GameDay Kaimin

Walk-on earns the fruits of determination

2007-10-20T11:51:00.000-06:00

By: Jake Grilley
GameDay Kaimin

Marc Mariani stood just in front of the Montana end zone inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The 6-foot, 174-pound sophomore from Havre nervously awaited the kickoff. His blond crew cut and thin frame were all but hidden beneath his helmet, pads and the number 80 University of Montana jersey he had worked so hard to wear.
Just two years prior, Mariani had enrolled at the University of Montana with intentions of making the Grizzlies as a walk-on.
Mariani said his first day stepping on the practice field was an overwhelming experience.
“It was a quick transformation from being a big fish in a small pond to being a small fish in a huge pond,” he said.
Week one of practice made Mariani wonder what exactly he had gotten himself into.
“The first week was real scary,” he said. “Being out there, coaches yelling at you, guys getting beat up, doing tackling drills you have never done before.”
After seeing all the talent that Montana had, Mariani knew his journey wouldn’t be easy.
“There was a lot of question marks, lots of hard work in front of me,” Mariani said.
Mariani was willing to put in the hard work. He participated in the team’s freshman lifting program that began at 5:30 a.m. four days a week.
He tried not to worry about what he couldn’t control.
“I just had fun with it, I didn’t know where it was going to go,” he said. “I just worked as hard as I could and waited to see where it would take me.”
Although he was uncertain where his hard work would take him, Mariani never doubted his decision to walk-on for the Griz.
“I felt like I could play, I thought I could play and I wanted to prove it to myself,” he said.
Growing up in Havre he envisioned himself playing at Montana someday.
“For me it was just the top goal,” Mariani said. “I am from small town Montana and this has been the biggest goal that I was shooting for as soon as I started playing football. This is what I dreamed of, this is the place I wanted to be.”
As sure as he was about his dream, he was just as uncertain about it ever happening.
“I was more of a basketball player growing up,” he said. “I was always the small guy (on the football team.)”
But Mariani was determined not to let his size stand in the way of his aspirations and by his junior year of high school he was emerging as a standout football player.
Mariani was a first-team All-state free safety his junior season. It was during his senior year that Mariani broke out as a wide receiver, setting the Havre High record in single-season receiving yards.
These kinds of performances garnered Mariani calls from various Division II and NAIA programs. But the one school he wanted to take a look at him didn’t seem to notice.
“I wasn’t getting recruited hard by (Montana),” Mariani said. “I kinda thought at one point I should look around. I didn’t think I would be able to do it.”
Despite not being heavily sought after by the Grizzlies, Mariani decided to take his best shot at playing for the two-time national champs.
“I just wanted to push myself,” Mariani said. “I didn’t want to settle for something and regret not giving this a shot. I didn’t want to go somewhere and always wonder ‘what if I could have made it?’ ”
Mariani was among a handful of walk-ons competing for a roster spot that fall.
“There is not a difference between walk-on and scholarship really,” Mariani said. “You just have to earn respect and earn your spot on the team.”
Part of earning that respect was taking some knocks.
“I remember me and a few walk-on guys got thrown in (a drill),” Mariani said. “We were getting screamed at and yelled at and had no clue what was going on. I think in the first week I got absolutely taken out by Mike Murphy.”
Sophomore wide receiver and fellow walk-on at the time Bryan Riggs was impressed by Mariani’s determination and focus.
The things that made Mariani successful then and now are his hard work ethic and ability to keep a level head, Riggs said.
Junior wide receiver and fellow punt and kick returner Rob Schulte said Mariani put in the time he needed to be a success.
“You can put in lots of time or you can choose not to,” Schulte said. “He is the kind of guy that puts in the time.”
Mariani said other players on the team kept him motivated.
“The thing is you never stop working,” Mariani said. “As soon as you stop working, someone else is going to pass you by.”
He said although he is very self-motivated it helped to have friends and family encouraging him.
“I made all the decisions,” Mariani said. “But the support I get from my friends and family is everything. When times get hard you need someone to fall back on and that is what I have for sure.”
It wasn’t until after spring meetings that Mariani would get to know if all his hard work had paid off.
“Those last few weeks of spring were nerve-racking as heck,” he said. “I mean you’ve gone through a year of practicing and it all comes down to that, whether you will be on the team next year or not.”
He said he tried to walk into the meeting with the confidence of knowing that he had given it his best shot.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Mariani said. “I was pretty nervous. I thought I had done as well as I could have but it was all up in the air.”
As he sat down for his final meeting with head coach Bobby Hauck, Mariani crossed his fingers and wished to himself that he had made the team, but he didn’t get his hopes up because he said “there is always that chance.”
The butterflies Mariani was feeling were quickly eliminated when Coach Hauck asked him back for the fall.
Mariani’s dream of becoming a Montana Grizzly had become a reality.
“I hadn’t done anything yet,” Mariani said. “But I made the team and that was my first goal.”
Now, a year and a half after making the team, Mariani is making an impact.
He is the team leader in both punt return and kick-off return average with 13.4 and 40 yards respectively. Mariani’s punt return average is also the highest in the conference and his 40-yard average on kick returns would eclipse the conference high of 26.5 if Mariani had more returns.
Mariani also has the title of being the team’s fastest man.
He clocked in at a 4.49 in the 40.
The ever-modest Mariani downplayed his achievement.
“I probably cheated, it probably wasn’t right,” he said.
Schulte believes the sky is the limit for Mariani.
“He is the people’s favorite,” Schulte said. “He is the kind of guy you want to see succeed. He has done that and will continue to.”
Mariani understands that Grizzly fans expect big plays from their returners.
“Everyone in Montana is used to a big time punt returner,” he said. “We’ve had (Levander Segars) and (Tuff Harris) those are some big, big shoes to fill.”
Although Mariani has met his goals, don’t think he hasn’t set more for himself.
“My next goal is to help the team win,” he said. “Anything I can do, special teams, returns, receiver, whenever my number is called. That is what it comes down to and that is my immediate goal right now.”
Riggs was impressed by Mariani’s determination and focus.
The things that made Mariani successful then and now are his hard work ethic and ability to keep a level head, Riggs said.
Junior wide receiver and fellow punt and kick returner Rob Schulte said Mariani put in the time he needed to be a success.
“You can put in lots of time or you can choose not to,” Schulte said. “He is the kind of guy that puts in the time.”
Mariani said other players on the team kept him motivated.
“The thing is you never stop working,” Mariani said. “As soon as you stop working, someone else is going to pass you by.”
He said although he is very self-motivated, it helped to have friends and family encouraging him.
“I made all the decisions,” Mariani said. “But the support I get from my friends and family is everything. When times get hard you need someone to fall back on and that is what I have for sure.”
It wasn’t until after spring meetings that Mariani would get to know if all his hard work had paid off.
“Those last few weeks of spring were nerve-racking as heck,” he said. “I mean, you’ve gone through a year of practicing and it all comes down to that, whether you will be on the team next year or not.”
He said he tried to walk into the meeting with the confidence of knowing that he had given it his best shot.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Mariani said. “I was pretty nervous. I thought I had done as well as I could have but it was all up in the air.”
As he sat down for his final meeting with head coach Bobby Hauck, Mariani crossed his fingers and wished to himself that he had made the team, but he didn’t get his hopes up because, he said, “there is always that chance.”
The butterflies Mariani was feeling were quickly eliminated when Hauck asked him back for the fall.
Mariani’s dream of becoming a Montana Grizzly had become a reality.
“I hadn’t done anything yet,” Mariani said. “But I made the team, and that was my first goal.”
Now, a year and a half after making the team, Mariani is making an impact.
He is the team leader in both punt return and kick-off return averages, with 13.4 and 40 yards, respectively. Mariani’s punt return average is also the highest in the conference and his 40-yard average on kick returns would eclipse the conference high of 26.5 if Mariani had more returns.
Mariani also has the title of being the team’s fastest man.
He clocked in at a 4.49 in the 40.
The ever-modest Mariani downplayed his achievement.
“I probably cheated, it probably wasn’t right,” he said.
Schulte believes the sky is the limit for Mariani.
“He is the people’s favorite,” Schulte said. “He is the kind of guy you want to see succeed. He has done that and will continue to.”
Mariani understands that Grizzly fans expect big plays from their returners.
“Everyone in Montana is used to a big time punt returner,” he said. “We’ve had (Levander Segars) and (Tuff Harris) those are some big, big shoes to fill.”
Although Mariani has met his goals, don’t think he hasn’t set more for himself.
“My next goal is to help the team win,” he said. “Anything I can do special teams, returns, receiver whenever my number is called. That is what it comes down to and that is my immediate goal right now.”

