Return of the Big Human

[hank scorpio]

Kramer named Idaho State football coach

POCATELLO, Idaho — Former Montana State and Eastern Washington football coach Mike Kramer is making his third stop in the Big Sky Conference

Kramer was named the 25th head coach at Idaho State, athletic director Jeff Tingey announced Monday.

"We are excited to have Mike Kramer join our athletic department," Tingey said. "He is one of the most successful coaches in Big Sky football history. He has proven himself on the field of competition and he is a coach who is very charismatic. Coach Kramer is a coach who will come in and develop instant relationships in the Pocatello community."

Kramer takes over for John Zamberlin, who was fired last week after four seasons. ISU finished its 2010 season with a 1-10 mark. Its only win was over Montana Western, an NAIA team that also posted a 1-10 record.

During a press conference announcing his hiring, Kramer promised an upbeat, fast-paced offense, a dominating defense and a high graduation rate.

Kramer coached at Eastern Washington from 1994-1999 and at Montana State from 2000-2006. He led EWU to its first-ever Big Sky football title in 1997, while MSU shared the crown in 2002, 2003 and 2005.

Kramer has a 77-75 career record, including a 40-43 mark at MSU. The Bobcats posted a 40-32 record over six seasons after an 0-11 showing in 2000.

He has been out of coaching for the past four seasons after being fired by Montana State in the spring of 2007, just days after former Bobcat wide receiver Rick Gatewood was arrested for selling drugs. Gatewood was the fifth then-current or former MSU football player arrested within a year's time. Gatewood later acknowledged using athletic scholarship money to traffic cocaine.

Kramer filed a lawsuit against MSU in December 2007 alleging that school officials fired him under the "without cause" clause in his contract and then issued a press release and made public comments about the firing without giving him a chance to appeal the decision.

In addition to criminal issues, MSU President Geoff Gamble said the school had lost three football scholarships for failing to meet NCAA academic requirements.

The case was settled for $240,000 in August, with neither side admitting fault. Kramer said he settled the case because it was hindering his ability to get a coaching job, while an attorney for MSU said the school made a business decision to settle.

This season, Kramer is a football operations assistant at Washington State.

Kramer is a native of Colton, Wash., and played football at the University of Idaho, where he graduated in 1977. He coached high school football before being named an assistant at Montana State in 1983. He was an assistant on MSU's 1984 national championship team and was named defensive coordinator in 1985. Following the 1986 season, he returned to the high school ranks before being named an assistant coach at EWU in 1989.

He and his wife, Sandi, have two daughters, Courtney and Gretchen.

http://billingsgazette.com/sports/colle ... 002e0.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kalm]

Good for ISU. The conference is always a little more lively when Mike is involved.

[SuperHornet]

The league will be even better when EWU makes a trade with Wazzu.

[EWURanger]

Kramer coached at Eastern Washington from 1994-1999 and at Montana State from 2000-2006. He led EWU to its first-ever Big Sky football title in 1997

Pretty sure our first was '92.

Good hire by ISU. I think Kramer is exactly what they need in Pokey.

[dbackjon]

Kramer coached at Eastern Washington from 1994-1999 and at Montana State from 2000-2006. He led EWU to its first-ever Big Sky football title in 1997

Pretty sure our first was '92.

Good hire by ISU. I think Kramer is exactly what they need in Pokey.

first (and only) unshared title...

[EWURanger]

Pretty sure our first was '92.

Good hire by ISU. I think Kramer is exactly what they need in Pokey.

first (and only) unshared title...

We wont claim shared titles as long as UM, MSU, and everyone else don't as well.

[bpcats]

Could be looking at a lot of shared titles with 13 football schools and not playing round robin style schedule. Look at Big 10. Have Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan State all with same record where highest ranking in BCS gets the nod.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Kramer coached at Eastern Washington from 1994-1999 and at Montana State from 2000-2006. He led EWU to its first-ever Big Sky football title in 1997

Pretty sure our first was '92.

Not sure, but I believe the Big Sky was forbidding shared titles at that time (Idaho won the tiebreaker).

[kalm]

Pretty sure our first was '92.

Not sure, but I believe the Big Sky was forbidding shared titles at that time (Idaho won the tiebreaker).

It was shared.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Not sure, but I believe the Big Sky was forbidding shared titles at that time (Idaho won the tiebreaker).

It was shared.

Not according to the Big Sky website…

http://www.bigskyconf.com/sports/2010/6 ... champ.aspx

[kalm]

Regardless, I know for a fact it was considered shared at that time.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Regardless, I know for a fact it was considered shared by EWU fans at that time.

There we go...all better.

[kalm]

Regardless, I know for a fact it was considered shared by EWU fans at that time.

There we go...all better.

I know you take pleasure in forcing me to research it and come up with the proof, but gawdammit brother bear, I ain't doin' it this time.

[EWURanger]

Pretty sure our first was '92.

Not sure, but I believe the Big Sky was forbidding shared titles at that time (Idaho won the tiebreaker).

