dakota State, New Mexico, New Mexico State, BYU (I do think they could financially compete at the highest level though). For me, this is much more appealing for football and basketball than where we are at now.

Would it be possible for the likes of EWU, Cal Davis, and Cal Poly to build their fan bases to consistently draw 15k plus per game within the next 5 to 10 years?

It is sad the money and power of the major universities has gained so much of each. Realistically, I just don't see those things changing to even the playing field some as is. I have a feeling the landscape of college athletics will have some more impactful changes. Hence the main reasons behind Montana choosing to stay put as is when we had to make that decision.

 

['68griz]

At our level it is about the love of the game, not the dollar!

This is a fact. However, it may not be economically successful.

Exactly, and the schools that can compete with Texas and Alabama are the minority in the current NCAA structure. Seriously, how many athletic programs can realistically and feasibly compete at that kind of level? I am guessing less than 50 programs. Those kind of schools need to break away and have upper level FCS and the left over BCS schools at a 2nd level. That is the level I feel the GRIZ and Cats belong. It would also be a huge improvement in level from our current level.

I hate to say it, but I think even athletic programs like WAZZU, Oregon State cannot be consistent contender as is. Fortunately for those programs they have a long bond with the other Pac 12 schools, and the PAC 12 is an elite conference. That is the saving grace for those programs. We need to be tied to the western programs not in the PAC 12. I have a feeling it is a matter of time before the likes of Boise State will come back down to earth too.

Personally, I would love for the GRIZ and Cats be in a conference with UNLV, Nevada, Boise State, Idaho, Utah State, Colorado State, Air Force, Wyoming, San Jose State, Hawaii, North Dakota State, New Mexico, New Mexico State, BYU (I do think they could financially compete at the highest level though). For me, this is much more appealing for football and basketball than where we are at now.

Would it be possible for the likes of EWU, Cal Davis, and Cal Poly to build their fan bases to consistently draw 15k plus per game within the next 5 to 10 years?

It is sad the money and power of the major universities has gained so much of each. Realistically, I just don't see those things changing to even the playing field some as is. I have a feeling the landscape of college athletics will have some more impactful changes. Hence the main reasons behind Montana choosing to stay put as is when we had to make that decision.

This is my dream too (what I bolded). But, with the current UM leadership, I don't see that as the wildest possibility. It makes me sad that UM is sort of stuck where they are, as I fully know what they MIGHT have been. But, whatever happens, wherever they end up, I will always be a Griz fan. It's in my DNA, for three generations.

 

[mtgrizrule]

At our level it is about the love of the game, not the dollar!

This is a fact. However, it may not be economically successful.

Exactly, and the schools that can compete with Texas and Alabama are the minority in the current NCAA structure. Seriously, how many athletic programs can realistically and feasibly compete at that kind of level? I am guessing less than 50 programs. Those kind of schools need to break away and have upper level FCS and the left over BCS schools at a 2nd level. That is the level I feel the GRIZ and Cats belong. It would also be a huge improvement in level from our current level.

I hate to say it, but I think even athletic programs like WAZZU, Oregon State cannot be consistent contender as is. Fortunately for those programs they have a long bond with the other Pac 12 schools, and the PAC 12 is an elite conference. That is the saving grace for those programs. We need to be tied to the western programs not in the PAC 12. I have a feeling it is a matter of time before the likes of Boise State will come back down to earth too.

Personally, I would love for the GRIZ and Cats be in a conference with UNLV, Nevada, Boise State, Idaho, Utah State, Colorado State, Air Force, Wyoming, San Jose State, Hawaii, North Dakota State, New Mexico, New Mexico State, BYU (I do think they could financially compete at the highest level though). For me, this is much more appealing for football and basketball than where we are at now.

Would it be possible for the likes of EWU, Cal Davis, and Cal Poly to build their fan bases to consistently draw 15k plus per game within the next 5 to 10 years?

It is sad the money and power of the major universities has gained so much of each. Realistically, I just don't see those things changing to even the playing field some as is. I have a feeling the landscape of college athletics will have some more impactful changes. Hence the main reasons behind Montana choosing to stay put as is when we had to make that decision.

This is my dream too (what I bolded). But, with the current UM leadership, I don't see that as the wildest possibility. It makes me sad that UM is sort of stuck where they are, as I fully know what they MIGHT have been. But, whatever happens, wherever they end up, I will always be a Griz fan. It's in my DNA, for three generations.

It will be interesting if and when Jim O'day comes more public on his thoughts on the ever changing landscape of NCAA athletics. I think he would be one of the best people to give our fan base an honest outlook as to what is and is not feasible, or what expectations can be for the likes of the GRIZ and Cats. I do know he is learning a lot about finances, corporations, and businesses and getting a lot of feedback from some very financially sound companies and businessmen. I have a feeling he is still committed to making an impact on Montana athletics, one way or the other.

Has anyone addressed Engstrom on this recently? What kind of game plans does he have, if any? I don't know him at all, but his decisions to date really have not given me any hope to a brighter future for the U of M.

 

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

i wonder how Texas generated more revenue after back-to-back less than stellar seasons and a home seating capacity 20,000 below Bama's

Longhorn TV Network...

That network is a joke and I really wonder how they make that much money off of it. The format consists of the weekly game.....a few practices lead into the next weeks game.....coaches show and showing 7893 reruns of the Vince Young NC against USC.

