No fastpitch or womens soccer

[msu_agfan]

I've not been able to find a clear explanation why our university has neither of these sports. If it can be explained simply i would appreciate it. I know other lesser institutions have these sports and to me it seems like we are getting a black eye from not having them. Surely we could be just as competitive at them, as we are at nearly every other sport.

[Bobcat4Ever]

Snow, often well into May, is a problem. The snow level has moved up over the years, but for the furthest north, high elevation school, the climate without even an indoor practice facility is a problem. Tennis survives with its indoor facility. Golf holds their invitational in Arizona. I guess soccer and fast pitch could follow that model.

[BelgradeBobcat]

I'm pretty sure the reason is MSU doesn't need those extra sports is because of the guy to gal ratio. The number of scholarships for men and women has to be in proportion to percentage of each gender. MSU is a rare university that has more guys than gals so we don't need more women's sports to balance it out. In most universities there are more gals than guys.

[nevadacat]

MSU is a rare university that has more guys than gals so we don't need more women's sports to balance it out. In most universities there are more gals than guys.

No wonder it was so hard to get a date.

[coloradocat]

I've not been able to find a clear explanation why our university has neither of these sports. If it can be explained simply i would appreciate it. I know other lesser institutions have these sports and to me it seems like we are getting a black eye from not having them. Surely we could be just as competitive at them, as we are at nearly every other sport.

Who is giving us a black eye for not having sports that aren't popular? Those are both niche sports, especially in this region.

[msu_agfan]

I've not been able to find a clear explanation why our university has neither of these sports. If it can be explained simply i would appreciate it. I know other lesser institutions have these sports and to me it seems like we are getting a black eye from not having them. Surely we could be just as competitive at them, as we are at nearly every other sport.

Who is giving us a black eye for not having sports that aren't popular? Those are both niche sports, especially in this region.

Fast pitch is a very popular sport in Montana. Soccer is less so, but it probably is the fastest growing sport in the state. No stats to back up those claims, but I don't think they are a a stretch at all. In answer to your question, I would say we are giving ourselves the black eye. We definitely are not looking like a cutting edge university when it comes to women's sports, also my opinion.

[Bobcat4Ever]

I've not been able to find a clear explanation why our university has neither of these sports. If it can be explained simply i would appreciate it. I know other lesser institutions have these sports and to me it seems like we are getting a black eye from not having them. Surely we could be just as competitive at them, as we are at nearly every other sport.

Who is giving us a black eye for not having sports that aren't popular? Those are both niche sports, especially in this region.

Fast pitch is a very popular sport in Montana. Soccer is less so, but it probably is the fastest growing sport in the state. No stats to back up those claims, but I don't think they are a a stretch at all. In answer to your question, I would say we are giving ourselves the black eye. We definitely are not looking like a cutting edge university when it comes to women's sports, also my opinion.

I will have to respectfully disagree with the comment on women’s sports. We have women’s track and field teams and individuals that are performing at a very high level. Skiing, also. Women’s volleyball has a great new locker room and are a rising force. The women’s basketball team also has a great locker room and is hands down the best team in the Big Sky. Those are far from black eyes.

[Hawks86]

Adding to Belgrade. You would need to add a men's sport if you add a women's.
There is nothing more MT than skiing and rodeo.

[msu_agfan]

I agree that our current sports are doing great. Women and men's. It only adds to the question why we don't have those two as other schools including UM do . What sports do they have that we don't? I'm genuinely trying to just get a solid answer nailed down.

[Hawks86]

Because we don't need to.

[rollo_tumasi]

We have Downhill & Cross Country skiing & UM doesn’t.

[BelgradeBobcat]

There is nothing more MT than skiing and rodeo.

I love that we have ski team.

[coloradocat]

I've not been able to find a clear explanation why our university has neither of these sports. If it can be explained simply i would appreciate it. I know other lesser institutions have these sports and to me it seems like we are getting a black eye from not having them. Surely we could be just as competitive at them, as we are at nearly every other sport.

Who is giving us a black eye for not having sports that aren't popular? Those are both niche sports, especially in this region.

Fast pitch is a very popular sport in Montana. Soccer is less so, but it probably is the fastest growing sport in the state. No stats to back up those claims, but I don't think they are a a stretch at all. In answer to your question, I would say we are giving ourselves the black eye. We definitely are not looking like a cutting edge university when it comes to women's sports, also my opinion.

I will have to respectfully disagree with the comment on women’s sports. We have women’s track and field teams and individuals that are performing at a very high level. Skiing, also. Women’s volleyball has a great new locker room and are a rising force. The women’s basketball team also has a great locker room and is hands down the best team in the Big Sky. Those are far from black eyes.

Didn't we also sweep the entire Brawl series last year with the exception of volleyball? We're doing just fine.

[kmax]

I agree that our current sports are doing great. Women and men's. It only adds to the question why we don't have those two as other schools including UM do . What sports do they have that we don't? I'm genuinely trying to just get a solid answer nailed down.

I mean your question has been answered, just seems that you don't want to accept the answer. As has been said the ratio for student-athletes needs to be near the ratio for the entire student population of the university. Given MSU's ratio we match up with the sports we have and adding softball and/or soccer would mean also having to add additional men's sports most likely. Other schools are going to have their own situation and be completely different, simple as that. Sidenote to dovetail with the "move up" in football discussions this is why it may be somewhat easier for MSU than others as we do have these two sports which could be fairly easily added to offset the additional football scholarships of FBS.

[Cledus]

I'm pretty sure the reason is MSU doesn't need those extra sports is because of the guy to gal ratio. The number of scholarships for men and women has to be in proportion to percentage of each gender. MSU is a rare university that has more guys than gals so we don't need more women's sports to balance it out. In most universities there are more gals than guys.

Just to dovetail off that, Title IX goes both ways.