Fullerton to retire

[Hawks86]

https://twitter.com/BigSkyConf/status/697516662069694469

http://www.bigskyconf.com/news/2016/2/10/Fullerton.aspx

[blueandgoldblitz]

And there was great rejoicing throughout the land! Maybe Peter Fields knew and is positioning himself to be the next commissioner....and no I don't really believe that

[FTG247365]

Does this mean instead of going to Reno for Basketball tournaments it can go back they way it's supposed to be?

[luckyirishguy25]

about time!

[Hawks86]

Since the presidents and AD's vote on everything? Why do people dislike Doug?

[SonomaCat]

I've actually always been impressed with him in interviews - he seems to be quite forward-thinking. Hope the conference can find that same quality in a replacement.

[PapaG]

I've actually always been impressed with him in interviews - he seems to be quite forward-thinking. Hope the conference can find that same quality in a replacement.

The only thing that can really be criticized is the failure to get both North Dakota schools into the conference, IMO.

Missing on NDSU was huge in retrospect in that they would play the role UM did for years until MSU, EWU, and a few others made a greater investment in football to level the playing field.

[3-7-77]

Let's hope the" Peter(Fields)Principle" is out of the question.

[SonomaCat]

I've actually always been impressed with him in interviews - he seems to be quite forward-thinking. Hope the conference can find that same quality in a replacement.

The only thing that can really be criticized is the failure to get both North Dakota schools into the conference, IMO.

Missing on NDSU was huge in retrospect in that they would play the role UM did for years until MSU, EWU, and a few others made a greater investment in football to level the playing field.

Agreed, it would have been great to bring all of the Dakotas in, IMO. My impression was that he didn't have much say in that decision and that (as with every major decision) the presidents made that call. But one could fault him for not being persuasive enough to convince them to change their minds.

[CatBlitz]

His heading of the referees (I believe he's in charge of all of that) leaves a lot to be desired. I don't know what it is, but it screams utter incompetence.

[BleedingBLue]

Let's also hope that when Idaho drops down, the new commish pushes for 2 smaller conferences rather than a 14 team conference. Or at the very least a North/South 2 division conference where MSU, UM, EWU, UND, ID, ISU and PSU are in the same division and the other 2 conference games every year are cross overs to the other division that rotate every year. Same as the FBS conferences with 12 or more teams.

[LongTimeCatFan]

Well, he killed funding mechanisms at MSU and people (me) still hold a grudge for that.

As commissioner, he's done OK. He secured the stability of the conference as well as a major TV contract. But yeah, missing the Dakota's and poor reffing is a stain on his record.

[SonomaCat]

In all fairness, is there any fanbase that thinks it's conference referees aren't terrible?

[LongTimeCatFan]

In all fairness, is there any fanbase that thinks it's conference referees aren't terrible?

True, but apples to apples, the Missouri valley has higher quality than us.

[BleedingBLue]

Well, he killed funding mechanisms at MSU and people (me) still hold a grudge for that.

As commissioner, he's done OK. He secured the stability of the conference as well as a major TV contract. But yeah, missing the Dakota's and poor reffing is a stain on his record.

This is his biggest and best achievement IMO. Root sports televising at least 1 game a week is huge for the fan bases in the area and the conference in general.

[SonomaCat]

In all fairness, is there any fanbase that thinks it's conference referees aren't terrible?

True, but apples to apples, the Missouri valley has higher quality than us.

Fair point. I really have no idea what different conferences do in terms of managing/training/etc., referees so I have always been in the dark about what differences exists from conference to conference behind the scenes.

[CelticCat]

Much like Fields, I always thought Fullerton did alright and never understood the hatred.

Rob Ash for Commissioner!

[vike_king]

Since the presidents and AD's vote on everything? Why do people dislike Doug?

He gave us the North Dakotan........

[CatBlitz]

In all fairness, is there any fanbase that thinks it's conference referees aren't terrible?

True, but apples to apples, the Missouri valley has higher quality than us.

Fair point. I really have no idea what different conferences do in terms of managing/training/etc., referees so I have always been in the dark about what differences exists from conference to conference behind the scenes.

Honestly, it's an issue of accountability. There have been monumental eff ups in the past and from my understanding, disciplinary action has not taken place. Some of these calls have cost players games and field position/scores. For example, Mike Rider got ejected from a game from a TEXTBOOK tackle. There was nothing made of that call or the referee after the case. I would've liked to see at least some sort of public explanation. If there was I apologize, but there seems to be no transparency. I have a video of the tackle if you want to see it, too.

[Joe Bobcat]

What Vike_king said.