Griz stay at #2 after going Ohio State on UNC.

Posted on November 13, 2006 by Colin

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.

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After close win, Griz still dug in at #2.

Posted on November 6, 2006 by Colin

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.

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Griz hang in at #2 after seventh straight win.

Posted on October 30, 2006 by Colin

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.


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Grizzlies creep up to #2 in rankings.

Posted on October 17, 2006 by Colin

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:

Here's a great quote from that Kaimin article:

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.

Team (first-place votes)
Record
Points
LW
1. Appalachian State (88)
6-1
2,693
2
2. Montana (2)
5-1
2,498
3
3. Illinois State (11)
5-1
2,401
5
4. Cal Poly (1)
5-1
2,371
4
5. Youngstown State (1)
6-1
2,172
6
6. Massachusetts
5-1
2,034
8
7. New Hampshire (1)
5-1
2,023
1
8. James Madison
5-1
1,991
13
9. North Dakota State (2)
6-0
1,981
9
10. Richmond
5-1
1,720
10
11. Hampton (3)
7-0
1,645
12
12. Furman
5-2
1,558
11
13. Southern Illinois
5-1
1,466
7
14. Northern Iowa
4-2
1,349
14
15. Harvard
5-0
1,060
15
16. Tennessee-Martin
5-1
925
17
17. Eastern Illinois
4-3
889
16
18. UC Davis
3-3
719
18
19. Maine
4-2
626
23
20. Alabama A&M
5-1
612
20
21. San Diego
6-0
587
21
22. Princeton
5-0
507
24
23. Portland State
4-3
373
25
24. Coastal Carolina
5-2
228
NR
25. Sam Houston State
4-2
182
NR

Also receiving votes: Jackson State 179, Montana State 109, Towson 104, Central Connecticut State 74, Penn 52, Charleston Southern 51, Georgia Southern 50, Delaware 47, Jacksonville State 27, Delaware State 25, Holy Cross 17, Yale 15, McNeese State 13, Wofford 13, South Dakota State 9, Western Kentucky 8, Nicholls State 7.

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Take the money and run limp away whimpering while our rivals sock us in the taint

Posted on September 5, 2006 by Colin

41-7 or $650,000, which matters more? I'm not going to make the call but the fact that the Griz made about $200,000 an hour to get trounced as if they were the Sisters of the Poor football team is almost impressive. Spread that out  over60 guys and it's $3,300.33 an hour. That's A-Rod bank. Nooo, college football isn't about the money at all.

Josh Swogger was not only running around the backfield as if he were carrying his life instead of a pigskin in his hands, he was also working on getting rid of a seven figure deficit in the athletic department and pumping some money into the football program.

While the Griz football team was serving as a prostitute to Drew Tate's stats, other teams in the Big Sky Conference were making decent showings against I-A foes.

Going into the weekend, I thought Thursday night would be the best showing by a BSC team when Northern Arizona hung with Arizona State for three quarters. No, it gets better (worse).

Ms. University earned 275 g's for their win over one time Big 12 power Colorado. Apparently Dan Hawkins can't ball on a field that ducks don't accidentally crash into.

On top of that, Portland State pulled off the "upset" of "I-A" New Mexico.

I'm just happy the weekend of torment is over. Even my I-A love ND had a sub-holy showing against Georgia Tech. The important thing is that there is a ticket in my (Coach) wallet (thank you girlfriend) for a 1:05 game against South Dakota State.

Everyone needs a game against Cupcake University.

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