Griz 6-0 despite low performance numbers

2007-10-20T11:50:00.000-06:00

By: Bill Oram
GameDay Kaimin

The University of Montana football team is ranked No. 3 in the nation. Yet when compared to teams in their own conference, the Griz have put up numbers that could best be described as middle-of-the-road.
The Griz have been out-gained nearly 2-to-1 each of the last two weeks in total offense, and have been forced to rely on big, game-saving plays in the fourth quarter to squeeze out wins against Eastern Washington and Sacramento State.
Despite having arguably the most talented group of running backs in the conference, the Griz are ranked second to last in rushing yards per game in the Big Sky, and their pass offense ranks dead last in the nine-team league.
Against Eastern Washington, the Eagles posted a gaudy 565 offensive yards, while the Griz mustered just 289. As an encore, the Grizzlies were doubled-up offensively when Sac State had 346 yards – exactly twice as many as the Griz – in the 17-3 Montana win.
Despite the lack of offensive productivity, the Griz stand at 6-0 with their sights set on a probable playoff berth, barring a late-season meltdown.
“I’m not into numbers other than the ‘W’ in the left-hand column,” Montana head coach Bobby Hauck said Tuesday.
Today the Griz will look to improve on their marginal numbers when they host a team that is also familiar with futility. The Northern Colorado Bears are winless on the season, but also played a grueling preseason schedule that included games at Hawaii, San Diego and Cal Poly. But the Bears also lost a home game to Division II Chadron State, who also knocked off Montana State last season in Bozeman.
The highly regarded Grizzlies can expect a challenge from the Bears, Hauck said.
“Northern Colorado will come in hungry, they’re playing hard,” he said. “I’ve watched every game in some form or fashion that they’ve played this year. Their coaches have them playing hard, that’s what we expect. They have not come out in the win column like they wanted to in numerous games.”
Despite concerns surrounding the Montana offense, Northern Colorado coach Scott Downing doesn’t see where the Griz have a lot of holes.
“I don’t think they have a lot of problems,” he said. “I would tell you this, I think their scheme is good, they’re very well coached, they’re technically very sound.”
Downing said he didn’t think the Grizzlies had been under-producing in recent weeks, rather that other teams were playing up to Montana’s level.
“I think one of the things that probably catches up with a team like Montana, like I’ve said before, they’ve got a big target on their chest,” he said. “They’re the top team in the league and one of the top teams in the nation.”
Senior offensive tackle Cody Balogh said the Grizzly offense was planning to spend this week in practice regrouping and trying to find a rhythm.
“Northern Colorado’s a good team, but we’re going to focus on us this week,” Balogh said. “We’ve got some stuff we’ve got to take care of, and hopefully it will end up in a good way on Saturday.”
Hauck cautioned that the Griz couldn’t overlook the Bears.
“They’re a team that we can beat if we go out and play well,” he said.
Downing said he’s been pleased with the team’s effort, and that even though the wins haven’t happened yet this year, the Bears have a positive attitude.
“Our kids are tired of losing. Our coaches are tired of losing, but it’s not from a lack of effort,” he said.
Just a week removed from being ranked No. 1 in The Sports Network’s top 25, the Grizzlies are in a completely opposite situation.
“That team at Montana knows how to win,” he said. “Sometimes maybe they don’t win by the point margin that people want them to win by, but we don’t get any style points for margin of victory.”

Plenty of action around the Big Sky Conference

2007-10-20T11:47:00.001-06:00

By: Amber Kuehn
GameDay Kaimin

While the Griz try to stay undefeated, several other conference teams will vie to move up the Big Sky standings.
Meanwhile, Eastern Washington takes a break from league play to face BYU.

Northern Arizona at Weber State (1:05 p.m.)
These two teams first met in 1964 and they’ve met every year since, with the Wildcats holding a one-game advantage in the series.
The Lumberjacks sit at 3-1 in Big Sky action and are alone in second place. NAU managed 588 total yards in their 45-24 victory over Idaho State last Saturday. Today they face a Wildcats squad that is on a two-game win streak and beat Northern Colorado 23-0 for their first shutout in 27 years. NAU quarterback Lance Kriesien received Player of the Week honors after his 320 yards of total offense and trio of touchdowns. He completed 75 percent of his passes and was dangerous on the ground with 17 carries. Kriesien has played both quarterback and wide receiver in his two seasons. As a quarterback, he has rushed for 390 yards and five touchdowns to rank eighth in the conference in total rushing yards.
NAU leads the league in rushing offense. Leading the Lumberjacks attack is Lionel Scott, who is averaging 107.2 yards in conference competition. Last Saturday he was responsible for three touchdowns.
The Jacks are also strong on the defensive side of the ball. NAU leads the league in interceptions with 13. K.J. Gerard leads the FCS in interceptions with six this season and leads the Lumberjacks in total tackles with 38.
For the Wildcats, Bryant Eteuati is one to watch out for. He had eight receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears. Eteuati is also the best in the Big Sky at kickoff returns.
The Wildcats are league-leaders in scoring defense and pass defense.
NAU has won three of its last four games in Stewart Stadium. For that reason, and their numbers so far this season, I’m taking the Lumberjacks.

Sacramento State at Montana State (1:05 p.m.)
Sac State managed to double Montana’s offensive output last Saturday but the Griz defense was too much for the Hornets. They now must face another strong defensive unit from the same state.
Both Sac State and MSU are coming off losses. The Bobcats suffered their first Big Sky loss of the season to Eastern Washington, 35-13. MSU only managed 22 rushing yards in that contest.
Sac State should beware of Bobcats linebacker Bobby Daly. He has had double-digit tackles in four straight games and was named to the Buck Buchanan Award watch list this week.
As far as the Cats’ offense, Demetrius Crawford leads the team in rushing yards. Wide receiver Josh Lewis also has over 100 yards receiving in two games in the past three weeks.
The Hornets have only posted one win this season and the Cats have only two losses (their other was to Texas A&M), which were both respectable considering the tough teams they were facing. I don’t see MSU losing this one.

Portland State at Idaho State (3:05 p.m.)
The Vikings haven’t won in Pocatello since 1999, and are coming off a bye week that followed a heartbreaking 44-43 loss to NAU.
Idaho State is also coming off a loss to the Lumberjacks, falling 45-24 last weekend.
Both squads sit at 2-4 in the Big Sky.
The Bengals are averaging 403.5 yards of offense but are guilty of 16 turnovers in six games. Freshman Russel Hill and sophomore Luke Butler have split time under center, and have combined to complete 58 percent of their passes. Tailback Josh Barnett currently leads the league with 548 rushing yards. Receiver Eddie Thompson is the league leader in receptions with 50 in six games, which is also third in the nation.
Portland State is banged up, with 10 players suffering injuries this season. But the athletes they have playing have been playing extremely well.
PSU quarterback Brian White has played spectacularly lately and has led the Vikings to two come-from-behind victories. He has thrown for over 1,500 yards in the past four games.
Vikings senior fullback Olaniyi Sobomehin leads the team and the Big Sky with nine touchdowns in six contests. He has 72 carries for 344 yards.
Want my opinion? Jerry Glanville and crew are going to get their first win in Pocatello in seven years.

Eastern Washington at BYU (3:35 p.m.)
The Eagles may get a break from conference action, but that doesn’t mean they are getting a break.
The Cougars are dangerous on both offense and defense and Brigham Young University is one of the most powerful college teams in the country. BYU ranks 16th in the FBS in total offense with 462.8 yards and is only allowing 313.3 yards per game. Quarterback Max Hall ranks sixth in the nation.
Both teams sit at 4-2. EWU has never beaten a Mountain West Conference member, and BYU is undefeated in the MWC this season.
The Eagles win over MSU last weekend moved them up to No. 22 in the Sports Network FCS Poll.
It would be nice of me to pick the Eagles since they are a fellow conference member. But football isn’t about being nice, so I’m going to play it safe and say BYU wins.

