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Joining the Mountain West would run an $8MM - $9MM annual deficit - can we overcome that?

MontanaGrizSoccer said:
That’s been the AD jobs the past 10 years. You believe the Griz get a fair shake in exposure and revenue in the BSC or deserve equal money to PSU, NAU or Northern Colorado. Griz had the two or 3 of the most watched FCS games on tv this year, what did they get out it, why not put those games out to bid and see what happens. If other conferences can do why not Griz.
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The AD's job the last 10 years was to threaten the BSC that we're leaving? And going where?
 
mthoopsfan said:
There isn’t any revenue to share.

What good is a few million of revenue if it costs $10 million to get the few million?
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Show us one economic study the athletic dept has done over the last 5 years showing revenue from the BSC vs revevue and expected revenue and expenses from moving up. You think NDSU blindly moved up, their economic model showed long term revenue generation by moving up.
 
MontanaGrizSoccer said:
Show us one economic study the athletic dept has done over the last 5 years showing revenue from the BSC vs revevue and expected revenue and expenses from moving up. You think NDSU blindly moved up, their economic model showed long term revenue generation by moving up.
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Ask any senior person in the AD and they will tell you. They don't release studies generally. You don't have to do a study to know that UM can't afford to move to FBS, and are much better off, currently, in FCS. Some FBS revenues are decent, but they don't come close to covering the costs of moving up. Look at Brint's OP in his MW thread. The basics are there.

Show us any study by you or anyone that says that UM moving to FBS is financially feasible for UM. L ook up how many times Haslam has said that FCS is the right place for UM right now. Show me any links to offer and articles saying UM has been asked to move to FBS.

What don't you understand about Gemini on this question?

"What has kent haslam said about montana being at the right level at FCS for now

University of Montana Athletic Director Kent Haslam has consistently maintained that the FCS (specifically the Big Sky Conference) provides a highly viable, sustainable, and successful model for Grizzly athletics, even amidst the turbulent landscape of conference realignment and the House v. NCAA antitrust settlements.

When discussing where Montana fits and the prospect of moving up to the FBS level, Haslam’s perspective centers on cost control, competitiveness, and maintaining the cultural connection that makes Griz football unique.

Here is what Haslam has emphasized regarding Montana staying at the FCS level for now:

1. Cost Control and Financial Sustainability​

Haslam has pointed out that the structural guardrails of the FCS make financial sense for a self-sustaining athletic department like Montana's.

  • Scholarship Caps: He has noted that with the FCS cap of 63 scholarships (compared to 85 in the FBS), programs can control costs much more effectively.

    Missoula Current

  • The Business Model: In the wake of the House settlement—which is costing mid-major and FCS schools significant revenue distributions—Haslam has emphasized that the FCS model remains "pretty good" and "really good" because it avoids the hyper-inflated, multi-million dollar spending wars seen at the highest tier of the FBS, which are unsustainable for schools without massive media rights deals.

2. Maintaining the Local Culture and Rivalries​

A major component of Haslam's philosophy is protecting what makes Montana football special to the state and the region.

Missoula Current


  • The Passion of the Fan Base: Haslam has expressed concern that chasing an FBS move could erode the deep, generational connection the program has with its fans. He emphasizes that the Grizzlies don't compete with professional sports teams; they matter deeply to the people of Montana and the Pacific Northwest.

    Missoula Current+ 1

  • Preserving Regional Identity: Staying in the Big Sky ensures that historic regional rivalries (most notably the Brawl of the Wild) remain front and center, rather than trading them for a geographically isolated G5 conference alignment just for the sake of moving up.

3. Competing for National Championships vs. "The Shakeout"​

Haslam has made it clear that he prefers to have the Grizzlies compete at a level where the ultimate goal—winning a national championship—is realistically on the table every single year.

  • Uncertainty at the Top: With the continuous shifting toward massive "super-conferences" at the power-conference level, Haslam has been realistic about the future, noting that college football is likely heading toward a multi-tiered Division I structure.
  • The Right Fit: Until the dust settles on how the FBS splits or how the G5/G6 conferences are structured post-realignment, Haslam believes the FCS is the right tier. It allows Montana to maintain elite facilities, break attendance records, and chase national titles, rather than spending millions to buy into a "fixer-upper" situation in a lower-tier FBS conference where a playoff path is highly restricted."
 
mthoopsfan said:
Ask any senior person in the AD and they will tell you. They don't release studies generally. You don't have to do a study to know that UM can't afford to move to FBS, and are much better off, currently, in FCS. Some FBS revenues are decent, but they don't come close to covering the costs of moving up. Look at Brint's OP in his MW thread. The basics are there.

Show us any study by you or anyone that says that UM moving to FBS is financially feasible for UM. L ook up how many times Haslam has said that FCS is the right place for UM right now. Show me any links to offer and articles saying UM has been asked to move to FBS.

What don't you understand about Gemini on this question?

"What has kent haslam said about montana being at the right level at FCS for now

University of Montana Athletic Director Kent Haslam has consistently maintained that the FCS (specifically the Big Sky Conference) provides a highly viable, sustainable, and successful model for Grizzly athletics, even amidst the turbulent landscape of conference realignment and the House v. NCAA antitrust settlements.

When discussing where Montana fits and the prospect of moving up to the FBS level, Haslam’s perspective centers on cost control, competitiveness, and maintaining the cultural connection that makes Griz football unique.

Here is what Haslam has emphasized regarding Montana staying at the FCS level for now:

1. Cost Control and Financial Sustainability​

Haslam has pointed out that the structural guardrails of the FCS make financial sense for a self-sustaining athletic department like Montana's.

  • Scholarship Caps: He has noted that with the FCS cap of 63 scholarships (compared to 85 in the FBS), programs can control costs much more effectively.

    Missoula Current

  • The Business Model: In the wake of the House settlement—which is costing mid-major and FCS schools significant revenue distributions—Haslam has emphasized that the FCS model remains "pretty good" and "really good" because it avoids the hyper-inflated, multi-million dollar spending wars seen at the highest tier of the FBS, which are unsustainable for schools without massive media rights deals.

2. Maintaining the Local Culture and Rivalries​

A major component of Haslam's philosophy is protecting what makes Montana football special to the state and the region.

Missoula Current


  • The Passion of the Fan Base: Haslam has expressed concern that chasing an FBS move could erode the deep, generational connection the program has with its fans. He emphasizes that the Grizzlies don't compete with professional sports teams; they matter deeply to the people of Montana and the Pacific Northwest.

    Missoula Current+ 1

  • Preserving Regional Identity: Staying in the Big Sky ensures that historic regional rivalries (most notably the Brawl of the Wild) remain front and center, rather than trading them for a geographically isolated G5 conference alignment just for the sake of moving up.

3. Competing for National Championships vs. "The Shakeout"​

Haslam has made it clear that he prefers to have the Grizzlies compete at a level where the ultimate goal—winning a national championship—is realistically on the table every single year.

  • Uncertainty at the Top: With the continuous shifting toward massive "super-conferences" at the power-conference level, Haslam has been realistic about the future, noting that college football is likely heading toward a multi-tiered Division I structure.
  • The Right Fit: Until the dust settles on how the FBS splits or how the G5/G6 conferences are structured post-realignment, Haslam believes the FCS is the right tier. It allows Montana to maintain elite facilities, break attendance records, and chase national titles, rather than spending millions to buy into a "fixer-upper" situation in a lower-tier FBS conference where a playoff path is highly restricted."
Click to expand...
North Dakota State just might have the oil industry’s check book backing them up.🤨
 
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