Home Playoff Game?

[bobcatgrad2005]

From today's Great Falls Tribune:

Could Cats, Griz be home for playoffs?
By SCOTT MANSCH
Tribune Asst. Sports Editor


It's pretty much a given that the Montana Grizzlies, if they prevail as expected Saturday at last-place Northern Colorado, will be home for the playoffs.

But might the Montana State Bobcats also play host to a first-round game in the NCAA I-AA football playoffs on Nov. 25?

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While a lot would have to fall the Bobcats' way — most notably the Grizzlies in the Cat-Griz clash on Nov. 18 — it's not impossible that history could be made the Saturday after Thanksgiving with two I-AA playoff games in the Treasure State.

"Yes," said Matt Dougherty, The Sports Network's executive director of I-AA football.

Of course, that would require a victory in Missoula, where the Bobcats have won only once since 1985.

The Bobcats and their six-game winning streak will give it a rest this week. Montana State is 7-3 overall, 6-1 in the Big Sky Conference, and after Saturday's open date will play the Grizzlies in Missoula for a share of the league championship.

"If they win in Missoula, they could host in the first round," Dougherty said. "Given what they've been able to do by bringing in consistently strong crowds, I think the Bobcats could be in that position. Them being so hot here at the end certainly doesn't hurt their case."

During a three-game September losing streak, the playoffs seemed out of the question for head coach Mike Kramer's Bobcats. But suddenly the Cats are just one win away from not only an automatic bid into the postseason as the Big Sky champ, but perhaps a host's role in the first round.

"It's possible," said Sacramento State athletic director Terry Wanless, who is on the eight-member committee that selects the I-AA playoff field. "But a lot would really depend on how a few of the other (ranked) schools finish out.

"I can say this: Winning the Big Sky is a prestigious and respected situation, and the committee understands that."

There are only four seeded teams in the playoff field, and they'll all host one of the eight first-round games. The other first-round host roles are determined by a number of factors, not the least of which is money.

Montana State athletic director Peter Fields said schools must provide bids to the NCAA, detailing the number of tickets to be sold. The guarantee to the NCAA is 75 percent of the final ticket revenue figure.

In The Sports Network poll, the 8-1 Grizzlies are No. 2 and the Bobcats are No. 18. The selection committee has its own poll, but TSN's is always a good barometer.

"It's not exact, but it's pretty close," said Wanless. "I don't think there's much difference in the way they look at things and the committee looks at things ... Where the public gets confused, though, is that poll doesn't take into consideration the AQs ."

Eight bids go to conference champions, or automatic qualifiers. Eight at-large teams are then picked to fill out the bracket.

This year, several traditionally strong I-AA leagues are having down years. In this week's TSN poll, there are no teams ranked from the Southland or Patriot Conferences, and only Hampton from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is rated in the top 25.

It was suggested to Dougherty that perhaps I-AA football isn't as strong as it's been in the recent past.

"Yep, I'd agree with that," he said. "I think the top group is very strong. The top five or six (rated) teams, maybe even down the line to No. 7 (Illinois State), are all legitimate title contenders. Then there's a big dropoff to the next group."

Montana's record (6-0 in league) says the Grizzlies are the class of the Big Sky. But the Bobcats and, perhaps, Portland State's Vikings, loom as potential playoff teams.

And what if Portland State, which takes a 6-4 record into this weekend's game with Sacramento State, and the Bobcats finish with 7-4 marks? Might they warrant consideration as at-large playoff teams.? The Vikings beat New Mexico in September and have losses to I-A foes Oregon and California this season.

Dougherty believes Portland State, which lost to MSU 14-0 in Bozeman on Oct. 7, would probably be picked ahead of the Bobcats.

"I think their overall strength of schedule puts them ahead of any other four-loss team," Dougherty said.

The Bobcats, a week after a stunning victory on the road at Colorado, lost a home game to Division II Chadron (Neb.) State.

"They'd probably would be less thought-of in the 7-4 group because of the Chadron loss, but who knows?" Wanless aid.

Said Dougherty: "The history says it's been worse to have a bad loss than a huge win."

Montana State fans, disappointed a year ago when their 7-4 club defeated the Grizzlies in the regular-season finale but was not selected as an at-large team last year, realize that advancing as the Big Sky's "automatic qualifier" is probably their only ticket to the playoffs.

A home playoff game would be gravy — and given the Grizzly history probably a twinbill of sorts for I-AA followers here. That possibility, coming two days after Thanksgiving, could really be a football feast for fans in Big Sky Country.








75% of ticket revenue goes to the NCAA? That's quite a bit, especially since its not costing them much to put on the game. MSU should charge $1 for tickets to pack the stands and thwart the NCAA. I sure hope the extra money doesn't go to our high quality officials!

[catbooster]

75% of ticket revenue goes to the NCAA? That's quite a bit, especially since its not costing them much to put on the game. MSU should charge $1 for tickets to pack the stands and thwart the NCAA. I sure hope the extra money doesn't go to our high quality officials!

If I'm not mistaken, the ticket prices are set by NCAA, so we have no control over their price, and the money to the NCAA is used for travel costs, etc. for the playoffs. I think the money to the NCAA gets largely split up among the playoff teams, but still is not enough to cover all of the costs.

[oldcatfan]

I believe MSU sets the ticket prices--they are based on the budget needed to pay for the game. I also believe that the ticket prices were already submitted with the bid.

[The Butcher]

The Bobcats, a week after a stunning victory on the road at Colorado, lost a home game to Division II Chadron (Neb.) State.

