The next Griz uniforms?
I know the Montana Grizzlies just got new football uniforms but with a few very small changes, these new Cal uniforms would look pretty slick.
Quick look at the Cal Poly offense
For the first time in years, the Montana Grizzlies football team will go on the road and play a formidable FCS opponent as part of their non-conference schedule. That'd be Cal Poly on September, 6th. So now the fans can stop asking "will a weak schedule come back to haunt us?" (the answer is yes) and start asking more concrete football questions like, you know, "will we win?" The Griz haven't lost a regular season game since the first game of the '06 campaign, that's 21 in a row. Cal Poly looks very worthy of ending that streak.
Saturday Sound Offs has a brief preview on the Mustangs (scroll down). Here's their take on what could be one of the FCS' best offenses:
If you're not an FCS fan, you should be a fan of Mustang QB Jonathan Dally. His legs do more damage than his arm, if you can believe that. Cal Poly was fifth last year in rushing, gaining over 270 yards a game. Dally was the leading rusher statistically. That, however, doesn't mean he can't chuck it as well. Dally was second in the FCS in passing efficiency which is the holy grail of QB stats. Cal Poly relies on FB Jon Hall more than most teams utilize that position and James Noble did a good job at RB last year with over five yards a touch. Tredale Tolver and Ramses Barden team up to make a pretty impressive combo at WR and the line did its job finishing 27th in sacks allowed. In the FCS, there's just about no offense as feared as Cal Poly's.
Dave Coulson of the The Sports Network has more on Dally in his FCS quarterback rankings:
Dally made an immediate impact last year as a JC transfer, beating out the now-departed Matt Brennan and finishing second to San Diego's Josh Johnson in NCAA passing efficiency. Dally is one of the new breed of QBs who can beat you with both his arm (2,238 yards) and legs (763 yards), and leads an offense that ranked second in total offense a year ago.
My take: they leave our young defense more torched than a Montana forest in August. In the playoffs last year, Wofford's option offense blew up a much more formidable Griz D for 333 rushing yards. Not only do the Mustangs bring a similar offensive ground game, but also a much more skilled quarterback.
A lesson in handling negative press, courtesy of Paul Wulff
The Montana Grizzlies football team has suffered more than enough negative exposure. Throughout most of it the administration, and especially Bobby Hauck, have been relatively silent. We'll get a blurb in the newspaper story on how the actions of a few should not reflect poorly on the rest of the team but not much more. Never do we see the openness and level of accountability current Washington State head coach and former Eastern Washington head coach Paul Wulff displayed after the Seattle Times published a scathing article on the Cougars' past transgressions.
AOL's Fanhouse has his response:
In response to the Sunday story, Wulff hopped on the sports radio airwaves yesterday on KJR-AM in Seattle. You can give it a listen here. Most of all it was a chance for Wulff to respond in his own voice, beyond just a couple of lines in the story about what WSU is already doing to correct the problems of the past.For example, since the APR debacle, academics have taken on a whole new level of importance. In Wulff's first semester in Pullman, the football team just turned in a 2.72 GPA for the spring, the highest in the last 30 years. The goal for this fall is to turn in the highest GPA in team history. And Wulff has already implemented a team "Unity Council", a 16-player group that will sit in judgment in dealing with players who stray off the beaten path. They will recommend punishment to the coaching staff, and the input will be part of the ultimate decision on each player.
The closest thing we have? Bobby Hauck appearing on his weekly KPAX show and ripping into the reporters who first covered the home invasion story.
An FBS move success story
There are a myriad of examples Griz fans bring up when attempting to argue for or against moving the football team to the Football Bowl Subdivision. The discussion normally revolves around the success of Boise State and the apparent failure of Idaho University. It makes sense, considering the schools' proximity to Missoula. However, here's a school we rarely hear about: Troy University.
Troy University began its first season in the FBS in 2001, only eight seasons after they moved up from Division II. They haven't simply made the transition; according to an article in the TimesDaily (membership may be required, it let me in then it didn't), they have thrived since the move.
"We felt confident when we made the move because we had a great university and good tradition in our football program," [Troy head coach Larry Blakeney] said Tuesday before speaking to the Russellville Civitan Club. "We did well when we went to Division I-AA and then the crowning jewel was moving to I-A. There is no doubt that it has paid off for our team, but especially for the university."
Troy has something special with Blakeney. He's coached at Troy since 1991, having the fourth longest tenure coaching a Division I football team. He saw the program move from Division II to the FCS and then from there to the FBS. The odds of Bobby Hauck being in Missoula in five years, let alone staying with the program when (probably if) it moves to the FBS, are probably around the same as Cole Bergquist winning the Heisman.
