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Yay!

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MISSOULA - University of Montana officials have announced that they will not be leaving the Big Sky Conference.

UM President Royce Engstrom says that the Griz will stay in the Big Sky Conference and the Football Championship Subdivision.

University officials had the opportunity to consider a move to the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision.

"It was a complex issue with many pros and cons," said Engstrom, who started his new duties as UM's 17th president Oct. 15 and recently attended his first meeting of Big Sky Conference university presidents in Park City, Utah. "In the end, the better course is to stay with the conference we helped establish in 1963 and to continue building on its solid foundation."

Engstrom said three principles guided his decision. First, he wanted to maintain the cross-state rivalry between UM and Montana State University-Bozeman, which he regards as essential to the state's cultural fabric. The two institutions played their first college football rivalry game in 1897. Now nicknamed the Brawl of the Wild, it's the fourth-oldest active rivalry in the FCS and the oldest west of the Mississippi.

Second, he wanted UM to compete with more mission-similar institutions. He said the recent addition of the University of North Dakota strengthened the Big Sky Conference in that regard.

Finally, he wanted to ensure that UM athletic teams can compete successfully and maintain the prestige and integrity the program has demonstrated over the years.

"At this time, FCS football presents the best overall fit for the University, it provides our student-athletes and fans with a great experience, and it is consistent with the strategic direction of the University," Engstrom said.

"I agree this is the best course for The University of Montana at this particular time," UM Athletics Director Jim O'Day said. "Right now, Grizzly Athletics needs to concentrate on building its athletics infrastructure. That should be our No. 1 priority now and where we should be allocating our energy."

UM will compete in an expanded Big Sky Conference starting in 2012. On Nov. 1, UND and Southern Utah University accepted invitations to become core members of the conference. California Polytechnic State University and the University of California, Davis, also joined the conference in recent months as affiliate members for football.

"I am quite sure that the regents would agree that this is a wise decision by President Engstrom," said Sheila Stearns, state commissioner of higher education. "He has the full support of the Board of Regents and my office."

"This was the right move at this time," said Clayton Christian, Board of Regents chair. "It's the right decision for the state, The University of Montana and the Big Sky Conference."

When were the invited to the WAC? I never heard about this.

bandl wrote:When were the invited to the WAC? I never heard about this.

I'm not sure. . .

Also, I hear their stadium is loud.

Boo.

bandl wrote:When were the invited to the WAC? I never heard about this.

poop.

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:

bandl wrote:When were the invited to the WAC? I never heard about this.

poop.

pfffffshawwwwwwwwwwwww.........

This is great fucking news. Thank you to Montana State for giving us a real anchor and a great reason to not go anywhere without you.

If UND really did help the decision then a thanks goes there as well.

Best news ive heard all week!! Go Griz!

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:This is great fucking news. Thank you to Montana State for giving us a real anchor and a great reason to not go anywhere without you.

If UND really did help the decision then a thanks goes there as well.

Sorry Ursus, but the UM/MSU rivalry is the lamest reason EVER. As is Engstrom's #3 reason:

Engstrom said three principles guided his decision. Finally, he wanted to ensure that UM athletic teams can compete successfully and maintain the prestige and integrity the program has demonstrated over the years.

That just shows he has absolutely NO balls. I'm predicting Griz will NEVER move up with him as President, and soon we'll be in a conference with Central Washington, MSU-Billings, Carroll, etc. because all the REAL schools will have moved on.

The biggest news is that this should kill off the move-up threads/cat fights on egriz. Thank. F'ing. God.

Mixed feelings myself. Both choices had their positives, but only one of them would of been new and (potentially) more exciting

AZGrizFan wrote:

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:This is great fucking news. Thank you to Montana State for giving us a real anchor and a great reason to not go anywhere without you.

If UND really did help the decision then a thanks goes there as well.

Sorry Ursus, but the UM/MSU rivalry is the lamest reason EVER. As is Engstrom's #3 reason:

Engstrom said three principles guided his decision. Finally, he wanted to ensure that UM athletic teams can compete successfully and maintain the prestige and integrity the program has demonstrated over the years.

That just shows he has absolutely NO balls. I'm predicting Griz will NEVER move up with him as President, and soon we'll be in a conference with Central Washington, MSU-Billings, Carroll, etc. because all the REAL schools will have moved on.

Good one pin dick.

AZGrizFan wrote:

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:This is great fucking news. Thank you to Montana State for giving us a real anchor and a great reason to not go anywhere without you.

If UND really did help the decision then a thanks goes there as well.

Sorry Ursus, but the UM/MSU rivalry is the lamest reason EVER. As is Engstrom's #3 reason:

Engstrom said three principles guided his decision. Finally, he wanted to ensure that UM athletic teams can compete successfully and maintain the prestige and integrity the program has demonstrated over the years.

That just shows he has absolutely NO balls. I'm predicting Griz will NEVER move up with him as President, and soon we'll be in a conference with Central Washington, MSU-Billings, Carroll, etc. because all the REAL schools will have moved on.

...yes Ursus, moved on to join the others in the illustrious pursuit of a bowl invitation to lovely Detroit, Mi in Dec....or, if they are able to carry over their FCS success & finish the year 11-1, maybe even the Alamo Bowl...

Whatever the reason, thank you UM...perhaps some of this will rub off on the admin at App St over the next couple of years....

Silenoz wrote:The biggest news is that this should kill off the move-up threads/cat fights on egriz. Thank. F'ing. God.

