NAU snatches up App. St game
It is now official: Northern Arizona will play defending FCS National Champion Appalachian State on September 15. It was rumored that the Griz were interested in such a match-up but it never really panned out as the logistics didn't work for either school.
For those of you wondering why the Griz has such an awful schedule this year and why UM is not playing the Mountaineers, I point to a previous entry containing an email with UM AD Jim O'Day.
Here's a brief excerpt with O'Day's words on Appalachian State. For other information, read the complete email.
For those of you wondering why the Griz has such an awful schedule this year and why UM is not playing the Mountaineers, I point to a previous entry containing an email with UM AD Jim O'Day.
Here's a brief excerpt with O'Day's words on Appalachian State. For other information, read the complete email.
Would love to play App State, but the cost may be too high for both schools. Trouble flying in and out of Boone and Missoula. We both estimate about $125,000… which most likely won’t be doable for either this year as we try to pay our bills. The cost of travel to some of these “remote” places is making scheduling more and more challenging and difficult. Everyone has to pay their bills, and wants some money in return for making the trip. Boise is paying in the neighborhood of $185,000 for a guarantee game, and we’re already at $125,000 being offered… with few takers. They say it would cost almost that much just to fly into Missoula and pay accompanying bills.It's really disappointing that even though we have some of the best attendance in all of the FCS, money was a deciding factor in whether or not this match-up occurred. It's kind of frustrating when you remember that—I believe this is true, comment if I'm wrong— the trip to Flagstaff is about as difficult as it gets.
