CSNbbs

They win.... consistently. They average 23K a game last year. Close to Idaho (if they are added) Boise and Utah St. Stadium was just expanded to 23K. Why not?

I agree that Montana makes the most sense. They have the facilities , attendance, airport, comparable budget, on field performance, etc. The problem is that they simply have no desire to move up. UI can breathe a sigh of relief.

i wonder if that's really the case, or if montana is just playing it smart and covert, waiting for the WAC to come calling?

montana and idaho to the WAC makes sense from so many standpoints that i don't know why the WAC WOULDN'T consider them.

but then, all of this speculation is frivilous, anyway. we all know that the next move won't be the last. the entire non-BCS is unstable at this point, and until the NCAA grows a spine and creates a more sturdy, logical realignment system, it will always continue to be so.

USU has a very long history with both Montana schools (32 games vs. Montana and 34 games vs. the Bobcats). Only the "core" WAC schools have played USU more often. I wish they would make the jump -- every western D-1A school is precious to USU. With them in the mix, we can absorb more easily further predation without having to go so far afield. NAU, PSU and ISU I could give a rat's rump about.

I posted some numbers and other data a bit ago. The Bobcats aren't that far off the mark. Stadium size, number of scholies, and a nudge on attendance brings them up to D-1A levels. Montana has to add 2 sports as well as increase scholies.

I would support:

Montana/Montana State
Idaho/Boazy
Fresno/Nevada
San Jose/Hawai'i
USU/NMSU

But, it would make a little too much sense really to have happen. I don't see the Montanas making the jump, perhaps ever.

USU78 Wrote:I would support:

Montana/Montana State
Idaho/Boazy
Fresno/Nevada
San Jose/Hawai'i
USU/NMSU

Then why not Sac St/Port St. for a 12 team league?

I would support:

Montana/Montana State
Idaho/Boazy
USU/Port St.

Fresno/Nevada
San Jose/Hawai'i
Sac St/NMSU

[U]Northern Division[U]
Boise State
Idaho
Montana
Montana State
Portland State
Sacramento State

[U]Southern Division[U]
Fresno State
Hawaii
Nevada
New Mexico State
San Jose State
Utah State

David Krysakowski Wrote:[U]Northern Division[U]
Boise State
Idaho
Montana
Montana State
Portland State
Sacramento State

[U]Southern Division[U]
Fresno State
Hawaii
Nevada
New Mexico State
San Jose State
Utah State

No, No, No, No,.......Boise State needs to maintain rivalries with Nevada, Utah State, Hawaii and Fresno. Boise state would not want to be in the Big Sky Division!!!!!!!

Another plus is that the WAC would have Idaho and Montana to themselves... no other 1A conference is in those states... (I believe)

No_Bull Wrote:Another plus is that the WAC would have Idaho and Montana to themselves... no other 1A conference is in those states... (I believe)

Maybe we should add schools in North Dakota and South Dakota. They have no d1a schools either............................

No_Bull Wrote:They win.... consistently. They average 23K a game last year. Close to Idaho (if they are added) Boise and Utah St. Stadium was just expanded to 23K. Why not?

Montana cannot move up to 1-A without Montana State because of some strange rule that state's education system that runs the public colleges and universities has.

Not sure what it is, but I'm pretty sure that this is right. I've heard this several times that somehow Montana and Montana State are ajoined at the hip.

BlueRaiderPride Wrote:

No_Bull Wrote:They win.... consistently. They average 23K a game last year.  Close to Idaho (if they are added) Boise and Utah St.  Stadium was just expanded to 23K.  Why not? 

Montana cannot move up to 1-A without Montana State because of some strange rule that state's education system that runs the public colleges and universities has.

Not sure what it is, but I'm pretty sure that this is right. I've heard this several times that somehow Montana and Montana State are ajoined at the hip.

You heard right. BYU and Utah are also joined at the hip by mutual agreement not to join another conference without the other one!

USU78 Wrote:USU has a very long history with both Montana schools (32 games vs. Montana and 34 games vs. the Bobcats). Only the "core" WAC schools have played USU more often. I wish they would make the jump -- every western D-1A school is precious to USU. With them in the mix, we can absorb more easily further predation without having to go so far afield. NAU, PSU and ISU I could give a rat's rump about.

I posted some numbers and other data a bit ago. The Bobcats aren't that far off the mark. Stadium size, number of scholies, and a nudge on attendance brings them up to D-1A levels. Montana has to add 2 sports as well as increase scholies.

I would support:

Montana/Montana State
Idaho/Boazy
Fresno/Nevada
San Jose/Hawai'i
USU/NMSU

But, it would make a little too much sense really to have happen. I don't see the Montanas making the jump, perhaps ever.

That could be called the "The Big Sky West Conference"!!!!!! It would still be a lot better conference than the Sun Belt Conference.

Have you ever made the mid-winter basketball swing to Missoula and Bozeman?

BlueRaiderPride Wrote:

No_Bull Wrote:They win.... consistently. They average 23K a game last year.  Close to Idaho (if they are added) Boise and Utah St.  Stadium was just expanded to 23K.  Why not? 

