WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today contacted Myles Brand, President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), urging him to rethink a rule which may disqualify Montana from hosting post-season college games as a result of a state law that allows sports betting. While no final decision has been made, Rehberg’s letter urges the NCAA to preserve the purity of the Football Championship Series (FCS) which picks its National Champion in a widely coveted playoff system.
“Right now the winners and losers are chosen on the field of play,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and a former NCAA Athlete. “It would be a shame if the NCAA decided to corrupt this system with a rule that punishes players, fans and communities for the possible infractions of someone else sometime in the future.”
Since 1982, Montana has hosted 31 playoff games in both Missoula and Bozeman. Visiting fans and teams are always impressed by Big Sky hospitality, and Rehberg included letters to the editor from some of those fans which were printed in the December 2, 2007 Missoulian.
“The NCAA may not be run by the government, but with this sort of bureaucratic meddling you would be forgiven for thinking it was,” said Rehberg. “I’m hopeful that a little bit of Montana common-sense can prevail in this.”
Letter:
June 4, 2009
Myles Brand
President
The National Collegiate Athletic Association
700 W. Washington Street
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6222
Dear Mr. Brand:
Whether it’s a hearty handshake or a friendly wave from the steering wheel as a car drives past, there’s a reason Montana’s known as the Last Best Place.
Montana is also home to some of the best college football in the country. With two teams in the Football Championship Series (FCS) league, Montanans have been fortunate to feast at the buffet of college football playoffs that so many people around the country, including President Barack Obama, have been craving.
In fact, since 1982, the Montana Grizzlies have hosted 28 playoff games and my alma mater the Montana State Bobcats have hosted 3. Not only are these games a tribute to student athletes of the highest caliber, they have provided a valuable and well-earned boost to the economies in Bozeman and Missoula and throughout the state.
While winning is often a problem for visiting teams in Montana, one thing that has not been a problem is sports-gambling.
I mention this because of disturbing reports that the NCAA may begin citing an arbitrary rule that would strip Montana of the right to host post-season playoffs. The regulation, which prohibits localities that allow sports gambling from hosting post-season games may be well-intentioned, but in a digital era, it is also completely inadequate to prevent sports gambling at all. Instead, such a rule unfairly targets states like Montana for its trademark taste for freedom.
While this may not be a matter for government intervention, I strongly urge you to reconsider any rule that would punish Montana’s athletes, fans and communities for the mere possibility of future impropriety by someone, someday. As you know, in the FCS, hosting playoffs is a privilege which is earned by the athletes on the football field not in arbitrary and secretive polls. It would be wrong to strip that right because of something the players have no control over.
As the only Representative of the state of Montana, you may think to discount my enthusiasm as home team favoritism. While it’s true that I am a fan, please also read the following letters that were sent to the Missoulian – the major newspaper in Missoula, the home of the Grizzlies. These letters don’t come from Montanans; they come from the fans of the opposing team. Let this, and not a fabricated threat of gambling controversy, stand as an example of what college sports – and college fandom – can mean.
Sincerely,
Missoulian Letters to the Editor
December 2, 2007
Editor's note: Normally, the Missoulian's opinion pages do not include letters to the editor from readers outside the state. However, we received a flood of letters from football fans both near and far following the University of Montana Grizzly football playoff against the Wofford Terriers of South Carolina on Nov. 24.
Columnist captured essence of UM
I thoroughly enjoyed Bill Speltz's article on Saturday's game. I thought his comments on the Griz fans, players and staff were right on target. In over 35 years of college athletics, I have never been treated with such genuine hospitality. President George Dennison, athletic director Jim O'Day and staff were great ambassadors for the University of Montana and the state of Montana. A special thank you to the fans, who were intensely supportive of their team in a positive way. Those same fans showed unbelievable class in applauding our players as they exited the field. Our experience at the University of Montana was the embodiment of what is good in college athletics. While we pride ourselves on Southern hospitality, we have a ways to go to match the folks in Missoula. The Grizzlies have a new fan base in upper South Carolina!
- Richard Johnson, Wofford College director of athletics, Spartanburg, S.C.
