Are Griz facing a 'bear trap'?

University of Montana athletics, particularly the immensely popular Grizzly football program, is heading for crossroads of profound importance — a decision on whether or not to move into the upper-tier Football Bowl Subdivision.

School officials are taking steps to form a committee that would review the numerous pros and cons of leaving the second-tier Football Championship Subdivision, where the Griz have piled up 119 wins over the last decade to become the winningest team in all of Division I football.

At the most basic level, the independent study will evaluate complicated revenue implications and what is described as “competitive risk.” And that’s where the review committee needs to direct considerable thought, evaluating the intangible values of the current program rather than simply crunching potential revenue numbers.

Most importantly, will a move up to FBS doom the Grizzlies to mediocrity and obscurity in a widely criticized, money-driven bowl system?

Whitefish resident and former Grizzly defensive back Scott Ferda put it this way: “I just really feel like if they can’t make it, if it turns into a .500 (record) thing, they’re going to lose their fan base and lose that thing they’ve got.”

Indeed. That thing they’ve got. Anybody who’s been to a game in Missoula, or even those who follow the Griz on television will know what he’s talking about, particularly during the FCS playoffs.

Griz Nation loves the playoffs, because Montana has advanced to playoff games a record 17 straight seasons, making it to the national championship game five times in the last decade. Washington-Grizzly stadium rocks in November.

While the FCS playoff system loses money for the league, about $440,000 last year, it’s doubtful that Grizzly fans care. Most shudder at the thought of moving to a system that rewards many top-flight teams with invitations to a single lowly bowl game.

About the best Montana could hope for with a move up is to become a team like the Boise State Broncos. Since they left the Big Sky Conference in 1996, along with the University of Idaho, the Broncos have enjoyed huge success. They’ve compiled a 68-4 conference record and won seven conference titles. Yet, they’ve been subjected to the highly controversial Bowl Championship Series scoring system, and despite having two undefeated seasons, they have been famously neglected from consideration for any chance at a national championship.

There are many other important considerations for Montana moving up, such as a requirement to add 22 football scholarships. What will that do to the competitiveness of the Montana-Montana State University rivalry and tradition that is more than a century old?

Also, how will Montana’s tradition of predominantly recruiting in-state players be affected? Simply put, Montana fans like to watch Montana players.

There are, of course, compelling reasons to pursue a move; otherwise university officials wouldn’t even be considering it. They are mostly related to revenue, but not only. One of the most important considerations is that some of the best teams in FCS football — Georgia Southern and James Madison — are already considering moves to the higher level. If competitiveness in FCS and the Big Sky Conference fades, it must be taken into account.

The committee in charge of Montana’s review will have a big job on its hands. Griz Nation will be watching closely.