Western State vs. Montana 9/5 1:00

[kemajic]

Now if UM ever has the misfortune to schedule a powerhouse D-II squad and subsequently over look them, they could suffer some embarrassment ala MSU a few years back against my kid's Chadron squad.

Kinda like CWU?

(Sorry, had to.)

CWU has never beaten Montana. They have, however, beaten EWU 30 times. Your point being?

[kemajic]

Wow, impressive! Although the last time Montana played Oregon State, everyone beat up on the Beavers (1996). And your reference to the Oregon game sounds pretty similar to when Dickenson was QB (Ducks have not been all that great until recently either). Everyone in the Big Sky does have what could be called an "easy" opponent (some more easier than others) this year. Griz did step up this year scheduling both Cal Poly and UC-Davis. Not too many teams the Griz are scared, but it still makes me wonder why schedule an easy opponent (and give them the money) when there is a team just as worthy (and more intriguing of a matchup) just down the road in Helena. Should still be the same outcome, shouldn't it?

We are aguing for better Montana games, not NAIA games. Just because Weber does it doesn't mean Montana should.

Montana was 19-19 against teams now FBS/BCS from 1990-2003 when the current (money is everything) administration changed the scheduling posture. There are FBS teams that are a bus ride away and that we have a history with and we do not play them.

Aside from Montana, there are only two other teams in the BSC that are over .500 over the last 5 years, so there are sufficient easy games within conf. play to not need OOC patsies. We need to strengthen the overall schedule with OOC games, not weaken it. The outsiders are right to criticize the scheduling; it sucks.

[weberwildcat]

Considering the level of football Montana has been playing at for the past decade or so playing Western State reminds me of NFL Preseason games.

The fans are excited for the first "game", they fill the stadium regardless, but my beef is it seems like it is a dis to the fans. Making them pay facevalue for these types of games. The score could be 35-0 in the 1st. UM tickets are probably the highest in the nation and many of their fans travel great distances.

I don't even like when Weber plays DII's and NAIA's when we weren't even good!! I think a program like UM should try to schedule a better game out of respect for the fans (if possible). Maybe its not always easy to schedule FCS's since there aren't a lot in the western US when u minus the Big Sky and I'm sure UM has issues getting them to come to Missoula.

Who knows...


I also think that on an 11 game yr its kinda lame to have non DI wins on the schedule if your in the hunt for the national title. YES i am aware Weber had a DII and NAIA win last year. I guess in FCS it really doesn't matter since we have playoffs. When Florida won the national title a few yrs back it was pretty lame knowing 1 of their 12 wins was against the Citadel.

I'd be happier with a rule that FBS can only play 1 FCS per year and its an auto DQ to get in a BCS bowl if you beat an FCS and FCS can never play non DI's.
It shouldnt matter if you suck and your only wins might be against NAIA's and DII's. You still can beat Idaho State just ask Weber fans about our 2004 season! lol


2004: 1-10-0

L 09-04-2004
31 Southern Utah 34 Ogden, UT

L 09-11-2004
0 Texas-El Paso 32 El Paso, TX

L 09-18-2004
29 California-Davis 31 Ogden, UT

L 09-25-2004
27 Northern Arizona 55 Flagstaff, AZ

L 10-02-2004
21 Montana 42 Ogden, UT

L 10-09-2004
17 Montana St. 20 Bozeman, MT

L 10-16-2004
12 Cal St.-Sacramento 31 Sacramento, CA

L 10-23-2004
7 Eastern Washington 51 Ogden, UT

[color=#0000FF]W 10-30-2004
26 Idaho St. 14 Pocatello, ID[/color]

L 11-06-2004
17 North Dakota St. 31 Ogden, UT

L 11-13-2004
15 Portland St. (OR) 34 Ogden, UT

[JALMOND]

Wow, impressive! Although the last time Montana played Oregon State, everyone beat up on the Beavers (1996). And your reference to the Oregon game sounds pretty similar to when Dickenson was QB (Ducks have not been all that great until recently either). Everyone in the Big Sky does have what could be called an "easy" opponent (some more easier than others) this year. Griz did step up this year scheduling both Cal Poly and UC-Davis. Not too many teams the Griz are scared, but it still makes me wonder why schedule an easy opponent (and give them the money) when there is a team just as worthy (and more intriguing of a matchup) just down the road in Helena. Should still be the same outcome, shouldn't it?

I don't think there's as much demand for UM playing Carroll as you think there is. However inaccurate, the NAIA has a stigma of being basically high school ball or at least sub-NCAA (it's really somewhere between DII & DIII in terms of ability). I'm guessing just as many Griz fans would bitch about Carroll on the schedule as Western State. And what do you mean by "and give them the money"? UM would have to give a paycheck to Carroll, too.

It's not like the Griz would make more money off a Carroll game than Western State, since they'll fill the stadium regardless.

Basically the same things I hear from my Ducks and Beavers fans when I ask why they do not play us more (no real demand, FCS is bascially lower tier ball, they would fill it regardless of who they play, etc.). There would probably be more hype involved playing the defending NAIA champs from your own home state than there would playing some lower DII school from outside the state (my opinion). At least from Helena.

I understand the Frontier Conference and the NAIA (went to school and was associated with the Rocky Mountain College football program in the late 80's-we only had us, Carroll, Tech and Western in the conference back then). I also understand the idea of making the out of conference stronger, but if you are looking for a "filler" and are going to dangle a guarantee at them, why not schedule Carroll?