Where are they now: Marty Mornhinweg

2007-10-20T11:46:00.001-06:00

By: Bill Oram
GameDay Kaimin

Great quarterbacks are as much a staple in Montana football history as tourists are in Glacier National Park during summer.
Dave Dickenson, Brian Ah Yat, Drew Miller, John Edwards and Craig Ochs have all taken their place in the spotlight for the Grizzlies. But it’s a quarterback often forgotten in discussions of great Griz gridiron generals who has had arguably the most successful professional career.
Marty Mornhinweg is better known for his career calling plays from NFL sidelines than from under center for the Grizzlies in the early 1980s.
He was the head coach of the Detroit Lions in 2001 and 2002, and for the past five years has been with the Philadelphia Eagles, currently as offensive coordinator. Stops in San Francisco, Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit and Philadelphia make his NFL passport an enviable one.
Long before Dickenson and Edwards, two national championships, and nine straight Big Sky Conference titles, Montana football had its up and down years. Before 23,000-plus fans packed into Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Griz games were played at Dornblaser Field with its wooden bleachers. Fans were just the toss of a beer – especially when Montana State was in town – from the action.
Former Montana coach Joe Glenn said the Mornhinweg-led teams of the ’80s were largely responsible for the transition from middle-of-the-pack to top-of-the-heap.
“The times weren’t as good as they have been since they moved into the stadium,” said Glenn, who was an assistant coach during Mornhinweg’s tenure and now coaches the Wyoming Cowboys.
“(Mornhinweg) was amazing to watch. He probably played with a cast of less talented players than have been there since Marty.”
In his years as Griz quarterback, Mornhinweg’s teams were 22-30-1, a record that would likely make modern-day Griz fans cringe.
Yet, Mornhinweg’s teams were the first to prove the Grizzlies could contend, a fact that is consistent with recent Montana history.
“I think the fellows that I played with were tough. They were the types of guys (who) didn’t make excuses,” Mornhinweg said. “We didn’t whine or cry, we got better every day. Tough guys usually rise to the occasion. I don’t think we were quite the most talented team, but we won it.”
After Mornhinweg and his potent crop of receivers – highlighted by Brian Salonen and Bob McCauley – the Grizzlies didn’t win another Big Sky title for 11 years.
“I was happy for the teammates I had because they put a lot of time, effort, sacrifice and many of them were upstanding citizens and great students,” Mornhinweg said.
The San Jose, Calif., native came to Montana highly regarded, but major schools shied away from him and his 5-foot-9, 185 pound frame. But not the Griz.
“He played quarterback position like a linebacker,” said Daryl Gadbow, former Missoulian sports editor. “He was really tough. If he ran the ball there was no sliding; he ran right smack into somebody.”
Mornhinweg’s social life exuded the same zeal as on the field. He was a presence in the bar scene and was known for frequently dealing poker at the Stockman Bar.
“He was a partier and he liked to gamble,” Gadbow said. “The Grizzlies used to play down at (the University of Nevada) Reno and I heard they couldn’t drag him out of the casinos at night.”
Prior to his senior season in 1983, Mornhinweg was suspended after being accused of cheating on an exam. He sat out the year before returning in 1984.
“I think that most fans thought he was a good player and I think people thought he made a mistake and he paid for it,” he said. “And he stuck around.”
Mornhinweg’s stats at Montana were good, but not great. He threw for 6,083 career yards, sixth most all-time, and averaged 169 passing yards per game. However, even then he had the mind of a coach, Glenn said
He was introduced to great coaching early in his career. At Oak Grove High School in San Jose, one of his coaches was Mike Holmgren, coach of the Packers when they won the 1997 Super Bowl and currently coach of the Seattle Seahawks.
Mornhinweg’s first shot to run an NFL team came in 2001 when he was hired by the mercurial Matt Millen to guide the hapless Lions. However, he was fired after two years and a 5-27 record.
Glenn said although Mornhinweg’s stretch at the top of an NFL team was short-lived, he has redeemed himself in Philadelphia. The Eagles have produced record-setting offensive numbers in his tenure, and he deserves another shot.
“He’ll get another chance,” Glenn said. “The first one didn’t work out so well as a head coach. People like him, players like him.”
Mornhinweg didn’t rule out coaching in the college ranks, at least once his four kids – the youngest is 8 years old – are out of the house.
“I’ve got a little time left here, but my wife and I have discussed some of those things,” he said. “It would be nice to get to a university setting one of these days.”
Mornhinweg, with his wife and kids, visited Missoula for the first time in 15 years this past summer, and said he frequently chats with former teammates.
Despite his extensive and lucrative career in the pros, Mornhinweg insisted the NFL isn’t as glamorous as it is portrayed by Hollywood.
“It may seem like that to some people, but we work hard, we prepare,” he said. “We do everything we can to have success that next week. You got to do it day-to-day, week-to-week. And we did this at the University of Montana.”

'All-American guy'

2007-10-08T19:51:00.000-06:00

Bill Oram
GameDay Kaimin

Under the fluorescent lights of the University Center Commons, Kyle Ryan looks just like any other University of Montana student cramming for a midterm exam. He sports a blue zip sweatshirt and a white Notre Dame ball cap backwards. The hat is a nod to his Irish Catholic roots and his love of Fightin’ Irish football – a religion of its own.
Huddled in a corner of the room, little about him stands out.
Ryan is used to blending in. Of the three senior starting linebackers for the top-ranked Griz – Ryan, Loren Utterback and Tyler Joyce – the Billings West High School product is the one who has flown the most under the radar.
His No. 46 holds little prestige compared to the hallowed No. 37 Utterback wears, and he’s not as brash or, frankly, as violent as Joyce.
“Kyle’s kind of quietly put together a great career,” said Griz linebackers coach Ty Gregorak. “In my opinion Kyle’s been unbelievably consistent.”
As a three-year starter, Ryan has accumulated 234 tackles. But just a year removed from tying the team high with 115 stops, he has recorded only 23 to start this season.
“This year I’ve kind of struggled to make the plays I have in years past, but I just have to be patient and it will come,” Ryan said.
One of those plays in which patience paid off came last weekend.
In the third quarter, with Weber State clinging to a 10-9 lead, Ryan stepped in front of a Cameron Higgins pass for his first interception of the season. He stuck out a hand, first tipping the ball and finally corralling it.
The Washington-Grizzly Stadium crowd, restless and anxious for a reason to cheer, exploded.
Gregorak was planted on the sideline near where the play happened.
“His eyes just got huge because there was nothing but green in front of him and it looked like he probably thought he could score and next thing you know he gets whacked from the side,” Gregorak said. “I was just so happy he didn’t fumble the ball.”
The interception led to Montana’s lone touchdown of the game, a one-yard run by Greg Coleman.
“It was a heckuva play,” Gregorak said. “It was a game-changing play. It set up a score and ultimately we ended up winning the game.”
It’s fitting that Ryan has spent his college career at Montana, though it might have been more so had he landed at Notre Dame.
His father was a rugby player for the Irish, and Ryan grew up a Notre Dame fan. His bedroom in Billings was equally plastered in Notre Dame and Montana posters, he said.
His brother Casey played offensive line for the Griz in the late ‘90s, and his brother Pat was a reserve linebacker for Notre Dame from 1999-2002.
Naturally, the youngest Ryan wanted to play for the Irish too.
He saw how hard Pat worked in high school to earn a chance at Notre Dame, so he said he tried to put in that same effort. He attended a camp at Notre Dame his junior year. Future Irish players, including current Cleveland Brown quarterback Brady Quinn, surrounded him there.
But when the recruiting period got into full swing, Notre Dame showed little more than cursory interest in Ryan.
“Kyle thought he was going to be a teammate with those guys, but it just didn’t work out that way,” his father, Bill Ryan, said.
Other schools showed interest – Montana State, of course, Colorado State, Stanford and a handful of Ivy League schools – but Kyle Ryan had essentially already pared his list to two.
“I’m glad it ended up that I’m a Griz,” he said. “I don’t regret that for a second. Growing up, I had thought about it (playing for the Irish), but when my brother played at Notre Dame, I kind of realized that I’d be better off at Montana.”
The Grizzlies offered Ryan the opportunity to play closer to home, and, as he said, to have a greater chance of success.
Ryan made his splash with the Griz as a sophomore in 2005 when Utterback broke his foot at Oregon. Ryan started the rest of the season at middle linebacker.
Ryan would not have likely had the opportunity to start as a sophomore at Notre Dame or another big school.
Pat Ryan said he is happy that his brother ended up with the Griz.
“I loved my experience (at Notre Dame); Kyle’s loving his experience,” he said. “I don’t think he’d give up what he has now. I think he’s in a perfect spot for him.”
Even if Notre Dame had offered him a shot, Kyle Ryan isn’t certain he would have taken it.
“I would have had to think about it,” he said. “It wouldn’t have been the clear choice that it would have been earlier in my life.”
Kyle Ryan was not the prototypical star-to-be. He was “mushy-faced little four-eyed guy,” Bill Ryan said.
However, continuing in the mold of Casey and Pat, Kyle Ryan slowly developed into a force, the biggest of the football-playing brothers, his dad said.
According to Bill Ryan, his son’s offer to join the Griz came the spring of his sophomore year of high school. The season was highlighted by a game against Flathead High School when Ryan recorded an eyebrow-raising tackle against another future Grizzly standout – running back Lex Hilliard.
One Ryan brother never played football, but Kyle Ryan looked up to him as well. Bill Jr., who his father said was actually the best athlete of the group, went to Stanford for his undergraduate degree and is a lawyer in Billings.
“Kyle kind of went down that road academically,” Bill Ryan Sr. said. “And then with Casey and Pat right in front of him, that was a huge motivator (to play football).”
Gregorak said Ryan’s reputation as an “all-American guy” sometimes may earn him some teasing from his teammates.
“My wife loves him,” Gregorak said. “He’s a big, good-looking dude. He is a smart guy, he is a gentleman, he is ‘yes sir, no sir.’ I think he takes some flack for it, too.
“He’s a great student. He’s a student of the game, I bet he does real well in his business school.”
Ryan is an accounting major and has few illusions about playing football beyond college. When his career is over, he plans to take a year off and apply to law school. He’d like to stay at UM.
But before Ryan gets too caught up in his long-term goals, he’s focused on a more imminent one: winning a national championship.
In Ryan’s four seasons, the Griz have been close to winning the title twice. He was a redshirt freshman in 2004 when they were painfully close, losing in the championship game to James Madison 31-21.
“We kind of felt invincible for a while up until that last game,” he said.
The other near-championship run was last season, when, after a season-opening loss to Iowa, the Grizzlies were undefeated until faltering at home against Massachusetts in the national semifinals.
“It definitely left a bad taste in our mouth,” Ryan said. “It just makes us better, makes us work harder in the offseason.”
While he said the No. 1 national ranking means little now, it would mean everything to be on top at the end of the season.
“My whole thing is I want to go out with a national championship,” he said. “That’s the most important thing to me. All the personal accolades are great, but nothing would compare to a national championship.”

