10 things to know about Griz football

The University of Montana football program is shrouded in mystique and steeped in tradition. Its triumphs have been well recorded on these pages as well as on Wikipedia. Certain things, however, fall through the cracks, such as, what Ryan Bagley likes on his omelets. The senior wide receiver addressed that, and other pressing issues, in an interview this week with Kaimin reporter Bill Oram.

Greg Coleman: Cunning back
According to Bagley, the team is filled with jokesters. Chief among them is junior running back Greg Coleman, who consistently sets his sights on teasing fellow back Reggie Bradshaw.
Funniest guy on the team? Easy choice, said Bagley.
“I would have to say Greg Coleman, just to listen to him make fun of Reggie every day,” he said. “He’s always got something to say. I think he’s a real funny guy.”

Watch out, Nathan’s Famous!
So, Coleman may be the team’s biggest hot dog, but who would be the biggest hot dog eater? Bagley said if the team were to hold a frankfurter-eating contest, he’d surely be the top dog.
“I would say that I could probably eat the most out of anybody on the team,” Bagley said. “I honestly don’t know too many people that can eat more than me.”

Fine, but is it Tillamook?
On game days the team enjoys omelet breakfasts in the Food Zoo. Bagley loads his up with mushrooms, peppers, ham, sausage and ... “I get both cheeses,” he said.

How ‘bout the cellophane on the toilet seat?
Like any locker room, Montana’s is chock full of practical jokes. Some favorites, Bagley said, are the old tape-up-the-locker trick and stealing playbooks. Additionally, freshmen have to endure certain rites of passage, which Bagley coyly declined to divulge.
“A lot of the pranks and that stuff goes on a lot during fall camp when we’ve got a little more time,” Bagley said. “But now that school’s going and stuff, I don’t think we focus that much on goofing around.”

Oh won’t you be my ... Bobby Hauck?
Surely head coach Bobby Hauck is a big teddy bear when the cameras go off, right?
“Definitely not a teddy bear,” Bagley said. “I would say the furthest thing away from a teddy bear. I mean he’s a good guy, I love coach Hauck, but he does come off a lot harder than he is.”
Perhaps Bagley has a career as a diplomat awaiting him upon graduation.

We could sympathize ... if beer pong were a sport.
Bagley said playing football for the Griz has its drawbacks. But the one he mentioned specifically should raise a few eyebrows.
“Probably just you meet a girl and they’re like, ‘Oh you play football.’ That’s like, alright, check it off the list,” he lamented.
Say what? Football players have a harder time getting girls?
“Girls that I like, yeah,” Bagley said.

But it’s still more fun than the Fourth of July in England!
Losses are few and far between at Washington-Grizzly Stadium (Montana’s last regular season home loss was in 2005), but when they do occur, they certainly put a damper on the locker room atmosphere.
“It sucks,” Bagley said. “It’s quiet and ... I hate losing and when we lose it’s a big deal because we don’t lose that much. Everyone’s ... It’s quiet.”

Biermann: a beast on the side
Of all the tattoos sported by Griz players, Bagley said the inked jaguar that covers the entire side of defensive end Kroy Biermann’s torso takes the cake.

At least they don’t have to carpool.
Traveling isn’t especially fun for the Griz, Bagley said.
“When we’re traveling its pretty much a business trip,” he said. “People are like, ‘Oh you get to go to California and do this and this,’ but as soon as we get there we’re on the bus to the hotel room, back to the bus to practice, back to the bus to meetings all night.”

He left his heart in ... Portland?
The Griz have the largest stadium in the Big Sky Conference and Washington-Grizzly Stadium is widely regarded as one of the best football atmospheres in the country; other stadiums pale in comparison. But there are a couple of other venues Bagley holds in esteem.
“I like playing in Portland because it’s in the city. Their stadium’s pretty cool,” Bagley said. “Montana State for sure though, because that’s Montana State.”