we have a long ways to go

[BandCat]

A larger and better band would be great! Our band is much too small to get the crowd into it. If you have to give partial scholarships to do it fine.

Having three different band directors in the past 3 years hasn't really been helping, but I promise you that we're working on it.

[GOKATS]

The game day expereince at Bobcat Stadium is just as good as the Griz I agree. Where we could do better is more support from the business community around town. When you go to Missoula every business is all decked out in Griz stuff. We need to do a better job in that area. Winning is a cure all for a lot of what has been stated. We have done a great job over the past few years--we need to suatain it and even do better!

LET'S GO CATS

I agree, but downtown Bozeman has turned all artsy/fartsy tourist city- exceptions being a few bars (Cannery, Crystal, Legion, Eagles, maybe the Pour House) and stalwarts like Owenhouse and the Powder Horn(which recently sold, so who knows which direction that spot will go). All of those are Bobcat supporters.

The Bozeman Chamber does nothing in my opinion to promote MSU and Bobcat Athletics (I could be a little off here, but I bagged the Chamber years ago because their political agenda and mine weren't the same).

I do see quite a few even mega chains promoting the 'Cats & it will only get better as they realize the local market. JMHO

[gtapp]

I love the game day experience in Bozeman. Could it be improved? YES! But if no changes were made for the next 20 years I could live with that. I have to admit that improved facilities would improve recruiting to some degree but any changes to improve the fan experience would be minimal. Some changes which would be helpful:

Closing the stadium in would create more noise (and possibly more empty seats). Increased sound from fans cheering would be a bonus.

If the sound system was improved the music could be louder without it being painful to the ears. Clear sound played loudly is more tolerable than a lower volume of noise.

A big screen (like UM) would be nice but only if it was used to show replays. If you just play commercials then keep the one we have.

A larger and better band would be great! Our band is much to small to get the crowd into it. If you have to give partial scholarships to do it fine.

I will never be for a closed stadium. Ever. It takes WAY too much away from the gameday experience in Montana. Real grass and outdoors in Bozeman is the best way to go.

If you close in one end you still have real grass and you are still outdoors. You just increase the noise level. Personally I don't care. I like the stadium just fine the way it is. It would be an even greater home field advantage if we can increase the noise level. The only way to do that is to increase the fan base and enclose one end of the stadium. Right now I would rate the game day experience in Bozeman at least a 9 on a scale of 10. If someone wants to spend millions to make it a 9.5 or 10 great. If not, I am very happy with a 9!

[poorgriz]

Once again I am amazed at how stupid some Cat fans can be. If you think that the Cats have a better game day(pre-game, tailgates, fans, stadium and final score at the end of the game) you are nuts. The Griz have made it pretty clear that they are the power house in this state. They(mainly Denny Washington) have invested in an amazing stadium, have great adds that run on my t.v at all different hours, they get better media coverage, you walk into a store and see way more Griz apperal than Cats, better field, better scoreboard, better crowds, louder crowds, better speakers, and they sure seem to make it to the playoffs a lot more than we do. Now, if you are happy with where the Cats are, great, but I would like to see the day when the Cats are at the same level, in every aspect as the Griz. Good post MSUCATFAN, you are right on.

[BengalCub3]

The Cats may not have everything the Griz have---but the changes that have taken place in the last 5-6 years are only steps in the right direction.

What they have--didn't happen overnight.

The gap is closing and it is closing quickly.

[gtapp]

Once again I am amazed at how stupid some Cat fans can be. If you think that the Cats have a better game day(pre-game, tailgates, fans, stadium and final score at the end of the game) you are nuts. The Griz have made it pretty clear that they are the power house in this state. They(mainly Denny Washington) have invested in an amazing stadium, have great adds that run on my t.v at all different hours, they get better media coverage, you walk into a store and see way more Griz apperal than Cats, better field, better scoreboard, better crowds, louder crowds, better speakers, and they sure seem to make it to the playoffs a lot more than we do. Now, if you are happy with where the Cats are, great, but I would like to see the day when the Cats are at the same level, in every aspect as the Griz. Good post MSUCATFAN, you are right on.

