Montana Grizzlies Football, Basketball, Track & Field, Soccer, Cross Country, Volleyball, Golf, Tennis : The Grizzoulian

In my opinion, being part of the student section is the single greatest experience in sports. Right now I have two extra tickets for  the student section to the biggest event in Montana. Please leave a comment with an offer if you are interested in attending the 106th Brawl of the Wild and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

I was planning on giving them to family but they can't make it out this weekend. Just scroll down or click on the "Griz-Cat" tag to see what a friend and I had to go through to get these tickets

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The Montana Grizzlies remain in the second slot on this week's Sports Network I-AA college football poll after they used the University of Northern Colorado as a practice squad to get their offense rolling. It was pretty much the same scenario as the Ohio State's rout of Northwestern, except with less defense.

It kind of worries me that the Bears managed to toss up 21 points on our stingy D. Even so, at least we didn't have to sneak by them for a shot at the BSC crown.

Next week's Brawl of the Wild will be a showdown between the #2 and #15 I-AA teams as Montana State jumped up three spots during their idle week; this is probably something a team full of George Costanzas would aspire to do as often as possible.

One reason for the bizarre jump is NDSU's absolute demolition of Cal Poly. The Bison romped the Mustangs by a score of 51-14. This is the same Mustang team the Griz needed a last second field goal to beat.  The Bison sit at #4 and received eight first-place votes. Yeah, it really is a shame they're postseason ineligible. Not.

About that field goal: I just saw the replay of that this week and that kick barely made it inside the left upright. Because I watched the game from the student section I really had no idea it was that close. After the kick Dan Carpenter was jubilant. I think in that scenario I probably would've just passed out from relief if I was that close to greatly disappointing so many intoxicated Montanans.

Anyway, complete rankings -- as usual -- after the jump.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

It took a grand total of 13 hours inside the stuffy, loud and stiff UC before I finally got those tickets. I was there at two and, thank God, they started handing tickets out a little early -- around 4:30 or so.

I was surprised to see how many people showed up. More specifically, I was even more surprised to see how many really odd/nerdy(ish) people showed up. Of all the sweaty people that seemed to be pushing on me from all sides as we waited for tickets, I really couldn't picture many of them at some cold intense college football clash of rivals.

Just one little anecdotal piece of evidence: I overheard one guy's scheme to buy seven PlayStation 3's and then sell them to desperate Christmas shoppers to make a profit. Aren't there better things to invest in than an overpriced toy? And does this man really belong at Saturday's game? This was one of the many bizarre things I overheard-- you tend to overhear a lot while waiting in line. With the extreme proximity to one another and the overwhelming boredom it's really the only form of entertainment available.

Also, props to the wristband cutter/staff who said he enjoyed reading my blog. It's really good to hear from someone; honestly, thanks. Oh, and sorry I didn't do more than just utter an elongated "yeah" and keep on walking. I was a little worn out from the night and focused on not knocking over those metal bars.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

I've officially gotten my wristband that says when the time comes I am allowed to purchase a ticket along with an additional ticket for a guest of my choosing. It doesn't actually say that on the neon yellow paper band but that's what it means.

I'm kind of missing the point on why we have almost 90 minutes for wristbands then go through the line again for tickets. I guess it prevents us lining up at 10 last night but it's still pretty frustrating.

On top of these two waits tonight I plan on getting into Saturday's game as early as possible to snatch a seat along the rail. We'll see.

Above is an image of the last room before getting tickets. A friend compared it to waiting at Ellis Island; Griz fans young and old gathering all their worldly possessions -- blankets, iPods, sleeping bags, laptops, pizza boxes -- and travelling through some hot muggy room just for the chance to enter the stadium next Saturday.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

It's 7:30 pm and the line has grown to the point that it has extended all the way downstairs. Ten hours until tickets and the Justin Timberlake is blaring; this is what college football is all about.

