Should UM move up if they can?

[weberwildcat]

http://wildcats.bigskyfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1642" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Keenan]

http://wildcats.bigskyfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1642

Isn't there enough threads already?

[weberwildcat]

http://wildcats.bigskyfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1642

Isn't there enough threads already?

not even close dude.

[Big McLargehuge]

A deftly beaten subject for sure...I'm very much on the fence but with the way the college landscape is shifting right now I'd rather do it now and have the potential to dominate a lousy conference (frankly the WAC looks to be weaker than the Big Sky if the remaining WAC teams don't improve by the time such a move would come to fruition) than be left in the dark down the road...


Before all of this movement started I was on the fence leaning towards staying put...so...now this is just annoying. I almost want the move to happen just so I don't have to think about this any more.

[Silenoz]

I've always been of the opinion that "yes", we should. But I'll be happy regardless of where we are

[txstatebobcat]

depends as to how you view it. As a TxSt fan I view the WAC as a stepping stone to help us into a better conference in the future. I'm one of those that believes that eventually there will be a new Southwest Conference formed in the next 10 years give or take. In order for TxSt to be part of that future conference they will have to be an FBS member and the WAC gives us that opportunity.

So to answer the question. If Montana is still in the WAC 10-15 years from now, then they should probably stay in the Big Sky. I say this because the WAC with its current six members is most definitely not an upgrade on the Big Sky or any of the top 5-6 FCS conferences for that matter. In essence the WAC will replace the Sunbelt as the new laughing stock of FBS at least for the first few years while the FCS schools get adjusted.

[CatMom]

depends as to how you view it. As a TxSt fan I view the WAC as a stepping stone to help us into a better conference in the future. I'm one of those that believes that eventually there will be a new Southwest Conference formed in the next 10 years give or take. In order for TxSt to be part of that future conference they will have to be an FBS member and the WAC gives us that opportunity.

[BlueHen86]

The way the FBS conference landscape is changing, I wouldn't advocate moving up until you are sure that you will end up in one of the super conferences.

If the Pac 12 or Big 10 want Montana as a member then I think moving up is a good option.

If the WAC is the best option then I think UM should stay put.

[CatMom]

I don't think we have the luxury of that option. Let's be honest, no super conference is going to take TXST right now and I think we are better served going this route (if we must gp FBS) as it gives us time to build on our football program without totally being the doormat of a conference for a decade.

[JALMOND]

Anyone considering moving up, especially out of the Big Sky, should pay close attention to what Boise State had to endure for the last 15 years, and then ask, "Will it be worth it some day?" It wasn't that long ago that the Pac-10 teams would not even give Boise a home-and-home series.

[S F State Gaters]

i think you have to consider the 'geopolitics' of it, for lack of a better term. the WAC is in chaos right now, you've got 6 schools left with negligible ties to one another; NMSt possibly ok with going SBC, La Tech begging the CUSA like never before and even considering just owning the SBC, Hawai'i looking indy in the face as their only remaining option, usu, idaho, and sjsu probably staring at some hard numbers pointing to either Big Sky or just giving up football altogether.

if benson can keep this together (he is not a man who inspires confidence) than montana could go into the wac and keep it together, but it's not looking good today

[kirkblitz]

What happens if u move up and then the WAC implodes even more?

[Saint3333]

Anyone considering moving up, especially out of the Big Sky, should pay close attention to what Boise State had to endure for the last 15 years, and then ask, "Will it be worth it some day?" It wasn't that long ago that the Pac-10 teams would not even give Boise a home-and-home series.

I don't get this logic. What chance does Montana have of a home and home with a PAC 10 school at the FCS level? If Montana could have half of the quality FBS wins and bowl invites that Boise St. has had over the past 15 years I'd say that is success.

What does Montana have left to prove in the Big Sky or the FCS for that matter? At least the FBS would offer a challenge to them.

[JMUpurplehazed]

I used to want JMU to go 1A period. I now feel that 1A makes sense only if the invite is from a confreence at least as named as the Big East i.e. no Sunbelt, Conf USA, MAC, etc... I like where we seem to be, in a good FCS conference with close rivalries and facilities that are either FBS are nearing FBS quality that we can enjoy now and have in our back pocket for a 1A conference invite if that ever happens...we win either way.

Catmom offers the mid level 1A stepping stone theory which has merit, not sure which route is best, probably depends on the school and situation. Not sure that would work for Madison and I don't have an opinion which works for Montana...

Montana out the door would hurt FCS as a whole as would the departure of any consisitenly top 25 program.

Montana has it good now, they make it to the NC every year and lose to a CAA team, sorry, had to go there

[89Hen]

If the MWC came knocking, yes. That's the only scenario I see that would be a reason to move up. WAC? No way and the Pac10 aint calling anytime in our lifetimes.

[SACCAT]

So let me get this straight...The griz are looking to move up? Do they have new unis? How big is there stadium?