Montana cannot move up to 1-A without Montana State because of some strange rule that state's education system that runs the public colleges and universities has.

Not sure what it is, but I'm pretty sure that this is right. I've heard this several times that somehow Montana and Montana State are ajoined at the hip.

I am not so sure this is carved in stone. I have heard this also on our site (egriz) but I have also seen many posts that say there are ways around this if the Griz want to move up. But I don't think I have seen one post that absolutly proves this to be true. Not that it will matter until that decision is made. And the kittybox is Bozone is a dump. And there fan support sucks with the exception of when they play us.

polsongriz Wrote:

BlueRaiderPride Wrote:

No_Bull Wrote:They win.... consistently. They average 23K a game last year.   Close to Idaho (if they are added) Boise and Utah St.  Stadium was just expanded to 23K.  Why not? 

Montana cannot move up to 1-A without Montana State because of some strange rule that state's education system that runs the public colleges and universities has.

Not sure what it is, but I'm pretty sure that this is right. I've heard this several times that somehow Montana and Montana State are ajoined at the hip.

I am not so sure this is carved in stone. I have heard this also on our site (egriz) but I have also seen many posts that say there are ways around this if the Griz want to move up. But I don't think I have seen one post that absolutly proves this to be true. Not that it will matter until that decision is made. And the kittybox is Bozone is a dump. And there fan support sucks with the exception of when they play us.

Hey PolsonGriz,

Is there any support among the Griz Boosters for a move up to D1A. It would seem that it would be an excellent time to consider moving up, since the WAC would be waiting with open arms.

Idaho and Montana would make great travel partners in basketball. Reuniting the best Big Sky teams Boise State, Nevada, Idaho and Montana would be sweet!

I would say offhand , not scientific, that it is maybe %55-60 against moving up. But I would have to say that is just among those I talk with. But if there was a push to with the appropriate incentives who knows. As I have stated I am against it until the NCAA gets there head out of there arse and takes care of the playoff picture.

polsongriz Wrote:I would say offhand , not scientific, that it is maybe %55-60 against moving up. But I would have to say that is just among those I talk with. But if there was a push to with the appropriate incentives who knows. As I have stated I am against it until the NCAA gets there head out of there arse and takes care of the playoff picture.

It looks to me that Montana could fix their financial woes real fast by moving up and increasing their football revenues by playing a couple of big road games. That is how Idaho survives without a fan base and Montana has a great fan base.

Of course, I am very biased.....hoping the Griz and Broncos end up together in the end!

I enjoy reading the WAC threads... now for Montana. Most of the Grizzly fans feel that they would rather be one of the elite in I-AA and be in the hunt for a National Championship each year than be an also ran at the bottom of I-A with nothing to play for other than a chance to play BSU and Nevada again.... I have played Idaho and have consistantly beaten them in Missoula and and in Idaho. Guess I am one of those 17,000 season ticket holders who would rather see the Griz play in a division where there is an ACTUAL playoff system. It really steams me when I think that from grade school through professional, there is a playoff system in place except for NCAA IA where God Almighty is the BCS or Big College Series.... the BCS schools need to be in a division all to themselves and never play against anyone but BCS schools. Then, you might have a rather competative D-IA with a decent playoff system. Sorry about the rambling but there are a lot of MT people who have the same feelings. People keep saying that the Griz should move up to D-IA so, what are the benefits??? We have a great situation/program now... why change just for the sake of change???

Does Montana have a baseball team? Right now the WAC has the minimum of 6 teams required to keep baseball a conference sport. Also, baseball is one of the sports that is keeping the WAC division 1A. After we lose Rice and possibly SanJose, we'll only have 4 baseball playing schools and we'll either have to field a new sport or find two more baseball playing schools.

Here are the baseball playing schools:

Rice
Hawaii
Nevada
Fresno State
Louisiana Tech
Nevada

Think if we lost LaTech too?

Go Warriors

warriorfan808 Wrote:Does Montana have a baseball team? Right now the WAC has the minimum of 6 teams required to keep baseball a conference sport. Also, baseball is one of the sports that is keeping the WAC division 1A. After we lose Rice and possibly SanJose, we'll only have 4 baseball playing schools and we'll either have to field a new sport or find two more baseball playing schools.

Here are the baseball playing schools:

Rice
Hawaii
Nevada
Fresno State
Louisiana Tech
Nevada

Think if we lost LaTech too?

Go Warriors

No baseball at Montana. Not that there couldn't be. Missoula is in the process of building a new stadium for their Minor League (AZ Diamondbacks) team (Missoula Osprey). There is also another field that the Legion teams and the Missoula Osprey use too.

MrGrizz, to say that there's nothing to play for isn't right. Most Bronco fans feel that an AP top15 rank at the end of the season, multiple ESPN TV appearances, etc are worth more than our 1AA national championship. Quite a bit more. I know our AD feels this way too.

I'm with you on a playoff, but even without it, D1 has alot more to offer.