I know for a fact that the 1992 title was shared between Idaho and EWU. They had identical records, but you're right in that Idaho won the tie-breaker for the auto-bid. The title was still shared, no different than any of the ones in recent years. I have no idea why the Big Sky website has Idaho as the lone winner, but it is inaccurate.

Also, it's not true that shared titles were forbidden at that time. Idaho and Montana shared the title in 1982. Weber, Montana State, and Idaho also shared it in 1958.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

The league will be even better when EWU makes a trade with Wazzu.

Why would we want Wulff back? Beau has been doing a damn fine job... and without infractions.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Not sure, but I believe the Big Sky was forbidding shared titles at that time (Idaho won the tiebreaker).

I know for a fact that the 1992 title was shared between Idaho and EWU. They had identical records, but you're right in that Idaho won the tie-breaker for the auto-bid. The title was still shared, no different than any of the ones in recent years. I have no idea why the Big Sky website has Idaho as the lone winner, but it is inaccurate.

Also, it's not true that shared titles were forbidden at that time. Idaho and Montana shared the title in 1982. Weber, Montana State, and Idaho also shared it in 1958.

I know there was a period that shared titles weren't allowed because Weber's 2008 title was their first in 40 years even though they tied for first in 1987. I'm not certain 1992 was in that period, though (I can't find definitive info anywhere right now).

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

There we go...all better.

I know you take pleasure in forcing me to research it and come up with the proof, but gawdammit brother bear, I ain't doin' it this time.

You have me pegged there kaom. I was gonna go do some searching but I thought why would I? I do that for Montana mis-claims so I'd let an EWU fan go at it.

I would imagine that you guys would have a banner or something in the trophy case showing it as a BSC Championship though.

[SuperHornet]

The league will be even better when EWU makes a trade with Wazzu.

Why would we want Wulff back? Beau has been doing a damn fine job... and without infractions.

That was a joke, son.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Why would we want Wulff back? Beau has been doing a damn fine job... and without infractions.

That was a joke, son.

SE is gonna need some burn ointment after that one.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

That was a joke, son.

SE is gonna need some burn ointment after that one.

Why? Everything that comes out of the land of make-believe in SH's head is a joke. If anything I need a slap on the wrist, for trying to engage them in logical discourse.

[EWURanger]

Not really the most credible source, I know.......but wiki has the correct information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Sky_Co ... 8titles.29" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

* 1992 - Idaho and Eastern Washington
* 1993 - Montana
* 1994 - Boise State
* 1995 - Montana
* 1996 - Montana
* 1997 - Eastern Washington
* 1998 - Montana
* 1999 - Montana

* 2000 - Montana
* 2001 - Montana
* 2002 - Montana, Montana State, and Idaho State
* 2003 - Montana, Montana State, and Northern Arizona
* 2004 - Eastern Washington and Montana
* 2005 - Eastern Washington, Montana, and Montana State
* 2006 - Montana
* 2007 - Montana
* 2008 - Montana and Weber State
* 2009 - Montana
* 2010 - Montana State and Eastern Washington

[EWURanger]

http://www.goeags.com/sports/m-footbl/2 ... es1-18.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

• Four Big Sky Championships (1992, 1997, 2004, 2005),
including back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005

[EWURanger]

It was shared.

Not according to the Big Sky website…

http://www.bigskyconf.com/sports/2010/6 ... champ.aspx

For those of us that were wondering about the shared titles - I wrote the Big Sky about it and got the below email. Updated info is at http://www.bigskyconf.com/sports/2010/6 ... champ.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris, got this changed. There was a time in league history where they didn’t do the co-champions. Sometimes it’s almost impossible to keep the stuff straight because of different rules.

I appreciate you bringing this to my attention

Jon Kasper

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From:
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 9:34 PM
To: jkasper@bigskyconference.org
Subject: 1992 Big Sky Football Championship

Hello,

I was looking through the Big Sky football championship page here http://www.bigskyconf.com/sports/2010/6 ... champ.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and noticed some incorrect information. The 1992 season has Idaho listed as the lone conference champion. This information is incorrect – Idaho and EWU had the same conference record that year, and it was a shared title. Please look into this and correct the information on this page. Thanks.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Not according to the Big Sky website…

http://www.bigskyconf.com/sports/2010/6 ... champ.aspx

For those of us that were wondering about the shared titles - I wrote the Big Sky about it and got the below email. Updated info is at http://www.bigskyconf.com/sports/2010/6 ... champ.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris, got this changed. There was a time in league history where they didn’t do the co-champions. Sometimes it’s almost impossible to keep the stuff straight because of different rules.

I appreciate you bringing this to my attention

Jon Kasper

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From:
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 9:34 PM
To: jkasper@bigskyconference.org
Subject: 1992 Big Sky Football Championship

Hello,

I was looking through the Big Sky football championship page here http://www.bigskyconf.com/sports/2010/6 ... champ.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and noticed some incorrect information. The 1992 season has Idaho listed as the lone conference champion. This information is incorrect – Idaho and EWU had the same conference record that year, and it was a shared title. Please look into this and correct the information on this page. Thanks.

Good work Ranger.