Home Playoff Game?
Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:09 am
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!
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?
ADVERTISEMENT
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!