Eastern Washington brings young team to face an old rival

2007-10-08T19:50:00.000-06:00

Bill Oram
GameDay Kaimin

The Montana football team learned last week that being ranked No. 1 nationally doesn’t give it a free pass through Big Sky Conference play.
The undefeated Grizzlies narrowly topped Weber State 18-10 last weekend, but will face an even more formidable opponent today, with the 3-1 Eastern Washington Eagles in town.
Eastern fell out of the rankings after losing 28-21 to Portland State. It had risen to 21st before the defeat.
Eastern Washington has a record of playing well in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Their four wins are the most of any team since the stadium opened in 1986.
“Eastern’s always played the Montana Grizzlies tough, forever,” Montana head coach Bobby Hauck said.
The last time the Eagles were in Missoula, in 2005, they rolled behind standout quarterback Erik Meyer.
But Meyer and much of that team is gone. In their places, the roster is loaded with sophomores. However, according to Eastern coach Paul Wulff, it’s an experienced group of youngsters.
“We have some experience on offense; and defense, there’s some experience there,” he said. “We’re youthful from an age standpoint.”
When the Eagles won in 2005, the Griz were led by a freshman quarterback named Cole Bergquist, who was filling in for the injured Jason Washington.
This season, Bergquist is again the starter for Montana, and has averaged just over 195 passing yards and 39 rushing yards in the team’s four wins.
“He’s developed a lot,” Wulff said this week. “He’s a lot more confident in what he does, a lot more accurate in throwing the ball. He’s a tough guy to defend because he runs the ball so well.”
Bergquist said Eastern Washington’s defense appeared on film to be stifling.
“They look like an Eastern defense that I’ve seen for the past three years that I’ve been here,” Bergquist said. “They play aggressive, their secondary (has) got an attitude, they want to play hard. You can tell that they don’t fear many teams. They’re always swarming to the ball.”
Both teams are coming off games in which injuries played a key role. A spate of Griz players had to be helped off the field against Weber State, though none of the injuries will likely keep any Grizzlies out of today’s game.
Eastern Washington, on the other hand, has already lost nine players for the season, Wulff said. Star receiver Tony Davis left the Portland State game with a shoulder injury and center Chris Carlsen left with a knee injury. Wulff said neither would play against Montana.
Both Montana and Eastern Washington have been successful this season by putting lots of points on the board, but Eagles coach Paul Wulff said he would rather have less scoring.
“Anybody would want a lower scoring game,” he said. “I don’t want it to be a shootout.”
Giving Montana, a team that leads the nation in scoring defense, lots of scoring opportunities could be fatal for Eastern Washington.
However, if Montana can eliminate its own mistakes, it should be fine, Bergquist said.
“I think we’re well aware that Eastern’s a good team. They’ve shown that they can put up a lot of points,” he said. “We need to put together a full game, which we haven’t quite done yet, I don’t feel, as an offensive unit.”

Peter Christian brings his faith to games as Griz announcer

2007-10-08T19:48:00.000-06:00

Roman Stubbs
GameDay Kaimin

For nine seasons, Peter Christian has been the big guy upstairs in Washington-Grizzly Stadium as the voice of Montana football.
“I’ll never forget when I first was offered the job, I felt so lucky to be able to do this,” said Christian.
A Helena native, Christian’s path to being the lovable PA voice on game days wasn’t as easy as merely talking.
“I hadn’t seen a lot of college football games, so my first time up there was a little rough,” he said. “But everyone remained very supportive and I got gradually better.”
Now, he can’t get enough of Saturdays.
“We don’t sit down up there the entire game, it’s that much fun,” said Christian, who is quick to point out that as the PA voice, he isn’t the only one contributing. “Without my spotter, John Wall, I would look like a complete idiot.” Wall helps Christian with names, plays and timeouts. “He is a complete genius,” Christian said. “I depend so much on him; we really work together.”
With his original name being Peter Wall, he asserted his Christian faith into his broadcast career when an employer told him to come up with a radio moniker.
“People know me as Christian, and it is a name to show my faith,” he said.
He also attributes that to his job as the PA voice.
“I go by the hot stove theory; everything I touch is going out to the stadium,” he said. “I just remember to represent God, the University and myself in the best possible way I can.”
Christian’s hot stove theory has won him the respect of others in the business. He recalls meeting the sports information director from Sam Houston State, who told him that he admired his work and enthusiasm as the voice of the Griz.
“He’s one of the best in the country, by far,” said Mick Holien, Montana’s radio network flagship play by play announcer. “He’s such an entertaining guy to begin with, and he works with so much enthusiasm.”
Holien, who has known Christian for about 20 years, was the Griz PA announcer before Christian.
Christian’s signature has become the first-down cry, in which he yells “first down”, and the fans respond in a climactic “Montana.”
“To be fair, that isn’t mine,” he said. “I kind of picked it up from an old announcer when I was watching an Idaho game a few years back. He would be pretty enthusiastic about the first down, so I figured we would add the Montana part and bring it to the Big Sky.”
Christian said a lot of Big Sky teams have picked up the idea.
“I think the ultimate compliment to Peter is when fans of the opposing teams complain when he screams ‘first down Montana,’” Holien said. “He’s so good at it, has so much energy, that they want their announcer at home to do it.”
Christian’s rise in the radio business began after a friend suggested he become a disc jockey to channel his love for music.
“I was playing drums in a local band with my friends, traveling the country and trying to make a living as a struggling musician,” Christian says, laughing about the nostalgic moments of his youth. “And then my friend told me to get involved as a disc jockey, and I joined the number one network in Helena, and I’ve loved it ever since.”
Since then, he acknowledges the hard work he must put into the business.
“I didn’t graduate with a degree in journalism, so I feel like not only have I had to teach myself a lot about this business, but also that I have to work that much harder to be successful,” he said.
Christian has taken that work ethic to Clear Channel Radio Network, where he has been for over 20 years. He rises at 3 a.m. every morning and is at work at 3:30 a.m. to begin his duties at the station. At 6 a.m., he hosts the award-winning Montana Morning on KBGO 1290. He then returns home around 10 a.m. to work at his own business, Peter Christian Communication, which is a commercial hub to radio stations nationwide. The full schedule doesn’t get to a humble Christian.
“They are really full days, but I love it,” he said. “There is always five or six people behind the scenes who are really doing a lot of the work; so I have a lot of help with my work.”
Married and a father of two, Christian stays loyal to not only his faith and career, but also to his game day ritual. “I park way across campus,” he said. “Then I grab my briefcase, pop and paper,” he continued, chuckling at his superstition. “I’m all nervous, you know, I’m walking across campus, just talking to God, hoping to have a good day doing my job,” he said.
When Peter Christian arrives at the stadium, he is thrust into a nine-year labor of love, as the voice thundering over the stadium. Even before game time, before he has to pronounce tough names and plays, even before a “first down Montana” cry, Christian might be reflecting on his own lucky job, and take his own time out.
And thank the big guy upstairs.

Around the Big Sky Conference

2007-10-08T19:46:00.000-06:00

Amber Kuehn
GameDay Kaimin

Today features a slate of conference games, and one final nonconference competition for rival Montana State. Here is a preview of today’s matchups and what you can expect to see in each. You can watch them all on www.bigskytv.org.

Sacramento State at Weber State (1:05 p.m.)

The Hornets are coming off a 38-9 victory over Northern Arizona and one of their best performances in school history. The win was Sac State’s first of the season. One player to watch in this game is Hornet linebacker Cyrus Mulitalo, who was named co-defensive player of the week after last weekend. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound junior had a game-high nine tackles and a sack against NAU, in addition to returning an interception 60 yards for a touchdown. The Hornet offense compiled 422 yards and the defense held the Lumberjacks to just 187 yards. Quarterback Jason Smith had a solid arm and was mobile, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another.
If Sac State can continue their hot play from last weekend, they should find success in Ogden, Utah. Weber State still hasn’t found a way to win this season, but gave Montana a run for its money last weekend. The Wildcats tested the Griz in Washington-Grizzly Stadium last weekend and the defense held the Griz to just one touchdown. But despite the Weber State offense jumping out to a 10-0 advantage early on, the Wildcats then allowed 18 unanswered points.
Weber State leads the series 7-4 all-time and has never lost to Sac State at home. The Hornets won last year’s game in Sacramento. If the Hornets win today, they will open the season 2-1 in Big Sky play for the second year in a row and just the second time in school history. The Hornets have yet to win a game on the road this season.
This should be a close game, and might be one of the most exciting matchups of the day.
I predict Weber State will jump out to another lead, only to let it slip away. The Hornets will get their first road win and the Wildcats will start the season 0-5 for the first time since 2004.

Northern Colorado at Idaho State (2:05 p.m.)