Which post are you responding to??? I thought this post was about (or at least became about) the game day experience for the fan. If you are talking about building a competitive team year in and year out then yes, your post has some merit (even though the Cats have become very competitive with the facilities we have). But as far as "game day experience there are only three factors that influence that for me:

1. Being with all the other great Cat fans and enjoying the experience with them.
2. Watching great football which 1-AA provides.
3. Cheering for the team I have loved since elementary school.

I get all three of those whether we play at Dornblaser or at a $100M facility.

[BroncoCat]

You know what this whole thing reminds me of? A spoiled two year old who gets every flippin' thing they ask for. Who gives a crap about what dUMb has? GO OUT AND WIN, THAT'S ALL WE SHOULD CARE ABOUT!!!! Our stadium is good enough, and more importantly, so is our team. That stadium will become even more full if we WIN. Ash knows that, the players know that, and we should all know that as well.

And who knows, maybe we'll end up with all of UM's stuff if we decide to go deep in the playoffs a few years in a row.......

No smack intended, but partly the reason the GRIZ continue to be good every year is the recruiting power of the facilities.

....So I don't think to "go out and win" is all you should care about. The two go hand-in-hand.

I don't know how to quantify such things, but the last few years it has been stated in the media that MSU has won or at least held their own for the in-state recruiting battle. Success breeds more success. Our facilities are more than adequate, and at the last remodel MSU made a commitment to upgrade Brick Breeden Fieldhouse and Bobcat Stadium, which isn't easy to do for a public institution.

[gtapp]

Everyone wants to win. I want us to win every game. But losing does not diminsh the experience. I have been to just about every game since the start of the 99 season and there have been many home losses since then. Since I travel to the games from Minneapolis the games take up most of three days and cost a fair amount. Never once (not even for a second) have I woke up the morning after a loss at home and said "what a waste of time and money". In 2000 we lost every game and worse I knew we were going to lose before I ever got on that plane. Yet, I could not wait to go and I could not wait to return. I think almost every Cat on this site feels the same way!!!

[DriftCat]

Once again I am amazed at how stupid some Cat fans can be. If you think that the Cats have a better game day(pre-game, tailgates, fans, stadium and final score at the end of the game) you are nuts. The Griz have made it pretty clear that they are the power house in this state. They(mainly Denny Washington) have invested in an amazing stadium, have great adds that run on my t.v at all different hours, they get better media coverage, you walk into a store and see way more Griz apperal than Cats, better field, better scoreboard, better crowds, louder crowds, better speakers, and they sure seem to make it to the playoffs a lot more than we do. Now, if you are happy with where the Cats are, great, but I would like to see the day when the Cats are at the same level, in every aspect as the Griz. Good post MSUCATFAN, you are right on.

You walk down the street and also see the dude pushing the cart with no teeth sporting his Montana Grizzlies shirt. Nobody is denying that the griz have been successful. Would we all like a nicer stadium, yes, but as I said before I have a great time every game that I go to in Bozeman. I honestly cannot remember every going to a game and saying "man this stadium sucks" because I'm there to watch the Cats not worry about how many seats we have or the fung shui (sp?) of the place.

[poorgriz]

Everyone wants to win. I want us to win every game. But losing does not diminsh the experience. I have been to just about every game since the start of the 99 season and there have been many home losses since then. Since I travel to the games from Minneapolis the games take up most of three days and cost a fair amount. Never once (not even for a second) have I woke up the morning after a loss at home and said "what a waste of time and money". In 2000 we lost every game and worse I knew we were going to lose before I ever got on that plane. Yet, I could not wait to go and I could not wait to return. I think almost every Cat on this site feels the same way!!!

Wow, with all that money you have to fly back and forth each weekend for games maybe you should pump some money into the stadium so that we can finish the south end zone.

[FTG06']

A larger and better band would be great! Our band is much too small to get the crowd into it. If you have to give partial scholarships to do it fine.

