Vigen is staying at MSU!

[Run-the-ball]

Personally don’t care if OSU wanted him.
We want him. Very glad he is staying for now. Congratulations to Leon for such a great hire for our program.

[CalgaryCat]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... egon-state

For those of you that are overly anxious like me, looks like OSU is officially off the table now.

[nanacat]

I'm sure we'll never know all that went down, but I'm thinking it was a combination of things, including the boosters and Leon getting some incentives together, OSU's AD maybe being too pushy on timing and Vigen getting "squishy" as another poster mentioned. I also wondered what role Vigen's family played? With the Instagram comment his son Grant posted in response to Vigen's post that he was staying, I'm thinking while his family would have supported him, as it seems like they are pretty close, they probably really wanted to stay in Bozeman.

[Prodigal Cat]

Montana State belongs in the FBS, just not this FBS. Call it FBS2 for all i care, it would include the Mountain West and like conferences and truly place MSU where it belongs. I will say, I'm not a fan of the CATS playing in places like Greeley, PSU High School, Utah Tech, Cheney and the like. Those are not similar programs to MSU, similar programs are Montana, Colorado State, Wyoming, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Utah State, Air Force, UNLV, Nevada, Idaho, North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State. You get the point, that is the sweet spot for MSU to hopefully find, but unfortunately this will be dictated by money and greed.

MSU has the support to compete well in the G6 environment. I understand the fans that don’t want to make that jump just to be ignored for the P4 schools though.

The problem is that those P4 schools are absolutely going to separate at some point. The writing is on the wall. And when that happens, the G6 cash flow is going to drop significantly, and they aren’t going to be looking for more teams to join to share what remains. If the Montana schools haven’t moved up by that point, they will be stuck in the third tier of college football. We belong in the second tier of it, and right now that’s what the FCS is. But it won’t be for long.

If MSU had the support to compete in the G6 environment today the money for the stadium upgrades/expansion would already be secured and Leon would have announced during the regular season that construction will begin ASAP in 2026.

MSU has the support to consistently compete in the top tier of the FCS but I don't think we're at the MWC/PAC level yet. And it's not just because the people with money are waiting for us to move up before donating the big bucks. For all the money that people always talk about flowing around Bozeman, those transplants with no connection to MSU aren't going to suddenly give when we start playing Utah State instead of Weber State.

We aren't even 6 months out from cutting the ribbon to a 26.5 Million, privately funded, indoor practice facility. We are barely 4 years out from opening the 18 million dollar BAC that was raised in 2 years meaning in 5 years Cats raised nearly 50 million in donations toward new projects. We can't do everything all at once and the stadium is by far the biggest project but GTFOH with we can't compete. We can and we have TWO new awesome facilities staring you in the face on gameday to prove it. The stadium project will happen but at least be reasonable in your expectations.

[Travelingcat]

Montana State belongs in the FBS, just not this FBS. Call it FBS2 for all i care, it would include the Mountain West and like conferences and truly place MSU where it belongs. I will say, I'm not a fan of the CATS playing in places like Greeley, PSU High School, Utah Tech, Cheney and the like. Those are not similar programs to MSU, similar programs are Montana, Colorado State, Wyoming, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Utah State, Air Force, UNLV, Nevada, Idaho, North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State. You get the point, that is the sweet spot for MSU to hopefully find, but unfortunately this will be dictated by money and greed.

That's correct. These are our peers in every respect as universities. And the Northern Colorado's, Eastern Washingtons and Weber States just aren't.
The sooner we can capture that reality, the better. Because the Cats and Griz are the only games in town for our state we draw a significantly higher audience than would be expected for our population. We can absolutely compete in terms of actual TV viewership, attendance, fundraising etc. with the Mountain West Schools and that's where we need to be aiming.

[lutecat]

MSU, Bozeman, has out grown the FCS and the Big Sky Conference. We need to move up and pay our coaches more.

Would the BOR let that happen? We need a bill in the legislature to allow for more $ to be paid.

BOR historically has been clear that its only happening if both the Pandas and Cats move at the same time.

But theres no invite from another conference. And if it didn't come last year in the wake of the Pac 12 meltdown, it's likely never coming.