The entire third floor of the the UM University Center is filled with students waiting for tickets to the next best thing to Ohio State - Michigan. At least that's what I think, it may be entirely untrue. Here's another image from the night. Time to watch Fargo to pass the time.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The line for tickets continue to grow. It's probably closing in on 500 people. The girlfriend says "close to a thousand" but I highly doubt it. I wonder what it's like getting Ohio State - Michigan tickets. I also wonder if ND can make it to the national championship.

Well, here's another image from the wait, this from the UC ballroom. It's much more full than that and people keep on coming. Rumor is all line-goers will be greeted by a Bobby Hauck wake-up call. Gee, I can't wait to hear that voice at four in the morning.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

It's close to 4:30 and the line has probably grown to about 350 people. Once people realized they weren't going to get guess passes they decided they were going to come back later instead of waiting through the line.

The recent update is that the staff realized they were going to number everyone's hand to prevent cutting and such. My number: 196. The ticket is either going to one of my brother's, a friend's brother or the highest bidder. We'll see.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

It's about two o'clock and I've officially entered the line for Brawl of the Wild tickets. Personally, I think this name is a on better than Griz-Cat. I know the latter gets to the point but the first name sounds so much better. Not gonna lie, I first heard the name and story while playing NCAA Football 2006 and thought it was pretty damn great.

Wristbands are handed out at 10 tonight; once you have a wristband, you're getting a ticket. The tickets don't actually go on sale until 5 tomorrow morning.

So right now I've been told I'm about 180 back. From what I heard before, the first 300 students who want one get a guest pass. It's looking pretty good.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Here's the Sports Nework's preview of the the UNC game this weekend. Matt Dougherty says the Bears will not make even close to the showing they did against the Cats. He also says, essentially, that the Griz will basically use the Bears as a practice squad to get the offense rolling.

While Montana State gets to sit and wait for the Nov. 18 showdown with the Grizzlies in Missoula, Montana gets a chance to go on the road and clinch at least a share of the Big Sky title for the ninth year in a row by winning at Northern Colorado. That should be a pretty easy task, though the Bears were in the game until the end in a 13-10 loss against the Bobcats last week. Still, this should provide a good opportunity for Montana to get the offense going after a few so-so performances. Quarterback Josh Swogger (1,618 yards, 9 TD/7 INT) came through with a gamewinning drive in the final minutes of Montana’s 10-9 victory over Cal Poly last week, but he’ll try for a better overall performance after completing 12-of-30 passes last week and less than 50 percent over the past two weeks. Northern Colorado should provide that opportunity with a pass defense that allows 63 percent of passes to be completed and 222 yards per game. The Montana running game can get going as well against a porous run defense, and the Grizzlies should just keep dominating on the other side of the ball. Montana’s defense only gives up 100 yards per game on the ground and has 13 interceptions, and should just boost those numbers against a team with 16 interceptions and only four touchdown passes. Montana might look past this game a bit with Cal Poly in the rear view mirror and the Bobcats coming up next week, but that wouldn’t really matter anyway against a team that is struggling so much. Northern Colorado offered a good performance last week, and isn’t likely to do it two weeks in a row in a game that should end up in a Grizzly blowout. Prediction: Montana 35, Northern Colorado 10

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments (1)
• Trackbacks

On tap this week is Northern Colorado, and the only thing that makes them slightly similar to UM is their name. The Griz are a Big Sky power with a history of dominance in the conference and the Bears are stumbling through their first season in I-AA. UNC really couldn't be any different -- or any worse.

This Great Falls Tribune article points to the many "contrasts" between the Griz and Bears:

• The Grizzlies are 8-1 overall; the Bears are 1-8.
• Montana is 6-0 in Big Sky play; UNC is 0-6.
• UM leads the league in turnover margin (+9); UNC is second to last (-7).
• Montana is second in scoring offense (27.9) and is tops in scoring defense (18.8).
• Northern Colorado is last in scoring (11.7) and next-to-last in defensive yield (29.6).

