Sports Illustrated Puts Big Sky in the National Spotlight

Sports Illustrated covered the Big Sky Conference in an article last week titled "How the Big Sky is Staying True to Old-School Roots in a Modern College Football World."

Rarely do SI or any national media outlet give the Big Sky any time of day. They'll cover the SEC, Big 10, and ACC until the Longhorns come home, but it's a rarity to see a Big Sky article on the famed SI.com.

What Did S.I. Say About The Big Sky Conference?

I'll sum up the article quickly, but I recommend you read the lengthy piece by Pat Forde.

In short, Forde praises the Big Sky on a couple of things:

1) Being competitive in the FCS, and as competitive as "many FBS Group of 6 conference members," with smaller athletic budgets.

2) Providing college-like athletic programs instead of the "high end of college football" operating "into a more professionalized mode of operation."

Here's my take.

Forde is right. The Big Sky Conference still looks like an older college football relatively to some of the major programs in the country.

It still possesses the "for the love of the game" feel. When you watch an SEC game or a Big 10 game, it's hard to forget how much money there is in TV deals, advertising, and tickets.

It's killed the allure of college athletics.

Credit: Wesley Hitt (Getty Images)

I, however, have some issues with the Big Sky. Not so much the way the conference is operating, but more so the schools and atmospheres within the Big Sky.

No offense to these schools, but when Montana plays at Northern Colorado or at Cal Poly in front of 50 fans, it just doesn't do it for me. Is that the old style of college football? Sure, but if that's the old college football, I'd rather watch a Power 4 game where the crowd is roaring.

Credit: Steph Chambers (Getty)

I still love working in the Big Sky. All I'm saying is the atmosphere in a traditional college football conference can feel deflating when you're used to being at Washington-Grizzly Stadium every Saturday.

Read the Forde article and let me know what you think of it.