Having three different band directors in the past 3 years hasn't really been helping, but I promise you that we're working on it.

Three directors coming and going is the result of a department that is full of cronyism. As soon as the right guy shows up, that department will be all shook up, and some good things will happen.

[gtapp]

Everyone wants to win. I want us to win every game. But losing does not diminsh the experience. I have been to just about every game since the start of the 99 season and there have been many home losses since then. Since I travel to the games from Minneapolis the games take up most of three days and cost a fair amount. Never once (not even for a second) have I woke up the morning after a loss at home and said "what a waste of time and money". In 2000 we lost every game and worse I knew we were going to lose before I ever got on that plane. Yet, I could not wait to go and I could not wait to return. I think almost every Cat on this site feels the same way!!!

Wow, with all that money you have to fly back and forth each weekend for games maybe you should pump some money into the stadium so that we can finish the south end zone.

Unfortunately the money I spend on travel would probably not even buy the goal post for one end zone.

[poorgriz]

Once again I am amazed at how stupid some Cat fans can be. If you think that the Cats have a better game day(pre-game, tailgates, fans, stadium and final score at the end of the game) you are nuts. The Griz have made it pretty clear that they are the power house in this state. They(mainly Denny Washington) have invested in an amazing stadium, have great adds that run on my t.v at all different hours, they get better media coverage, you walk into a store and see way more Griz apperal than Cats, better field, better scoreboard, better crowds, louder crowds, better speakers, and they sure seem to make it to the playoffs a lot more than we do. Now, if you are happy with where the Cats are, great, but I would like to see the day when the Cats are at the same level, in every aspect as the Griz. Good post MSUCATFAN, you are right on.

You walk down the street and also see the dude pushing the cart with no teeth sporting his Montana Grizzlies shirt. :roll: Nobody is denying that the griz have been successful. Would we all like a nicer stadium, yes, but as I said before I have a great time every game that I go to in Bozeman. I honestly cannot remember every going to a game and saying "man this stadium sucks" because I'm there to watch the Cats not worry about how many seats we have or the fung shui (sp?) of the place.

You are missing the big picture. When you go the distance to have a great stadium, great facilities, and bring the fans to the stands(which the Cats are starting to do unless it is rainy or snowy and then people think the t.v. is a better place to watch) you are able to get better recruits and it turn you have a better program. Why do you think some as bad of a coach as Bobby Hauck is able to get good recruits, players want to play in that stadium with that kind of atmosphere with 20,000+ fans going crazy the WHOLE game. We are getting better, but like the first comment said, we still have a ways to go.

[Common Cat]

Does anybody besides me think we are beating a dead horse with this topic?

[gtapp]

Does anybody besides me think we are beating a dead horse with this topic?

I second that!

[Hawks86]

I'd keep beating that horse, dead or not, until the powers that be get past the first phase and actually get someting planned.

[longhorn_22]

I love the game day experience in Bozeman. Could it be improved? YES! But if no changes were made for the next 20 years I could live with that. I have to admit that improved facilities would improve recruiting to some degree but any changes to improve the fan experience would be minimal. Some changes which would be helpful:

Closing the stadium in would create more noise (and possibly more empty seats). Increased sound from fans cheering would be a bonus.

If the sound system was improved the music could be louder without it being painful to the ears. Clear sound played loudly is more tolerable than a lower volume of noise.

A big screen (like UM) would be nice but only if it was used to show replays. If you just play commercials then keep the one we have.

A larger and better band would be great! Our band is much to small to get the crowd into it. If you have to give partial scholarships to do it fine.

I will never be for a closed stadium. Ever. It takes WAY too much away from the gameday experience in Montana. Real grass and outdoors in Bozeman is the best way to go.

If you close in one end you still have real grass and you are still outdoors. You just increase the noise level. Personally I don't care. I like the stadium just fine the way it is. It would be an even greater home field advantage if we can increase the noise level. The only way to do that is to increase the fan base and enclose one end of the stadium. Right now I would rate the game day experience in Bozeman at least a 9 on a scale of 10. If someone wants to spend millions to make it a 9.5 or 10 great. If not, I am very happy with a 9!

