End of the Protected BSC Rivalry with UM

[scottywashere11]

Based on the 2018 Griz schedule, EWU is no longer playing them next year due to EWU no longer being UM's protected rival. Instead, they will be playing Idaho every year. From my understanding, that is also who will be EWU's new rival, which would mean that we will be reverting back to UI for the Governors Cup. I just thought it was worth discussing the end of an era between Montana and EWU as protected rivals. It's too bad we can't have UI and UM, but one can only wish! How does this effect EWU? Does the dissolving of this rivalry take away from our program in any way in regards to publicity, etc.?

To make matters worse, we don't get a return trip from the Griz. Our next UM game is 2019 in Missoula, Montana.

Edit: The EWU site does not have the 2018 schedule. Link to Griz schedule: http://www.gogriz.com/mobile/schedule.aspx?schedule=110

 

[marceagfan5]

Based on the 2018 Griz schedule, EWU is no longer playing them next year due to EWU no longer being UM's protected rival. Instead, they will be playing Idaho every year. From my understanding, that is also who will be EWU's new rival, which would mean that we will be reverting back to UI for the Governors Cup. I just thought it was worth discussing the end of an era between Montana and EWU as protected rivals. It's too bad we can't have UI and UM, but one can only wish! How does this effect EWU? Does the dissolving of this rivalry take away from our program in any way in regards to publicity, etc.?

To make matters worse, we don't get a return trip from the Griz. Our next UM game is 2019 in Missoula, Montana.

Edit: The EWU site does not have the 2018 schedule. Link to Griz schedule: http://www.gogriz.com/mobile/schedule.aspx?schedule=110

Had a feeling this was coming, and it sucks! Montana is our only arrival, and now we don’t get to play them every year, it’s a huge setback.

Hopefully we will find a way to play them, just like Montana state, in years the big sky doesn’t pair us up.

 

[FormerEag]

Another example of how a 13 team league sucks.

 

[EWURanger]

Based on the 2018 Griz schedule, EWU is no longer playing them next year due to EWU no longer being UM's protected rival. Instead, they will be playing Idaho every year. From my understanding, that is also who will be EWU's new rival, which would mean that we will be reverting back to UI for the Governors Cup. I just thought it was worth discussing the end of an era between Montana and EWU as protected rivals. It's too bad we can't have UI and UM, but one can only wish! How does this effect EWU? Does the dissolving of this rivalry take away from our program in any way in regards to publicity, etc.?

To make matters worse, we don't get a return trip from the Griz. Our next UM game is 2019 in Missoula, Montana.

Edit: The EWU site does not have the 2018 schedule. Link to Griz schedule: http://www.gogriz.com/mobile/schedule.aspx?schedule=110

Had a feeling this was coming, and it sucks! Montana is our only arrival, and now we don’t get to play them every year, it’s a huge setback.

Hopefully we will find a way to play them, just like Montana state, in years the big sky doesn’t pair us up.

But let's be serious. If you were UM, would you want to play EWU in years where you didn't have to? They would much rather pay Ok Panhandle St, et al to come to Missoula for an easy win.

Not that emotional about it, to be honest, and it may actually benefit EWU if Montana ever ends up getting their acts together.

In the old Big Sky days, the Idaho game was probably bigger than the Montana game if we are being honest.

 

[kalm]

Based on the 2018 Griz schedule, EWU is no longer playing them next year due to EWU no longer being UM's protected rival. Instead, they will be playing Idaho every year. From my understanding, that is also who will be EWU's new rival, which would mean that we will be reverting back to UI for the Governors Cup. I just thought it was worth discussing the end of an era between Montana and EWU as protected rivals. It's too bad we can't have UI and UM, but one can only wish! How does this effect EWU? Does the dissolving of this rivalry take away from our program in any way in regards to publicity, etc.?

To make matters worse, we don't get a return trip from the Griz. Our next UM game is 2019 in Missoula, Montana.

