Stephen F Austin Game Cancelled

[coachouert]

Just got this. Bye week is now the 14th with a home game on the 21st.



From Montana State Director of Athletics Leon Costello:

On Friday, May 24, I received notification from Stephen F. Austin State University Athletic Director Michael McBroom that SFASU would be cancelling the football series with MSU, including a home game this year (Sept. 14) and the road game in 2025 (Sept. 13). This development is disappointing and disturbing given the 2024 Bobcat Football season kicks off in less than three months.

Since receiving this notification, my priority has been to replace the game for this year, knowing the options were extremely limited given the timing. Fortunately, we were able to sign a contract with Mercyhurst University, an FCS school from the Northeast Conference, for a game on Sept. 21, 2024. I understand the effects of this change are wide-ranging and not ideal for our fans who have already made plans to attend a home game on a different date. However, adding this game gives us the opportunity to maintain a six-game home schedule with a full 12-game schedule for the 2024 season. That is important for many reasons, particularly FCS playoff considerations.

Bobcat fans are the best in the FCS, and I share your extreme disappointment in dealing with this late change to our 2024 schedule. While our options to replace the game were very limited, we are grateful to everyone at Mercyhurst and their willingness to work with us and we look forward to hosting them in September.

About Mercyhurst Football:

Mercyhurst University is a Catholic comprehensive institution in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Lakers Athletics begins competition in NCAA Division I in 2024-25, including the football program playing its first season as an FCS program in the Northeast Conference.

Montana State’s only contest against a current NEC member was a 47-24 win against Wagner in 2018, and the Cats beat Bryant, then an NEC school, 27-24 in 2016.

The Lakers’ game at MSU on Sept. 21 marks the program’s first game west of the Mississippi River.



Leon Costello
Director of Athletics
@leonmcostello

[BleedingBLue]

Saw that too. Screw SFA. OOC schedule just got way worse adding Mercyhurst.

[coloradocat]

What are the financial aspects of cancelling? Even though it was a home and home I wouldn't be surprised if we were giving them money. Hopefully they had to at least pay something to get out, especially this late.

[Bocephus]

Welp, had to rebook my hotel room and seems like they already caught on. Going to spend an extra $150/ night at the same hotel.

[gtapp]

Very disappointing! I was looking forward to the SFA game. I love coming to the games but when we play someone (Stetson as example) who we can beat without any effort it makes it tough to justify the $1500+ per game it costs me to fly in and stay. I skipped Stetson last year for this reason. Not Leon's fault. Good job finding a replacement last minute but to bad he could not find a competitive replacement.

[MSU01]

That's unfortunate, but hell of a job by Leon to have a replacement game scheduled within 5 days which included a 3-day holiday weekend.

[MTnative]

Would love to see SFA in the playoffs…….

[Bocephus]

Would love to see SFA in the playoffs…….

They’ll be luck to not finish last in their conference.

[MSUBRONCO]

Well damm, never heard of them

[GoCats18]

Strength of schedule means nothing. Look at UM last year.

[Camo_Cat]

Would love to see SFA in the playoffs…….

Don't hold your breath; SFA is not a good football team. They won't see the playoffs.......

[MSU01]

Strength of schedule means nothing. Look at UM last year.

And MSU in 2021 and 2022, at least in terms of their FCS non-conference opponents (Drake! San Diego! McNeese! Morehead State!). The FCS is so watered down these days that you just need to rack up D-1 wins no matter who they're against and you'll be in good shape for seeding come playoff time.

[Team10]

Google "mercyhurst football conference" and you'll get a laugh if it comes up with the same thing I received.

[Camo_Cat]

Google "mercyhurst football conference" and you'll get a laugh if it comes up with the same thing I received.

Cottontail Portable Toilets!

[AFCAT]

At least it wasn't the Gold Rush game. That could have been a disaster if they tried to change the date of that game.

[MSUBRONCO]

Google "mercyhurst football conference" and you'll get a laugh if it comes up with the same thing I received.

U got me curious, ok than intresting

[AFCAT]

Strength of schedule means nothing. Look at UM last year.

And MSU in 2021 and 2022, at least in terms of their FCS non-conference opponents (Drake! San Diego! McNeese! Morehead State!). The FCS is so watered down these days that you just need to rack up D-1 wins no matter who they're against and you'll be in good shape for seeding come playoff time.

I remember when the Cats scheduled Div 2 teams like Fort Lewis (2015) and Utah Tech (2014).

[Rich K]

Mercyhurst is a game that MSU could suit up the Rugby club team and demolish them. The only question is will they stay in Helena or camp at the Lubrecht forest campground. This is an awful matchup.

[Camo_Cat]

My guess is that the timing of SFA's cancellation of this game is due to them switching conferences starting this season. They were in the WAC, now moving back to the Southland Conference. Our game was out-of-conference, but perhaps a new conference schedule messed with their dates?

[MSUBRONCO]

My guess is that the timing of SFA's cancellation of this game is due to them switching conferences starting this season. They were in the WAC, now moving back to the Southland Conference. Our game was out-of-conference, but perhaps a new conference schedule messed with their dates?

Wad my theory saw when looked at sfa news "southland releasing new schedule soon" or something along those lines