The future of FCS football

[Spanky]

We have a good coach, so that is a beginning. Time to make a change and recruit a new president via a national search, not the typical UM search of recent years. Recruit an individual that will guide our university in all areas, including athletics. Someone with vision that can make changes when necessary, including athletic conference affiliation. Next, conduct a national search for AD..again, a true national search, not the typical Dennison back room search. The regents have their work cut out for them....

 

[grizzpaw]

We have a good coach, so that is a beginning. Time to make a change and recruit a new president via a national search, not the typical UM search of recent years. Recruit an individual that will guide our university in all areas, including athletics. Someone with vision that can make changes when necessary, including athletic conference affiliation. Next, conduct a national search for AD..again, a true national search, not the typical Dennison back room search. The regents have their work cut out for them....

+1

 

[putter]

Hearing that the upper echelon of the FCS are looking at upper pastures, I am very concerned with how the FCS is going to look in 5 years. If Geo Southern, App, Delaware, UNI, etc are leaving then the quality of the FCS programs will take years to be replaced into what it is now. I hope that the admin are truly paying attention and developing a plan that will be in the best interest of Montana in the future.

 

[mtgrizrule]

Hearing that the upper echelon of the FCS are looking at upper pastures, I am very concerned with how the FCS is going to look in 5 years. If Geo Southern, App, Delaware, UNI, etc are leaving then the quality of the FCS programs will take years to be replaced into what it is now. I hope that the admin are truly paying attention and developing a plan that will be in the best interest of Montana in the future.

:thumb:

 

[PlayerRep]

Hearing that the upper echelon of the FCS are looking at upper pastures, I am very concerned with how the FCS is going to look in 5 years. If Geo Southern, App, Delaware, UNI, etc are leaving then the quality of the FCS programs will take years to be replaced into what it is now. I hope that the admin are truly paying attention and developing a plan that will be in the best interest of Montana in the future.

Putter, I mean no disrespect for you or your post, but this part of your post made me chuckle: "I hope that the admin are truly paying attention and developing a plan that will be in the best interest of Montana in the future."

With O'Day gone, and an interim head coach; a compliance officer elevated to interim AD (and apparently in completely over her head); a president under fire for (mis)handling of sexual assaults, firing the AD and head coach and other things; fundraising on the decline; the only senior administrator with knowledge of athletics not being consulted by the president on important matters and/or being hammered by the local tabloid; and the local tabloid taking cheapshots at the football team, athletic department and administration; who do you think is actually interested in and qualified to pay attention to and develop a plan for the looking at these matters? I'm not saying that this shouldn't be done; I'm just wondering if might be in position to do, or doing, this.

 

[Growler1]

Hearing that the upper echelon of the FCS are looking at upper pastures, I am very concerned with how the FCS is going to look in 5 years. If Geo Southern, App, Delaware, UNI, etc are leaving then the quality of the FCS programs will take years to be replaced into what it is now. I hope that the admin are truly paying attention and developing a plan that will be in the best interest of Montana in the future.

Putter, I mean no disrespect for you or your post, but this part of your post made me chuckle: "I hope that the admin are truly paying attention and developing a plan that will be in the best interest of Montana in the future."

With O'Day gone, and an interim head coach; a compliance officer elevated to interim AD (and apparently in completely over her head); a president under fire for (mis)handling of sexual assaults, firing the AD and head coach and other things; fundraising on the decline; the only senior administrator with knowledge of athletics not being consulted by the president on important matters and/or being hammered by the local tabloid; and the local tabloid taking cheapshots at the football team, athletic department and administration; who do you think is actually interested in and qualified to pay attention to and develop a plan for the looking at these matters? I'm not saying that this shouldn't be done; I'm just wondering if might be in position to do, or doing, this.

Why don't you volunteer, since you are so all-knowing?

 

[Grizzlies1982]

Good!
eGriz has gotten beyond the past year's fiascos and leadership failures and is back in full "Move Up" stupid mode. Refreshing to see several of you back with your penis envy.


However, size still isn't everything.
But they are BIG TIME football! :lol:

MAC = still a bad conference
CUSA = still a bad conference
WAC = still a dying conference


Things are in flux and a time will come when a move both makes sense and is attractive. Until then I'd still rather live in a nice home in Missoula than move into a ghetto in Miami, even though "everyone has heard of" Miami and very few know of Missoula. Not to mention we'd be paying far more rent for the right to move in. You know a ghetto is still a ghetto no matter how well known it is.

 

[moose/squirrel]

Good!
eGriz has gotten beyond the past year's fiascos and leadership failures and is back in full "Move Up" stupid mode. Refreshing to see several of you back with your penis envy.


