Brodie

December 13th, 2014 at 1:30 AM ^

Colorado State has interesting options... Oregon's passing game coordinator is the son of their greatest ever coach and Mississippi State's OC is an alum. The only reason they'd have to hire Hoke would be stability... he wouldn't leave after three or four good years.

Joined: 11/19/2008

MGoPoints: 10712

Mpfnfu Ford

December 13th, 2014 at 5:02 AM ^

Big Sky Conference is so loaded. I wonder if some of North Dakota State's success the past few years at FCS is more a product that they're in a dinkier conference while their local rivals beat the piss out of each other in a tougher league. 

Word on the street is that Idaho football is gonna opt out of their Sun Belt deal after the 2015 season and drop back down to FCS and rejoin the Big Sky conference for football. They're already members of the conference for everything else, and FBS has been a pretty miserable experience for them. They used to be a major FCS power once upon a time, so it'll be interesting. 

Joined: 05/19/2012

MGoPoints: 6469

Brodie

December 13th, 2014 at 5:46 AM ^

I hope that is true about Idaho and I hope it's the start of a trend. I remember their AD saying that the loss of revenue from whatever TV deals and guarantee gamesthey can get mean they'd have to cut sports in the FCS, though.

Either way, they're better off there. I know they have dreams of being able to do whatever Boise State does, but that's a pipe dream for many reasons (Idaho is far better academically, Idaho is in too remote a location, etc)... is it really worth playing in a football conference with App State and Southern Alabama as opposed to Idaho State, Eastern Washington and Montana?

Joined: 11/19/2008

MGoPoints: 10712

Mpfnfu Ford

December 13th, 2014 at 6:34 AM ^

Big Sky commish has been OPENLY talking about how he wants Idaho and is confident he can get the deal done.

 Really, the only reason it makes any sense for Idaho to stay in FBS is if they have a chance to replace Hawaii in the event Hawaii dumps football. Otherwise, it's just a pointless endeavor. Recruiting is so impossible in their current position. 

Joined: 05/19/2012

MGoPoints: 6469

Yeoman

December 14th, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^

The top four FCS teams at Massey are all in the MVC; they've got seven schools ahead of the Big Sky's #2 and they've got nine of the top 20.

They've got two semifinalists; the Big Sky is shut out.

And here are all the head-to-head matchups this year:

  • North Dakota St. 22, Montana 10
  • North Dakota St. 24, Weber St. 7
  • Illinois St. 59, Eastern Washington 46
  • Northern Iowa 46, Northern Colorado 7
  • South Dakota St. 44, Cal Poly 18
  • South Dakota St. 26, Southern Utah 6
  • Missouri St. 38, North Dakota 0
  • Montana 28, South Dakota 0
  • South Dakota 28, Northern Arizona 21

That's 8-1 for the Dinkies, by an average score of 32-16.

Joined: 06/08/2011

MGoPoints: 21390

aratman

December 13th, 2014 at 5:19 AM ^

Montana had a better loccal tv contract than the league got all together after they gave up their tv rights.  Attendance was better than half the Mountain West.  No mistake this is big time FCS.  I am sure they will join what ever FBS teams that aren't in the power 5 become in the next few years. 

Joined: 10/02/2010

MGoPoints: 3942

petered0518

December 13th, 2014 at 10:36 AM ^

One of the cool thing about coaching searches is that you learn about other people/coaches to root for. I started investigating Stitt after Brian brought him up and followed him on twitter.

He seems like a genuinely fun guy and a really smart coach. As silly as it is I will probably follow the rest of his career and cheer for his teams. Stuff like that is part of what makes college football so much fun.

Joined: 08/05/2009

MGoPoints: 902