Mixed feelings myself. Both choices had their positives, but only one of them would of been new and (potentially) more exciting

Exactly.

Did he come out & say he enjoy's being the CAA's bi-otch?

Appaholic wrote:...yes Ursus, moved on to join the others in the illustrious pursuit of a bowl invitation to lovely Detroit, Mi in Dec....or, if they are able to carry over their FCS success & finish the year 11-1, maybe even the Alamo Bowl...

Whatever the reason, thank you UM...perhaps some of this will rub off on the admin at App St over the next couple of years....

Would you feel the same way if App State were being courted by the ACC?

bluehenbillk wrote:Did he come out & say he enjoy's being the CAA's bi-otch?

Yes, in fact he mentioned Delaware several times

AZGrizFan wrote:

Appaholic wrote:...yes Ursus, moved on to join the others in the illustrious pursuit of a bowl invitation to lovely Detroit, Mi in Dec....or, if they are able to carry over their FCS success & finish the year 11-1, maybe even the Alamo Bowl...

Whatever the reason, thank you UM...perhaps some of this will rub off on the admin at App St over the next couple of years....

Would you feel the same way if App State were being courted by the ACC?

I can honestly say I would. The ACC is a joke as a football conference. Maybe I'd be swayed more by the Big East (or WAC in your case). We could never compete in the SEC & the ACC is not a step up IMO.

UM Prez nailed this decision for all the reasons he stated. Plus the WAC is continually on life-support and will meet it's demise in the near future.

Appaholic wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
Would you feel the same way if App State were being courted by the ACC?

I can honestly say I would. The ACC is a joke as a football conference. Maybe I'd be swayed more by the Big East (or WAC in your case). We could never compete in the SEC & the ACC is not a step up IMO.

Seriously, that is fucking COMICAL. You're telling me that a football conference with Florida State, Boston College, Virgina Tech, Georgia Tech, Virgina, Clemson and Miami (FL) is a "joke"? You'd be "swayed" by a conference who's best team is Pitt? Seriously?

AZGrizFan wrote:

Silenoz wrote:The biggest news is that this should kill off the move-up threads/cat fights on egriz. Thank. F'ing. God.

Mixed feelings myself. Both choices had their positives, but only one of them would of been new and (potentially) more exciting

Exactly.

Funny how you take an absolute ass kicking on a thread a couple of months ago.

Then you bow out and say "I was just joking to get your goat".

Now your back to try again I guess so your explanation last time can be seen by all to be total bullshit AZ.

Whether you want to believe it or not, the rivalry with Cats is the biggest game on our schedule every year. It's a fair playing field with both of us at the same level. It would be greatly cheapened if we moved without them.

Making the playoffs beats the living shit out of making a bowl game. Bowl games are the near equivalent of little league baseball and all other kids sports the past 15-20 yrs. 1/2 the teams need to get a tropy so that most of them can feel good. The championship is not cheapened in this way...ONE FUCKING team is the best that year. There ain't an argument about that.

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
Exactly.

Funny how you take an absolute ass kicking on a thread a couple of months ago.

Then you bow out and say "I was just joking to get your goat".

Now your back to try again I guess so your explanation last time can be seen by all to be total bullshit AZ.

Whether you want to believe it or not, the rivalry with Cats is the biggest game on our schedule every year. It's a fair playing field with both of us at the same level. It would be greatly cheapened if we moved without them.

Making the playoffs beats the living shit out of making a bowl game. Bowl games are the near equivalent of little league baseball and all other kids sports the past 15-20 yrs. 1/2 the teams need to get a tropy so that most of them can feel good. The championship is not cheapened in this way...ONE FUCKING team is the best that year. There ain't an argument about that.

I was waiting for that.

Is it not possible that I could have changed my mind over the past couple months?

No, in Ursus' black/white world that's just NOT ALLOWED.

AZGrizFan wrote:

Silenoz wrote:The biggest news is that this should kill off the move-up threads/cat fights on egriz. Thank. F'ing. God.

Mixed feelings myself. Both choices had their positives, but only one of them would of been new and (potentially) more exciting

Exactly.

What, your alma mater doesn't provide enough FBS "excitement" for you?

Grizalltheway wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
Exactly.

What, your alma mater doesn't provide enough FBS "excitement" for you?

What does my alma mater have to do with the price of rice in China?

AZGrizFan wrote:

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote: Funny how you take an absolute ass kicking on a thread a couple of months ago.

Then you bow out and say "I was just joking to get your goat".

Now your back to try again I guess so your explanation last time can be seen by all to be total bullshit AZ.

Whether you want to believe it or not, the rivalry with Cats is the biggest game on our schedule every year. It's a fair playing field with both of us at the same level. It would be greatly cheapened if we moved without them.

Making the playoffs beats the living shit out of making a bowl game. Bowl games are the near equivalent of little league baseball and all other kids sports the past 15-20 yrs. 1/2 the teams need to get a tropy so that most of them can feel good. The championship is not cheapened in this way...ONE FUCKING team is the best that year. There ain't an argument about that.

I was waiting for that.

Is it not possible that I could have changed my mind over the past couple months?

No, in Ursus' black/white world that's just NOT ALLOWED.

Got it, you got your ass kicked. Then decided after taking a beating that the side you were actually on in the first place was the wrong side of the debate so you looked into it all more closely and changed your mind.

Who the fuck do you think you're kidding here?

BTW, of course you were waiting for it. You have a keen eye for seeing when your full of shit like the rest of us do.