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James Madison to go to Sun Belt

If I've said it 1000000000000 times, I'll say it again-- we need to move up. Why does it make sense for JMU to move up to the Sun Belt, but not us? Makes no sense. Idaho AD is a savior now that he got that hole of a program in the Sun Belt, but we shouldn't move up?? Are you kidding me? Playerrep... please don't post another thread about how it didn't make financial sense for one particular school to move up.... of course there are circumstances that may prove that. But if we're going to be relevant in the future, our home can't FCS. Griz Nation will be successful at the next level... it may not be the first year, but give us a few years, and our storied program will be winning conference championships.
 
Guardiangriz said:
If I've said it 1000000000000 times, I'll say it again-- we need to move up. Why does it make sense for JMU to move up to the Sun Belt, but not us? Makes no sense. Idaho AD is a savior now that he got that hole of a program in the Sun Belt, but we shouldn't move up?? Are you kidding me? Playerrep... please don't post another thread about how it didn't make financial sense for one particular school to move up.... of course there are circumstances that may prove that. But if we're going to be relevant in the future, our home can't FCS. Griz Nation will be successful at the next level... it may not be the first year, but give us a few years, and our storied program will be winning conference championships.
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Everyone else is wrong... :coffee:
 
Guardiangriz said:
If I've said it 1000000000000 times, I'll say it again-- we need to move up. Why does it make sense for JMU to move up to the Sun Belt, but not us? Makes no sense. Idaho AD is a savior now that he got that hole of a program in the Sun Belt, but we shouldn't move up?? Are you kidding me? Playerrep... please don't post another thread about how it didn't make financial sense for one particular school to move up.... of course there are circumstances that may prove that. But if we're going to be relevant in the future, our home can't FCS. Griz Nation will be successful at the next level... it may not be the first year, but give us a few years, and our storied program will be winning conference championships.
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And the Sun Belt is begging Montana to come?
 
I just get sick of hearing about all the challenges about the move up....Last time I checked, The Pride and Tradition of the Montana Griz is not to be entrusted to the Timid and the Weak...... It's timid and weak to shy away from a challenge of stepping up with the big boys... You think UM football, and our tradition, and our fan base, has better odds of success, or failure, at the next level? Is our program stronger that Idaho? What about UMass? Or do we have a fan base, and tradition more in line with the Nevada's and the Boise's? ( boise at the time of their move-up.. not comparing now..) Can we succeed? Absolutely. Is there a chance we fail?? Absolutely. But last time I checked, we're not timid, and we're not weak...

Honestly, with how the MSU president runs things... I can see them pulling the trigger on moving up, and leaving us in the dust. ( I know.. it wouldn't happen, it's either both or neither... but the point is... we need to step up. )

OK, end of rant.. It's GO GRIZ all day everyday for me regardless of move up/down/sideways... just had to vent. :thumb:
 
GG, you didn't answer my question: is the Sun Belt asking Montana to be a member? Is any conference asking Montana to be a member?
 
68-- I'm not privy to those conversations... so truthfully I don't know. My assumption is that moving up was taken off the table.. so they (Sun belt) knows that.. which is my point.. some schools are actively looking to move up (JMU, Appy, GSU..etc.) but we're not. (at least to my knowledge.)
 
I wish they were though... Like I'm saying... it's a bad idea not to be actively looking into it. Doesn't mean we have to say yes to any offer... but should make ourselves known to be fielding offers.. so we can have options available to us. Right now it would appear that isn't the case.
 
'68griz said:
GG, you didn't answer my question: is the Sun Belt asking Montana to be a member? Is any conference asking Montana to be a member?
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Montana could be a member of the Sun Belt if they showed the interest. Benson would take them in a heart beat. The reason he is not actively pursuing him, is because of previous disinterest from Montana in moving up to the WAC, when Benson was commish there.

Don't kid yourself. The Sun Belt would love to form a "western division". Benson has the vision to see that strong FCS programs are what is going to save the Sun Belt. He has New Mexico State, Texas State, and Idaho as the basis of that western division, and he is on record on stating growth is not done, with many believing the Sun Belt is going to 16 schools.
 
UM and msu will travel together. All or none. Both or none.

BOR will determine the final say and that is what they are saying behind closed doors. Both go or no go!

Um and msu must show some gain or the ability to PAY for the move up. End of story. The Board of Regents only has to look a U of Idaho's debacle. This is a tough issue.
 
urloozn said:
.....to never be seen or heard from again......
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Other than us when we played them and their CAA FCS brothers, who has seen or heard from them to date?
 
If U of M and MSU move up - the BOR would have to agree to pay increases for the coaching staffs. Doubtful this would be approved unless you could demonstrate there would be significant increases in revenue generated by the move up. The BOR has not been the most progressive thinking group historically. This is going to be interesting.
 
I like how the move downers always conveniently forget Nevada and Uconn when they give examples of why we shouldn't go. Remember, we were in the same conference as BSU and Nevada. If we elevate our competition, we may succeed and we may fail. But let's at least try!
 
Sorry to be a realist folks, but the decision about whether we move up or not should be based on data not anecdotes.
 
Copper Griz said:
If U of M and MSU move up - the BOR would have to agree to pay increases for the coaching staffs. Doubtful this would be approved unless you could demonstrate there would be significant increases in revenue generated by the move up. The BOR has not been the most progressive thinking group historically. This is going to be interesting.
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1) MSU moving up with Montana is not a bad thing, don't understand why people think the Bobcats could not do it if Montana could or would be a step child.
2) Part of becoming FBS ... Montana still makes a lot of money on home games, yet the away OOC games now pay at least a million or more depending on the opponent...not $500k. Wyoming got a 1 for 2 with Texas..30k people at the home game and 2 OOC away games with, I believe, over a Million $ payout each. More money for the school.
3) With the low population I still think that Montana has to tie coaches pay to ticket sales. That is the only way, in the beginning, to afford the new sports and increased salaries
4) PRAY for a better TV contract. Who knows, maybe going FBS will get ROOT or another provider to step up and pay more money for the rights now that it is FBS teams playing.
5) Bowel Games are money losers for most schools. Maybe playing in the Idaho Humanitarian Bowl for a couple of years and selling the allotted tickets could allow the Griz to continue growing..... :twocents:
6)Basketball "could" recruit better players if they got into a stronger top-to-bottom basketball conference. Couple of wins equals more money from the TV credits.
 
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