The Bears haven’t won a game this season and now must enter the often-hostile confines of Holt Arena (even though Idaho State has struggled at home against Big Sky opponents in the last five contests). Northern Colorado still hasn’t beaten a Big Sky team since joining the league last season.
In the series, ISU leads 17-6, and won last October 41-13.
The Bengals dropped their first two conference decisions to Eastern Washington and Montana State, and the Bears lost their 13th-straight game to Cal Poly, 56-21, last Saturday. In that game, Bears junior running back David Woods rushed for a career-high 130 yards and completed a 35-yard pass to senior receiver Andy Birkel to set up the score. That was the team’s longest pass of the season.
The Bengals are coming off a 40-20 loss to MSU in which they blew an early lead and were unable to keep the Bobcats out of the end zone in the third quarter.
ISU is switching signal callers once again, as quarterback Luke Butler suffered a concussion with nine seconds remaining in the MSU game. Butler is out for at least a week, and Russel Hill will get the start today.
Today marks homecoming festivities at ISU, and the Bengals will be naming the turf Caccia Field to honor Babe Caccia, 90, ISU’s all-time winningest football, baseball and wrestling coach, and also a former athletic director.
I will continue my trend of never picking Northern Colorado. Besides, it’s ISU’s homecoming, and no team should have to lose such a festive game. Idaho State will win, and the Bears will start considering a possible move to another conference.
You can catch this game on Altitude.

Montana State hosts Southern Utah (1:35 p.m.)

All of 2007, MSU has managed to dominate the third quarter. Last Saturday, the Bobcats scored 17 third-quarter points to come back from a three-point halftime deficit and beat Idaho State 40-20. In that game, the Bobcat defense also held the No. 2 receiver in the nation, Eddie Thompson, to just six catches for 53 yards. Montana State moved up five spots in the national polls this week to No. 13.
MSU now faces a Thunderbird squad that the Grizzlies defeated in their season-opener. Southern Utah is coming off a bye week, and fell to McNeese State, 41-20, the weekend before. Despite the defeat, SUU piled up over 400 yards. Senior running back Johnny Sanchez had a career-best 181 yards on 16 carries. Third-year starting quarterback Wes Marshall was knocked out during the McNeese game and taken to the hospital. It is uncertain whether he will start in today’s game.
The only time these two teams have faced each other, MSU edged SUU with a one-point victory.
Montana rolled over SUU and I expect Montana State to do the same, especially with home-field advantage.
Cats win.

Northern Arizona at Portland State (1:35 p.m.)

The Vikings are 2-0 in Big Sky action and are coming off a big win over Eastern Washington, handing the Eagles their first loss of the season.
NAU is coming off a 38-9 loss to Sacramento State and lost starting quarterback Lance Kriesien to an injury. Northern Arizona struggled on third down in that game, unable to convert the entire game. The Lumberjacks only had 73 yards rushing.
PSU leads the nation in passing defense. Quarterback Brian White threw for 329 yards last weekend on 29-of-37 passing with three touchdowns. He’s one of the league’s strongest arms, and has thrown for 1,100 yards in the past three contests. The Vikings also had 191 yards on the ground in the last game.
If Portland State can put forth the same effort they did last weekend, they’ll beat NAU easily.

Where are they now: Karl Stein

2007-10-08T19:45:00.000-06:00

Jake Grilley
GameDay Kaimin

Karl Stein knew what he had to do if he needed to gain more respect from the students in his middle school art class.
He would tell the students to go over to the computer to search for Montana Grizzly football records on the Internet.
“My students didn’t think I played for the Grizzlies,” Stein said. “They just thought I was a doofy looking art teacher.”
Stein said his students came away from the computer with a newfound respect for their instructor, the Grizzlies’ all-time leader in interceptions.
Stein excelled as a free safety at Montana during the 1969 and 1970 seasons. The Grizzly Hall-of-Famer was a first-team All-Big Sky Conference selection each of his seasons with the Grizzlies. During his two seasons, Stein set a team record of 21 interceptions and set the single-season interception record at 11. Stein is also Montana’s all-time leader in interception return yards and fifth in all-time punt return yards. Montana went 20-0 during Stein’s two regular seasons with the team.
Stein remembers the Griz fans were particularly captivated by the successes the team had during his tenure.
“We always felt the support from the Missoula community,” Stein said. “They had a tickertape parade down Higgins Avenue after both of our undefeated seasons.”
Even though the team was winning, the coaches instilled a strong work ethic in all the players.
The first practice after every game the coaches would make the players run up to the “M” on Mount Sentinel in full pads, Stein said.
After graduating from UM with an art degree in 1972, Stein found himself in a multitude of artistic professions.
His paintings have been sold in art galleries across Montana and the Northwest. Stein also worked as a professional dancer and actor as well as an art teacher for several years.
Stein has lived on a plot of land near Arlee for the last 34 years. The acreage has allowed him to try his hand at land and forest maintenance along with building two houses on the property.
For Stein, who grew up outside San Francisco, Montana was love at first sight.
“When I first came to Montana in 1968 there was four feet of snow on the ground,” Stein remembered. “I just loved all that snow. It was almost the amount of snow rather than the school.”
Stein did more than just play in the snow when he came to Montana. He was part of two undefeated teams that helped to serve as building blocks for the tradition behind Montana football.
Coaches have told Stein over the years that the team’s level of play during his two seasons helped to bring in better players and established a higher standard for Montana football.
“I think we had a solid effect on the history of football at Montana,” Stein said. “Of course Dave Dickenson had something to do with that as well.”
The only regret Stein has about his football career is that he never played at the professional level.
Stein made the preseason roster of the Los Angeles Rams in the early 1970s and had an interception in his only preseason game. After being released, Stein had the option of trying out for the Denver Broncos or play in Canada.
“Instead I went back to Montana to live in the mountains,” Stein said.
Stein never lost his football hunger. In the early 1980s, many of the players from Stein’s team participated in the football alumni game, in which former Griz would play the varsity squad. The alumni team beat the varsity four years in a row.
“Sometimes I still wish they had the alumni games,” Stein said. “I would put on my wild socks and try to keep up with them.”
Nowadays, Stein spends his time painting – mostly watercolor landscapes – and spending time with his 9-year-old son, Kai.
Stein is currently working on a short story infused with the struggles of an aging athlete.
“I am writing about a 50-year-old who is trying to break the world speed record in sprinting,” Stein said.
Stein said having his name atop the Grizzly record books is a great ego boost for a man entering his late 50s. However, Stein does have one gripe.
“They always get my record wrong; it was 11, then 10, 20 interceptions,” Stein said. “It’s even wrong in the Hall of Champions. I’m trying to get them to change that.”

Steady as he goes: Griz kicker Dan Carpenter keeps his thoughts on the team and off the prize