I get what you are saying. I read into your post wrong. I thought you meant close the entire thing off like a dome. Anyway, I agree with you. We need to fill in the seats in the corners of one end at least.

[poorgriz]

I want a 10.

[tampa_griz]

Sure the Griz games have a lot of "fluff" associated with them. But the kids absolutely love it. The smoke, the Silvertips, Monte, the movie clips on Griz Vision.........they eat it up. My friends' wives go to the games and enjoy every bit of it as their husbands do......even though they know nothing about the game. Elementary schools in Missoula have a near riot whenever Monte shows up. Why does all that matter?.......community support and an early expectation of success. A lot of Missoulians are addicted to Griz football by the time they're six years old and it pays off. That doesn't imply that the same doesn't hold true in Bozeman......

I don't know that the tailgating at Bozeman is any better or worse than in Missoula. They're both great in that regard. Sure there's a lot of fat cats walking around with money at Washington-Grizzly, but I've always managed to get blitzed for free and have a good time and I'm probably the least important person there.

Finally, while I still give the nod to Wa-Griz vs. Bobcat Stadium (for obvious reasons), MSU has one of the best facilities and atmospheres in the FCS. It's getting bigger and better with their recent field success and I don't see any reason why that direction is going to change in the near future.

[CelticCat]

I agree that the gameday experience as a whole could improve at MSU.

Some things I think could be improved:

1. Sound System - That thing just sometimes hurts my ears with pure treble. I won't get into the music selection as I really don't care, and I know they will never play music I have purchased myself anyway.

2. Stadium - The student side and the booster side are not bad. No, they are not great, but they do just fine. But the Pepsi Zone is almost embarrassing. As it has been mentioned a thousand times, bowling off that part of the stadium would be awesome. It would hold sound in, help keep wind out, and provide more seating (even if they are empty at first, they'll fill up after more seasons like last, and as Bozeman and surrounding areas grow bigger every year).

3. Mascot - I know a lot of you don't care about mascots and you certainly like to make fun of the Griz for caring, but having a mascot people cheer for is a good thing. As it stands, most students either boo, jeer, or simply flip Champ off. I'm not sure how to fix this one as it seems to be more of an attitude thing, but having a sharper looking mascot who can excite a crowd is something we should aspire to (and the cheapest of these three improvement ideas).

Here are some things I will defend (wouldn't change):

1. Tailgating - I love tailgating at MSU. It is just basically a block party. I wish some people would actually go into the game that tailgate the whole time, but our tailgating has a big-time atmosphere to me.

2. Field - I've heard a lot of dissing on the field, and I'm not sure why. It takes a beating, there is no way around it - it is natural grass in a crazy Montana climate. I loved the PSU game last year, mud all over the place! I assume opponents of our field want some sort of artificial grass instead. I wouldn't be against it, but I do love natural grass.

3. Fans - I love our fans. We kind of remind me of the Eagles fanbase. We are very passionate, knowledgeable, and I could see Bobcat fans throwing snowballs at Santa Clause. We will boo anybody including our own. But if you are winning, we will treat you like Gods. I kind of like being the bad boys of the fan world. I don't like vandalism and things of that nature, but if you come to Bozeman you should expect to get a lot of ribbing and don't expect to be treated like a king. But I don't think people should be afraid, either, so we have to keep things in check!

Overall, people need to realize how good we actually have it at MSU for a FCS program. Our facilities are above average for this level (whether you believe it or not, just travel to some east-coast schools), our attendance is usually top 15-20 and I believe it is on the rise yet again. A lot of FCS programs are simply boosters and family, with some local fans and a few students thrown in. We have good student support, good community support (though I wish it would improve by quite a bit), and there are plenty of fans in the stadium who have no association with MSU.

It is easy to look at the Griz and then turn around and think our gameday and what not isn't up to par, but we do have it pretty good. We could certainly do better, but a lot of you are being too harsh on ourselves.