griz37
September 9th, 2006, 11:47 AM
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006/09/09/grizmania/griz-gameday/gday06.txt
From the desk of the AD
It's about opportunity: An open letter to ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit
By JIM O'DAY for the Missoulian
Today's column was inspired by a comment made Monday night by ESPN GameDay commentator Kirk Herbstreit, who suggested that Division I-A schools should never schedule opponents from I-AA. I sent the following letter, but don't expect a response.
Dear Mr. Herbstreit,
As an athletic director at a Division I-AA school, I was extremely disappointed by your comment Monday night that there's no reason I-A schools should play against I-AA opponents.
Can we ever forget the word “opportunity?” This is a tremendous “opportunity” for many young student-athletes to play on the Big Stage of college football. Like our rivals at Montana State, which stunned I-A Colorado on Saturday, the majority of our roster at The University of Montana consists of in-state Montana athletes.
These young men are hard workers who can only dream of one day visiting great college venues in locations such as Iowa City (Iowa), Norman (Oklahoma) or Boulder (Colorado) to demonstrate their talents and skills.
It should also be noted that Portland State, another Division I-AA school, knocked off I-A New Mexico this past weekend, while I-AA Northern Arizona was in a 14-14 tie with No. 24 ranked Arizona State heading into the fourth quarter Thursday night. Likewise, we at The University of Montana climbed to within 17-7 of No. 16th ranked Iowa before the talented Hawkeyes dominated the fourth quarter.
Another reason for playing these games is the “opportunity” to help the athletic budgets at I-AA schools. We do not benefit from the big dollars paid by ABC and ESPN to televise our games and have to work extremely hard to balance our $11.5 million annual budget. A $650,000 payday from a school like Iowa made us financially healthy this year, as will the $450,000 Eastern Washington receives from West Virginia next weekend. Combined with the $450,000 we received from Oregon last year, we were able to pay off our athletics deficit. I'm sure many I-A schools would like to be so lucky.
Also, you've forgotten we are an NCAA Division I institution that has elected to compete at the Division I-AA level in football. The only differences being we offer 22 fewer scholarships than the Division I-A schools and our champion is decided by a playoff system. Remember it was only last spring that we advanced into the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament and had Boston College in a battle at halftime before their strength, speed and athleticism prevailed. This year, we will play notable schools such as West Virginia, Boise State, Wyoming and possibly Minnesota.
Mr. Herbstreit, somehow, you have forgotten the true meaning of intercollegiate athletics. Maybe a quick visit with a fellow commentator, Brent Musberger, who was raised in the small rural community of Big Timber, Montana, could bring you a better perspective. True, there were “no I-AA softies” in the Monday night television game between Florida State and Miami, but we will enjoy the memories of playing in front of 70,000 fans in Kinnick Stadium at the University of Iowa last Saturday much more. Maybe you should schedule an ESPN GameDay in Missoula, Montana, sometime to see the true meaning of I-AA football.
Sincerely,
Jim O'Day,
Director of Athletics,
The University of Montana
From the desk of the AD
It's about opportunity: An open letter to ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit
By JIM O'DAY for the Missoulian
Today's column was inspired by a comment made Monday night by ESPN GameDay commentator Kirk Herbstreit, who suggested that Division I-A schools should never schedule opponents from I-AA. I sent the following letter, but don't expect a response.
Dear Mr. Herbstreit,
As an athletic director at a Division I-AA school, I was extremely disappointed by your comment Monday night that there's no reason I-A schools should play against I-AA opponents.
Can we ever forget the word “opportunity?” This is a tremendous “opportunity” for many young student-athletes to play on the Big Stage of college football. Like our rivals at Montana State, which stunned I-A Colorado on Saturday, the majority of our roster at The University of Montana consists of in-state Montana athletes.
These young men are hard workers who can only dream of one day visiting great college venues in locations such as Iowa City (Iowa), Norman (Oklahoma) or Boulder (Colorado) to demonstrate their talents and skills.
It should also be noted that Portland State, another Division I-AA school, knocked off I-A New Mexico this past weekend, while I-AA Northern Arizona was in a 14-14 tie with No. 24 ranked Arizona State heading into the fourth quarter Thursday night. Likewise, we at The University of Montana climbed to within 17-7 of No. 16th ranked Iowa before the talented Hawkeyes dominated the fourth quarter.
Another reason for playing these games is the “opportunity” to help the athletic budgets at I-AA schools. We do not benefit from the big dollars paid by ABC and ESPN to televise our games and have to work extremely hard to balance our $11.5 million annual budget. A $650,000 payday from a school like Iowa made us financially healthy this year, as will the $450,000 Eastern Washington receives from West Virginia next weekend. Combined with the $450,000 we received from Oregon last year, we were able to pay off our athletics deficit. I'm sure many I-A schools would like to be so lucky.
Also, you've forgotten we are an NCAA Division I institution that has elected to compete at the Division I-AA level in football. The only differences being we offer 22 fewer scholarships than the Division I-A schools and our champion is decided by a playoff system. Remember it was only last spring that we advanced into the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament and had Boston College in a battle at halftime before their strength, speed and athleticism prevailed. This year, we will play notable schools such as West Virginia, Boise State, Wyoming and possibly Minnesota.
Mr. Herbstreit, somehow, you have forgotten the true meaning of intercollegiate athletics. Maybe a quick visit with a fellow commentator, Brent Musberger, who was raised in the small rural community of Big Timber, Montana, could bring you a better perspective. True, there were “no I-AA softies” in the Monday night television game between Florida State and Miami, but we will enjoy the memories of playing in front of 70,000 fans in Kinnick Stadium at the University of Iowa last Saturday much more. Maybe you should schedule an ESPN GameDay in Missoula, Montana, sometime to see the true meaning of I-AA football.
Sincerely,
Jim O'Day,
Director of Athletics,
The University of Montana