Their résumé since the move: three Sun Belt titles, two bowl game appearances and a home win over Missouri (then ranked 17th) in 2004. Now, they're looking for something more.
"We're proud of the progress we've made, especially going to two bowl games in four years," Blakeney said. "Now, we want to move toward getting a home-and-home series with an SEC or ACC team."How about Alabama or Auburn?
"We would love to play in Jordan-Hare or Bryant-Denny Stadium," he said, "but that's probably not going to happen in the foreseeable future. It's political more than anything, and you hear the argument that those schools have nothing to gain and everything to lose by playing us. I don't blame them, but we would sure relish that opportunity."
It's tough scheduling tough opponents when you're not on their level, especially getting them to come to your place. However, Troy hasn't given up and settled for playing lower-tier teams. In 2008, they play the two teams from last year's national championship game: LSU and Ohio State.
Let's be honest, the Bobcat stadium plans look pretty good
Montana State University's football stadium is terrible. It has heinous fairground-like metal bleachers and an old looking grandstand. The worst part: it's probably one of the best in our conference and is second only to UM in conference attendance. The Big Sky Conference: where D-1 ball at high school football stadiums happens.
Anyway, they're looking to make some major improvements. I have to say... not too shabby.
Going off the video, it looks great. Their goal is to have 22,000 seats in eight years. Two major problems: the money and whether or not they can even put fans in that many seats. If I recall correctly, there were even a few empty seats for last year's Griz-Cat game. Not good.
However, this video and these plans would get me legitimately pumped to be a Cat fan. I almost want to donate money myself.
Montana Grizzlies podcast with Jim O'Day
The posts haven't been as frequent as we sink into the offseason and the Missoula weather starts to change but here's something new: the first ever Grizzoulian podcast. I hope to do one more this month then make it a more consistent feature in the fall.
My guest on the first one is University of Montana Athletic Director Jim O'Day. We start by talking about next years hoops team then move onto football scheduling, the draft, the expansion and more.
To download the half-hour long podcast, right-click on the link below and select 'download link target' or something similar.
The move--should Montana move to the FBS?
For the tenth year in a row, the Montana Grizzlies football team exited spring practices with the title of “reigning Big Sky Champions.” In August, they’ll resume practices and begin preparing for a season that could hold their fifteenth consecutive playoff appearance. Until Missoula brings another gorgeous autumn and with it, football season, Griz football fans can only talk and speculate. There’s one debate that reigns over all the rest. It’s something every passionate Griz fan has an opinion on: whether or not the Griz have grown too big and too good for this level of competition.
Continue Reading...New take on the Montana meth ads
We've all seen them so I feel like it fits in on this blog. The great barstoolio (via Deadspin) gives a college football version of these ads.
I'm not great with Photoshop so I can't fix these and take the text out but if someone wants to make a not too terrible UM version, I'll toss it right up.
Another Wash-Griz Stadium expansion picture
Taken during a lacrosse game inside the stadium.
For you Dolphins and Falcons fans...
Above is the last regular season game for now NFL-players Lex Hilliard, Kroy Biermann and Dan Carpenter. Hilliard gets three touchdowns, Biermann chases down a wide receiver way down field and Carpenter knocks a couple big ones through, including a 50-yarder.
After the jump are highlights from Biermann's award-winning season.
Continue Reading...Appalachian State gets ESPN game under the lights
Appalachian State gets even more love as their November 1st game against Wofford gets pushed back a day so the game can be televised Halloween night on ESPN2.
There are numerous intriguing storylines that make the matchup appealing for ESPN2’s national audience. The contest pits the defending Southern Conference co-champions and is the first between the two teams since Appalachian had its 17-game winning streak snapped by Wofford, 42-31, last Sept. 22 in Spartanburg, S.C. ASU rebounded from the loss to Wofford to go 13-2 en route to its third-straight NCAA Division I national championship, while Wofford (9-4) earned the SoCon’s automatic postseason bid and advanced to the national quarterfinals.
The timing's not great as there will be a decent chunk of people out doing whatever adults or college students do on Halloween, but whatever, it's exposure for the FCS and App State program. Good for them.
So, will something like this ever happen for Montana? One of two things would have to happen: we'd need to get lights. ESPN2 could be interested in a Friday night Cat-Griz game under the lights. It's one of the oldest rivalries in college football and, along with App State, Missoula is one of the best FCS venues in the nation. Otherwise, we have to schedule someone great. An App State, Georgia Southern, what have you. Even then, you probably still have to beat Michigan and win a string of National Championships.
FCS gets 24 players drafted
The 2008 NFL draft was pretty kind to the subdivision formerly know as I-AA. The FCS got 24 players drafted by NFL teams. The Bison Media Blog has them all:
Round Pick # Overall Team Athlete Pos. School
2008 Draft 24 student-athletes
1 16 16 Arizona Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State
1 18 18 Baltimore Joe Flacco QB Delaware
2 15 46 Cincinnati Jerome Simpson WR Coastal Carolina
2 27 58 Tampa Bay Dexter Jackson WR Appalachian State
3 3 66 Miami Kendall Langford DT Hampton
3 16 79 Houston Antwaun Molden CB Eastern Kentucky
3 17 80 Philadelphia Bryan Smith OLB McNeese State
3 33 96 Washington Chad Rinehart OT Northern Iowa
4 4 103 Tennessee William Hayes DL Winston-Salem St.
4 26 125 Oakland Arman Shields WR Richmond
4 34 133 Baltimore David Hale OT Weber State
5 11 146 Detroit Jerome Felton FB Furman
5 14 149 Arizona Tim Hightower RB Richmond
5 19 154 Atlanta Kroy Biermann OLB Montana
5 25 160 Tampa Josh Johnson QB San Diego
6 11 177 Cincinnati Corey Lynch FS Appalachian State
6 14 180 Washington Kareem Moore DB Nicholls State
6 27 193 Minnesota Jaymar Johnson WR Jackson State
6 34 200 Philadelphia Joe Mays ILB North Dakota State
6 38 204 Miami Lex Hilliard RB Montana
6 41 207 Cincinnati Matt Sherry TE Villanova
7 3 210 Kansas Brian Johnston DE Gardner-Webb
7 12 219 Buffalo Demetrius Bell OT Northwestern State
7 18 225 Arizona Brandon Keith OT Northern Iowa
Besides the 24 total, four were taken in the first two rounds. Also, Montana had as many as Appalachian State. Then again, I believe Montana lost more seniors.
Two more Griz get chances with pro teams as free agents
Both Hilliard and Biermann get their shot in the NFL through draft. Now two more Montana Grizzly football players will get a chance as undrafted free agents. Offensive tackle Cody Balogh will get a chance with the Chicago Bears and Dan Carpenter signed with the Miami Dolphins.
With Lex drafted, the Dolphins now have two Grizzlies. Maybe they saw Carpenter knocking a 50-yarder through while watching Lex rip apart the Cats. The Dolphins would've had three Grizzlies, but they cut Tuff Harris the day before the draft.
Griz drafted around some interesting company
On Sunday, Montana Grizzlies and Montana-natives Kroy Biermann and Lex Hilliard officially became professional football players. Bierman went in the 5th round (#154 overall) to the Atlanta Falcons. Hilliard went in the 6th round (#204 overall) to the Miami Dolphins. The interesting thing is that both were drafted two spots away from players who were, at one point, legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates.
Biermann was drafted two spots ahead of Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon, who went 156th overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This one makes some sense. Dixon lost his Heisman hopes to a blown out knee late in the season. I was still somewhat surprised his stock was so low. I mean, Willis McGahee went in the first round, 23rd overall, after he blew out his knee at Miami.
The situation with the player near Lex is different. Lex was drafted only two spots behind Michigan running-back Mike Hart, who went 202nd overall. Going into the season, Hart wasn't viewed as highly as, say, McFadden, but he was a legit pro prospect and Heisman contender. If you would've told me at the beginning of the season that Hilliard would go only two spots behind Hilliard I would've said that's about as likely as the Griz losing in the first round of the playoffs to a school with less than 1500 students App State beating Michigan Montana moving up to the FBS. Crazy stuff.
FCS playoffs to expand in 2010
The Montana Grizzlies have made the playoffs for 14 straight seasons. If they make it to 16, it'll get a little easier after that. The NCAA approved playoff expansion to 20 teams in 2010.
As part of the expansion, the Big South and Northeast Conference champions will receive automatic bids to the playoffs beginning in 2010 and can earn access into the field in 2008-09 by attaining certain criteria adopted this week during the Board of Directors meeting.The Division I playoff committee adopted changes in the selection process that will guarantee entry into the postseason for any conference champion that wins at least eight games against Division I opponents, wins two non-conference games against teams from auto-bid leagues and ranks 16th or higher in an average of the Sports Network top-25 poll, the coaches poll and the Gridiron Power index (GPI) computer ranking.
So, now we can lose to even smaller schools in the first round.
Correction: Michael Shelton is not related to Qwenton Freeman
.jpg)
I've received a couple calls from Michael Shelton's mother, with her informing me that her son is not related to Qwenton Freeman. I just wanted to pass that tidbit along. There used to be an entry on this page saying that was the case; it's been taken down.
For other information on Shelton, including the complete affidavit from the November robbery, click on his tag below.
Photo credit: arizonaathletics.com...even though it's not even on there anymore.
Appalachian State appears in Nike ad, sort of
It's not much but having your logo appear in a Nike ad because your team upset Michigan and won three straight national championships beats the hell out of Monte appearing in a Capital One commercial because a bunch of eGrizzers voted for him.
Stadium expansion coming along
For quite a while, it seemed there wasn't a lot of progress. Well, in the past couple weeks, things have changed.
If an eGrizzer had a billion dollars
While there aren't nearly as many now, the beginning of the football offseason—started by a first-round home playoff loss for the second time in three years—brought a lot of chatter on the coaching abilities of Bobby Hauck. After seeing an article today stating that one University of Washington booster pledged to give the school 100k if they fired coach Tyrone Willingham. I don't doubt that there are those who would do the same at Montana if they had the money to do so.
I'd just hope they'd be willing to pony up and put down the money to advance the program. I'm saying something similar to what SMU boosters did to lure June Jones and his dynamic offense away from Hawaii: 20 boosters are paying 100k per year for five years.
So, are there any boosters out there willing to throw down $1 million per for Bill Cowher?
NCAA now has limits on frequency while live blogging
For the reporters out there who think they can endlessly update their live blogs on NCAA bowling, watch out. Your days of giving up-to-the-minute, detailed reports on strikes and spares are over. The NCAA has set a limit on the number of updates that can be given in a live blog on an NCAA event. If the reporter exceeds the limit, they'll lose their press credentials.
Deadspin has the complete .pdf and a list of just how many updates you can give per sport:
Fall Sports
Soccer: Five times per half; one at halftime
Field Hockey: Five times per half; one at halftime
Volleyball: Three per Competition; one in between Competitions
Football: Three per quarter; one at halftime
Cross Country: Ten per day/session
Men's Water Polo: Three per quarter; one at the halftimeWinter Sports
Ice Hockey: Three per period - one in between (includes overtime)
Basketball: Five times per half; one at halftime; two times per overtime period
Wrestling: Ten per session
Indoor Track and Field: Ten per day/session
Swimming and Diving: Ten per day/session
Bowling: Ten per day/session
Gymnastics: Ten per session
The best response I've seen to this comes from a commenter on Deadspin:
Help Wanted: NCAA Blog WranglerMust have prior experience looking over other people's shoulders. Abacus provided for counting, but applicant must procure own horse-and-buggy ride to/from athletic facility.
The reason behind the regulation: the NCAA is worried fans will go to a live blog instead of getting their updates from media who paid for the writes to broadcast the game. Yeah, right. I read a lot of live blogs and I've never thought of reading one instead of watching or listening to a game. Who would? Well, I could watch this game on tv... or I could read a sarcastic and satirical post on it without any play-by-play. Right.
The NCAA needs to wake up. Not only does this have little effect seeing as most live blogs are done by people who themselves are at home watching games watching TV, but it also negatively affects college sports. More coverage means more exposure and attention for athletes. It means more information for fans. Why limit that when, realistically, it isn't hurting anyone? On top of limiting the big time sports, they limit posts on other, non-revenue, ones as well. If a member of the press wants to provide an endless stream of updates to a cross country or a track meet that otherwise has no media exposure, why stop them?
Ft. Collins paper calls Hauck a "longshot" for CSU job due to off-field troubles
It was bound to happen. How could a potential employer possibly look past all the transgressions that took place this past season under Hauck's nose? It's unsure whether or not this reason comes straight the administration or it's an assumption from the press but odds are if it's in the local paper, the administrators are factoring it into their decision-making.
Here's the excerpt from The Coloradoan:
Another potential successor — Montana’s Bobby Hauck — appears to be a longshot. Even though Hauck, a former University of Colorado assistant, has won five consecutive Big Sky Conference championships, his program has been criticized for a series of off-the-field incidents involving his players. At least seven players have faced a variety of charges within the past year, including murder, armed robbery, assault and DUI.
Whether Hauck is hired this year, next year or some year following, what happened in Missoula during the '07 football season will stick with him wherever he goes. When Hauck was hired for the UM job, it was supposedly due to an incredible interview. Imagine the type of interview he's going to have to give after this.
Quinton Jackson's story shows the other side of Griz recruiting
With this past season's arrests, it was tough for Griz fans not to call Bobby Hauck's recruiting practices into question. After seeing the turmoil caused by a few bad apples, it's no wonder Griz fans started wondering why Hauck and his staff gave some of these guys a second chance. An article/editorial by Bill Speltz in Sunday's Missoulian points out that there are second chances that don't go awry.
Such is the case of cornerback Quinton Jackson:
"Montana took a chance on me and I want to thank them for that," he said. "All the people who wanted to associate me with people who make bad decisions. It's been like that my whole life."I get joy out of proving people wrong in that aspect. A lot of people thought, 'He's a troublemaker and hangs out with the wrong people. He's a thug.' It's funny, you can't judge a book by its cover."
Too often success stories like Jackson's drown in a media cesspool of well-documented failures. Folks read about the players that went to jail on Page A1, while the Quinton Jacksons go largely unnoticed.
You know the familiar criticism: (Team name) never should have taken a chance on (fill in the blank) because he stumbled in the past and he's a risk. Somebody must have been asleep at the wheel to recruit him.
Sound familiar? Of course it does. That's why it's important testimonials on players like Jackson reach the public.
Think back on your life and try to remember if someone showed faith in you. Can't think of a time? Think a little harder.
Great article with a very, very good point.
Montana Grizzlies 2008 football schedule
The 2008 football schedule is out. As reported on here first, the Griz will open their season down San Luis Obispo against the Cal Poly Mustangs.
Here's the complete schedule:
Date ..... Opponent ..... Time
9.6 ..... at Cal Poly ..... TBA
9.13 ..... Southern Utah ..... 1:05 p.m.
9.20 ..... UC-Davis (Homecoming) ..... 1:05 p.m.
9.27 ..... Central Washington ..... 1:05 p.m.
10.4 ..... at Weber State * ..... TBA
10.11 ..... at Eastern Washington * ..... TBA
10.18 ..... Sacramento State * ..... 1:05 p.m.
10.25 ..... at Northern Colorado * ..... TBA
11.1 ..... Northern Arizona * ..... 12:05 p.m.
11.8 ..... at Portland State * ..... TBA
11.15 ..... Idaho State * ..... 12:05 p.m.
11.22 ..... Montana State * (108th meeting) ..... 12:05 p.m.* Conference game
The OOC is alright. We probably shouldn't be playing a DII school but whatever. Here's O'Day's rationale on playing schools from a lower division. It's his response to playing Ft. Lewis last year but fits around the fact that we're playing Central Washington:
Last year, we played Fort Lewis (Don Read loved the Division II schools to let young kids get experience) and UM Athletics netted about $300,000 - not counting what the Adams Center received for ticket fees ($1 per ticket), or what dining services produced in sales, or the bookstore... not counting what the Missoula economy saw by another home game (estimated at between $5-$7 million per home weekend). We admit that was a "money game," as do most teams at our level. Still, it is no different than Oregon hosting Montana for $450,000 or Iowa hosting Montana for $650,000. Their fans expected big wins at our expense, and they, too, need to produce funds to pay their bills.
After the non-conference slate, what should be two of our toughest BSC games are on the road: we have to go to Portland to play the Vikings and to the Cheney to play the Eagles. Those should be two very challenging games. Then we cap off the season with the Brawl in Missoula and hopefully another Big Sky Championship.
"Free Jimmy Wilson"
.png)
That's the sentiment expressed by Griz cornerback Chris Clark. Or at least that's what his shirt said at a dance/party at The Other Side on Friday night. Not going to express any opinion on it. It is what it is. Here's the back.
Montana Grizzlies to play five year series with Cal Poly
For the 2007 campaign, the Griz's non-conference slate consisted only of cupcakes. That will not be the case over the next five years. According to UM Athletic Director Jim O'Day, two games down at Cal Poly will bookend three straight years of the Mustangs coming up to play at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The first game is September 6th, down in San Luis Obispo.
Here are O'Day's comments on the series:
If history prevails, each game will be very well contended. Cal Poly is a very well respected academic institution with an excellent athletic program. Like Montana, they have a lot of trouble attracting people to play in their venue because of their home winning successes and travel costs to get into their areas.The 2010 game was scheduled two years ago, while we just finished the details on the new two home-and-home series. This is, and always has been, a good series for the two schools. We have very high respect for them, as do they for us. The Mustangs will be very tough next year... but they seem to be every year.
While the Mustangs did not make the playoffs, they did finish at #24 in the final Sports Network FCS rankings.
These are exactly the type of games the Griz and the entire FCS needs. It's a long series between perennially rank teams. Would you be surprised to see this grow into a legit inter-conference rivalry? I wouldn't. In 2005, Cal Poly knocked us out of the playoffs in the first round. That's worth some hostility. It can be our own West Coast, FCS version of Notre Dame/Michigan. Yes, I know that ended. Still, very well done by O'Day. I look forward to these games and hope the rest of the conference and division can step up and establish more sets of games like this.
The news and comments come via a great email with O'Day. I will have further comments, on a variety of subjects related to the schedule, up in future posts.
Sporting News: CSU job is Hauck's for the taking
Accoring to this blog from the Sporting News, the head coaching position at Colorado State University is Hauck's if he wants it. Here's writer Tom Dienhart's actual words:
Word is Colorado State has a front-runner: Montana coach Bobby Hauck. It looks like it is his job to accept or reject.
I hope Hauck takes it. I'm not one of those nuts who believes Hauck should be fired for losing in the first round of the playoffs but I think both the University and Hauck have a lot to gain by moving on. Hauck obviously has more to gain than the school losing a coach with a winning percentage over .700 but this could be beneficial for the Griz.
The Griz have won the Big Sky Conference and made the playoffs every year of Hauck's tenure but this team is in a rut. I know, 11-0 doesn't sound like it. However, losing in the first round of the playoffs twice in three years does. No single person can be blamed for the team stalling once it gets into the postseason but a new start could be what the program needs to get it over the hump. Then again, bringing back a talented coach isn't bad either.
Expansion construction is underway
.gif)
Yesterday, work officially began on the 2,000 seat addition to Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The crews could've started earlier but probably weren't prepared for the Griz's early exit in the playoffs.
I'm not sure what is underway, but according to this, they've started.
Construction will begin Monday, Dec. 3, on a 2,000-seat expansion to the east side of Washington-Grizzly Stadium at The University of Montana. Drivers are asked to slow down and expect possible delays on Campus Drive.Then on Dec. 15, a section of Campus Drive east of the stadium will be closed to through traffic until the building project is completed in August 2008.
"We were able to start this project a little early when the Grizzlies were eliminated from the playoffs," UM architect Jerry Ballas said.
Though a section of Campus Drive will be blocked off, students, University staff members and the general public will still be able to access the Facility Services building and Public Safety office from the south by entering campus on Beckwith Avenue. The entire Campus Drive loop will not be open to public travel.
Yeah, that's going to be great. While I'm looking forward to the expansion, I'm even more excited to be sitting on the bus, waiting 20 minutes just to get through the light at Beckwith.
It would've been one helluva game
One more game-winner by Dan. One more big stop by our D. One more touchdown instead of a field goal. One of these things and the Montana football team would've been playing this weekend to set up one of the greatest games in the history of Montana football. It would've been a Richmond win away, but imagine one of these...
Appalachian State @ Montana, Dec. 7, 5:30 p.m.
The Montana Grizzlies, arguably the most successful FCS team of the past ten years, face off two-time reigning national champions Appalachian State on friday night in Missoula. In the first round, the Griz beat one of the two teams who beat Appalachian State this year. Did you know the Mountaineers beat Michigan this year? It will be one of the nation's best defenses against the explosive Mountaineer offense. This game almost came to fruition earlier in the season but things fell through. Well, it's happening now, friday night on ESPN2.
Eastern Washington @ Montana, Dec. 8, 12:05 p.m.
After the first match-up, most Eagles fans probably thought they'd have to wait until next year for a much-desired rematch with the vaunted Grizzlies. The Eagles were not intimidated by the Griz D or the noisy crowd as they racked up 565 yards of total offense, 451 coming through the air, and were a 4th and 10 stop away from upsetting the Griz. Now they have their shot. Media outlets across the nation picked on the Big Sky Conference for being weak, now it's two teams from the 'Sky who will face off for a trip to Chattanooga.
Wofford uses back-breaking drive to beat Griz, 23-22
For the second time in three years, the Montana football season ended in the first round of the playoffs. In the game's final minutes, the Terriers used a lengthy scoring drive that put them up five with only 32 seconds remaining. After running the ball down the Griz's throats, the Terriers of course used a pass from the 5 yard line to beat the Griz. This came after the Griz scored and failed to convert a 2 point conversion that put would've put them up 7.
Even though there was almost no time left, the Griz nearly won it. When the Terriers kicked off with 32 seconds remaining, the Griz ran the ball out to mid-field. A few Bergquist completions moved the ball near the 30. Carpenter had a shot at a 47 yard field goal to win it. Of course it came to that. The call started with "Carpenter drilled it" until the vacuum sucked all the emotion out of Washington-Grizzly and he finished the call with "he missed it."
I'm sure Dan feels like he's gonna die but you cannot hang this loss on him. The Terriers turned the ball over three times and the Griz failed to cash in any of them.
The entire season the Griz wanted their respect. You have to earn it. Today, they did not.
A look at the Wofford Terriers
The video above is a series of highlights from Georgia Southern's 38-35 victory over the Wofford Terriers set to some awful music. The video gives a decent look at what it takes to beat Wofford but more than anything else it makes you kind of glad the Griz aren't playing Georgia Southern.
2007 FCS Playoff Bracket
As everyone already knows, the Montana Grizzlies play the Wofford Terriers in the first round of the FCS playoffs. The Griz got the 3 seed, meaning they're not guaranteed home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If the Griz make it to the third round, they could potentially play McNeese State in Lake Charles, LA. However, McNeese has a rough road to that game, the offensively potent EWU in the first round then one of the two teams who have won the last three National Championships: James Madison or Appalachian State.
Below is the 2007 FCS (I-AA) Playoff Bracket. This bracket comes from The Sports Network.
Imagine, Missoula as a basketball town
On the Saturday of Cat-Griz, The Missoulian dared to run an article on basketball. While the article, titled "Football rules in town once known for hoops," is only half about basketball while the other half describes football's ascension, it's good to see this town's history of hoops get some press.
Whenever someone asks me about Griz basketball in comparison to football or tells me this is a football town and basketball will never make it, I always counter with something very similar to the lead of the article.
This was a basketball town 25 years ago. No ifs, no ands, no buts about it.Missoula may not have been the most feared place on the planet for an opposing college basketball team to visit, but it ranked up there. The courtside student section filled to the gills an hour before tip-off, and thousands of town folk filed in behind them.
The atmosphere was electric. The crowds were both feared and revered by opposing coaches, who often talked about how basketball-savvy the fans here were.
For several years in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Grizzly men averaged - averaged, mind you - more people at home basketball games than the current Dahlberg Arena (capacity: 7,500) can even hold. If today's basketball team sold out every single home game, it would still never touch a University of Montana attendance record.
Football, on the other hand?
There was a November day in the late 1970s that stands out, but only as a monument to Missoula's apathy toward Grizzly football back then.
It was the final home game of the regular season. It was cold, snowy, and the wind was howling through the unprotected bleachers at Dornblaser Stadium.
Less than 1,000 people showed up to watch Montana. Imagine that: A Grizzly home football game with more than 90 percent of the seats empty.
I encourage everyone to read the full article, which gives a great depiction of football's ascension in comparison to the fall in basketball. After the jump is one more excerpt, with O'Day describing his hopes for the future of basketball.
Continue Reading...Images and a video from Cat-Griz 2007
In the video above, Lex scores his second of three touchdowns. At this point in the game, the Griz were only up 7 and needed another score to put the game out of reach. This was it.
After the jump are some pictures for the game. As usual, email me if you'd like some high resolution shots.
Continue Reading...Griz finish undefeated season with win over MSU in 107th Brawl
The score, 41-20 Griz, doesn't reflect it but the game was close throughout. The two teams were separated by only one possession through most of the game.
In the fourth, the Griz were up 13 (after an EA catch 1:15 into the quarter) until the Cats scored with about ten minutes left. The Cats punched it in but the extra point was blocked and almost run back for two points. On an ensuing possession, the Griz drove down to the two. After a third down run from the two or three that got pretty much got stuffed, the scoreboard read 4th and 2. For some reason, a measurement was taken. Somehow, it led to a first down Montana. The Griz punched it in a play or two later on a leaping Lex Hilliard TD run. There'll be a video up tomorrow.
On the next Cat position, Rolovich was about to be sacked then he hucked it up underhanded. It was picked off and Lex ran it in from 15-20 yards out on the ensuing possession. Twenty one point lead, back-to-back Brawl wins and an undefeated regular season.
Where can I watch the Cat/Griz game?
Just about every week I receive an email from someone who's curious about watching the Griz in their hometown. I know I'd want to if I wasn't here. The advice I return is always the same. If you need a spot to watch our beloved Griz, try checking out the UM Alumni Website. They have a map of places that show the Griz-Cat game. I've heard the game will also be available through ESPN Gameplan so if you have DirecTV or another provider that carries it, you should be able to order the game through that.
Yeah, there's a game this weekend
In retrospect, last year seems so innocent. Even so, for three and a half hours on Saturday, we'll get to forget all about Qwenton Freeman, Michael Shelton, Greg Coleman, Jeramy Pate and whoever the hell "Dirty" is. I'm looking forward to it.
What if someone had run a background check on Qwenton Freeman?
It's an interesting question. Because if someone did, they would've seen he had a warrant out for his arrest when he came here. The warrant was for not completing his community service after he was charged with misdemeanors for assault and criminal trespassing. Bobby Hauck wouldn't recruit a kid with a warrant out for his arrest, right?
First, let's start on UM's policy on background checks. This comes from a Montana Kaimin article after the Jimmy Wilson scandal:
“Our president has made it very clear we will not be doing formal background checks and he was very public in his statement. From a compliance standpoint, our student athletes are to be treated like every other student – no better and no worse – during the admissions process.” - Associate Athletic Director Jean Gee
The most important what if is what if someone had run a formal background check on Freeman and the staff chose not to pick him up because they saw his warrant? Would any of this crime had happened?
Freeman was at the scene of every violent crime involving a Montana Grizzly within the past six months. He was there when Jimmy Wilson allegedly shot and killed Kevin Smoot, he was at the scene of these robberies and he was there when he allegedly hit one woman outside a bar and when he allegedly choked his girlfriend.
Going off of the affidavit, it looks like Freeman was one of the, if not thee, leader of the robberies. One of the most telling things: when one of victims escaped out the window during the robbery, Freeman slapped Jeramy Pate and called him a "bitch." It's scary thinking about what kind of action Freeman wanted Pate to take. Did he seriously want Pate to shoot him?
An even more disturbing thing to think about: what was Qwenton Freeman's influence on Jimmy Wilson? What was he putting into Wilson's ear in the time leading up to the murder? When Wilson hesitated to act after whatever happened between Smoot and Wilson's aunt, did Freeman slap him and call him names?
These type of things aren't pleasant to think about, but they must be weighed in all of this. When we know an athlete has some kind of criminal history, maybe it's best we do run some kind of background check. After all, these aren't normal students. They come to school for free and represent this university far more than any other individual student.
More details come out on home invasion, now a marijuana robbery
The affidavit comes out and this home invasion is now a marijuana robbery. More men have been added to the charges, including Qwenton Freeman. It also turns out this could've gone a lot worse. One of the victims insisted that the armed robbers take him to his safe, where he kept loaded guns. This victim says he was "planning on getting his loaded 9mm handgun and protecting him and his friends." This information comes from the 25-page affidavit, which is available for download from The Missoulian.
After the jump is the complete affidavit.
Despite off field troubles, Griz stay at #3
Even with all that's happened, the Griz have only one playoff-eligible team in front of them. On top of that, the EWU Eagles five spots to #20.
Here are the complete rankings from The Sports Network.
Others receiving votes: Harvard 158, South Dakota State 140, Norfolk State 138, Dayton 124, The Citadel 97, Villanova 68, San Diego 63, Western Illinois 59, Liberty 53, Nicholls State 42, Colgate 36, Central Arkansas 30, Furman 23, Hampton 12, South Carolina State 11, Southern 9, Montana State 6, Sam Houston State 5, Albany 4, Prairie View 4, Missouri State 1.
Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank 1. Northern Iowa Panthers (70) 10-0 2,474 1 2. North Dakota State Bison (23) 10-0 2,291 2 3. Montana Grizzlies (10) 10-0 2,269 3 4. McNeese State Cowboys (3) 10-0 2,260 4 5. Southern Illinois Salukis 9-1 2,084 5 6. Appalachian State Mountaineers 8-2 1,982 7 7. Richmond Spiders 8-2 1,845 9 8. Massachusetts Minutemen 8-2 1,841 8 9. Delaware Blue Hens 8-2 1,591 6 10. Delaware State Hornets 9-1 1,538 10 11. Yale Bulldogs 9-0 1,417 12 12. Eastern Kentucky Colonels 8-2 1,408 13 13. Wofford Terriers 8-3 1,366 15 14. James Madison Dukes 7-3 1,253 16 15. Eastern Washington Eagles 7-3 942 20 16. Georgia Southern Eagles 7-3 892 11 17. Youngstown State Penguins 7-4 742 21 18. Fordham Rams 8-2 672 22 19. Grambling State Tigers 8-2 653 17 20. New Hampshire Wildcats 6-4 568 14 21. Eastern Illinois Panthers 7-3 539 25 22. Hofstra Pride 7-3 380 18 23. Alabama A&M Bulldogs 8-2 307 NR 24. Elon Phoenix 6-4 223 19 25. Cal Poly Mustangs 6-4 188 24
Three more Griz arrested, just as serious as before
Three Montana Grizzlies football players have been arrested for charges stemming from a home invasion near campus. Here's a quick summary from The Missoulian:
According to the jail, 19-year-old [freshman cornerback Jeremy Pate] was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, burglary and robbery. [Junior running back Greg Coleman], 22, was booked on charges of assault with a weapon, kidnapping, burglary and robbery.And [defensive end Michael Shelton], 21, was arrested on charges of assault with a weapon, burglary and two counts of robbery.
Oh, and there could be more:
“There are three or four people out there we have to verify their connection to this, but we can't locate them. We don't know if they have taken off or if they got scared off,” Ludemann said. “There's still some information we have to lock down.”
Coach Bobby Hauck's reaction:
“I'm sickened and embarrassed by this,” said Grizzly football coach Bobby Hauck. “This is different to me than anything else that has happened. There's some embarrassment to me personally. We do everything we can to educate these guys, and it's like having your own children get into trouble.“I don't have any details on what supposedly transpired. All I know is that we had three players arrested and we have 100 hard-working kids on our team that will be negatively affected by this.”
First off, I