Coach's corner Wrap Up summary

[CatFamily]

Then since $$ talks MAYBE MSU NEED TO GET THE STADIUM UPGRADE DONE SO WE CAN COMPETE WITH THE $$!

[El_Gato]

...It sucks, but we need to bypass the committee and just get in by ourselves from now on.

Which is FAR EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

Look, I admire the sentiment & I KNOW that our program has an outright Big Sky Championship as a goal every year now...

BUT, look at the Big Sky Conference right now & be realistic; this year EWU, MSU, UM, PSU, and even WSU all had shots at winning the autobid with just a few weeks to play. That means essentially that each of us had about a 20% chance of winning the autobid. Add to this the fact that the Big Sky title has been shared for 4 consecutive seasons now.

My point is that winning an outright BSC Championship, while a perfectly legitimate GOAL, is NOT realistic nearly as often as achieving an 8-3 (or better) record and getting that "extra" shot at the playoffs with an at-large bid.

Think about it; the Griz have been Co-Champs for 4 straight years now, but earned the autobid only ONCE. Yet, partly because of shrewd non-con scheduling, they STILL qualified for the playoffs in all 4 years.

The "feeling" I'm getting from some of you is that we should keep playing the toughest foes possible in our non-con games for the competition level, for the $$, and for the "sharpening" of our football skills.

While I agree that is an admirable position to take, it is also a position that will cost us trips to the playoffs, as this season CLEARLY demonstrates.

[mquast53000]

...It sucks, but we need to bypass the committee and just get in by ourselves from now on.

Which is FAR EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

Look, I admire the sentiment & I KNOW that our program has an outright Big Sky Championship as a goal every year now...

BUT, look at the Big Sky Conference right now & be realistic; this year EWU, MSU, UM, PSU, and even WSU all had shots at winning the autobid with just a few weeks to play. That means essentially that each of us had about a 20% chance of winning the autobid. Add to this the fact that the Big Sky title has been shared for 4 consecutive seasons now.

My point is that winning an outright BSC Championship, while a perfectly legitimate GOAL, is NOT realistic nearly as often as achieving an 8-3 (or better) record and getting that "extra" shot at the playoffs with an at-large bid.

Think about it; the Griz have been Co-Champs for 4 straight years now, but earned the autobid only ONCE. Yet, partly because of shrewd non-con scheduling, they STILL qualified for the playoffs in all 4 years.

The "feeling" I'm getting from some of you is that we should keep playing the toughest foes possible in our non-con games for the competition level, for the $$, and for the "sharpening" of our football skills.

While I agree that is an admirable position to take, it is also a position that will cost us trips to the playoffs, as this season CLEARLY demonstrates.

[CARDIAC_CATS]

...It sucks, but we need to bypass the committee and just get in by ourselves from now on.

Which is FAR EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

Look, I admire the sentiment & I KNOW that our program has an outright Big Sky Championship as a goal every year now...

BUT, look at the Big Sky Conference right now & be realistic; this year EWU, MSU, UM, PSU, and even WSU all had shots at winning the autobid with just a few weeks to play. That means essentially that each of us had about a 20% chance of winning the autobid. Add to this the fact that the Big Sky title has been shared for 4 consecutive seasons now.

My point is that winning an outright BSC Championship, while a perfectly legitimate GOAL, is NOT realistic nearly as often as achieving an 8-3 (or better) record and getting that "extra" shot at the playoffs with an at-large bid.

Think about it; the Griz have been Co-Champs for 4 straight years now, but earned the autobid only ONCE. Yet, partly because of shrewd non-con scheduling, they STILL qualified for the playoffs in all 4 years.

The "feeling" I'm getting from some of you is that we should keep playing the toughest foes possible in our non-con games for the competition level, for the $$, and for the "sharpening" of our football skills.

While I agree that is an admirable position to take, it is also a position that will cost us trips to the playoffs, as this season CLEARLY demonstrates.

I agree, it is very hard to do ... but it is the ONLY way we will be guaranteed access to the playoffs. You mentioned EW/UM/ISU/WEBER etc. etc. and you have to take those games into account as well on the overall record as well. So both actually go hand in hand kind of on that. I almost agree though that it might be in our best interest to put in a softer preseason schedule if the comittee is just going to look at wins and losses (which it sure looks like they did on some teams that got in this year).

I think we pretty much need to take care of all our home games (6-0) and then split our away games and we will be in! We were 6-0 at home and 7-4 on the season. That pretty much shows you what this team needs to do in order to take it to the next level and make the post season. We were 1-4 on the road! No team comes into Bozeman and beats us. HOMEFIELD is huge for teams trying to make the playoffs. We have our first 6-0 season for first time in a LONG time and we need to keep that up. The 12th man is huge and very very VITALE to our playoff chances at the end of the season.

[grizbeer]

It's interesting that EWU think they need to take the opposite tact to get an invitation - no more scheduling D-II teams:

Eastern is also looking at scheduling changes. Until the Selection Committee realizes D-II scholarship teams are as good - or better - than the I-AA non-scholarship schools, the Eags are going to have to quit "playing down." With eight conference games next year, the Eag get three other games. Right now it's at Idaho, at Davis and a home D-II. Smart money says it won't end that way and the possibilities are endless with I-A schools going to 12 games. Scheduling with intensity now that the regular season is pretty much over but don't expect news during the playoffs.

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/ewu/

[catsrback76]

It's interesting that EWU think they need to take the opposite tact to get an invitation - no more scheduling D-II teams:

Eastern is also looking at scheduling changes. Until the Selection Committee realizes D-II scholarship teams are as good - or better - than the I-AA non-scholarship schools, the Eags are going to have to quit "playing down." With eight conference games next year, the Eag get three other games. Right now it's at Idaho, at Davis and a home D-II. Smart money says it won't end that way and the possibilities are endless with I-A schools going to 12 games. Scheduling with intensity now that the regular season is pretty much over but don't expect news during the playoffs.

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/ewu/[/quot

I am of the opinion stated in the Blog. NO lower division games, please.

[IrishBobcat]

I against the D-II games for the economic reasons.

1. We probably don't sell out the stadium - unless it is the opener.

2. We will have to pay the D-II team to play them. \

3. Then, our D-I (almost automatic loss) game is worth less money.

On the other hand, If you schedule a good sampling of 1-AA talent, you can likely win the games, keep the 1-A money and enjoy the atmosphere of having better competition in our house.

I like the attitude of Notre Dame and Fresno State (among others I'm sure). We'll play anyone, anywhere, anytime. But, If we must schedule a patsy to pad the stats, at least be smart about it.

Do not give away money needlessly and DO NOT sacrifice game day atmostphere. We've all worked too hard to get where the program is.

[CelticCat]

We should schedule a low level IAA, perhaps a mid major or a nonscholie.