Most Wins Against Montana

[kemajic]

That was also the period of time when Montana (again)was "de-emphasizing" athletics. When the Big Sky conference was formed Montana agreed to increase athletic support, while Montana State College (who had just reclassified from NAIA to NCAA) and Idaho State agreed to reduce athletic support to make all schools even. the University of Idaho refused to reduce athletic support for football, and was delayed entry to the Big Sky conference as a result until the conference relented and allowed Idaho more scholarships to retain University Status.

It was so de-emphasized that when they finally had to fire Jenkins, rather than go out and hire a credible HC, they just promoted one of his assistants that had followed him up from CO, Hugh Davidson. Davidson continued the ineptitude another three years before the embarrassment from blowouts at the hands of MSU finally drove them to hire UM alum Jack Swarthout, who turned things around. The large sign "Fire Davidson" openly displayed by my roomates late in the '66 MSU game and appearing in the Missoulian, was prepared the night before in my bedroom from my only spare sheet. Jenkins and Davidson combined for a 22-63 record in nine years; neither was able to secure another college coaching job thereafter.

 

[NavyBlue]

[/quote]That was also the period of time when Montana (again)was "de-emphasizing" athletics. When the Big Sky conference was formed Montana agreed to increase athletic support, while Montana State College (who had just reclassified from NAIA to NCAA) and Idaho State agreed to reduce athletic support to make all schools even. the University of Idaho refused to reduce athletic support for football, and was delayed entry to the Big Sky conference as a result until the conference relented and allowed Idaho more scholarships to retain University Status.[/quote]
Wait a minute, when the Big Sky was formed Montana who was coming to the Big Sky from the Skyline had to INCREASE support while Montana State who was coming from NAIA has to DECREASE support from athletics?

No wonder UM wasn't very good back then.

In the Skyline Montana was competing with BYU, Utah, Utah State,Wyoming, Colorado State, Denver, and New Mexico.