Edit: The EWU site does not have the 2018 schedule. Link to Griz schedule: http://www.gogriz.com/mobile/schedule.aspx?schedule=110

Had a feeling this was coming, and it sucks! Montana is our only arrival, and now we don’t get to play them every year, it’s a huge setback.

Hopefully we will find a way to play them, just like Montana state, in years the big sky doesn’t pair us up.

But let's be serious. If you were UM, would you want to play EWU in years where you didn't have to? They would much rather pay Ok Panhandle St, et al to come to Missoula for an easy win.

Not that emotional about it, to be honest, and it may actually benefit EWU if Montana ever ends up getting their acts together.

In the old Big Sky days, the Idaho game was probably bigger than the Montana game if we are being honest.

This blows. Not because of Idaho. They're a bonafide rival and I'm looking forward to that renewal. But Montana is still one of the top programs in FCS and they are also in our backyard. Much more so than Portland State. The Griz games both home and away are epic for both fanbases.

 

[scottywashere11]

Hey! That's cool! I beat Jim Allen to the punch on this post (although I'm sure he has been working on this article for a while). His story is below-

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/sep/28/eastern-washington-wont-have-montana-on-its-footba/

 

[clawman1]

I hear a BIG sigh of relief from Missoula

 

[LDopaPDX]

Hey! That's cool! I beat Jim Allen to the punch on this post (although I'm sure he has been working on this article for a while). His story is below-

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/sep/28/eastern-washington-wont-have-montana-on-its-footba/

This doesn't make sense. So now Portland State is our only rival in the Big Sky? That was a contrived rivalry from the outset. And now we drop Montana but keep them? It sounds like Idaho won't be an annual rivalry as we don't play them in 2019. Why not get Montana State since they lose North Dakota, another contrived rivalry?

Two teams need to have interest for it to be a rivalry. I go watch Eastern play PSU every year in Portland and Eastern fans outnumber PSU fans by about 3-1.

Gotta be honest, not sure why our AD didn't step up and help us out here. This doesn't seem to be in our interest in the slightest.

 

[marceagfan5]

Hey! That's cool! I beat Jim Allen to the punch on this post (although I'm sure he has been working on this article for a while). His story is below-

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/sep/28/eastern-washington-wont-have-montana-on-its-footba/

This doesn't make sense. So now Portland State is our only rival in the Big Sky? That was a contrived rivalry from the outset. And now we drop Montana but keep them? It sounds like Idaho won't be an annual rivalry as we don't play them in 2019. Why not get Montana State since they lose North Dakota, another contrived rivalry?

Two teams need to have interest for it to be a rivalry. I go watch Eastern play PSU every year in Portland and Eastern fans outnumber PSU fans by about 3-1.

Gotta be honest, not sure why our AD didn't step up and help us out here. This doesn't seem to be in our interest in the slightest.

Sounds like Idaho will be one of our two rivals, just scheduling conflicts in 2019 screwed everything up because schedules were made before Idaho and UND announced their intent.

It would be nice if we could drop PSU and add MSU but that won’t happen....

I hate losing the Montana game, it was huge for EWU in so many ways...

 

[kalm]

Hey! That's cool! I beat Jim Allen to the punch on this post (although I'm sure he has been working on this article for a while). His story is below-

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/sep/28/eastern-washington-wont-have-montana-on-its-footba/

This doesn't make sense. So now Portland State is our only rival in the Big Sky? That was a contrived rivalry from the outset. And now we drop Montana but keep them? It sounds like Idaho won't be an annual rivalry as we don't play them in 2019. Why not get Montana State since they lose North Dakota, another contrived rivalry?

Two teams need to have interest for it to be a rivalry. I go watch Eastern play PSU every year in Portland and Eastern fans outnumber PSU fans by about 3-1.

Gotta be honest, not sure why our AD didn't step up and help us out here. This doesn't seem to be in our interest in the slightest.

How do you know Chaves didn't try?

I know the Griz-Idaho rivalry is important but it would have made just as much sense for them to have us and their in-state brethren as protected rivals.