Bozeman & Missoula (also Fargo and Brookings) are too small of media markets to move the needle on a MWC or Pac whatever media contract. But the schools would still get to share revenue. And both the Cats & Pandas would be close to competing for an MWC championship on day 1 (in football, not in other sports).

So theres zero incentive to give the Cats an invite.

I meant pay him more. It would be nice if we were able to pay coaches more $ and not be capped.

[Prodigal Cat]

This sheds some light. Glad Vigen is a man of character.

[catatac]

Boo! Paywall. I think I get the basic back story, and if that is legit, and this played out just like last year when he declined the WSU job because they wouldn't allow him to finish the season... then I have even more respect for the man, giving up that much $$$ and security for the sake of loyalty to MSU. I think I'm a fairly loyal person and I'm not sure if I would even do that.

[BelligerentBobcat]

MSU, Bozeman, has out grown the FCS and the Big Sky Conference. We need to move up and pay our coaches more.

Would the BOR let that happen? We need a bill in the legislature to allow for more $ to be paid.

BOR historically has been clear that its only happening if both the Pandas and Cats move at the same time.

But theres no invite from another conference. And if it didn't come last year in the wake of the Pac 12 meltdown, it's likely never coming.

Bozeman & Missoula (also Fargo and Brookings) are too small of media markets to move the needle on a MWC or Pac whatever media contract. But the schools would still get to share revenue. And both the Cats & Pandas would be close to competing for an MWC championship on day 1 (in football, not in other sports).

So theres zero incentive to give the Cats an invite.

I meant pay him more. It would be nice if we were able to pay coaches more $ and not be capped.

They can pay the coaches more, it just has to come from the boosters rather than the state, which is how pretty much every university does it.

[nanacat]

Boo! Paywall. I think I get the basic back story, and if that is legit, and this played out just like last year when he declined the WSU job because they wouldn't allow him to finish the season... then I have even more respect for the man, giving up that much $$$ and security for the sake of loyalty to MSU. I think I'm a fairly loyal person and I'm not sure if I would even do that.

I agree! Loyalty is not a common trait, especially in this day and age of college football. Certainly money talks, but having commitment and character is exactly the kind of head coach you want leading a bunch of 18-24 year old young men. If I had a son playing college football how could I not want him playing for a man like Vigen? This will only help our in state recruiting, and maybe even help towards keeping some players who are leaning towards the portal.

[Prodigal Cat]

Boo! Paywall. I think I get the basic back story, and if that is legit, and this played out just like last year when he declined the WSU job because they wouldn't allow him to finish the season... then I have even more respect for the man, giving up that much $$$ and security for the sake of loyalty to MSU. I think I'm a fairly loyal person and I'm not sure if I would even do that.

When I interview people to come work at the taproom here at the brewery one of the questions we will ask is their availability. Often, they will say I can leave work early to get here for a 5 or 4:30 shift. I almost never hire those people because if they are willing to sneak out on their current employer they will do it to us. That's a deal breaker. Oregon St's AD is a moron to make not being loyal to your current team the deal breaker.

[Prodigal Cat]

Now NDSU people are leaking that the OSU AD asked what players the coaches could bring with them. Polasek said it was a weird interview. What a gross question. That AD should be canned.

[wbtfg]

Boo! Paywall. I think I get the basic back story, and if that is legit, and this played out just like last year when he declined the WSU job because they wouldn't allow him to finish the season... then I have even more respect for the man, giving up that much $$$ and security for the sake of loyalty to MSU. I think I'm a fairly loyal person and I'm not sure if I would even do that.

When I interview people to come work at the taproom here at the brewery one of the questions we will ask is their availability. Often, they will say I can leave work early to get here for a 5 or 4:30 shift. I almost never hire those people because if they are willing to sneak out on their current employer they will do it to us. That's a deal breaker. Oregon St's AD is a moron to make not being loyal to your current team the deal breaker.

People get paid to work at a taproom?? Dang.....I need to keep that in mind.

[CalgaryCat]

Now NDSU people are leaking that the OSU AD asked what players the coaches could bring with them. Polasek said it was a weird interview. What a gross question. That AD should be canned.

The current NCAA climate is gross. The athletes deserved better compensation for the money they were bringing to the school, but this wide ranging head hunting is disgusting.