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Saturday's Griz-Cal Poly game lived up to all expectations. It was a defensive battle between #2 and #6 and had the game been I-A, Corso and the gang would've been there and it would've been an Instant Classic.

The best Griz game of the year ended on a Favre-like drive -- one of the the vintage ones where he doesn't throw a pick halfway through -- by Josh Swogger to set up 21 yard game winning kick by Dan Carpenter. This means the Griz hang in at #2 in the latest Sports Network I-AA Football Poll and this game goes down as another one Skip Bayless would've hated.

The win also means everything is in order for a Brawl of the Wild with BSC title implications. It's just like the Michigan-Ohio State game, except with the S and the C switched. The Griz have Northern Colorado coming up and the Cats just beat them, barely. Can you say settling for a moral victory?

Ms. U moved up on spot to #18 after their sixth straight win.

Complete rankings after the jump.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Oklahoma dropdown JD Quinn returned to practice today. Too bad it doesn't matter because the NCAA ruled today that he and former Oklahoma teammate Rhett Bomar are ineligible for the 2006 season.

Offensive lineman J.D. Quinn, who transferred to Division I-AA Montana, must pay $8,137 to the charity of his choice. Quarterback Rhett Bomar, who transferred to Sam Houston State, must pay $7,407.

"The NCAA reinstatement staff has assessed the facts presented by Oklahoma and agrees with its contention that both Mr. Bomar and Mr. Quinn willfully violated NCAA rules regarding preferential treatment and benefits," said Jennifer Strawley, NCAA director of membership services and student-athlete reinstatement.

Both players lose a year of eligibility and will only have two more at the college level.

They were kicked off the Oklahoma team before the season after getting a lot of money from a Chevrolet dealership while doing very little work.

This is a big blow to the Griz as their offensive line has done about as good of job at preventing opposing teams from getting to Swogger as event security has done at keeping peppermint schnapps out of the student section. Yeah, that schnapps led to a certain fan close to me showing everyone what he ate for breakfast.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The Montana Grizzlies football team has it pretty good. They've been in the playoffs pretty much every year since the beginning of time and average more than 20,000 fans a game. What's not to hate for anyone who's a fan from another conference team? It's really not even fair.

This from a EWU fan's blog:

Most people who move here want to be native Montanans right away. The most prevalent way of accomplishing this, or so they think, is to go buy University of Montana license plates. If every car with a UM license plate had a kid attending UM, the school would be as big as The Ohio State University. I think it is ridiculous. The funny thing, after you have lived here for over 10 years you can tell the difference between a Montanan and a transplant with ease. But the license plate thing with the Montana Grizzlies is just way overdone. My wife bought me a “Montana Grizzlies pull over. And I don't wear it. And so I have developed resentment for all the Grizzly bullshit. What about MSU? You never see any MSU Bobcat stuff. So screw the Grizzlies.

Here's part of an article he mentions. It's by Easterner  senior writer Brandon Hansen:

Forget the Yankees as the evil empire, a bastion that stands for everything that is wrong in sports. All you have to do is get on I-90 and head down to the biggest snobville in the western United States: Missoula, Montana. The Smugness levels from that place rival that of San Francisco.

Not sure what else to say other than wondering what it would be like to be in the Big Sky Conference and not go to UM. I mean I was pretty disappointed when I didn't get into a I-A school like Notre Dame and Wisconsin, but coming here has been a pleasant surprise as the football team romps through the conference and the hoops team made it to the second round of the dance. Really, could any Griz so much as tolerate being stuck in Cheney, Washington? Being from Seattle, I saw everything east of the Cascades (besides the Gorge) a big, dry, boring nothing. I didn't even know Eastern Washington University existed, let alone consider applying. Tack on the fact that their teams aren't that great and they don't have too much to cheer for besides Rodney Stuckey and it's easy to see why these two individuals aren't happy.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The Montana Grizzlies continued undefeated run through Big Sky play with an excellent defensive display against Idaho State. This kept the Griz at #2 in the Sports Network I-AA Football Poll.