I wonder if this was a used as as a carrot while they were being courted to move back?

 

[360Eag]

It's going to be very weird not having Montana on the schedule. I don't see why we couldn't have Idaho and Montana be our protected rivals. The whole "rivalry" with PSU is lackluster. When I go to the Eastern/PSU games in PDX, there's no "It's Eastern week" feelings going on. It's not mentioned on sports reports during the news or anywhere. Even most PSU fans don't care.

 

[LDopaPDX]

Hey! That's cool! I beat Jim Allen to the punch on this post (although I'm sure he has been working on this article for a while). His story is below-

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/sep/28/eastern-washington-wont-have-montana-on-its-footba/

This doesn't make sense. So now Portland State is our only rival in the Big Sky? That was a contrived rivalry from the outset. And now we drop Montana but keep them? It sounds like Idaho won't be an annual rivalry as we don't play them in 2019. Why not get Montana State since they lose North Dakota, another contrived rivalry?

Two teams need to have interest for it to be a rivalry. I go watch Eastern play PSU every year in Portland and Eastern fans outnumber PSU fans by about 3-1.

Gotta be honest, not sure why our AD didn't step up and help us out here. This doesn't seem to be in our interest in the slightest.

How do you know Chaves didn't try?

I know the Griz-Idaho rivalry is important but it would have made just as much sense for them to have us and their in-state brethren as protected rivals.

I wonder if this was a used as as a carrot while they were being courted to move back?

I am sure he tried. It's just a tough pill to swallow that we are perpetually on the wrong side of these scheduling issues. We don't play Idaho or Montana in 2019, which I believe is a 12 game year.

 

[EdubU10]

Pretty bummed about losing Montana as one of our protected rivals but so it goes. PSU's lack of fan interest does make our forced rivalry lackluster but PSU always plays us tough and is always a game I get nervous about. Plus it's a good excuse to travel to PDX for the weekend.

With that said, Fuck the Vandals for screwing it up.

 

[marceagfan5]

Hey! That's cool! I beat Jim Allen to the punch on this post (although I'm sure he has been working on this article for a while). His story is below-

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/sep/28/eastern-washington-wont-have-montana-on-its-footba/

This doesn't make sense. So now Portland State is our only rival in the Big Sky? That was a contrived rivalry from the outset. And now we drop Montana but keep them? It sounds like Idaho won't be an annual rivalry as we don't play them in 2019. Why not get Montana State since they lose North Dakota, another contrived rivalry?

Two teams need to have interest for it to be a rivalry. I go watch Eastern play PSU every year in Portland and Eastern fans outnumber PSU fans by about 3-1.

Gotta be honest, not sure why our AD didn't step up and help us out here. This doesn't seem to be in our interest in the slightest.

How do you know Chaves didn't try?

I know the Griz-Idaho rivalry is important but it would have made just as much sense for them to have us and their in-state brethren as protected rivals.

I wonder if this was a used as as a carrot while they were being courted to move back?

I am sure he tried. It's just a tough pill to swallow that we are perpetually on the wrong side of these scheduling issues. We don't play Idaho or Montana in 2019, which I believe is a 12 game year.

2019 is a 12 game year, but we do play Montana then, just in Missoula. Which is another joke of the big sky scheduling (no fault to EWU on this one) but they essentially have scheduled us in Missoula twice in a row...2017 and 2019, as we don't play them in 2018...

At least next years schedule looks pretty good with Cal Poly and Idaho coming here in conference...I know we play NAU next year in non conf on top of Wazzu...my guess is the NAU game will be at home next year and the return game will be at NAU in 2020, just a hunch based on the fact we already have a home game with Western Ill scheduled for 2020...will be interesting to see who are 3rd opponent is next year in non conf as we should be primed for a big time year next year and a definite shot at the natty

 

[LDopaPDX]

Is 2018 a 12 game year too? I know they tend to rotate about every 3 years in a row.