However, size still isn't everything.
But they are BIG TIME football! :lol:

MAC = still a bad conference
CUSA = still a bad conference
WAC = still a dying conference

Have to agree, the big dogs are preparing to shut the minor players out of the big money. When they decide which 4 or 5 conferences will remain then the chips will settle. None of those you mention will be there as well as the Big East (sorry BSU). There will be 80, maybe 90 in the big dog level, mix or match, Appy , JMU, ODU or any other hopefuls, nope. Marshall moved up 15 years ago and they won't be in the next level.

I see no reason to spend the money moving up right now when the handwriting is on the wall. We are not in the schools that will play at the upper level, when it shakes out we can align with peer schools. There are many in the same boat in this region and the weaker BSC conference schools will find their place in a lower division. Making a panic move now makes no sense, we WON'T be at the big dog table, thinking otherwise is simply delusional.


Things are in flux and a time will come when a move both makes sense and is attractive. Until then I'd still rather live in a nice home in Missoula than move into a ghetto in Miami, even though "everyone has heard of" Miami and very few know of Missoula. Not to mention we'd be paying far more rent for the right to move in. You know a ghetto is still a ghetto no matter how well known it is.

 

[Spanky]

Spot on....

 

[EverettGriz]

I see no reason to spend the money moving up right now when the handwriting is on the wall. We are not in the schools that will play at the upper level, when it shakes out we can align with peer schools.

See, I have an entirely opposite viewpoint.

While I agree the handwriting is on the wall, and while I agree that Montana will never be with the big boys, I also agree that it's inevitable that we will soon be playing with the the lower half of the FBS teams, and those FCS teams with the insight to move up.

But I disagree about when it should be done. If we're capable of moving up now (I firmly believe we are) and if it's going to happen at some point in the near future anyway, why not do it now? What's the point in sitting around waiting until it's inevitable, and then being forced to take the best offer, rather than possibly negotiating with from a potential point of power now? What's the point of allowing other teams a head-start on recruiting, fund-raising, scheduling, etc?

 

[getgrizzy]

I see no reason to spend the money moving up right now when the handwriting is on the wall. We are not in the schools that will play at the upper level, when it shakes out we can align with peer schools.

See, I have an entirely opposite viewpoint.

While I agree the handwriting is on the wall, and while I agree that Montana will never be with the big boys, I also agree that it's inevitable that we will soon be playing with the the lower half of the FBS teams, and those FCS teams with the insight to move up.

But I disagree about when it should be done. If we're capable of moving up now (I firmly believe we are) and if it's going to happen at some point in the near future anyway, why not do it now? What's the point in sitting around waiting until it's inevitable, and then being forced to take the best offer, rather than possibly negotiating with from a potential point of power now? What's the point of allowing other teams a head-start on recruiting, fund-raising, scheduling, etc?

while i agree that if we move up the sooner the better, but how can you say we're capable of moving up when we don't have the money to move up?

 

[DuCharme]

Good!
eGriz has gotten beyond the past year's fiascos and leadership failures and is back in full "Move Up" stupid mode. Refreshing to see several of you back with your penis envy.


However, size still isn't everything.
But they are BIG TIME football! :lol:

MAC = still a bad conference
CUSA = still a bad conference
WAC = still a dying conference

Things are in flux and a time will come when a move both makes sense and is attractive. Until then I'd still rather live in a nice home in Missoula than move into a ghetto in Miami, even though "everyone has heard of" Miami and very few know of Missoula. Not to mention we'd be paying far more rent for the right to move in. You know a ghetto is still a ghetto no matter how well known it is.

Have to agree, the big dogs are preparing to shut the minor players out of the big money. When they decide which 4 or 5 conferences will remain then the chips will settle. None of those you mention will be there as well as the Big East (sorry BSU). There will be 80, maybe 90 in the big dog level, mix or match, Appy , JMU, ODU or any other hopefuls, nope. Marshall moved up 15 years ago and they won't be in the next level.

I see no reason to spend the money moving up right now when the handwriting is on the wall. We are not in the schools that will play at the upper level, when it shakes out we can align with peer schools. There are many in the same boat in this region and the weaker BSC conference schools will find their place in a lower division. Making a panic move now makes no sense, we WON'T be at the big dog table, thinking otherwise is simply delusional.

m/s... fify :thumb:

 

[ordigger]

Another perspective on FCS future....

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...reating-room-for-upstarts-to-make-jump-to-fbs

 

[IdaGriz01]

Another perspective on FCS future....

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...reating-room-for-upstarts-to-make-jump-to-fbs

But why are the little guys suddenly in such a rush to jump into the deep end of the pool without a whole lot of football experience?

Reason No. 1 is the fact that last September the NCAA lifted a four-year moratorium on schools jumping from FCS to FBS. Word on the street is that the moratorium will return, and this time it could last 10 years.

