Go Lehigh TU Owl
July 25th, 2013, 10:58 AM
Montana would definitely take the call, at least under the prior AD, Jim O'Day. While Montana often schedules a D-II at home (for financial, experience for younger players, and availability reasons), it looks for good and interesting games, including both big name home and homes (App St this year) and one-off games. In the past, Montana has had home and homes with Hofstra, Maine, Sam Houston St. Montana often has a schedule opening (there are a limited number of FCS schools in the West and Dakotas), and needs to look hard for a game. Thus, Montana is willing to pay for the travel costs plus a modest amount for one game in Missoula. Albany is an example. While the fee reduces the net revenue, compared to a more regional or D-II game which involves only bus travel or lower charter cost, the game is usually more exciting for the fan base and avoids the complaining from the fan base about a D-II game. Having sellouts at 25,500, and charging $35 or so per ticket and $55 for big games, allows for paying a travel fee and still making good net revenue.
A number of years ago, Montana considered a game with Dartmouth. I was involved in trying to set it up, and made good progress, but ultimately Dartmouth decided it didn't want to back out of a game against UNH (even tho UNH almost backed out of the game the prior year). At least under in the prior AD, Montana would have considered a home and home with an Ivy. Part of the reasoning was that it was good to expose the team and fan base to an Ivy school, whether Dartmouth, Harvard or whatever. I believe a Patriot league team would be treated similarly. Perhaps not the pizazz of Harvard (boo Harvard), but still interesting to Montana and many of its fan base.
I'd love to see a PL school venture out here!
I'm going to ask Coach Ash (MSU Coach) about scheduling when he has a couple of minutes. Some how he and the AD were able to get Monmouth out here to open the season! I'm probably one of 10 people in the state of Montana who knows where Monmouth even is.
A number of years ago, Montana considered a game with Dartmouth. I was involved in trying to set it up, and made good progress, but ultimately Dartmouth decided it didn't want to back out of a game against UNH (even tho UNH almost backed out of the game the prior year). At least under in the prior AD, Montana would have considered a home and home with an Ivy. Part of the reasoning was that it was good to expose the team and fan base to an Ivy school, whether Dartmouth, Harvard or whatever. I believe a Patriot league team would be treated similarly. Perhaps not the pizazz of Harvard (boo Harvard), but still interesting to Montana and many of its fan base.
I'd love to see a PL school venture out here!
I'm going to ask Coach Ash (MSU Coach) about scheduling when he has a couple of minutes. Some how he and the AD were able to get Monmouth out here to open the season! I'm probably one of 10 people in the state of Montana who knows where Monmouth even is.