2007-09-29T11:46:00.000-06:00

Photos copyright Tim Kupsick 2007

Amber Kuehn
GameDay Kaimin

It was Nov. 4, 2006, and Cal Poly had just taken a 9-7 lead with less than four minutes remaining in the game.
The Montana Griz football team answered, culminating a 16-play, 76-yard drive.
Now, the entire game hinged on this moment.
With just five seconds left in the game, No. 29 took his place on the field just as he had a hundred times before. He had to focus, had to forget about the 32-yard attempt he had missed earlier in the game. This one counted. He had to make it for his team.
His parents, who haven’t missed one of his Griz football games yet, prayed. The 22,853 Griz fans in attendance held their breath. It was one of the few times that Washington-Grizzly Stadium has ever been eerily silent.
But Dan Carpenter felt no pressure. “Just get the ball up, don’t let them block it,” he thought.
And in a matter of seconds, the game was over. The 21-yard field goal was good. The Griz won.
“It definitely wasn’t the prettiest kick,” Carpenter recalls, adding that he has watched replays of it on tape a couple of times. “It hooks to the left pretty bad.”
His father, Val, remembers the game-winning field goal like it was yesterday.
“There was no doubt in my mind he’d make it,” he says. “I knew the pressure wouldn’t get to him, because he’s always been a pretty cool cucumber. After the kick, he about came out of his shoes.”
As a young boy, Carpenter played a multitude of sport basketball, baseball, soccer – all the while honing his athletic abilities until the day came when he could get on the gridiron. Before he ever kicked the pigskin through the goal posts, he was kicking soccer balls into nets.
His mom remembers a time when he even had to play goalkeeper.
“When he was 11, they put him in goal at the soccer tournament finals in Idaho,” Diane Carpenter recalls. “It was sleeting and his little hands were just frozen, but he managed to stop every shot and his team won. He was so focused on the game that he didn’t even realize how much his hands hurt until it was over.”
Perhaps it is experiences like these, from his younger days, that taught Carpenter to stay calm and collected when the game is on the line. Football teams are always trying to “ice the kicker” when games come down to a field goal or an extra point. Numerous college and NFL games are won or lost at the end by a field goal, and it’s on the shoulders of the kicker to be the hero.
“The kicking game is a third of the football game,” Val Carpenter says. “When you’re a kicker, you’re out there all by yourself on the score.”
Diane Carpenter says her son feeds off this pressure.
“He’s always been the kid who wants pressure, whether it was a game-winning shot he once made in a basketball game, or the game-winning field goal,” she says. “I remember him telling me after the semi-final game last year that he was thinking, ‘Just get me a little closer, guys, so I can put it through.’”
Surprisingly, Carpenter has always been more nervous about the kickoff. His mom said this is because he feels he’s all on his own, whereas on field goals and PATs it really is a team effort.
“Out of the 11 people on the field right then, my job is the easiest,” Carpenter said. “Nine guys have to block, and Clint Stapp has to have the hold just right. I’ve got the easy job. I just have to kick it through.”
On kickoff, however, it’s his job to pin the opponent down deep in the backfield and not let them get good field position. This is where Carpenter feels a lot of the responsibility. But, he adds, his secret to staying cool under pressure is just to get into a routine.
“The most pressure I ever felt was my first college game in Washington-Griz in front of 23,000-plus fans,” Carpenter says. “I was very nervous because the fans and team had high expectations for me and I just wanted to prove myself.”
If he hadn’t done so already, Carpenter proved himself on Nov. 6, 2004. It was his freshman year and Montana had the ball on the 13-yard line on fourth down. The field goal unit was on the field, and everyone in the crowd assumed the Griz were going to go for three. Instead, Tyson Johnson flipped the ball between his legs to Carpenter and Carpenter ran to the right — untouched all the way — scoring his first touchdown as a Grizzly.
“Fake field goal,” Carpenter recalls. “We had a party in the end zone; I remember that.”
It’s the only time Carpenter has scored seven for the Griz. Normally, he’s the star after the touchdown, right before pinning opponents at the 20-yard line. But it’s not uncommon for him to take over wherever he is needed. Last season, Carpenter handled the punting duties while Johnson sat out with an injury. He proved he can perform well at whatever he does.
Carpenter has been a second team All-Big Sky selection three times, conference player of the week six times and was an Associated Press All-American in 2006. Also last season, Carpenter led the nation in field goals, connecting on 24 of 30 and averaging 1.71 a game. His freshman year he was perfect on 63 PATs. Last year, as a junior, he tied his career-long field goal with a 50-yarder at Weber State. During practice, Carpenter says he has kicked a 66-yard field goal before. His longest punt came last year at Northern Colorado when he kicked a 63-yarder.
As a prep athlete at Helena High School, Carpenter was a guard on the basketball team and a wide receiver and kicker on the football team. His coach, Tony Arntson, who played for the Grizzlies from 1985-88, says Carpenter was a very good wide receiver for the Bengals, and described him as a self-taught kicker who had a natural ability.
“He wasn’t one of those kickers who went to a lot of kicking camps or anything,” Arntson says. “He just went out and did it.”
Carpenter set the school record during his senior season for longest field goal in a game against Kalispell – a 53-yarder that still stands as the mark to beat today. He also set a school record at the receiver position, catching 13 passes for 931 yards.
“I think his strength is that he doesn’t get hung up in the pressure of the game,” Arntson says. “His easy-going temperament benefits him being a kicker.”
Arntson said what he’s always loved most about Carpenter is that he’s a hard worker, a good leader and a positive person who’s good with kids.
“And he loves the game,” Arntson added. “He takes a lot of pride in what he does.”
Maybe so, but Carpenter radiates humility. The most important thing to him is the success of his team, and he’ll be the first to tell you this if you ask him about another record looming on the horizon.
Carpenter currently ranks second in UM history with 337 points, 57 behind former Griz kicker Chris Snyder. In the first three games this season, Carpenter has already racked up 25 points, making it likely that he’ll break the record this year as a senior. His dad tracks every point in his mind as he’s watching the games, as every field goal and extra point brings Carpenter one step closer to the milestone. If he keeps scoring at the pace he is now, he will be on track to break the record around his 22nd birthday on Nov. 25, and also around the time of the first round of playoffs.
“We’re going to have a big party when it happens,” Val Carpenter says. “I don’t really see it being a problem for him, especially since they’ll probably make the playoffs; knock on wood.”
But Carpenter could care less about the record.
“I might start thinking more of it once it gets closer,” he says. “But I’m perfectly happy with touchdowns and just kicking extra points all season. Anything I can do to help our team win.”
And while his father may be counting down from the stands, Carpenter says he isn’t keeping track.
“I honestly don’t pay attention,” he says. “Personal stats don’t matter. I’m here to help 2007 Griz football reach our goals.”
Those goals include a national title. Oh, how special it would be if Carpenter could break the record in Chattanooga. The entire team would like to get to the FCS championship game, but Carpenter said he’d rather just take it one game at a time.
Kick by kick, field goal by field goal, extra point by extra point. After all, these are Carpenter’s last days as a Griz football player. What will he miss most when he graduates?
“I’m going to miss the fans, and just playing in front of 23,000 crazy people every Saturday that love nothing more than to come out and see the football team win,” he says.
Record or no record, the fans will miss him too.

Weber State brings aggressive defense

2007-09-29T11:45:00.000-06:00

Bill Oram
GameDay Kaimin

On paper, the football teams of the University of Montana and Weber State appear to be polar opposites.
Entering Big Sky Conference play today, the top-ranked Grizzlies are 3-0. Following last weekend’s loss to Montana State, the Wildcats are 0-3. After a summer-long quarterback controversy, Montana has settled on a winner: Cole Bergquist had a career game last week against Albany, and was named the conference’s offensive player of the week for the second time this season.
Late in fall camp, Weber State got a highly touted transfer at quarterback: Jimmy Barnes, formerly of Alabama, has flopped in three preseason games and was benched against the Bobcats. The Wildcats’ head coach Ron McBride said Tuesday that Barnes is likely not an option for the team this week due to some nagging injuries.
Despite the apparent disparities, Griz head coach Bobby Hauck said he is respectful of Weber State entering today’s Homecoming game.
“We’re anticipating a really aggressive physical game. A very tough game to win,” Hauck said. “Our experience with Weber State is the fact that in each of the last four years it’s no coincidence they’ve played their best game of the year against us.”
In Hauck’s four seasons at the helm for the Griz, only in 2004 did Montana top Weber State by more than five points. Last year in Ogden, Utah, the then-No. 2 Griz narrowly escaped with a 33-30 win.
“They’re a good opponent,” said senior cornerback Quinton Jackson. “We treat them like they’re a good opponent and that’s how we prepare ourselves.”
When preparing for Montana, McBride said, Weber State would have to find a way to shut down the Grizzlies potent offense.
“If you can stop them, go ahead and stop them,” he said. “If you can’t, you can’t. You know what they’re going to do.”
At quarterback, the Wildcats will likely turn to redshirt freshman Cameron Higgins. Higgins was 9-for-17 for 113 yards in less than three quarters against Montana State.
Backing him up will likely be junior Brendon Doyle, McBride said.
Barnes struggled in the team’s first two games, against Boise State and Cal Poly, as well, before being pulled last weekend.
In his three starts, Barnes completed less than one-third of his passes for just under 300 yards.
Montana’s Bergquist, who has thrown for 596 yards in three games, said he still has things to work on despite his recent successes.
“I don’t necessarily think it was my best game after watching it on film,” he said. “I missed a couple opportunities and there’s always room to improve.”
After not throwing an incomplete pass two games ago against Fort Lewis College, and setting career highs in passing and rushing last week, Bergquist expects a stiffer test from the Wildcats.
“They look as solid as any defense we’ve seen so far,” he said. “Their defensive play doesn’t really reflect their record.”
Senior safety Ty Sparrow is one of the defensive leaders, having accrued 26 tackles on the season.
Today’s game will also be Montana’s first chance to defend their shiny new No. 1 ranking after moving up a spot in the wake of Appalachian State’s loss to Wofford. The Griz received only 46 of 103 possible first place votes in The Sports Network top-25 poll and apparently has some convincing to do with the voters.
However, McBride said he believes the Griz are ranked where they should be, saying they look like a No. 1.
“I’ve watched most of the teams that are ranked,” he said. “First of all (Montana hasn’t) been pushed. The games have been over early and they just keep playing. They’re a nice team and I think they deserve their ranking.”
Montana senior receiver Ryan Bagley maintained that the ranking doesn’t affect the way the team prepares for a game or views itself.
“I definitely don’t feel any different than I was last week,” he said.
McBride said if the Wildcats can shore up its sloppy play, it might have a shot at the vaunted Grizzlies. If it has a repeat performance of either its six fumbles against Cal Poly or its three interceptions against the Bobcats, McBride said the outcome might not be pretty.
“If we can eliminate our mistakes and come out and play football like a real football team, then we’ll see what happens,” he said. “If we continue to do the things we’ve done the last three weeks, it’s going to be a long road.”

10 things to know about Griz football

2007-09-29T11:41:00.000-06:00

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.”

