Question on the MWC Board: Why isn't Montana in the MWC

[bgbigdog]

It doesn't matter if we currently win the conference title every year. Boise certainly didn't routinely win it, and do you think they regret making the move?

(Wait, I now see that Ursa already made the same argument. Well, that just proves that great alcohol impaired minds think alike!)

But if we don't win at least 9 games in the MWC year in and year out, a lot of the E-Griz moaners won't be able to achieve their normal stiffer than Bull Elk status every Fall season. Let's just drop to Div.2 and call it all stiff and good...Keep em happy.

So you’d be happy being the “Idaho” of the MWC? I’d point to that as being pretty limp.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

No, no, a thousand times no, bigdog! The only reason to travel to Moscow (Idaho, not Putinland) is because there's good red wine in the neighborhood! Not so with Missoula. We have beer.

 

[IdaGriz01]

No, no, a thousand times no, bigdog! The only reason to travel to Moscow (Idaho, not Putinland) is because there's good red wine in the neighborhood! Not so with Missoula. We have beer.

Matter of opinion. Good white wine ... okay. Good red wine ... hmmm.

Edit: Now, distilled beverages ... that might be a different story.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

No, no, a thousand times no, bigdog! The only reason to travel to Moscow (Idaho, not Putinland) is because there's good red wine in the neighborhood! Not so with Missoula. We have beer.

Matter of opinion. Good white wine ... okay. Good red wine ... hmmm.

Edit: Now, distilled beverages ... that might be a different story.

Apparently I need to get you drunk on some good Columbia Valley syrah!

 

[Kabooom]

It doesn't matter if we currently win the conference title every year. Boise certainly didn't routinely win it, and do you think they regret making the move?

(Wait, I now see that Ursa already made the same argument. Well, that just proves that great alcohol impaired minds think alike!)

But if we don't win at least 9 games in the MWC year in and year out, a lot of the E-Griz moaners won't be able to achieve their normal stiffer than Bull Elk status every Fall season. Let's just drop to Div.2 and call it all stiff and good...Keep em happy.

So you’d be happy being the “Idaho” of the MWC? I’d point to that as being pretty limp.

Big Dog, Thankfully we will NEVER be Idaho in ANYTHING we do. If you're satisfied with the status quo...good for you. :thumb:

 

[IdaGriz01]

No, no, a thousand times no, bigdog! The only reason to travel to Moscow (Idaho, not Putinland) is because there's good red wine in the neighborhood! Not so with Missoula. We have beer.

Matter of opinion. Good white wine ... okay. Good red wine ... hmmm.

Edit: Now, distilled beverages ... that might be a different story.

Apparently I need to get you drunk on some good Columbia Valley syrah!

"Columbia Valley" syrah. Been there ... done that, and it is good stuff. But grown anywhere near Moscow? ... My education is deficient.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

Only 123 miles to Walla Walla! :thumb:

More than a stone's throw, but closer than Missoula!

 

[IdaGriz01]

Only 123 miles to Walla Walla! :thumb:

More than a stone's throw, but closer than Missoula!

Well ... all right.

 

[MrTitleist]

but I'll bight on this one.

My point is that public higher education is a mess in the country

:thumb: :thumb:

 

[Eriul]

Does it matter in regards to quality of education? I mean really 99% of public higher education is just the same. Liberal indoctrination. Quality of education is found at Wyoming Catholic College, Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, and other very small private liberal art schools.

I was at the CSU/Boise State game on Saturday night and it amazed me that CSU has probably close to 30,000 students and is growing. Talk about a diploma factory! If you wanna fit with those guys go right ahead. I admit UNC isn't the greatest either. 'tis all liberal crap.

I often think back to all the liberal indoctrination I received whilst taking computer science and Cisco networking classes. So much indoctrination!

Did you study this at the U here and what degree did you receive? Just curious.

 

[ORGUNGRIZ]

What’s sad to me is we have to build the Champions Center to be competitive in the BSC with SUU and most all others. Yet these programs with far less are able to compete! Seems crazy to me.
I could see why the Champions Center would be needed in the MWC to compete.
Maybe the new UM President will have some foresight and look at this as a business.

 

[AZGrizFan]

What’s sad to me is we have to build the Champions Center to be competitive in the BSC with SUU and most all others. Yet these programs with far less are able to compete! Seems crazy to me.
I could see why the Champions Center would be needed in the MWC to compete.
Maybe the new UM President will have some foresight and look at this as a business.