"They'd probably would be less thought-of in the 7-4 group because of the Chadron loss, but who knows?" Wanless aid.

Had a feeling this one was going to bite us in the ass.

[PDXKat]

The Bobcats, a week after a stunning victory on the road at Colorado, lost a home game to Division II Chadron (Neb.) State.

"They'd probably would be less thought-of in the 7-4 group because of the Chadron loss, but who knows?" Wanless aid.

Had a feeling this one was going to bite us in the ass.

Don't worry, that one won't bite us in the ass. Remember, we control the outcome.

[tetoncat]

Not any worse than the other losses, because if we had won any of the three, i think we are in no matter what happened with the Grizzlies. Remember, even after the Chadron loss we were ranked and winning one of the next two would have kept us in the rankings and we would probably be top 12 now.

[The Butcher]

Not any worse than the other losses, because if we had won any of the three, i think we are in no matter what happened with the Grizzlies. Remember, even after the Chadron loss we were ranked and winning one of the next two would have kept us in the rankings and we would probably be top 12 now.

Very true. We just needed one of those three.

[083190]

Just go win.

[Cat-theotherwhitemeat]

Have the Griz and Cats ever had home playoff games in the same year?
That would be pretty cool, except the Griz would have to lose. I wouldn't like that part.




Playoffs? Playoffs??

[Egg Salad]

Have the Griz and Cats ever had home playoff games in the same year?
That would be pretty cool, except the Griz would have to lose. I wouldn't like that part.




Playoffs? Playoffs??

Just throw the game, and then you can win your playoff game.
Oh wait....


"You play...to win..the game."
Who didn't see that one coming?

[CATCO]

Does anyone know exactly how the award home playoff games, I believe the top 4 teams get a home game, then it is bid after that. I suppose it depends on seeding and attendance. How does our attendance compare to other schools likely going to the playoffs.

[GOKATS]

Does anyone know exactly how the award home playoff games, I believe the top 4 teams get a home game, then it is bid after that. I suppose it depends on seeding and attendance. How does our attendance compare to other schools likely going to the playoffs.

Only the top four teams are seeded. The remaining four home games are selected by bid with attendance being a major factor. MSU actually ranks pretty good in attendance and might get a home game with a win Sat. A 'Cat win might also knock the griz out of the top four (depending how the other teams do), but they would no doubt get a first round home game anyway.

[cornbreadfred]

The NCAA does set the ticket prices for the playoffs. Then the non-top four teams place bids for home playoff games.

[grizband]

Does anyone know exactly how the award home playoff games, I believe the top 4 teams get a home game, then it is bid after that. I suppose it depends on seeding and attendance. How does our attendance compare to other schools likely going to the playoffs.

Only the top four teams are seeded. The remaining four home games are selected by bid with attendance being a major factor. MSU actually ranks pretty good in attendance and might get a home game with a win Sat. A 'Cat win might also knock the griz out of the top four (depending how the other teams do), but they would no doubt get a first round home game anyway.

Home games are given to teams which bid the most money. There are minimumn bids, which increase every round, starting at around $30-40 thousand for the first round game. The Cats attendance during the season, coupled with the possibility of their first home playoff game in awhile would probably afford them an attractive bid.

[DCC2MSU]

Does anyone know exactly how the award home playoff games, I believe the top 4 teams get a home game, then it is bid after that. I suppose it depends on seeding and attendance. How does our attendance compare to other schools likely going to the playoffs.

Here are the numbers from 2005


2005 Division I-AA Football Attendance Figures


1 Montana 22,479
2 Delaware 22,177
3 Yale 21,667
4 Southern 19,888
5 Appalachian State 17,917
6 Georgia Southern 16,241
7 Florida A&M 15,177
8 Tennessee State 15,023
9 North Carolina A&T 14,610
10 Jackson State 14,597
11 Youngstown State 14,544
12 South Carolina State 14,226
13 Alabama State 14,182
14 North Dakota State 14,160
15 Montana State 13,710
16 James Madison 13,525
17 Texas State 12,875
18 Western Kentucky 12,798
19 Grambling 12,214
20 Harvard 12,169

[DCC2MSU]

Furman was 24th

[DCC2MSU]

• Rank Team Conf W/L 2005 Ave. Attendence
  1 Massachusetts A10 (N) 9-1 9,353
  2 Appalachian St SOCON 10-1 17,917
  3 N Dakota St GWFC 9-1 14,160
  4 Montana BSC 9-1 22,479
  5 Youngstown St GFC 9-2 14,544
  6 James Madison A10 (S) 8-2 13,525
  7 Illinois St GFC 8-2 9,084
  8 New Hampshire A10 (N) 7-3 7,284
  9 Portland St BSC 7-4 6,597
  10 S Illinois GFC 7-3 9,581
  11 Maine A10 (N) 6-4 5,415
  12 Furman SOCON 8-3 11,052
  13 San Diego PFL 10-0 3,216
  14 Cal Poly GWFC 6-4 6,959
  15 S Dakota St GWFC 7-3 9,846
  16 Princeton IVY 8-1 9,370
  17 Towson A10 (S) 7-3 5,308
  18 Montana St BSC 7-3 13,710
  19 Northern Iowa GFC 6-4 10,628
  20 Hampton MEAC 10-1 8,142
  21 Coastal Carolina BSO 8-2 7,327
  22 Wofford SOCON 6-4 6,674
  23 UC Davis GWFC 4-5 7,253
  24 Harvard IVY 7-2 12,169
  25 TN Martin OVC 8-2 3,865
  26 Yale IVY 7-2 21,667