kang@journalnet.com

POCATELLO - This weekend's going to be a hectic one for Idaho State's football coaches.

Having just returned from weeks of recruiting visits, they'll be spending a lot of time in their offices studying film, evaluating players and planning more visits.

But for a few hours today, at least, they'll have Montana's 6 p.m. clash with Richmond for the Championship Subdivision title, to be aired on ESPN2, as a welcome diversion.

"We'll probably have a working party here," Idaho State coach John Zamberlin said. "It'll probably be on the background somewhere."

The Bengals won't just be watching the game to satisfy their curiosity or casual interest, either. Both Idaho State and the Big Sky Conference have a stake in how Montana fares in its sixth trip to the FCS championship game in the past 14 years.

A sparkling performance by the Grizzlies surely would boost the Bengals' recruiting efforts moving forward. A Montana victory also would sustain interest in Big Sky football and help maintain its status as the only FCS conference with a profitable TV contract.

"It's good exposure for our conference and the type of football we play," Zamberlin said. "We've got to wish Montana all the luck in the world."

The Bengals already somewhat have the Grizzlies to thank for helping salvage their season. Idaho State lost its penultimate game at Montana, 29-10, turning in what was arguably its finest performance up till that point. Zamberlin partially attributed the Bengals' 36-33 home win over Sacramento State the following week to the confidence they gained in the Montana game.

Now, when the Bengals' coaches make recruiting visits, they also will be able to sell Idaho State as a destination where prospects can play against a perennial title contender in one of the top-tier FCS leagues.

"It puts you, as the Big Sky Conference, back up as one of the elite conferences," Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton said by phone. "We've never left that spot, but this just reinforces it. That's very important to us."

Zamberlin also expects Montana's berth in the title game to give Idaho State and its peers additional name recognition when it comes to scheduling.

The Big Sky likely has done enough this season to catch the attention of its FBS counterparts. Sacramento State lost to Colorado State 23-20 only by a last-second field goal, while Eastern Washington led Colorado by two touchdowns at halftime before losing 31-24.

Still, Fullerton and Zamberlin believe Montana's success reinforces Big Sky teams' status as worthy nonconference fodder for their FBS counterparts.

"It legitimizes when they play someone from the Big Sky," Fullerton said. "We don't have any real problems getting games."

If nothing else, the Grizzlies' repeated postseason runs keep interest in Big Sky football at a high level, which is unparalleled at the FCS level if its television contracts are any gauge.

The Big Sky is the only FCS conference that makes money from its TV contracts, to the tune of about $200,000 a year, Fullerton said. Other FCS leagues normally pay to broadcast their games.

All these second-hand benefits are welcome, no doubt. But they represent just a fraction of what the Grizzlies themselves will enjoy from playing in the nationally televised title game. So as much as the Bengals will be cheering for their rivals, their emotions will also be tinted with some degree of yearning.

"The biggest payoff would be if it's us in that championship game," Zamberlin said. "That's what we're striving for."