[JoeCatsJoe]

Perhaps a solution would be when a player transfers up/across, the team getting the player pays the price of a scholly to the team losing a player. Or perhaps, for FBS teams, 1/4 of the NIL money promised to the player is also given to the team that recruited and developed him.

[coloradocat]

Boo! Paywall. I think I get the basic back story, and if that is legit, and this played out just like last year when he declined the WSU job because they wouldn't allow him to finish the season... then I have even more respect for the man, giving up that much $$$ and security for the sake of loyalty to MSU. I think I'm a fairly loyal person and I'm not sure if I would even do that.

When I interview people to come work at the taproom here at the brewery one of the questions we will ask is their availability. Often, they will say I can leave work early to get here for a 5 or 4:30 shift. I almost never hire those people because if they are willing to sneak out on their current employer they will do it to us. That's a deal breaker. Oregon St's AD is a moron to make not being loyal to your current team the deal breaker.

People get paid to work at a taproom?? Dang.....I need to keep that in mind.

Don't get too excited. They don't get paid much. Notice the circumstances in Prodigal's example.

[CalgaryCat]

Perhaps a solution would be when a player transfers up/across, the team getting the player pays the price of a scholly to the team losing a player. Or perhaps, for FBS teams, 1/4 of the NIL money promised to the player is also given to the team that recruited and developed him.

Sounds a lot better than the current “nothing” the team losing the player currently gets.

[Prodigal Cat]

Boo! Paywall. I think I get the basic back story, and if that is legit, and this played out just like last year when he declined the WSU job because they wouldn't allow him to finish the season... then I have even more respect for the man, giving up that much $$$ and security for the sake of loyalty to MSU. I think I'm a fairly loyal person and I'm not sure if I would even do that.

When I interview people to come work at the taproom here at the brewery one of the questions we will ask is their availability. Often, they will say I can leave work early to get here for a 5 or 4:30 shift. I almost never hire those people because if they are willing to sneak out on their current employer they will do it to us. That's a deal breaker. Oregon St's AD is a moron to make not being loyal to your current team the deal breaker.

People get paid to work at a taproom?? Dang.....I need to keep that in mind.

Don't get too excited. They don't get paid much. Notice the circumstances in Prodigal's example.

Its a mix. We have some full-time employees. Some part time. Not sure why you felt the need to wade in to talk #$@% on something you know nothing about.

[catatac]

Boo! Paywall. I think I get the basic back story, and if that is legit, and this played out just like last year when he declined the WSU job because they wouldn't allow him to finish the season... then I have even more respect for the man, giving up that much $$$ and security for the sake of loyalty to MSU. I think I'm a fairly loyal person and I'm not sure if I would even do that.

When I interview people to come work at the taproom here at the brewery one of the questions we will ask is their availability. Often, they will say I can leave work early to get here for a 5 or 4:30 shift. I almost never hire those people because if they are willing to sneak out on their current employer they will do it to us. That's a deal breaker. Oregon St's AD is a moron to make not being loyal to your current team the deal breaker.

Totally agree. However, when I look at things from the OSU perspective, If I'm the president\AD there and I'm about to make this hire and pay someone millions to turn their football program, I'm damn sure telling them the same thing in that No, you are done with that team and on board here recruiting hard starting NOW. The player signing window is next week.

[CalgaryCat]

Boo! Paywall. I think I get the basic back story, and if that is legit, and this played out just like last year when he declined the WSU job because they wouldn't allow him to finish the season... then I have even more respect for the man, giving up that much $$$ and security for the sake of loyalty to MSU. I think I'm a fairly loyal person and I'm not sure if I would even do that.

When I interview people to come work at the taproom here at the brewery one of the questions we will ask is their availability. Often, they will say I can leave work early to get here for a 5 or 4:30 shift. I almost never hire those people because if they are willing to sneak out on their current employer they will do it to us. That's a deal breaker. Oregon St's AD is a moron to make not being loyal to your current team the deal breaker.

Totally agree. However, when I look at things from the OSU perspective, If I'm the president\AD there and I'm about to make this hire and pay someone millions to turn their football program, I'm damn sure telling them the same thing in that No, you are done with that team and on board here recruiting hard starting NOW. The player signing window is next week.

That’s all well and good in the short term, but you’ll get mercenary coaches who will happily use you as their next step regardless of how it affects the program in the future.