The Bobcat Nation

You are the only former Cat or Griz player that frequents these boards (that I know of). It's a big debate with Griz fans on whether or not the Griz should move to I-A.

My question:
If you were still playing and the Cats were thinking of a move to I-A, would you be for it? and why?

Assume that they are similar to the Griz in attendance, stadium size, etc. and the move was to the WAC.

Thanks in advance.

Meat

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:You are the only former Cat or Griz player that frequents these boards (that I know of). It's a big debate with Griz fans on whether or not the Griz should move to I-A.

My question:
If you were still playing and the Cats were thinking of a move to I-A, would you be for it? and why?

Assume that they are similar to the Griz in attendance, stadium size, etc. and the move was to the WAC.

Thanks in advance.

Meat

That is a tough question. I think that making that leap from 1-AA to 1-A is a big stretch for a Montana school. You need to ensure that the fan base will stick around if you have a couple of rough years, and there isn't enough people in Missoula or Bozeman to make sure of that. Everyone wants to look at Boise's success, but no one wants to look at Idaho's failure. I think that both UM and MSU could potentially make the leap to 1-A, but not until we see a substantial growth in the State (we still haven't broke that 1 million mark). Ever Griz fan wants to see the move to 1-A, but how many of those fans would root for the Griz if they had a losing record? I know that those Griz fans in Glasgow would jump ship. No school is too eager to have a successful sport program and scrap it. The athletics department in Missoula knows all to well how much damage could be done if they moved from a winning program in 1-AA to a sub-par program in 1-A. You would also have to keep in mind that if the Griz went up then there would be a good chance of not having the annual Cat Griz game. That happened in North Dakota. There are a lot of things that need to be considered. Everyone wants there team that they root for to do their best and compete on the highest level, but what do you do if you fail? I think that if the Griz went up there is a very good chance that it would hurt their program in the long run. I am not sure that they could win any games in the WAC. The last time they played Idaho they just squeaked by, and Idaho was suppose to be terrible!

I assume the thought is that recruiting would improve with the move up (which may or may not be materially true), but a school moving up definitely loses the glamour drop-down transfers that have been the lifeblood of many I-AA programs in recent years. A top-tier I-AA can attract those players on a consistent basis, whereas a lower-tier I-A essentially has to make due with what they get from regular recruiting.

But don't you think that Idaho's woe's could be directly related to them being in a less than desirable conference. They have to be much better off in the WAC.

I guess what I meant was, as a player and the economics aside, would you have rather played against the less competitive I-AA schools or the higher competition in I-A?

"You are the only former Cat or Griz player that frequents these boards (that I know of). "

I played for the Griz Meat...
and I would like to see both schools move up.
I see games in 1 AA where they have attendance of 3K to 6K.
That's embarrassing. I believe it is heading the wrong direction.

I would much rather see a game against Wash St or Colorado State than Sac State.

We played a number of 1A teams like Hawaii, Tulsa, Rice and had Boise, Idaho, and Nevada to play every year. Much better quality than we have today.

The biggest differnece (especially for the griz) is the loss of the those extra games (playoffs). Last year you had 9 home games plus a NC game. At 1A you would have at most six home games (some years only five). I know that I would miss that if I were a griz fan. In addition, your away games are not that far away now (EWU, PSU, ISU, MSU). Unless the entire BSC went up with you your away games are going to be farther away.

I used to be on the "shouldn't move up" side. Now I'm on the "should" side. I don't think MSU is even close to making the jump, but if there was ever a good time for UM to do it, it is NOW. The string of playoff appearances, and successes, will end at some point, like it ended for GSU, EKU, and Youngstown. As much as it is hard for me to admit this, having UM in I-A would be very good for the State [I can't believe I just said that].

Idaho's biggest problem is the fact that they are stuck smack between WSU and BSU geographically, and are orders of magnitude below both in terms of facilities. I think UM would crush IU in recruiting, and I think they would be very competative with anyone in the WAC in 2 years. Due to how populations are migrating to the Missoula, Bitterroot and Flathead Valleys, it wouldn't surprise me if UM could end up competing with most in teams in the Pac-10 in 8-10 years...basically, I think UM is more like BSU than IU or Nevada.

I doubt, however, that there is enough political will at the Board of Regents to have UM move up w/o MSU.

One of the upsides for MSU would be that in-state recruiting would heavily favor MSU in terms of shear numbers.

bronco wrote:"You are the only former Cat or Griz player that frequents these boards (that I know of). "

I played for the Griz Meat...
and I would like to see both schools move up.
I see games in 1 AA where they have attendance of 3K to 6K.
That's embarrassing. I believe it is heading the wrong direction.