 

[scottywashere11]

I am getting tired of EWU being treated as second tier to the UM, UND, MSU, UI flagship schools just because we are a directional school. We are winning the conference championships year in and year out and taking down PAC-12 teams. We have earned the right to have a say in these matters, more-so than many others in the conference.

That said, FTV does not sound as good as FTG. Although, if I could say FTG and FTV in the same season... I could get down with that. The only way that would work is if the BSC allowed three sanctioned rivalries instead of two. I am sure the Griz would be stoked for that as well.

 

[360Eag]

Well Idaho fans seem "thrilled" with this news.

https://scout.com/college/idaho/Board/103901/Contents/Protected-rivals-are-set-108134949

 

[scottywashere11]

Well Idaho fans seem "thrilled" with this news.

https://scout.com/college/idaho/Board/103901/Contents/Protected-rivals-are-set-108134949

Smug... They receive the best rivalry set up in the Big Sky and are still bitching. I get it, you're the first FBS team to drop to the FCS. Pretty regressive and embarrassing, but the news of this happening was released during the 2016 season. If you are still posting on Vandal forums, you've shown that you are either still a loyal fan or are just torturing yourself. You have been dealt a new hand and it is time to begin mulling over the new cards that you have been dealt- and they are pretty good cards too!

 

[SeattleBobcat]

Hey! That's cool! I beat Jim Allen to the punch on this post (although I'm sure he has been working on this article for a while). His story is below-

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/sep/28/eastern-washington-wont-have-montana-on-its-footba/

This doesn't make sense. So now Portland State is our only rival in the Big Sky? That was a contrived rivalry from the outset. And now we drop Montana but keep them? It sounds like Idaho won't be an annual rivalry as we don't play them in 2019. Why not get Montana State since they lose North Dakota, another contrived rivalry?

Two teams need to have interest for it to be a rivalry. I go watch Eastern play PSU every year in Portland and Eastern fans outnumber PSU fans by about 3-1.

Gotta be honest, not sure why our AD didn't step up and help us out here. This doesn't seem to be in our interest in the slightest.

Sounds like Idaho will be one of our two rivals, just scheduling conflicts in 2019 screwed everything up because schedules were made before Idaho and UND announced their intent.

It would be nice if we could drop PSU and add MSU but that won’t happen....

I hate losing the Montana game, it was huge for EWU in so many ways...

While not a protected rivalry, MSU and EWU already have an agreement to play each other OOC if we aren't on each others BSC schedule. I imagine MSU will seek this from UI as well.

 

[scottywashere11]

Hey! That's cool! I beat Jim Allen to the punch on this post (although I'm sure he has been working on this article for a while). His story is below-

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/sep/28/eastern-washington-wont-have-montana-on-its-footba/

This doesn't make sense. So now Portland State is our only rival in the Big Sky? That was a contrived rivalry from the outset. And now we drop Montana but keep them? It sounds like Idaho won't be an annual rivalry as we don't play them in 2019. Why not get Montana State since they lose North Dakota, another contrived rivalry?

Two teams need to have interest for it to be a rivalry. I go watch Eastern play PSU every year in Portland and Eastern fans outnumber PSU fans by about 3-1.

Gotta be honest, not sure why our AD didn't step up and help us out here. This doesn't seem to be in our interest in the slightest.

Sounds like Idaho will be one of our two rivals, just scheduling conflicts in 2019 screwed everything up because schedules were made before Idaho and UND announced their intent.

It would be nice if we could drop PSU and add MSU but that won’t happen....

I hate losing the Montana game, it was huge for EWU in so many ways...

While not a protected rivalry, MSU and EWU already have an agreement to play each other OOC if we aren't on each others BSC schedule. I imagine MSU will seek this from UI as well.

Wasn't this just a home-and-home for two seasons? Or does EWU and MSU have an ongoing agreement for future games as well? I am only curious because that is an awesome partnership if they plan to have it continue. I'm hoping EWU does the same with UM.