First-time visitor was wowed by fans
I want everyone to know that Missoula has won over a new Griz fan. I trekked to this beautiful part of the country to cheer on my beloved Wofford Terriers and found so much more than a win. The University of Montana, the great city of Missoula and all of its fans present the afternoon of Nov. 24 have every reason to be proud to call themselves Griz fans. Never have I been to a college football setting and found more passionate supporters and classy hosts. It certainly reminds me of home games at Wofford - but even we could take some lessons from Griz Nation. From the stadium workers going out of their way to get us to our seats to fans talking to us about our school and such, I was truly waiting for someone to ambush me with nastiness. It never happened. The fans applauded Wofford's effort, congratulated them on their way to the locker room and even bestowed wishes of future success in the playoffs. I saw the Montana trainer helping with a Wofford player's injury situation well after the game and experienced the genuine service of several university officials aiding in the smooth transition of Wofford's departure. My friend and I didn't walk 10 steps without a kind word on the path back to the Holiday Inn Express. We even got several invites from Griz fans to join them at the Press Box. To state it simply, that day was what every college football game - and all sports - should be about: excellent competition, excellent sportsmanship and excellent support and representation of an institution. There were no losers that day, just one of two fine schools advancing in the playoffs. Thank you, Griz fans. You better believe that I will root for you in the future (except against the Terriers).
- Jud Heldreth, Lexington, S.C.
City, college treated Wofford well
As commissioner of the Southern Conference, I accompanied the Wofford College football team to Missoula for the Nov. 24 football playoff game. We received outstanding hospitality from all we came in contact with, from the University of Montana athletic department, to the personnel at our hotels, to the men who drove our charter buses. But most impressive was the reaction of the Griz fans leaving the stadium after such a tough loss. They congratulated the Wofford players and coaches, wished them luck in the playoffs and were thoroughly gracious. It was the single best example of sportsmanship by a group of spectators I have witnessed in 28 years of working in intercollegiate athletics. Many of us on the trip - myself included - had never been to Montana before. Many of us would certainly like to return in the future.
- John Iamarino, Spartanburg, S. C.
Griz boosters are best in the nation
It was my privilege to make the trip to Montana with the Wofford Terriers football team for the playoff game with the University of Montana Grizzlies. As forcefully as I can, I want to express my admiration for the people and the fans I encountered while there. The game - one of the truly great playoff games ever - and its aftermath convinced me that your team has the best fans in football, bar none. We had been warned that it was going to be noisy, but we had no idea. We couldn't hear ourselves think; I can't imagine what it was like for the players. I've been in stadiums that seat over 80,000 fans and they were not as loud as your 20,000. A group of Montana fans, mostly young men, were in the row directly behind me. As the game came down to its electrifying conclusion, and being aware of your kicker's excellence, I was preparing myself to turn and congratulate them on the great win. Then the kick missed, and naturally I cheered madly at our good fortune. But before long I felt a tap on my shoulder and two or three of the guys behind me extended their hands and congratulated us. They complimented our team and said we deserved to win. I was simply bowled over by their good sportsmanship. This happened several more times as I made my way to our locker room; Griz fans shook my hand in congratulations and said they'd be cheering for us to win the whole thing. From now on, if someone wants to learn about fanatical cheering and sportsmanship in college football, I'm going to recommend they go to Missoula and attend a Grizzlies game. I, for one - and as long as they're not playing my beloved Terriers - am now a fan.
- Lee O. Hagglund, Wofford College Department of Mathematics, Spartanburg, S. C.
Thanks for picking up tab at Press Box
I want to personally thank all the wonderful people of Missoula, and especially the Grizzly fans, for making all of us from Wofford feel welcome. Not only was your beautiful venue a breath of fresh air, but so was your rare combination of being passionate Grizzly fans and genuinely gracious hosts. After the game, approximately 20 of us - parents and friends of Wofford players - went to the Press Box near the stadium. As you would expect, it was crowded with Grizzly fans, yet we heard nothing but compliments and congratulatory comments. We gathered in a second-floor party room, ate and drank for several hours, then were informed that a Grizzly fan (whom our server refused to identify) had paid our check. We were dumbfounded. On behalf of all of us, a very sincere thank you - even more for the noble gesture than the very generous expenditure. Please talk coach Bobby Hauck into a rematch. We would love to visit you again, or return your hospitality in Spartanburg.
- Pat Miller, Spartanburg, S.C.
Impressive hospitality - and crowd noise
My husband and I travel quite a bit but never had the opportunity to venture to Montana until recently. The occasion that brought us to your fine city of Missoula was the Griz vs. Wofford Terrier playoff game. Our son plays for the Wofford Terriers. We want to let you know how very impressed we were with the people of Missoula and the gracious way the fans handled their first loss of a very impressive season. Admittedly, we were a bit intimidated by the size of the crowd in the stadium and the high decibel level within, but what really impressed us was the size of their hearts. We heard no name-calling or put-downs before or after the game; in fact, we were congratulated and wished good luck by many. Several even invited us to join their tailgate. The loss had to be somewhat devastating to Griz fans but they handled themselves with true class. So, many thanks to all Missoulians - fans, coaches and players - for your warmth and hospitality. Win or lose, you truly have something to be proud of.
-Jerry and Roberta Norcia, Libertyville, Ill.