I would much rather see a game against Wash St or Colorado State than Sac State.

We played a number of 1A teams like Hawaii, Tulsa, Rice and had Boise, Idaho, and Nevada to play every year. Much better quality than we have today.

Damn Bronco, you never told me! It's good to get the players and/or former players point of view on this.

Bleedinbluengold wrote:I used to be on the "shouldn't move up" side. Now I'm on the "should" side. I don't think MSU is even close to making the jump, but if there was ever a good time for UM to do it, it is NOW. The string of playoff appearances, and successes, will end at some point, like it ended for GSU, EKU, and Youngstown. As much as it is hard for me to admit this, having UM in I-A would be very good for the State [I can't believe I just said that].

Idaho's biggest problem is the fact that they are stuck smack between WSU and BSU geographically, and are orders of magnitude below both in terms of facilities. I think UM would crush IU in recruiting, and I think they would be very competative with anyone in the WAC in 2 years. Due to how populations are migrating to the Missoula, Bitterroot and Flathead Valleys, it wouldn't surprise me if UM could end up competing with most in teams in the Pac-10 in 8-10 years...basically, I think UM is more like BSU than IU or Nevada.

I doubt, however, that there is enough political will at the Board of Regents to have UM move up w/o MSU.

One of the upsides for MSU would be that in-state recruiting would heavily favor MSU in terms of shear numbers.

Not only that, but with UM moving up the Cats and the Griz would no longer hate each other. Instead of being Cat fans OR Griz fans, Montanans would suddenly become fans of both! Image that, one step closer to world peace.

I still would never call myself a Griz fan, but I would root against whoever they ended up playing, just to see Montana (the state) get some credit.

But if the Griz ended up being a powerhouse at the 1A level, I would go right back to hating them.

I heard Don Read say "we are staying in I-AA. Why go be a little fish in a big pond when we are already a big fish in a little pond." UM going up would be stupid.

beenyweeniepants--I would never cheer for the griz. This topic has been beat to death and sorry buddy--world peace is gonna have to wait!

Because the Griz aren't going to be a big fish in this pond forever.

...read something in efiz about a bet. One of the morons from over the divide actually thinks the Cats will start 0-4 this year What kind of streak are they going to have when they bumble their way into Bozo this year Bozone could probably double his money. Glad I don't bet

Does the NCAA still have minimum stadium limits for 1-A? If I remember correct when Idaho moved up they were looking for a waiver to play home games at their stadium because it didn't meet the minimum. I believe they ended up playing home games at Washington State. Have they ever gotten back to their own stadium? Do the UM and MSU stadiums meet the standards?

Given the red ink in the athletic departments does that become a factor?

i thought this threat was about pizza

By the way, how good is Eugene's pizza!!! Tops in my book. Though last time i was there it seemed that they were only tossing the dough as a formality and not as necessity.

SausageCrotch wrote:Not only that, but with UM moving up the Cats and the Griz would no longer hate each other. Instead of being Cat fans OR Griz fans, Montanans would suddenly become fans of both! Image that, one step closer to world peace.

I don't know what dream world you are living in, but I seriously doubt many Bobcat fans would magically turn into rabid grizzly fans. Personally, I'll hate the grizzlies until the day I die. I don't care who they play in whatever sport, I hope they lose every single game they participate in... by a lot.

CelticCat wrote:Because the Griz aren't going to be a big fish in this pond forever.

Some Griz fans think they will.

peedintunnel wrote:By the way, how good is Eugene's pizza!!! Tops in my book. Though last time i was there it seemed that they were only tossing the dough as a formality and not as necessity.

He ain't lying!! Thin crust....ooooh so good! They need to expand into other cities in Montana. Mquast, work on that for us would ya.

Bozone, I'll get you to be a Griz fan in the future....albeit ever so slightly.

BozoneCat wrote:

SausageCrotch wrote:Not only that, but with UM moving up the Cats and the Griz would no longer hate each other. Instead of being Cat fans OR Griz fans, Montanans would suddenly become fans of both! Image that, one step closer to world peace.

I don't know what dream world you are living in, but I seriously doubt many Bobcat fans would magically turn into rabid grizzly fans. Personally, I'll hate the grizzlies until the day I die. I don't care who they play in whatever sport, I hope they lose every single game they participate in... by a lot.

Holy Griz Envy Batman !