In fact I will bet you $1000 dollars that game is on right now.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

i wonder how Texas generated more revenue after back-to-back less than stellar seasons and a home seating capacity 20,000 below Bama's

Longhorn TV Network...

That network is a joke and I really wonder how they make that much money off of it. The format consists of the weekly game.....a few practices lead into the next weeks game.....coaches show and showing 7893 reruns of the Vince Young NC against USC.

In fact I will bet you $1000 dollars that game is on right now.

Was actually in Austin last month. I checked out their Hall of Champions (it wasn't called that), dedicated exclusively to FB. They have some really cool stuff, but the love affair with Vince Young is quite strong, for sure. In fact, there was a Vince Young Steakhouse downtown, the restroom of which may or may not have received a very soft gentleman's upper decker on or around the time I visited.

 

[AZGrizFan]

i wonder how Texas generated more revenue after back-to-back less than stellar seasons and a home seating capacity 20,000 below Bama's

Longhorn TV Network...

That network is a joke and I really wonder how they make that much money off of it. The format consists of the weekly game.....a few practices lead into the next weeks game.....coaches show and showing 7893 reruns of the Vince Young NC against USC.

In fact I will bet you $1000 dollars that game is on right now.

Was actually in Austin last month. I checked out their Hall of Champions (it wasn't called that), dedicated exclusively to FB. They have some really cool stuff, but the love affair with Vince Young is quite strong, for sure. In fact, there was a Vince Young Steakhouse downtown, the restroom of which may or may not have received a very soft gentleman's upper decker on or around the time I visited.

Thanks for the phone call, asswipe. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Don't let him guilt you CDA......I called when I was down in San Antonio........and he was "busy". I said fu*k him and went to the Alamo by myself.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

Longhorn TV Network...

That network is a joke and I really wonder how they make that much money off of it. The format consists of the weekly game.....a few practices lead into the next weeks game.....coaches show and showing 7893 reruns of the Vince Young NC against USC.

In fact I will bet you $1000 dollars that game is on right now.

Was actually in Austin last month. I checked out their Hall of Champions (it wasn't called that), dedicated exclusively to FB. They have some really cool stuff, but the love affair with Vince Young is quite strong, for sure. In fact, there was a Vince Young Steakhouse downtown, the restroom of which may or may not have received a very soft gentleman's upper decker on or around the time I visited.

Thanks for the phone call, asswipe. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Haha! Sorry, man! Wife was hitting up continuing education course, so it would have been perfect to head down your way..

 

[griz71]

At our level it is about the love of the game, not the dollar!

This is a fact. However, it may not be economically successful.

Exactly, and the schools that can compete with Texas and Alabama are the minority in the current NCAA structure. Seriously, how many athletic programs can realistically and feasibly compete at that kind of level? I am guessing less than 50 programs. Those kind of schools need to break away and have upper level FCS and the left over BCS schools at a 2nd level. That is the level I feel the GRIZ and Cats belong. It would also be a huge improvement in level from our current level.

I hate to say it, but I think even athletic programs like WAZZU, Oregon State cannot be consistent contender as is. Fortunately for those programs they have a long bond with the other Pac 12 schools, and the PAC 12 is an elite conference. That is the saving grace for those programs. We need to be tied to the western programs not in the PAC 12. I have a feeling it is a matter of time before the likes of Boise State will come back down to earth too.

Personally, I would love for the GRIZ and Cats be in a conference with UNLV, Nevada, Boise State, Idaho, Utah State, Colorado State, Air Force, Wyoming, San Jose State, Hawaii, North Dakota State, New Mexico, New Mexico State, BYU (I do think they could financially compete at the highest level though). For me, this is much more appealing for football and basketball than where we are at now.

Would it be possible for the likes of EWU, Cal Davis, and Cal Poly to build their fan bases to consistently draw 15k plus per game within the next 5 to 10 years?

It is sad the money and power of the major universities has gained so much of each. Realistically, I just don't see those things changing to even the playing field some as is. I have a feeling the landscape of college athletics will have some more impactful changes. Hence the main reasons behind Montana choosing to stay put as is when we had to make that decision.[/quote]

The very items Jim O'Day was emphasizing when he was AD--clearly an astute man and visionary thinker.

 

[Grizzoola]

It may be time to reclassify college football programs according to their budgets, gate receipts, attendance, etc., rather than the phony "academic" standards/enrollments/geographics, etc., the NCAA promulgates. It's time for the NCAA to recognize that for some schools, football is big business.

This classification could/should be done by program capitalization, if you will. Different regulations would apply to each classification. Classifications above a certain amount would be subject to unionization of players. Descending classifications would have a lesser degree of unionization, until the FCS, for example, there would be no unionization.

I see this as let the big programs go their way, declare them businesses, perhaps tax them as such, and leave college football for, well, colleges. I still say the problem is that big-time college football is academically-based is a fiction. These big programs are farm teams for the pros. Face it.

It's past time the pros assume the expense/responsibility and let the Alabamas, etc., revert to what their programs should be all about: providing academic opportunity for their athletes as members of the student body. Maybe do away with the prime fiction: athletic scholarship. The Ivy League has it right, and that's what it has to come to.

In short, college football has become corrupt; it's time to get back to what it's all about, or should be all about. I don't believe any FCS school's football program would be affected by anything I've said.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Don't let him guilt you CDA......I called when I was down in San Antonio........and he was "busy". I said fu*k him and went to the Alamo by myself.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

True story.