From the stands, the game looked very sloppy but the stats showed otherwise for the defense as they held the Bengals, who are averaging a league-best 404 yards per game, to only 92. The defense needed to bail out the defense and the special teams as they prevented another team from getting past the end of the student section when they needed to drive the length of the field for the win.

In other Big Sky news: Montana State needed a late interception return for a touchdown to rally past Weber State. With the win, the Cats jumped up five spots to #19 in the poll. Portland State dropped four spots to #25.

Next weeks opponent, Cal Poly, moved up three spots to #6 after beating San Diego State. Appalachian remained at #1, receiving 96 first-place votes after beating #8 Paladins 40-7.

Complete rankings after the jump.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

After their win over Weber State, the Griz earned two more first place votes for a total of four and stayed at #2 in the Sports Network I-AA College Football Poll.

Upcoming Griz opponent Cal Poly fell four spots to #9 after their 29-28 loss to South Dakota State. #1 Appalachian State needed two OTs to beat Georgia Southern.

Montana State re-entered the poll at #24 coming off their 42-35 win over Idaho State. Arizona transfer Michael Jefferson was very impressive in the win.

Here's a well-done recap of this weeks I-AA happenings.

Complete rankings after the jump.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

So I'm going to try and live blog this game to keep everyone updated and myself further entertained. I'm working hard on making it the whole game but if I don't I'm sorry. This is the first time I've done this so be easy. Take a look after the jump.

Griz hold on to win 33-30. The running game got all the TDs but the passing game got the yards. Brady Green ran for two touchdowns and Greg Coleman ran for another. Swogger finished 21/39 for 356 yards and 1 TD. Eric Allen had 132 yards  and Ryan Bagley had 98. Here's the AP article. For more in depth, check out the live blog.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The Great Falls Tribune points out that this will be the second week in a row that the Griz will face a Big Sky foe coming off a bye week. It isn't the last either as the Griz will face a Montana State team with an extra week of rest and preparation in their final game of the regular season.

This year's Griz/Cat game could very well (once again) determine the BSC champ; it's a shame both teams aren't coming off a bye. It'd be great to see both teams fully healthy and completely prepared for one another.

However, it's not like the Griz have a tough game before facing the Cats. They have 1-6 (0-4) Northern Colorado the week before; it'll be hard not too look past that game.

Here are some quotes from the article:

"I assume it's an accident," Hauck said Tuesday. "But is sure is an advantage, especially late in the year, giving a team a chance to heal up."

"The week off was a good thing," said WSU coach Ron McBride, in his second year at the helm of the Cats after many years at I-A Utah. "At this point, it's good for us because we're still trying to find our way as a football team. We haven't reached near our capabilities yet."

The second quote kind of sounds more like a U-12 youth soccer coach than someone who use to coach at the I-A level. Weber State is coming off a loss to Sac State.

Interesting tidbit on coach Ron McBride: Vikings Blog says he sleeps in student housing with his players during the football season. No biggie, pretty sure Hauck lived down the hall from me on the third floor of the Aberhood last semester.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Twenty years ago today, the University of Montana beat Idaho State 38-31in the first game played at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Since then, their dominance in this den has been overwhelming. There is a very well-done article in today's Great Falls Tribune on the stadium and how the Griz have excelled there.

People can try and say the stadium isn't why the Griz are who they are but one can just look at the records. In the 10 seasons before Wash-Griz opened, the Griz were a mediocre 28-25. Since then they've been a dominant 128-18. That's a .87 winning percentage; better than the Michigan Wolverines in "The Big House" and the Denver Broncos at Mile High.

This stat is included with many other interesting ones in the article. I strongly suggest any Griz fan should take a look.

Also, if you want to compare the Griz and their support, take a look at what's going on at Sacramento State University. These two entries on Thee Green Hornet show an editorial in the paper and an image of just how bad it is there.