Ever notice the conference champ rarely has to play Montana?

 

[IdaGriz01]

What’s sad to me is we have to build the Champions Center to be competitive in the BSC with SUU and most all others. Yet these programs with far less are able to compete! Seems crazy to me.
I could see why the Champions Center would be needed in the MWC to compete.
Maybe the new UM President will have some foresight and look at this as a business.

While I love the new "pick" for UM prez, I think one of the things that will confound him is just how "arcane" -- read "screwed up," if you'd like -- college financial practices are. Yes, private business accountancy has its own "weirdities," but they tend to make sense when viewed in terms of the "bottom line." But higher education money is way more shot thru with politics and special (local) interests.

The costs are undeniably higher at the FBS level (more schollies, better pay for coaches, etc.). Would the Griz draw more as an FBS school and make more money that way? Honestly, I do not think it would be a lot. Ticket prices are already considered high for FCS, and expanding the stadium would be a costly risk (given the low population of Missoula, and Montana in general). From what we have read, the payback from conference TV and bowl revenue at the MWC level is just not all that wonderful

So how much do you value the recognition afforded by top-level (re FBS) discussion in the media, perhaps fueled by bowl participation? Boise State considered it worth the cost. But keep in mind that the Boise Valley (by itself) has a population of around three-quarters of a million, while all of Montana is only a bit over a million.

Tough questions, for which I have no "good" answers. Personally, I think supporting the Griz effort to regain FCS dominance, and better promotional use of that status, would be the most cost-effective approach.

 

[Ursa Major]

It doesn't matter if we currently win the conference title every year. Boise certainly didn't routinely win it, and do you think they regret making the move?

(Wait, I now see that Ursa already made the same argument. Well, that just proves that great alcohol impaired minds think alike!)

:thumb: Yes sir!

 

[Ursa Major]

Ursa, I agree with you in total. My point was most Montana fans only care about wins, no matter the opponent. The Griz used to roll over everyone in the Big Sky and they can't even do that now.
There is no doubt that we would be able to recruit better athletes if we were truly in Division1....now called FBS.

Spanky,

Sorry, I missed that.

 

[AZGrizFan]

This season has proven Montana has a whole group of front running bandwagon fans. Those snowflakes wouldn’t survive occasional losses to MWC teams.

 

[Fahque]

What’s sad to me is we have to build the Champions Center to be competitive in the BSC with SUU and most all others. Yet these programs with far less are able to compete! Seems crazy to me.
I could see why the Champions Center would be needed in the MWC to compete.
Maybe the new UM President will have some foresight and look at this as a business.

While I love the new "pick" for UM prez, I think one of the things that will confound him is just how "arcane" -- read "screwed up," if you'd like -- college financial practices are. Yes, private business accountancy has its own "weirdities," but they tend to make sense when viewed in terms of the "bottom line." But higher education money is way more shot thru with politics and special (local) interests.

The costs are undeniably higher at the FBS level (more schollies, better pay for coaches, etc.). Would the Griz draw more as an FBS school and make more money that way? Honestly, I do not think it would be a lot. Ticket prices are already considered high for FCS, and expanding the stadium would be a costly risk (given the low population of Missoula, and Montana in general). From what we have read, the payback from conference TV and bowl revenue at the MWC level is just not all that wonderful

So how much do you value the recognition afforded by top-level (re FBS) discussion in the media, perhaps fueled by bowl participation? Boise State considered it worth the cost. But keep in mind that the Boise Valley (by itself) has a population of around three-quarters of a million, while all of Montana is only a bit over a million.

Tough questions, for which I have no "good" answers. Personally, I think supporting the Griz effort to regain FCS dominance, and better promotional use of that status, would be the most cost-effective approach.

At least the high ticket prices we pay would be more justified with the caliber of teams we’d play in the MWC

 

[WILDCATFAN]

What’s sad to me is we have to build the Champions Center to be competitive in the BSC with SUU and most all others. Yet these programs with far less are able to compete! Seems crazy to me.
I could see why the Champions Center would be needed in the MWC to compete.
Maybe the new UM President will have some foresight and look at this as a business.

Ever notice the conference champ rarely has to play Montana?

I wouldn't say rarely, Eastern has won 3 of the last 4 titles and they played Montana each year, only SUU in 2015 and UND in 2016 didn't.

And if Weber beats Idaho State and NAU beats SUU there will be two more Big Sky champs who will have played Montana.