I know where the NAIA fits in relation. Between DII and DIII is a fair assessment. Still, an upper tier NAIA like Carroll should beat a lower tier DII like Western State, at least on paper.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Wow, impressive! Although the last time Montana played Oregon State, everyone beat up on the Beavers (1996). And your reference to the Oregon game sounds pretty similar to when Dickenson was QB (Ducks have not been all that great until recently either). Everyone in the Big Sky does have what could be called an "easy" opponent (some more easier than others) this year. Griz did step up this year scheduling both Cal Poly and UC-Davis. Not too many teams the Griz are scared, but it still makes me wonder why schedule an easy opponent (and give them the money) when there is a team just as worthy (and more intriguing of a matchup) just down the road in Helena. Should still be the same outcome, shouldn't it?

J, you have the games correct that I am referring to. The Ducks were good the years we played them maybe not great but they were on their way. They were in the Rose Bowl 2 seasons after the Dickenson game referenced so they were on their way. The Beavers weren't great but I'm pretty sure that those outside of Missoula were pretty surprised to see the Griz go to their place and dismantle them. It just gets a little old that people try and make a case that the Griz are afraid to go play the FBS teams when we've had much more success than they have had doing so. We also lost a couple of close games to Washington State but we were in the games and showed much too well for their fans to feel comfortable about the games when they were doing very well in the PAC 10 and making it to the bigger bowls. We are 6-6 in our last 12 FBS meetings (Idaho helped that) and were in pretty good positions in about four other games to pull the upsets. Here's the link to the video highlights of the OSU game:

http://www.montanagrizzlies.com/pages/m ... =7230&m=18


Now as far as the Carrol thing goes...it would make a good filler in the scedule for an early game but for whatever reason the Athletic Dpts. don't think it would be good for the teams. It may have to do with the fact that although I am a Griz fan I am also a major supporter of the Saints (grew up in Helena) and most Griz fans/Carrol fans are crossovers to the two teams. I would rather not see the fellas from Carrol come to Missoula and take a beating if that were to happen and I think a lot of people feel the same way judging by the busloads of Griz fans that went to watch them play on Saturday after our loss to Richmond this year. Our group alone took four Beachliners over to Georgia to watch it. Another reason might be that Carrol does very well in home game attendance themselves and I've heard (secondhand) that they are in a position to require more money than the other teams we bring in.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I don't think there's as much demand for UM playing Carroll as you think there is. However inaccurate, the NAIA has a stigma of being basically high school ball or at least sub-NCAA (it's really somewhere between DII & DIII in terms of ability). I'm guessing just as many Griz fans would bitch about Carroll on the schedule as Western State. And what do you mean by "and give them the money"? UM would have to give a paycheck to Carroll, too.

It's not like the Griz would make more money off a Carroll game than Western State, since they'll fill the stadium regardless.

Basically the same things I hear from my Ducks and Beavers fans when I ask why they do not play us more (no real demand, FCS is bascially lower tier ball, they would fill it regardless of who they play, etc.). There would probably be more hype involved playing the defending NAIA champs from your own home state than there would playing some lower DII school from outside the state (my opinion). At least from Helena.

I understand the Frontier Conference and the NAIA (went to school and was associated with the Rocky Mountain College football program in the late 80's-we only had us, Carroll, Tech and Western in the conference back then). I also understand the idea of making the out of conference stronger, but if you are looking for a "filler" and are going to dangle a guarantee at them, why not schedule Carroll?

I know where the NAIA fits in relation. Between DII and DIII is a fair assessment. Still, an upper tier NAIA like Carroll should beat a lower tier DII like Western State, at least on paper.

Check my last post as to the "not much demand" thing J. I don't think it has to do with us seeing Carrol as a team that is below trifling with and more due to the fact that we are fond of the team and don't really want to see the thing turn into a bad blood deal like there is with MSU. I'm not sure about the Administrations but it's the way I feel personally.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Kinda like CWU?

(Sorry, had to.)

CWU has never beaten Montana. They have, however, beaten EWU 30 times. Your point being?

My point was in referencing Wedgebuster's comment about UM possible scheduling a powerhouse D-II squad and overlook them, like Montana did last year with CWU. Yes, the Griz won, but barely.

[BlackFalkin]

I hate watching EWU play the same teams OVER & OVER again. Usually a great west team appears on the EWU schedule once a season & I cant stand it.

My Perfect EWU Schedule:

@ North Texas <--FBS that we have a chance to beat
Chattanooga <--Cupcake FCS
Rhode Island <--Cupcake FCS
@ Youngstown <--Decent FCS

Easy games away, Tough games @ home

@NorCol
Weber
@Idaho State
Montana
@Sac
Montana St
@Portland State
NAU

12-0 baby

[Clark Grizwold]

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!

Glad you could finally get a look at one Kats.

Best. Post. EVER.

[AZGrizFan]

Yawn....there any point to this thread? We all know that this is pretty much going to be a full pad practice for the Griz

We thought about scheduling SUU, but wanted some tougher competition, so we went with Western State of Colorado.

[griz37]

Missing my first home game since 2003 to go on a 10 day vacation. Don't really feel bad about missing this blood bath though.

[Grizalltheway]

CWU has never beaten Montana. They have, however, beaten EWU 30 times. Your point being?

My point was in referencing Wedgebuster's comment about UM possible scheduling a powerhouse D-II squad and overlook them, like Montana did last year with CWU. Yes, the Griz won, but barely.

If you had simply said NDSU instead of CWU, your zinger would have actually had some zing, and you wouldn't look like such a jackass now.