Asking which comes first between success and support maybe be a chicken and the egg type thing but it is really great when your team has both.

UPDATE: The Kaimin said UM is considering expanding by 4,000 to 6,000 seats with an upper deck added to the east side of the stadium being the most likely option.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

After their very dicey 24-21 victory over NAU, the Griz moved up one spot to #2 in the I-AA Sports Network Division I-AA football poll. This comes after previously 13th ranked James Madison upset former #1 New Hampshire 42-23.

The Griz received two first place votes, fewer than #11 Hampton who received three. In all, eight different schools got at least one first place vote with #3 receiving the most (11) without actually being ranked #1. That title goes to Appalachian State.

Big Sky notables: Portland State moved up two spots to #23 and Montana State is still unranked but they received the second most votes of those not in the rankings. It's looking more and more like this year's Cat/Griz game could have major BSC implications(more on this in Cat-Griz's week 6 rundown). Complete rankings after the jump.

Here are the recaps from Saturday's games:

• Cat-Griz Insider:
  
  • A great escape
  • Week 6 rundown
• ESPN (AP)
• CSTV.com : #3 Montana holds on for win.
• The Missoulian: That's a sack, Jack: Montana defense holds NAU at bay
• Montana Kaimin: Griz defense tackles Lumberjacks with help of home fans.

The 23,626 fans in attendance was the sixth-largest crowd in Washington-Grizzly Stadium’s history. NAU senior quarterback Jason Murrietta said playing in Missoula is never easy and it was particularly hard on that last drive.

“I think it was really difficult especially in that drive to get things going at a faster pace,” Murrietta said. “The crowd is a huge factor.”

When I was walking out of Wash-Griz after the game I heard not only that extremely loud bell, but a lot of people griping about Hauck going for it on the NAU 11 with 1:13 left to play instead of kicking a field goal that would've put the Griz up 6.

I totally agree with Hauck on this call, you go for the win right there and then. If you kick a field goal, there isn't that much of a difference between 3 and 6 points; a touchdown wins it and with that little time left a big TD play was all that was going to save them anyway. You take the three point lead and the crowd. After the turnover on downs the student section didn't let NAU get past the 30. Even if the Griz D had allowed a field goal, there is no way they would have beat us in OT, not at home.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

With the Griz's victory over the Eagle's and Furman's loss to Coastal Carolina, UM moved up one spot to #3 in this week's I-AA poll. The Griz still did not receive a single first place vote, which kind of surprises me. Portland State, the only other Big Sky school in the rankings dropped to #25 after the loss to Montana State.

Here are the rankings in their entirety:

Team (First-place votes)	Record	Points	LW
1. New Hampshire (88)	5-0	2,704	1
2. Appalachian State (21)	5-1	2,622	2
3. Montana	4-1	2,401	4
4. Cal Poly	5-1	2,325	5
5. Illinois State	4-1	2,226	6
6. Youngstown State	5-1	2,076	8
7. Southern Illinois	5-0	2,022	9
8. Massachusetts	4-1	1,893	10
9. North Dakota State	5-0	1,859	11
10. Richmond	4-1	1,703	7
11. Furman	4-2	1,663	3
12. Hampton	6-0	1,642	12
13. James Madison	4-1	1,466	13
14. Northern Iowa	3-2	1,362	14
15. Harvard	4-0	1,011	19
16. Eastern Illinois	3-3	851	20
17. Tennessee-Martin	5-1	819	22
18. UC Davis	3-2	583	16
19. Central Connecticut	5-1	555	23
20. Alabama A&M	4-1	548	24
21. San Diego	5-0	457	25
22. Towson	4-1	417	17
23. Maine	3-2	400	NR
24. Princeton	4-0	382	NR
25. Portland State	3-3	340	15

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The Griz travel to to Cheney this weekend and I have to say I am more afraid of the television coverage than anything. I'm not going to lie, last week was the first time I had watched a Griz game on TV and I think a high school AV club could have done a better job with the camera work. If the main cameraman was a safety he would get lit up more than the "Fresh Donuts" sign at Krispy Kreme because he bit on the play fake every single time. I can live without the yellow first-down line but the camera work has got to improve.

Anyway, here are the previews for this week's game.

• The Missoulian:
  •  Griz ground Game gets going. Bradshaw, the junior transfer from Louisville, has 209 yards. His per-game average of 52.2 yards ranks sixth in the league, but he does have a Big Sky-best five rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, senior Brady Green continues to bounce out of tackles and produce big plays. His 34-yard run against Portland State last week, in and out of the tackle of safety Charles Manigo, was nearly the stuff of legend.
  • Swogger brings a cannon, and can dish a little pain.
  • Eagles still waiting to fly.
• Big Sky Football Blog: "After last week's victory over Portland State, Montana has proven they are currently cream of the crop in the Big Sky."
• CSTV.com: Eastern Washington is 0-2 at home this season, while Montana is 1-1 on the road. EWU has not lost three straight home games since the 1995 season. The Grizzlies are 8-4 in road conference games under Hauck. Montana leads in the Big Sky in rushing offense (141.5 ypg.) and scoring offense (32.0 ppg). Eastern Washington is allowing 32.0 points per game and is allowing a league-worst 202 rushing yards per game. Montana ranks second in the Big Sky in rushing defense (199.5 ypg) and total defense (277 ypg). Eastern Washington ranks fifth in the league in passing offense (193.4 ypg) and fifth in total offense (279 ypg). Montana ranks first in the nation in net punting. UM QB Josh Swogger is completing 61.3 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and four interceptions. EWU QB Matt Nichols is completing 52.2 percent of his passes for 925 yards with two touchdowns and eight interceptions. Montana committed four turnovers against Portland State. EWU had three turnovers last week against Sacramento State. UM and EWU ranked first and second, respectively, in the Big Sky in punt return average.
• The Kaimin:
  • Griz get a spike in play from strong defensive ends.
  • Griz Football travels to Cheney in hopes of revenge against Eagles.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The Griz continue their swing on the road with a matchup in Cheney against the Eagles of Eastern Washington where UM looks to extend its win streak to 4 and remain undefeated in conference play.

EWU is coming off of a Big Sky Championship and  7-6 season. Even though the Eagles are reigning conference champions (as are the Griz) and did win by 14 the last time the two teams met, I don't think the Griz will be too intimidated.

The Eagles lost quarterback and Walter Payton Award (best player in I-AA) winner Erik Meyer and come boasting a not very impressive 1-4 record. Yes, their first two losses were against Oregon State and #6 West Virginia (cha-ching), but they also have two losses against Division II Central Washington and lowly Sac State, who Montana beat by 45.

EWU is 1-1 in the Big Sky Conference so a win over first place UM would put them right back into contention and, at  worst, a half game back of PSU (assuming they win over MSU).

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments (2)
• Trackbacks

The Griz stay at #4, still not receiving any first place votes. PSU dropped one spot to #15 after the loss.

Team (first-place votes)	Record	Points	LW
1. New Hampshire (81)	4-0	2,552	1
2. Appalachian State (21)	4-1	2,457	2
3. Furman	4-1	2,252	3
4. Montana	3-1	2,195	4
5. Cal Poly	4-1	2,065	5
6. Illinois State	3-1	1,996	6
7. Richmond	4-0	1,939	7
8. Youngstown State	4-1	1,831	8
9. Southern Illinois (1)	4-0	1,730	10
10. Massachusetts	3-1	1,711	9
11. North Dakota State	4-0	1,576	11
12. Hampton	5-0	1,476	12
13. James Madison	3-1	1,296	15
14. Northern Iowa	2-2	1,229	13
15. Portland State	3-2	1,007	14
16. UC Davis	2-2	957	18
17. Towson	4-0	931	19
18. Delaware	2-2	723	17
19. Harvard	3-2	695	22
20. Eastern Illinois	2-3	405	20
21. Georgia Southern	2-2	389	NR
22. Tennessee-Martin	4-1	251	NR
23. Central Connecticut	4-1	250	NR
24. Alabama A&M	3-1	248	NR
25. San Diego	4-0	198	NR

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

So Brian White wasn't as bad as I thought. The PSU Vikings also scored 10 points as fast as I've seen any team do so but the Griz still managed to hold on for the win.

I have to admit that White's second quarter TD pass scared the bajeesus out of me. I was loving the game when Rob Freeman had more interceptions than completions; after White came in, not so much.

The Vikings had very little life before White entered the game but when he came him everything swung quite a bit. I wasn't comfortable again until the ball popped out of Kelena Ho'okano's (how fun was that to hear all game?) hands at the goal line. I was scared again when we caught it and decided to bring it out of the endzone.

Everyone knows what happened after that. The Griz did not lose their composure even though they did lose their two posession lead after a safety and a TD return. Dan Carpenter nailed a 43-yarder and the defense picked off White to end the game.

The recaps:

• CSTV.com: Close Shaves For Top-Ranked I-AA Teams
• Missoulian: Homewreckers: Griz hold on to snap Portland State's nine-game home winning streak
• Yahoo Sports (AP)
  

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Grab the chips, bean dip and beverages because the Griz are going primetime. Everyone should throw on their Griz garb (hoops jerseys are $20 at TJ's) and get the guys together to watch the matchup that many are labeling as one that could decide the Big Sky Championship.

The game is on KPAX (channel 10) at 7 PM. I know none of you have anything better to do on a Saturday night. I'm serious, keg cups and creepers at some house party or your friends and watching a good game? The answer is easy.

This weeks' previews:

• From the Kaimin
  “It’s way too early,” said UM defensive end Dustin Dlouhy. “We’ve only played one conference game so all we can worry about is going week by week and hopefully eliminating contenders as they come.”
  
  
• CSTV.com
Portland State has beaten UM twice since joining the Big Sky (`99, and 2004). Both of those games were at PGE Park. PSU won the 2004 meeting 35-32. The last three times UM and PSU have played in PGE Park (1999, 2002 and 2004), the game has been decided by three points. UM leads the Big Sky in scoring offense (34.0 ppg). PSU is first in scoring defense (15.2 ppg). UM is second in total defense, while Portland State is third. Portland State has a turnover margin of +9, tops in the Big Sky. Portland State has not allowed a second-half touchdown this season. UM's Josh Swogger completed 14-of-18 passes for 221 yards with three touchdowns and one interception against Sacramento State. PSU starting QB Sawyer Smith sat out last week's game against Weber State with a hip injury. He is doubtful for Saturday's game. Rob Freeman got his first start, and threw for just 50 yards, but tossed one touchdown.

• The Daily Vanguard
“Tradition; they have tradition. When they walk onto the field they expect to win because of the past. And until someone beats them that's going to be their attitude,” [PSU Head Coach Tim] Walsh said.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The Dropdown Duo, that's what I'm calling them. I've mentioned it before, but I think the nickname fits  the Swogger to Chambers connection pretty well. The headline for the print version of the Kaimin article on Chambers said he added depth to the Griz receiving corps when the truth is he provides so much more.

Craig Chambers is not the type of receiver that simply adds depth or another weapon; he changes the shape and complexion of an offense. Chambers led a I-A offense in touchdown receptions and seems to run straight through I-AA coverages to get open at will.

This is comparable to the Seahawks adding Deion Branch, not Joe Jurevicius. He even showed shades of Branch with the playmaking ability after the catch on his lone touchdown grab. Maybe just a hint of TO as well with his power to get to the pylon. It's a shame he also had a little Koren Robinson going on or he would of finished with a pair of TD receptions.

Chambers finished with five catches and 82 yards in the Sac State game. Had he caught the ball in the endzone and another longball that slipped through his grasp along the sideline, he would have finished with over a 100 yards receiving.

Chambers' numbers also came in three quarters of play as he failed to make an appearance until the second quarter. Coincidentally, Cole Berquist entered the game at the same time so the Dropdown Duo didn't rear its offensively dangerous head until the second half.

Swogger made an appearance at the very end of the half in a 4 receiver set and Chambers for some reason was held out. Does anyone have any idea what was going on here? It seemed like Hauck did not want Swogger and Chambers on the field at once.

Oh, and he did catch the pass in the image above (against then #1 USC). I don't know how, but he did.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

For anyone who hasn't heard: Portland State University signed Brian White, a former Colorado University quarterback who dropped out of the school earlier this month after failing to move up the depth chart.

PSU lost the #1 and #2 QBs on the depth chart during a loss to Cal (can whoever scheduled this game look any worse?). The injuries mean White will be backing up third stringer Rob Freeman in the Vikings' matchup this Saturday with the Griz.

When I first read this story I thought it was extremely unfair that this team could sign a 1-A transfer and have him playing before he was even caught up on classes, but then after really looking at it I realized how awful it must feel for this to be an option.

The Missoulian compared PSU's signing to Montana grabbing Josh Swogger. No, not even close.

Swogger started as a sophomore at Washington State and lost his place due to injury while White is transferring to PSU because he failed to move up the depth chart of an offense that only managed 10 points against Montana State. I-AA UC Davis put up 45 while tossing a shutout and Division II Chadron State scored 35 in their win over the poooor Cats.

White was a bad quarterback on an awful team. The Vikings should be very worried if this is who they are relying on to carry them if starter Sawyer Smith can't play.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The Griz move up one spot in this weeks poll to #4 after 45 point drubbing of Sac State and Cal Poly's loss to San Jose State. UM and Cal Poly will meet November 4th in the Zoo. The Griz did not receive any first place votes; I find this a little odd considering they put up 59 points and their QB looked phenomenal. It was against a team they've never lost to but that offense is still scary.

Here's the poll in its entirety:

Team (first-place votes)	Record	Points	LW
1. New Hampshire (80)	3-0	2,574	1
2. Appalachian State (22)	3-1	2,493	2
3. Furman	3-1	2,271	4
4. Montana	2-1	2,145	5
5. Cal Poly	3-1	2,069	3
6. Illinois State	3-1	2,046	6
7. Richmond	3-0	2,006	7
8. Youngstown State	3-1	1,866	8
9. Massachusetts	3-1	1,740	9
10. Southern Illinois (1)	3-0	1,704	10
11. North Dakota State	3-0	1,514	14
12. Hampton (1)	4-0	1,510	11
13. Northern Iowa	2-1	1,310	12
14. Portland State	3-1	1,302	15
15. James Madison	2-1	1,137	17
16. McNeese State	1-2	830	13
17. Delaware	2-1	796	18
18. UC Davis	2-2	788	16
19. Towson	4-0	766	21
20. Eastern Illinois	2-2	671	20
21. Western Illinois	3-1	445	NR
22. Harvard	2-0	432	NR
23. Albany	3-1	236	NR
24. Western Carolina	2-1	197	22
25. Northern Arizona	2-1	135	NR

Big Sky notables: Portland State moves up one spot to #15 and NAU pops its head in at #25.

• Send To A Friend
• Print This Article
• Comments
• Trackbacks

• This week's rankings: The Griz come in at #5 but talk about all things evening out; after their upset at Colorado MSU has plummeted out of the rankings faster than Brett Boone left the majors.
• Not going to be a blowout?  The Griz have won all 11 meetings by a combined score of 419-174 but apparently the Hornets' defense has improved.
• Interview with the Moose: Your schedule is always goin