Montana Grizzlies Sports, Football and Basketball : Grizzoulian

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 halftime

Winter 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 Wrangler

Must 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?

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This afternoon's 4 p.m. match against Eastern Washington with be the last for the team's three seniors: Carrie Lee, Laura Nogueira and Mahlleace Tomsin.

The Griz were eliminated from postseason contention last weekend after losing to Idaho State 1-0 and tying Weber State 1-1. It's only the second time in ten years that the Griz that the Griz have failed to make the postseason.

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The Griz soccer team was outplayed in both of their matches this weekend but the total differential for the games ended up being a mere two goals.

The Griz lost 2-1 to Washington State in their season-opener on Friday. As I said I would, I made it to this game. The stats may or may not tell otherwise but Washington State controlled the play in this game. The Griz went up 1-0 on a lofty cross from the right side that found it's way into the left side of the net. Less than ten minutes later Wazzu tied it up as a forward got behind the D. Only three minutes later, the Cougars scored again from a shout outside the 18-yard box.

Like I said, the Griz were dominated in this match. They were outshot 19-4. That's a lot.

I wasn't able to make it to Sunday's game, a 1-0 loss to Gonzaga. The shots were closer but not as close as they should be. It was 15-10 in favor of the Bulldogs.

Next weekend the Griz travel to Oregon for matches at Oregon and Oregon State.

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The Griz soccer team opens its season tonight at South Campus Stadium against the Washington State Cougars. The Griz also face the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Sunday at 2 against the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Here's head coach Neil Sedgwick on the tough games:

“We’ll be facing two solid opponents from two strong conferences. Washington State we played down there the last two years – its good to have them back at home. That should be an exciting game for the supporters in Missoula. Same with Gonzaga, the matches with them have been close. They play in one of the most competitive conferences in the country. They are always a close challenge in a relatively close rivalry.”

Tonight will be my first Griz soccer game. It's kind of embarrassing to admit seeing as this is my third year on campus but it's better late than never.

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I don't think I could stand attending any other school in the Big Sky Conference besides Montana. It'd suck. When it comes towards being one of the best teams in the conference, the University of Montana has just about every sport covered.

The volleyball team, which opened practice last week, was picked to finish third in the Big Sky Conference. Coming off a 9-7 season, third place seems pretty fair for a team returning a lot of starters.

The Griz soccer team, which opens camp on Wednesday, was picked to finish second in the conference. Sacramento State beat them by a single vote.

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For quite some time, I have neglected to write about anything other than Montana football and I think it's about time for a change.

Prior to just a few weeks ago, I didn't think that many people really cared about sports like volleyball. But after attending a match against Weber State I saw this wasn't the case, and for very good reason.

Volleyball is very fast paced and far more entertaining than I could've imagined. Just about every point in a volleyball match ends in one girl setting the ball up into the air and another smashing it down in the face of one, two, and sometimes even three opponents who are trying to send it back Dikembe Mutombo style. Each game, besides the fifth which is first to 15, is first to 30 in the best of 5 match; this means there is probably over 100 alley-oop dunks worth of action.

The Griz volleyball team is coming off its second straight loss, this one being a sweep (is that term used in volleyball?) at the hands of EWU. I guess they had to make up for the football beating somewhere. With the losses, the Griz fall to 4-3 in Big Sky Conference play and 8-9 overall.

Thursday night the Griz face firts-place Sacramento State so everyone should try and make it. I hate to sound like a high school  announcement but every sports fan really try and attend, even if they're pretty sure they won't like volleyball. Not like they need it, the volleyball team already gets a great turnout with the likes of Craig Chambers (coming off a 5 catch 82 yard performance against Sac State), ineligible OU transfer JD Quinn and Andrew Strait all at the last game I attended.

In other action: The Griz soccer team beat Northern Arizona 4-0 on Friday and lost to Northern Colorado 2-1 on Sunday. In Friday's match Lindsay Winans scored three goals in 18 minutes. I think just about everyone knows how great it feels to be in such a groove, whether it's a varsity high school basketball game or just being "on fire" while playing NBA Jam on Sega Genesis. I'm guessing doing so while playing D-1 soccer is a little different... but still kind of close to the same.

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The Griz soccer team (no need to specify which gender because for some reason we don't have a guys team) beat MSU-Billings 38 seconds into double overtime on a goal off a header by Lindsay Winans.

The Griz controlled much of the game and showed maturity in their fourth win than they did last season, when they went 3-13-1.

From the Missoulian:

“I think we're a lot more mature than we were last year,” said third-year Montana head coach Neil Sedgwick. “These girls fight all the way through and are going to find a way to win. They're never going to give up.”

“I love to score header goals,” said Winans after her 25th tally at Montana tied her for fifth on the all-time UM scoring list with Jodi Campbell (1997-00). “Those are a lot of fun, getting up in the air and placing it just right.”

The Yellowjackets came in 10-0 and ranked #18 in Division II.

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