GOOD GOD PEOPLE!!! SHUT THE F*** UP

[89Hen]

So let me get this straight...The griz are looking to move up? Do they have new unis? How big is there stadium?

GOOD GOD PEOPLE!!! SHUT THE F*** UP

Easy way to make that happen... start making it to the NC game so we can talk about your team too.

[SACCAT]

So let me get this straight...The griz are looking to move up? Do they have new unis? How big is there stadium?

GOOD GOD PEOPLE!!! SHUT THE F*** UP

Easy way to make that happen... start making it to the NC game so we can talk about your team too.

First we need to play like we want to win, then we can talk about Cats

[AZGrizFan]

So let me get this straight...The griz are looking to move up? Do they have new unis? How big is there stadium?

GOOD GOD PEOPLE!!! SHUT THE F*** UP

Griz envy, eh?

[AZGrizFan]

I used to want JMU to go 1A period. I now feel that 1A makes sense only if the invite is from a confreence at least as named as the Big East i.e. no Sunbelt, Conf USA, MAC, etc... I like where we seem to be, in a good FCS conference with close rivalries and facilities that are either FBS are nearing FBS quality that we can enjoy now and have in our back pocket for a 1A conference invite if that ever happens...we win either way.

Catmom offers the mid level 1A stepping stone theory which has merit, not sure which route is best, probably depends on the school and situation. Not sure that would work for Madison and I don't have an opinion which works for Montana...

Montana out the door would hurt FCS as a whole as would the departure of any consisitenly top 25 program.

Montana has it good now, they make it to the NC every year and lose to a CAA team, sorry, had to go there

The problem with your initial paragraph (when looking at Montana's case) is that there's really only TWO possibilities. MWC and WAC. And given what the MWC just did, that's probably a 1% chance at this point. Reality says that it's either the WAC or nothing for the Griz right now.

Personally, I'd be a fan of moving up, dominating that conference for a few years, and then going the Boise State route and ending up in the WAC with old conference foes BSU and UNR.

[∞∞∞]

Montana should move up, even if it's the WAC. Look at what happened this summer, the whole FBS landscape nearly shifted. Let's be honest, this whole thing with the Pac-10 and the Big-10 and the Big XII isn't over just yet, it's simply been put on hold. At least if Montana was in the WAC, they have a chance to move into a better conference if the powers that be decide that superconferences are the way to go and things began to shape up again like they almost did a few months ago. I'm not talkin' about Montana joinin' a major BCS conference, but at least the MWC is positioning itself to be a major player in the FBS (and BCS) world, and Montana could potentially end up there once things begin to shake up again.

FCS schools will never have that chance when the time comes, no matter their history.

[AppStateAlumQC]

The way the FBS conference landscape is changing, I wouldn't advocate moving up until you are sure that you will end up in one of the super conferences.

If the Pac 12 or Big 10 want Montana as a member then I think moving up is a good option.

If the WAC is the best option then I think UM should stay put.

[ASUMountaineer]

Montana should move up, even if it's the WAC. Look at what happened this summer, the whole FBS landscape nearly shifted. Let's be honest, this whole thing with the Pac-10 and the Big-10 and the Big XII isn't over just yet, it's simply been put on hold. At least if Montana was in the WAC, they have a chance to move into a better conference if the powers that be decide that superconferences are the way to go and things began to shape up again like they almost did a few months ago. I'm not talkin' about Montana joinin' a major BCS conference, but at least the MWC is positioning itself to be a major player in the FBS (and BCS) world, and Montana could potentially end up there once things begin to shake up again.

FCS schools will never have that chance when the time comes, no matter their history.

[Big McLargehuge]

I think people are crazy if they think a major conference is going to raid the FCS for schools, no matter how good they are. I'm not delusional, with the way things have gone recently I can't see the Mountain West being interested in us, if they want to pilfer another school then Houston would make more sense, being in a much larger market. The Pac-12 obviously isn't going to go after us now...maybe way down the line, but that would be an absurd thought. The only other geographically aligned conference would be the WAC.


If Montana moved up and had the same amount of success Boise State has had the past 10-15 years then I would be very much in favor of the move up. I just don't want us to half-ass things like Idaho did.



On the east coast things are a little different with the Big East being a garbage BCS conference...but even then they're not going to show any interest unless your basketball program is phenomenal (Memphis makes the most sense for them if they're looking to add a school). You do have to pay your dues before you get called up, even if its brief. USF spent 2 seasons as a 1-A Independent and 2 more seasons in C-USA before getting added to the Big East as a Miami replacement, and they had the luxury of a professional stadium to help with their appeal...something that doesn't exist for CAA or SoCon teams.

[SACCAT]

So let me get this straight...The griz are looking to move up? Do they have new unis? How big is there stadium?

GOOD GOD PEOPLE!!! SHUT THE F*** UP

Griz envy, eh?

NO!!!...o.k. maybe...well yes a little