ODU athletics director Wood Selig said the possibility of another moratorium is why his school moved so quickly.

Had not heard of this possibility before. Anyone know if there's any substance to it? That could change things a lot.

 

[FCS Go!]

...while i agree that if we move up the sooner the better, but how can you say we're capable of moving up when we don't have the money to move up?

You're forgetting that many of the move-up-now crowd believe at least one of the following:

A) the move pays for itself in increased revenue

B) the university already has the money, but is hiding/redirecting it through a complex shell game

C) it doesn't really cost that much, it is possible to be competitive on the cheap i.e. with minimal or no increase in salaries, facility improvements, etc.

D) it doesn't matter how much it costs or if the program is competitive- as long as Montana is "competing at the highest level"

E) somehow it will be great for the basketball program and that we should care about basketball

F) sophisticated sports fans will throw huge quantities of cash at the athletic department once Montana is playing nationally recognized powerhouse programs in Wa-Griz- these fans are currently sitting on their hoards of cash waiting for the day when a superior product is offered up to them

 

[IdaGriz01]

Old Dominion, with a total of enrollment of about 25,000, is located in Norfolk, which is the No. 43 TV market in the country. The Tidewater section of Virginia is one of the most fertile recruiting territories in the country.

UT-San Antonio has more than 30,000 students and is located in a state that produces hundreds of blue-chip prospects each year. It is the No. 36 TV market in the country.

Notice a pattern here? These schools haven't done a lot on the field, but they all have what the conferences are looking for in expansion: Student bodies of 20,000 or more, with top-50 TV markets that are in strong recruiting territories.

A quick look at the UM web site says that current official enrollment is 15,642 students. Ouch.

I can only find a ranking for Missoula as a TV market ... it's #166. Of course, we all assume the Griz market includes the entire state (less Cat fans). If I'm not mistaken, Montana is 44th in total population, so one assumes it's not even close to being a top-50 TV market.

Does anyone honestly believe that Montana (even with the surrounding states) is a strong football recruiting territory.

None of this says the Griz can't, or shouldn't, move up ... but it surely explains why they're in no big rush.

 

[EverettGriz]

Being in a top TV market is a NEGATIVE to smaller programs. Why? Because inevitably there is a LARGER program right next door. The examples are extremely plentiful, but we only have to look at the BSC to prove the point.

Montana is extremely well positioned.

 

[OrgonGriz]

Sadly there is no leadership at UM and therefore this ship has sailed I believe..
There is no reason not to believe that a new 10 moratorium will be put in place.
There is no reason not to believe Carl Bensons comment that a separation is coming.

So those Griz fans that think the FCS is the best place can be happy that we can stay a low level, small time back country football program that plays for what will basically be a glorified high school championship game.

Very very sad especially for all the years of hard work that has been done and for all of the dollars donated in making the Griz program be the best that it can be. In my view that all just comes to a complete halt in regards to growth of the program.

We can be stuck in a conference and division where most of these teams do not have a fan base. We can travel to a high school stadium and play in front of 1500 people where many of those fans are Griz fans!

It's sad to me that people in Montana feel limited just because they are from Montana. Small time approach that sadly leads people to under estimate themselves and not take full advantage of there full potential.

Got your wish stay put crowd.

Piece out!

 

[EverettGriz]

You're forgetting that many of the move-up-now crowd believe at least one of the following:

A) the move pays for itself in increased revenue

If this isn't the case, how do so many teams with revenues drastically less than Montana's succeed -- at least financially -- at the FBS level, and why are so many more who make substantially less than UM looking to make the move? And finally, if there isn't enough revenue at the next level, why have we NEVER seen a team move down?

If there really isn't enough revenue at the next level, schools -- particularly in the current economic climate with nearly every state facing budget shortfalls -- would be begging to come back. Since it's not happened even ONCE, it's reasonable to assume the money is there.

 

[mtgrizrule]

Sadly there is no leadership at UM and therefore this ship has sailed I believe..
There is no reason not to believe that a new 10 moratorium will be put in place.
There is no reason not to believe Carl Bensons comment that a separation is coming.

So those Griz fans that think the FCS is the best place can be happy that we can stay a low level, small time back country football program that plays for what will basically be a glorified high school championship game.

Very very sad especially for all the years of hard work that has been done and for all of the dollars donated in making the Griz program be the best that it can be. In my view that all just comes to a complete halt in regards to growth of the program.

We can be stuck in a conference and division where most of these teams do not have a fan base. We can travel to a high school stadium and play in front of 1500 people where many of those fans are Griz fans!

It's sad to me that people in Montana feel limited just because they are from Montana. Small time approach that sadly leads people to under estimate themselves and not take full advantage of there full potential.

Got your wish stay put crowd.

Piece out!

:thumb: :clap: