Montana Grizzlies Sports, Football and Basketball : Grizzoulian

The '07-'08 season will be Wayne Tinkle's second as the head coach of the Montana Grizzlies. This season brings with it a whole new feel. We're not coming off an NCAA Tournament victory and assuming a new coach will give us another one. There's a whole new chemistry and attitude surrounding this team. The likely reason: coach Tinkle is starting to make his mark on this program.

Here's five questions with Griz head basketball coach Wayne Tinkle.

Grizzoulian: In terms of your comfort level coaching this team, how does the beginning of this season differ from your first year as a coach?

Wayne Tinkle: The biggest change for this year is that my staff and I have had a complete off-season to prepare for this season. I got the job in late June of 06 and we were in the middle of summer camps. Now we have had a complete off-season to implement our plan.

Grizzoulian: What's one thing you really want your team to focus on more than anything else this season?

Wayne Tinkle: Defense and rebounding are the two areas that we are really focusing on this year.

Grizzoulian: What are your thoughts on the tough schedule?

Wayne Tinkle: Our schedule is very challenging…we play a reinvigorated Colorado State, Gonzaga which may have its most talented team ever, and Air Force and Washington State, all in the first few weeks. We will definitely be challenged early and often.

Grizzoulian: Going into last year, you'd lost all the senior leadership. This year you lost several players but I'm not sure the impact on leadership will be the same. What are your thoughts on the chemistry and leadership of this team as we head into the season?

Wayne Tinkle: We will certainly miss some of the qualities that last years seniors left behind, but I truly believe with the upper classmen we have this year that our chemistry is much improved. Our guys are battling each other every day but it’s for the good of the team. In years past we had some guys that just wanted to humiliate their teammates, not trying to get one another better for the good of the squad.

Grizzoulian: What do you want from the fans? As you've heard, the students will be sitting courtside for the opener and possibly Griz-Cat. How big of a role do the students play in the game and in getting the rest of the community excited about Griz hoops?

Wayne Tinkle: We truly want a loud, loyal, consistent fan base supporting us throughout the year. It’s great when we go recruiting and run into coaches that talk about playing here in front of a raucous crowd and how it affected their team. We need to get back to having an intimidating atmosphere where our opponents fear the friendly confines. I really believe that this starts with our students. They are the straw that stirs the drink. Hopefully we can get things going and make it fun for the students to get involved.

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Jack McGillis' non-recruitment has been called one of the biggest recruiting misses in the history of Griz hoops. The Griz got a second chance when Jack McGillis decided to transfer from Oregon State, where he was their sixth man as a sophomore, back home to the Griz.

Here are five questions with the transfer from Missoula.

Grizzoulian: Back in the day, the Griz hoops program didn't recruit you as hard as they could've. What was that like? How big was that chip on your shoulder?

Jack McGillis: Not really, I wanted to get out of the state for a while and experience something different and I'm glad I did so. I got a great opportunity at OSU but the bottomline is this is where I want to be.

Grizzoulian: Why'd you decide to come back? For most, they'd go Gilbert Arenas vs Team USA and despise everyone who was part of the program. I'd think you'd be begging for a game against the Griz just so you could drop 35 on us. Instead, you come back to your hometown program. Why?

Jack McGillis: Because I bleed Maroon and Silver.....

Grizzoulian: What do you see as your role on the team? In the next couple years, it's likely you would've become a starter on a Pac 10 team, how big of an impact do you think you'll have?

Jack McGillis: I will do whatever it takes to help my team win.

Grizzoulian: Where do you see this program going? We've got a few 7 footers and tons of young talent coming in, is there a ceiling?

Jack McGillis: Theres no reason we can't be one of the top mid major programs in the country. We have a good core already and solid young players coming in. I'm really excited for the future of Montana basketball.

Grizzoulian: What's the schedule as we go into the preseason? When do practices officially start? Are there scrimmages fans can come and check out?

Jack McGillis: Practice starts October 12. We have open gym daily around 4 and we play pick up before the griz football games in the WAC as well.

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Appalachian State's win over Michigan has been called the greatest upset in the history of college football. Now here's one of the people who helped put it together: Appalachian State athletic director Charlie Cobb.

Grizzoulian: What do you believe this win does for your program? What do you hope it does for your program? More attention, more recruits, more donations?

Charlie Cobb: Exposure is obviously tremendous. Our hope is that it gives some national credit to Coach Moore, his staff, and the players.

Grizzoulian: What affect does this win have on the FCS as a whole? Does it give the whole division a bit more legitimacy?

Charlie Cobb: I think it shows that you still have to play the games. My favorite picture from the game Saturday - besides the scoreboard shots - is the one from the coin toss to start the game. Their left tackle is 6'7" and 320. Our guys don't even hit his chest, yet somehow we stayed in the game. As for a lasting legacy, I think it's going to take more wins by the better programs over FBS schools to start any kind of national movement. The scary part is how many of these schools are going to get a chance.

Grizzoulian: Did you schedule this game? If so, what were your thoughts when you set it up? What was the amount paid to the Mountaineer program for making the trip to Ann Arbor?

Charlie Cobb: We were paid $400,000 for the game.  I've told many people that we didn't play the game for money.  Coach likes the challenge of playing FBS schools.  I don't ever want to be the kind of administrator that puts his program out for bid because I think it cheapens the whole deal.  We needed games and Michigan was still looking for a 12th game and we were able to make it happen. Jay Sutton, our Associate Athletic Director, deserves all the credit for getting the game done on our end.

Grizzoulian: The University of Montana and Appalachian State almost had a game set up, why did that fall through? Do you think games like that are essential for the progression of the FCS?

Charlie Cobb: We talked with Montana about a game and still have interest in playing. Travel and expenses really seem to be the biggest hurdle. These types of games are what make our season interesting. Unfortunately, both of us seem to be at the end of the spectrum in terms of getting other FCS schools to play.

Grizzoulian: Is Appalachian State taking a potential move to the FBS into consideration at all? Does this win make you consider it a bit more?

Charlie Cobb: Let's enjoy the win and not make it a one-game referendum on going to the FBS. We want our entire athletic program to mirror our university in being the best that we can be. Our Chancellor, Dr. Ken Peacock, wants Appalachian to be the very best - academically, athletically, and in the arts. That's our goal.

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