PSU coach Burton compares Big Sky to WAC

JALMOND · Post by **JALMOND** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:40 pm

Coach Burton's interview with the Oregonian's John Canzano on 750AM The Game in Portland. He talks about the Southern Oregon game, but he makes some interesting comments comparing the Big Sky to the WAC. Keep in mind that before coming to PSU, Burton was an assistant coach at Nevada which currently plays in the WAC. The comments are between the 3-4 minute mark of the interview. The whole thing lasts about 7 minutes.

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregon ... an_58.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

kemajic · Post by **kemajic** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:57 pm

The whole thing lost credibility with me with his early statement, "There was a time when Portland St. outdrew both Oregon and Oregon St." I would like to see the data that supports that one.

Mvemjsunpx · Post by **Mvemjsunpx** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:53 pm

kemajic wrote:The whole thing lost credibility with me with his early statement, "There was a time when Portland St. outdrew both Oregon and Oregon St." I would like to see the data that supports that one.

I could buy outdrawing Oregon State, but I'm a bit more skeptical on Oregon.

ODUalum11 · Post by **ODUalum11** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:03 pm

kemajic wrote:The whole thing lost credibility with me with his early statement, "There was a time when Portland St. outdrew both Oregon and Oregon St." I would like to see the data that supports that one.

yeah, RIGHT!!!!

Post by **SeattleGriz** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:40 pm

Maybe he's talking DII days for Portland State.

lakesbison · Post by **lakesbison** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:41 pm

Pass the crack pipe

Mvemjsunpx · Post by **Mvemjsunpx** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:46 pm

SeattleGriz wrote:Maybe he's talking DII days for Portland State.

Presumably, which was also the doormat era for OSU. I very much doubt they ever got more fans than UO, though, unless it's before any of us were alive or something.

JALMOND · Post by **JALMOND** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:48 pm

kemajic wrote:The whole thing lost credibility with me with his early statement, "There was a time when Portland St. outdrew both Oregon and Oregon St." I would like to see the data that supports that one.

Back in the late 70's and early 80's when both the Beavers and the Ducks were terrible, and Portland State was playing in the playoffs every year. Back then, Civic Stadium as it was called was filled to capacity and the Ducks and Beavers struggled to get anyone to go. I'm sure Griz fans remember the game against the Beavers in 1996 when there was more Griz fans than Beaver fans.

Portland State football has needed someone to sell the product those people in Portland. It was easy back then when PSU was great and the Ducks and Beavers were bad. Still, though, Mouse Davis and Pokey Allen were taking every chance, extolling the virtues of Viking football around the city of Portland. Since joining the Big Sky, we have not had the great coach who can also sell the program. Walsh was a great coach, but a lousy promoter. Glanville could promote the product but was lousy as a Viking coach. Also, since we joined the Big Sky, the Ducks emerged as a contender in the Pac-10/12, first under Brooks, then Bellotti, and now Kelly. Erickson came to Corvallis and developed the former laughingstock into a national figure before handing it off to Riley. PSU football is clearly not at the same level as in the late 70's and both the Ducks and Beavers are far from being the same terrible teams back then.

Big McLargehuge · Post by **Big McLargehuge** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 1:30 am

The Griz may well have drawn as well as, or better than, the Beavers in 1996...but at that time Oregon was coming off a Rose Bowl berth.

State I can buy, the Ducks I can't.

Either way, I don't think he's that far off with the comparison overall with the Big Sky to the WAC. I was in favor of a Montana move to the WAC for years...but once the mass exodus started it became the Britney Spears of the FBS. It may have been okay at one point, but I'm sure as hell not putting my foot in those waters in it's present state.

Landshark · Post by **Landshark** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 8:16 am

Beavers were the worst program in college football in the 80's. The Ducks were mediocre until 1994. I remember the days when there were more Husky fans at Autzen Stadium than Duck fans.

Post by **Silenoz** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:24 am

kemajic wrote:The whole thing lost credibility with me with his early statement, "There was a time when Portland St. outdrew both Oregon and Oregon St." I would like to see the data that supports that one.

They drew 23,000 or so about 12 years ago. So I could certainly believe it when the Ducks and Beavers were cellar-dwellers

GrizFanStuckInUtah · Post by **GrizFanStuckInUtah** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:32 am

Big McLargehuge wrote:The Griz may well have drawn as well as, or better than, the Beavers in 1996...but at that time Oregon was coming off a Rose Bowl berth.

State I can buy, the Ducks I can't.

Either way, I don't think he's that far off with the comparison overall with the Big Sky to the WAC. I was in favor of a Montana move to the WAC for years...but once the mass exodus started it became the Britney Spears of the FBS. It may have been okay at one point, but I'm sure as hell not putting my foot in those waters in it's present state.

The landscape of FBS football is not done reshaping yet. I for one am very glad we stayed where we are and didn't jump to the WAC. There is ton of realignment coming and who knows where it will all shake out.

alvin kayak · Post by **alvin kayak** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 2:05 pm

Previously posted but still relevant....

Doug Fullerton AOL Sporting News: http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footba ... ilding-wac" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fullerton (BSC Commissioner taking shots at WAC)

Landshark · Post by **Landshark** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 2:23 pm

kemajic wrote:The whole thing lost credibility with me with his early statement, "There was a time when Portland St. outdrew both Oregon and Oregon St." I would like to see the data that supports that one.

They never have been close.

Years where OSU and UO both had stinker attendance:

1974

Oregon State 25,915
Oregon 24,000
Portland State 2,957

1975

Oregon 25,800
Oregon State 16,541
Portland State 4,590

1982

Oregon State 28,000
Oregon 23,100
Portland State 2,752

Portland St. only averaged five figures plus from '88-'94 and twice since then. Each season very close to a 10,000 average with the high being 13,511 a game in 1993.

frinq · Post by **frinq** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 11:21 pm

You're talking average per year here. But there were weeks when PSU outdrew them both in the 70s when we were in the playoffs regularly. As has been said here, there were times when we drew 26,000 and OSU and UO both very bad teams couldn't match that on a given week. And yes, Pokey Allen and Mouse Davis were great ad men; Pokey dreamed up some doozies for halftime shows - seemed silly, but it drew the audience. I'm afraid Burton might be a good coach on the field, but off doesn't look like much for sales. But it's early - we'll see. We won't catch UO, not with their 76 million $ a year budget. It's all in the advertising and a few billionaire alums.

kemajic · Post by **kemajic** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:12 pm

Landshark wrote:
kemajic wrote:The whole thing lost credibility with me with his early statement, "There was a time when Portland St. outdrew both Oregon and Oregon St." I would like to see the data that supports that one.
They never have been close.

Years where OSU and UO both had stinker attendance:

1974

Oregon State 25,915
Oregon 24,000
Portland State 2,957

1975

Oregon 25,800
Oregon State 16,541
Portland State 4,590

1982

Oregon State 28,000
Oregon 23,100
Portland State 2,752

Portland St. only averaged five figures plus from '88-'94 and twice since then. Each season very close to a 10,000 average with the high being 13,511 a game in 1993.

Thanks for the facts. Thought so.

kemajic · Post by **kemajic** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:14 pm

Last week's results for the leftovers of the WAC that so many lame poster like to take shots at.

USU 54; Weber 17
Idaho 44; UND 14
NMSU 28; Minnesota 21
LA Tech 48; C. Arkansas 42
SJSU 17; UCLA 27

Really, really "terrible." Still waiting for a single BSC win over a WAC opponent.

Post by **travelinman67** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 5:01 pm

Still don't see how the Vikings can ever match up to WAC attendance considering Jeld-Wen's logistics: Has a max. 22,000 capacity. Parking is horrible (yes, I know the train drops off at the park, but for out-of-town attendees, there are few options)...lodging costs are relatively high (oh, yes they are).
Portland is a great city, but not really visitor friendly.

Having said that, at best, Burton's still several years away from developing a competitive team.

Post by **dbackjon** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 5:11 pm

kemajic wrote:Last week's results for the leftovers of the WAC that so many lame poster like to take shots at.

USU 54; Weber 17
Idaho 44; UND 14
NMSU 28; Minnesota 21
LA Tech 48; C. Arkansas 42
SJSU 17; UCLA 27

Really, really "terrible." Still waiting for a single BSC win over a WAC opponent.

The WAC leftovers have had a couple good games -namely USU-Auburn and NMSU-Minnesota

Wouldn't brag about any FCS wins, LaTech got some home cooking to squeak out their FCS win
Both Idaho and NMSU lost big to MAC opponents the previous week, and SJSU

Of course, you have future WAC'ers UTSA losing to a DII team that got waxed by 80 by SFA the week before, and Texas State has lost two by combined score of 20 to 95

kemajic · Post by **kemajic** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 6:58 pm

dbackjon wrote:
kemajic wrote:Last week's results for the leftovers of the WAC that so many lame poster like to take shots at.

USU 54; Weber 17
Idaho 44; UND 14
NMSU 28; Minnesota 21
LA Tech 48; C. Arkansas 42
SJSU 17; UCLA 27

Really, really "terrible." Still waiting for a single BSC win over a WAC opponent.

The WAC leftovers have had a couple good games -namely USU-Auburn and NMSU-Minnesota

Wouldn't brag about any FCS wins, LaTech got some home cooking to squeak out their FCS win
Both Idaho and NMSU lost big to MAC opponents the previous week, and SJSU

Of course, you have future WAC'ers UTSA losing to a DII team that got waxed by 80 by SFA the week before, and Texas State has lost two by combined score of 20 to 95

How did Weber future and BSC'er UND do against WAC leftovers? You are very selective and slanted with your comments.

Post by **EWURanger** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:01 pm

kemajic wrote:
dbackjon wrote:

The WAC leftovers have had a couple good games -namely USU-Auburn and NMSU-Minnesota

Wouldn't brag about any FCS wins, LaTech got some home cooking to squeak out their FCS win
Both Idaho and NMSU lost big to MAC opponents the previous week, and SJSU

Of course, you have future WAC'ers UTSA losing to a DII team that got waxed by 80 by SFA the week before, and Texas State has lost two by combined score of 20 to 95
How did Weber future and BSC'er UND do against WAC leftovers? You are very selective and slanted with your comments.

Post by **dbackjon** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:11 pm

kemajic wrote:
dbackjon wrote:

The WAC leftovers have had a couple good games -namely USU-Auburn and NMSU-Minnesota

Wouldn't brag about any FCS wins, LaTech got some home cooking to squeak out their FCS win
Both Idaho and NMSU lost big to MAC opponents the previous week, and SJSU

Of course, you have future WAC'ers UTSA losing to a DII team that got waxed by 80 by SFA the week before, and Texas State has lost two by combined score of 20 to 95
How did Weber future and BSC'er UND do against WAC leftovers? You are very selective and slanted with your comments.

I think you had already covered those, by giving the scores. I told you not to brag about any FCS wins. Understand, or do I need to type slower?

Post by **EWURanger** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:38 pm

I think the current WAC's record vs. other FBS conferences is probably a better comparative metric than vs. FCS. Of course the WAC is going to win most of those matchups. They have a competitive advantage in depth that an extra 22 scholarships provides. It's all relative, and I definitely wouldn't be bragging about wins over FCS schools. The fact remains that the current WAC is a very poor FBS conference and the Big Sky is far superior in the FCS world than the WAC is in FBS.

Post by **SDHornet** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:41 pm

kemajic wrote:Last week's results for the leftovers of the WAC that so many lame poster like to take shots at.

USU 54; Weber 17
Idaho 44; UND 14
NMSU 28; Minnesota 21
LA Tech 48; C. Arkansas 42
SJSU 17; UCLA 27

Really, really "terrible." Still waiting for a single BSC win over a WAC opponent.

How about a win over a Pac-12 program?

kemajic · Post by **kemajic** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:20 pm

EWURanger wrote:I think the current WAC's record vs. other FBS conferences is probably a better comparative metric than vs. FCS. Of course the WAC is going to win most of those matchups. They have a competitive advantage in depth that an extra 22 scholarships provides. It's all relative, and I definitely wouldn't be bragging about wins over FCS schools. The fact remains that the current WAC is a very poor FBS conference and the Big Sky is far superior in the FCS world than the WAC is in FBS.

There have been numerous posters here and on eGriz claiming the BSC is superior to the WAC, particularly, the WAC leftovers. I simply use the facts to show there is absolutely no evidence of that.

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