UM Homecoming special for alumni

2007-09-29T11:40:00.000-06:00

Jake Grilley
GameDay Kaimin

Ask a Griz fan what homecoming is about and you will likely get a wide variety of answers. Many fans associate homecoming with Saturday morning’s always-entertaining parade. Others enjoy the pep rally, or “yell night” as it is known, and its age-old traditions of singing on the steps and the lighting of the “M” on Mount Sentinel. Homecoming, however, often brings up a question that lingers in the minds of many Montana fans: How can it be “homecoming” if the football team isn’t coming off a road game or in this season’s case hasn’t played outside Washington-Grizzly Stadium?
A misconception that many people have regarding homecoming is that the University is welcoming the football team back home. The homecoming tradition actually is rooted in welcoming alumni back to the University.
Clark Hammer is one of those alumni and he remembers a funny story from homecoming 1954.
Hammer recalled a time when Maurice Avenue ran through campus and was littered with potholes. The city and University couldn’t decide who was responsible for repairing the street. A group of students decided to put up a sign that read: “Welcome to Carl’s Bad Caverns” a reference to Carl McFarland, the president of the University at the time.
“The potholes got fixed but we never knew who did it,” Hammer said.
He believes these are the kinds of memories that bring alumni back to the University during homecoming week.
Ken Thompson, on-campus events coordinator for the Alumni Association, said the University of Montana celebrated its first homecoming in 1919.
Hammer believes the nostalgic memories alumni associate with their time at UM are what have brought graduates back for 88 years.
“Alumni come back here because of relationships with fellow classmates, faculty at the time, or with the athletic department,” Hammer said. “Homecoming brings people back to renew those friendships and support the University.”
Hammer came back to the University during homecoming about 15 years ago. When he was a student in the mid-1950s, Hammer played in the marching band.
It was a chance to play in the alumni marching band during homecoming that brought Hammer back to Missoula.
“The alumni band is one of the best things they brought to homecoming,” Hammer said. Hammer noted the alumni band does a great job of uniting different generations of alumni.
A woman who graduated from the University in the 1940s plays alongside alumni who graduated in 2005, Hammer said.
After participating in the alumni band, Hammer became involved with the University of Montana Alumni Association.
He represents the Alumni Association as a member of the House of Delegates, a group of alumni that assists in University outreach programs, including recruiting new students and fundraising efforts.
Hammer believes homecoming is a great opportunity for graduates to become involved with the University once again.
“They have made a commitment to help the University celebrate,” Hammer said. “This is a way for alumni to get involved in campus.”
Hammer would like to see alumni associated with the University year-round but noted that it is easy to get them to rally behind a Grizzly football game.
“It doesn’t hurt that the football team does well,” Hammer said. “Grizmania sure is something.”
The Griz football team seems to always deliver a win when the alumni pack Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Homecoming Saturday.
Since 1979, Montana has suffered only four homecoming losses. The Grizzlies are on a 16-game winning streak of homecoming games; their last loss came in 1990, to Eastern Washington by one point.
Renee Valley, media editor for UM’s Sports Information Department, found that the scheduling of homecoming is a joint effort between the Alumni Association, the athletics department and the Big Sky Conference.
Hammer hopes students will think of homecoming as more than just “another football game.” He wants students to become more involved while attending the University. They shouldn’t wait until they are alumni to embrace homecoming.
“Some folks don’t have an involvement other than going to the game,” Hammer said. “Students need to be more conscious of their surroundings. Normally when you are going to school you have tunnel vision. “Get involved with the institution now so maybe some of that will carry five, 10, 15 years down the road.”

Griz B-ball gives 'M' fresh coat of paint

2007-09-29T11:36:00.000-06:00

Roman Stubbs
GameDay Kaimin

The City of Missoula got a lot of points in the paint from the Montana men’s basketball team on Tuesday.
In conjunction with the University of Montana’s Homecoming week, the 16-man roster teamed up with Facilities Services to add a fresh coat of white paint to the “M” on Mount Sentinel Tuesday afternoon.
“We are really thankful that the team did it,” said Hugh Jesse, director of Facility Services. “It allows us as a department to spread our funds to the fullest,” he added.
One of the University’s most prominent symbols, the “M,” has only been painted twice in the past 20 years, with the most recent polish coming in 2004. Coordinated by Facility Services, the team’s paint supply was provided through affiliated campus stores. Originally thought to take 100 gallons, the laborers from Facility Services replenished the team halfway through the 2.5-hour project with an additional 25 gallons.
Head coach Wayne Tinkle and assistant coach Andy Hill – who oversaw the project – spearheaded the team’s painting efforts in 2004 and with Tuesday’s new job, have begun a new Homecoming team tradition in their four-year tenure.
“To do this for the community, especially on Homecoming week, it’s a great feeling for our team,” said Hill, who added that the project allows his team to bond while giving back. “As a coach, you love seeing the camaraderie beyond the basketball floor. A project like this gets our team together in a positive way, and it really does bring them closer.”
Aside from community service, the effort also means an upgrade for the 39-year-old mammoth stone letter. According to Gene O’Neill, UM’s assistant director of maintenance, it needed it badly.
“It really needed to be painted,” O’Neill said, adding that while many Facility Service laborers were transporting supplies up Missoula’s busiest hiking trail for a good amount of the day, the team’s donation made all of the difference. “The team made a big contribution. It really means a lot. It not only gives them an opportunity to bond, but it also helps the school and our services tremendously.”
The team’s contribution on Tuesday was the latest installment in their community service so far this year. On Sept. 15, they also participated in the Missoula Heart Walk, an American Heart Association sponsored event that raised money through a three-mile walk around campus. Notably, Facilities Services has interacted with student athletes on many community service projects, including when the women’s soccer team recently painted the locker rooms at Dornblaser Field.
“We have a great relationship with the athletic department,” O’Neill said. “Their help means a lot to us, and we will continue to work together on future projects.”
And that’s perfectly fine for Hill and the team.
“We love doing this,” Hill said. “We have such great fans who give so much to us all year long, so this is a great opportunity for our guys to give back.”

Where are they now: Tony Arntson

2007-09-29T11:33:00.000-06:00

Photo Courtesty of UM Sports Information

Roman Stubbs
GameDay Kaimin

Tony Arntson was always a coach’s dream.
“Ever since I was young, I wanted to be a coach,” Arntson said. “When I was in high school I coached elementary basketball, flag football, and Little League baseball. I loved it. I couldn’t wait to do it when I was older.”
He didn’t have to wait long. His natural athletic ability, particularly on the gridiron, went hand-in-hand with his skipper aspirations.
“Trust me, I could always tell he was going to be a coach, a great coach,” said Brad Salonen, a former standout Griz linebacker who played with Arntson from 1985 to 1988. “He really was a player coach on the field. The guy was like a sponge; anything you told him in the film room, he wanted to see what he could do with it.”
After a stellar career with the Griz in the late 1980s, Arntson is now entering his 13th season as Helena High’s head coach.
Growing up in Great Falls, Arntson became a record-setting quarterback at CM Russell High School, where he starred under the legendary Jack Johnson, who has been at the helm for the Rustlers for over 30 years.
“Coach Johnson played a huge role in not only my career but in my life,” Arntson said. “He was a disciplinarian type coach.”
Under Johnson, Arntson played in three state championship games, which included an undefeated season and title in Arntson’s senior year.
Opting to go to Missoula a year after Montana State had won the national championship, Arntson started four games at quarterback as a true freshman for the Griz, then was moved to running back and special teams in Don Reed’s first three years as head coach. And for the type of player who is a coaches’ dream, the move from the game’s most glamorous position was no problem.
“I was an option quarterback, so the move didn’t matter to me,” Arntson said. “I just wanted to play and help our team win. Playing under coach Reed was really special. Just like coach Johnson, he really influenced me in life.”
Arntson was a part of the first-ever squad to play in the friendly confines of Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
“Some special memories and friendships were made there,” says Arntson.
Salonen couldn’t agree more.
“We had some great moments together,” he said. “I’ll never forget one game against the Bobcats in 1988, when me and Tony both had touchdown catches in the game and that was a really special moment. We had a special group of guys and Tony was a big part of that.”
Arntson’s journey up the coaching ladder to Helena High started under his mentor Johnson at CMR in 1989, when he was the quarterbacks coach for some guy named Dickenson. “That was an incredible opportunity to start my career under coach Johnson,” he said. “Coaching Dave on a team that went 22-0 over two seasons was unbelievable.”
In the early 90’s, Arntson took the head coaching job at Charlo, where he served as the grandfather of the eight-man program.
“It was a really neat experience,” he said. “You’re just not the coach out there, you do the grunt work too, taking care of everything associated with the program.”
Eventually Helena High came calling, and Arntson found himself in charge of a AA program at 27, doing what he had always wanted to do. In his 13-year tenure, Arntson has solidified the Bengals into a perennial contender, making the state semifinals five times, including three state championship appearances. All the while in the chase for his first state title, he has reasserted the Bengals place in the cross-town rivalry with powerhouse Helena Capital and has formed an annual showdown with his mentor Johnson. But above all, the most rewarding part of living out his childhood dream has been seeing his former players succeed. “That is one of the best parts of my job,” he said. “When I see some of my players turn from kids into fine young men, it feels really good to know they’re proud to come through the program I coached.”
One of those players, Mike Ferriter, has continued his career at Montana, thanks in large part to Arntson.
“He has always been a really big influence in my life,” Ferriter said. “He helped me so much as a player and as a person.”
And with homecoming week in full stride, Arntson’s presence as one of the first to ever play at Washington-Grizzly Stadium will be felt.
“So many great memories, it really is a special place to me,” Arntson said of his old stomping grounds. And it is a special place to those who he helped coach there, like Ferriter.
“Coach Arntson is a great coach, and a great guy,” he said. “We still remain close because he really cares about his players. He was a player’s dream as a coach.”

Roman is Burning: The struggle of American Indian football

2007-09-29T11:31:00.000-06:00

Roman Stubbs
GameDay Kaimin

After Browning High School’s first football game, a 42-7 loss to Columbia Falls, their field is reduced to dirt. “Our field is in pretty bad shape after games,” said Browning head coach Robert Miller. “Sometimes I wish we had better facilities for football here. Not a lot of people believe in our football.”
This is the epitome, if not the plight, of Montana American Indian football.
After all, this is the same Browning, Mont., A hotbed for the state’s most gifted athletes, where cross country and track state titles are won, where basketball phenoms are heavily recruited, and where high school football gets lost in translation.
Putting talent onto the football field isn’t supposed to be a secret. For most Montanans, American Indian football is a secret, always has been. Since 1900, only five reservation teams have won state titles, in any division. The last one came 26 years ago. To scratch the surface of a 100-year struggle, I made four phone calls to men who know the struggle, starting with Miller.
Miller has been the head coach at Browning for seven years, and to be blunt, he tells me that the last time the Browning program had anything to brag about was almost 20 years ago in 1989, when he was a player for the Indians’ 6-3 playoff squad. In the 18 years since, Browning has had multiple-season winless droughts, including a five-year stretch in the mid-‘90s when the Indians didn’t win a single game. There is no youth development of football in Browning. There is no great lineage of experienced coaching, where the game’s grassroot fundamentals can be taught early to the kids. Talent isn’t discovered without these essentials. Miller does tell me that many of his players have talent, including his quarterback, all-around athlete Andrew Spotted Wolf.
“He has all the tools to be a great football player,” Miller says. “He’s fast, athletic, has a great arm and he’s shown flashes. But if our team isn’t working together, his talent isn’t exposed very well.”
Dr. Ronald Trosper is a professor at the University of British Columbia and has noticed the cultural trend of authority figures in American Indian lifestyle, especially in sports. Trosper is a Harvard-educated member of the Flathead Tribe who thinks young American Indians don’t traditionally respond to the type of coaching demonstrated in football.
“This isn’t a culture that accepts a dictator,” says Trosper, who cites the story of the 1918 Carlisle Indian School, a team that featured the legendary Jim Thorpe. Coached by Pop Warner, the team made historic headlines with upset wins over Navy and West Point, which Trosper attributes to Warner “listening to his players and how they wanted to play. They received him well, and wanted to play for his indeginous leadership.”
But Trosper understands that the culture of football isn’t like that of Warner’s freelance tactics, which could commonly be found today on the basketball floor. His analysis surfaces perhaps the most intriguing question of all, that of the American Indian individualistic approach to athletics.
Hays Lodgepole coach Shawn Mount answers that question. “Just like our ancestors did, as warriors thousands of years ago, its important for people to live by the deed, which is to prove yourself for yourself,” he says. “You’re not going to change a thousand years worth of indigenous tradition.” Mount’s team is 0-4 this season, and hasn’t had a winning season since the mid-1980s. Like Browning, Hays Lodgepole had a five-season span in the late ‘90s where they didn’t win a game. Paradoxically, it has been in the running for a cross country title every year in the past ten, and the boys basketball team won the Class C state championship last season, led by the states best player, 6-foot-5 junior A.J. Long Soldier, who has wowed Montana with his uncanny run-and-gun style. However, he doesn’t play football.
“I would love to have A.J. out on the field. He has so much football talent, he’d be like our Randy Moss,” he tells me. Long Soldier has lived his deed on the basketball floor.
In 2005, only 79 American Indians played on Division I teams. While talent is there, recruiting on the reservations is a challenge. Just ask UM Northern head coach Mark Samson. He has had eight American Indian athletes in his four years with the Lights, none of who have continued on in his program. Samson has tried to tap into the four reservations situated around Havre, and even has implemented a summer camp, trying to lure young American Indian talent to the confines of his school.
“I’ve called Browning, Harlem, Rocky Boy – the coaches just tell me none of their kids are interested,” he says.
Samson then discusses the different mentality between football and basketball, but still becomes lost in translation with the struggles of Indian football. He tells me of one instance last season, when he was watching Browning play Havre in basketball.
“There was one kid, about (6-foot-4) who was just blessed with ability,” he says. “I thought to myself, man, I’d love to turn this kid into a college football player. Line him up at receiver and run routes through him, or at safety where he could just run around and hit people. I could see it.”
Samson can see it. So can Miller, but many others can’t. The American Indian football precedent has been set.
“We roll into towns, and people yell racial slurs, telling us we can’t play football,” Miller says.
In December the Browning football field will lay as a rock field, under a sheet of snow, covering another year, another barren memory in a 100-year struggle. Fifty yards up the hill, some of the state’s best athletes will be in an energy-filled gym, playing for another state basketball title. Andrew Spotted Wolf will be in the middle of it all. And what of his football talent?
That will be out in the cold, too, staying Montana’s best-kept secret.

Around the Big Sky Conference

2007-09-29T11:24:00.000-06:00

Amber Kuehn
GameDay Kaimin

In today’s games, two Big Sky teams are searching for their first wins of the season, Eastern Washington tries to remain unbeaten and our Interstate 90 neighbors to the east will look to stay hot against long-time rival Idaho State.

Idaho State at Montana State (1:35 p.m.)
The Bengals are 1-2 after falling to Eastern Washington 34-7 in their conference opener last Saturday. The Bobcats, however, are 2-1, with their only loss coming to the Big 12’s Texas A&M. MSU is coming off a 21-5 road victory over Weber State.
The Bengals should be a tad worried entering Bobcat Stadium.
Not only does ISU have to be concerned about the Bobcat offense scoring touchdowns, but the Bengals should also beware of the MSU defense’s ability to put points on the board. Montana State junior strong safety Chase Gazzerro and senior cornerback Michael Beach each returned interceptions for touchdowns in the Weber State game last weekend. Bengals, take note. After all, the ISU offense struggled against EWU, turning the ball over four times in the first half alone, three of which came in the first 18 minutes.
The Bengals’ offense has to find a way to score early on if they want to have a chance in this one. Idaho State didn’t score until there were fewer than 10 minutes in the game last Saturday, and only had 104 yards of total offense in the first half.
MSU had only 283 yards against Weber State, but managed to hold the Wildcats to 340 yards and didn’t allow any touchdowns.
The Bengals will have a new face getting the starting nod at quarterback today. Earlier this week, head coach John Zamberlin named Luke Butler the starter after he threw for 264 yards in relief of Russel Hill last weekend. This will be the first start of his career. The true test will be can he handle the Bobcat D. I’m taking the Cats in this one.
The game will be televised live on Altitude Sports Network.

Northern Arizona at Sacramento State (2:05 p.m.)
The Lumberjacks are 2-2 overall and undefeated in conference action. Sacramento State, on the other hand, has yet to win a game. This is the Hornets’ first home game of the 2007 season.
NAU totaled 507 yards of offense last Saturday against Northern Colorado. The NAU defense also recovered two fumbles and intercepted a ball in the end zone.
The Hornets allowed 58 points in their loss to New Mexico last weekend. Cyrus Mulitalo saw some action at running back, compiling 11 yards on three carries and picking up two first downs.
I predict the winless Hornets will go down again. You can catch the game live on www.bigskytv.org.

Portland State at Eastern Washington (6:05 p.m.)
The Eagles are undefeated, and the Vikings are 1-3. Their lone win was over conference foe Sac State two weeks ago. PSU is now coming off a 52-17 loss to San Diego State.
Despite quarterback Brian White throwing for 283 yards in the first half, the Vikings only managed to put two scoring drives together.
White completed 36-of-53 passes for 408 yards, but was intercepted three times.
The Portland State defense held the Aztecs to just three points in the third quarter. Jordan Senn had a career-high 17 tackles. Linebacker Andy Schentz left the game early on with a knee injury and his status for today’s game is unknown.
Eastern Washington has already matched last year’s win total and hasn’t gotten off to this good of a start in a decade.
The Eagles had several impact players perform well in last weekend’s win in Pocatello. Sophomore quarterback Matt Nichols threw for 232 yards in the first half alone. Alexis Alexander finished with three rushing touchdowns. Sophomore receiver Tony Davis had six catches for 150 yards. The Eagle defense forced four first-half turnovers, and sophomore cornerback Lonnie Hosley contributed with two interceptions, two pass breakups and five tackles. Linebacker Marcus Walker led the Eagles with 10 tackles, and four different players recorded sacks. So what players should PSU look out for? I’m saying the whole team.
Last year Portland State beat EWU in a blowout, 34-0. Different season, different teams – Eagles win this one.
You can catch the game live on www.bigskytv.org.

Northern Colorado at Cal Poly (6:05 p.m.)
The Bears are entering their final non-conference game of the season and are still searching for their first win in 2007. