Next Week is Huge

[SuperHornet]

Chris has announced on Facebook (complete with link to the Missoulian) that UM has in fact received the expected invite to the WAC and will decide next week whether to accept it or not.

MSU did NOT receive an invite.

[EWURanger]

Damn. And I was hoping that we'd keep hearing about this at least for another year. Oh wait, we probably will.

I still have a feeling Montana will accept the invite. This of course is not based on any hard evidence......just a feeling.

[clenz]

If they do go, what hapens to all the Griz posters on this site?

Do they still post here?

[89Hen]

Hillhound still posts here.

[clenz]

Only to let us know how much fat he las lost.

[Silenoz]

I'd be here occasionally. To follow/root for *shudder* Montana State as my new 2nd or 3rd favorite team

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

An invite is usually not extended unless it is pretty sure that it will be accepted. I hope in this case it's just a last gasp attempt by the WAC but I fear it's not. If UM accepts then fuck it, I enjoyed the FCS and will continue to follow it. I will support the other team from Montana and be here as their advocate whether they want it or not.

I won't have to worry about making sure I have my season all planned out anymore.

The fucking WAC...you gotta be kidding me.

[EWURanger]

An invite is usually not extended unless it is pretty sure that it will be accepted.

This is my feeling as well. Why make an announcement that Montana is "staying put"? Doesn't really add up. Has any school ever made an official announcement that they are not going to join x conference? Also, in the article in the Missoulian, O'Day states that Engstrom's number one concern has been whether or not the rivalry will be kept alive, but caveats by saying that the WAC has granted dispensation to play MSU at home. Yep, the more I think about it, the more it looks like Montana is WAC'in out.

The **** WAC...you gotta be kidding me.

I agree, but if the financial aspects of it say "go", then it's hard to ignore that. While Montana is risking a lot by jumping into a dubious situation in the WAC, if they can keep the conference together I could see them having Nevada type success within a few years. 5-10 years after that, maybe a MWC invite? Who knows, but as much shit as I give UM I also wouldn't want to see them ending up like Idaho. It won't be a BSU situation if that's what everyone's hoping for.

[clenz]

Montana would be the program to hold a press conference to say they were staying put

[Big McLargehuge]

If they do go, what hapens to all the Griz posters on this site?

Do they still post here?

If we do go I'll still be around...not that I've been a long-time poster or anything, but I just love the FCS too much.


Its hard to imagine an invite being made without there being some thought that we'd accept it...and...yeah. I've been on the fence from the start swinging back and forth the entire way. I want to move up for the most part, but just not to the ****ing damn WAC.

[Catattack]

"At this point, the final decision hasn't been rendered but after listening to so many groups on and off the campus, I think he's ready to have this behind us," said UM athletic director Jim O'Day.

This, to me, doesn't sound like an enthusiastic response.



and SH. Why would MSU get an invite when Fields has repeatedly said that they are not interested ?

[Wedgebuster]

I think there will be an announcement once UM is either left out of this year's playoffs, or right after a playoff loss.

Should the Griz again play for the NC, the announcement will be right after that weekend.

If UM goes WAC, I think MSU will follow within 3-5 years when they will have time to beg for the money to make the move.

And of course, the poster child of movin' on up, UNC will become the new darling of the Big Sky, as well as the fans of this board.

[bandl]

Nice knowing you, fuckers!!!!

[SuperHornet]

Catattack: I'm not making judgment calls here. That was a specific point made by the Missoulian article.

One other major point was that the WAC is granting UM an exception to its no-FCS rule specifically so they can continue Griz-Cat.

Ursus: In general, you are correct. However, I think there was a school that stiffed the Pac-10 just a few months ago.

Silenoz: That's blasphemy!

[EWURanger]

Ursus: In general, you are correct. However, I think there was a school that stiffed the Pac-10 just a few months ago.

And that team, along with Boise State and Fresno State, will no longer be in the WAC when Montana joins.

[grizband]

I don't post here a lot, but I will still be around if the Griz decide to accept an offer to the WAC. FCS football is too much fun not to follow!

[Willie]

I'd hand my admin keys over to...oh wait, no I wouldn't.

[JBB]

When NDSU moved up from D2 I felt the same way. D2 was fun. I would keep track of it. It didnt take long before it didnt mean shit. I just hope if the University of Montana moves up that it does a good job scheduling the regional FCS schools a la. Minnesota Gophers and Kansas.

Im also wondering how this affects the NDSU/University of Montana Home/home. That also included Appalachian State. Will Montana owe us buy out money? I hope so.

[kalm]

So I flip it to the Bowling Green v. Miami game on ESPN 2 in a half full stadium on a Wednesday night and start thinking about this thread. Granted, with YSU, Dayton, OSU, Akron, Toledo, BG, Ohio, and Miami there is a ton of competition for fans in that state. But I wonder how much better it will be for Montana? In ten years will it be as good as Boise State, or Wyoming, or Idaho?

Don't get me wrong, every other year I travel to Missoula, I think to myself 'how in the hell can we compete with this program, this stadium, these facilities, these fans?'

But then I also see the packed bars on both Friday and Saturday night, the Griz signs on nearly every street corner, the season ticket holders from Havre staying in the same motel. And I think why would anyone want to change this?

[cats2506]

http://www.ktvq.com/news/griz-likely-to ... n-big-sky/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Officials at the University of Montana said Wednesday they'll announce within the next week whether Montana will join the Western Athletic Conference. But sources tell Q2 Sports it likely won't happen.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

So I flip it to the Bowling Green v. Miami game on ESPN 2 in a half full stadium on a Wednesday night and start thinking about this thread. Granted, with YSU, Dayton, OSU, Akron, Toledo, BG, Ohio, and Miami there is a ton of competition for fans in that state. But I wonder how much better it will be for Montana? In ten years will it be as good as Boise State, or Wyoming, or Idaho?

Don't get me wrong, every other year I travel to Missoula, I think to myself 'how in the hell can we compete with this program, this stadium, these facilities, these fans?'

But then I also see the packed bars on both Friday and Saturday night, the Griz signs on nearly every street corner, the season ticket holders from Havre staying in the same motel. And I think why would anyone want to change this?

Those that want it think it's gonna get better. Maybe they don't even think that, they just say that. Once the carrot of the playoffs are gone and the cold hard fact that your team is now stuck in something with nowhere to go then the bitching will really start...and it will be by many of those that couldn't see this.

[Fresno St. Alum]

When NDSU moved up from D2 I felt the same way. D2 was fun. I would keep track of it. It didnt take long before it didnt mean shit. I just hope if the University of Montana moves up that it does a good job scheduling the regional FCS schools a la. Minnesota Gophers and Kansas.

Im also wondering how this affects the NDSU/University of Montana Home/home. That also included Appalachian State. Will Montana owe us buy out money? I hope so.

You're right on the money. I was going to point out all the fans from the 4 Dakota schools saying they'd still be on the D-II board in the NCC/NSIC section. But nope. Once your team isn't playing those schools you'll stop following them and start following the WAC and the rest of the FBS.

I'm one of the very few that follow D-II, FCS, FBS, NAIA, D-III. I'm a member on all message boards except D-III. I care more about the conf. movement more than who is playing who at the lower levels.

[Grizalltheway]

Welp, I'm glad I was able to enjoy 5 seasons ( ) of FCS football as a student. I wouldn't trade the memories, particularly of the playoffs, for anything.

[griz8791]

So I flip it to the Bowling Green v. Miami game on ESPN 2 in a half full stadium on a Wednesday night and start thinking about this thread. Granted, with YSU, Dayton, OSU, Akron, Toledo, BG, Ohio, and Miami there is a ton of competition for fans in that state. But I wonder how much better it will be for Montana? In ten years will it be as good as Boise State, or Wyoming, or Idaho?

Don't get me wrong, every other year I travel to Missoula, I think to myself 'how in the hell can we compete with this program, this stadium, these facilities, these fans?'

But then I also see the packed bars on both Friday and Saturday night, the Griz signs on nearly every street corner, the season ticket holders from Havre staying in the same motel. And I think why would anyone want to change this?

This is a great post, kalm. I lean toward moving up but I have a feeling that's not going to be the decision and I will remember this post when I find myself getting mad about it.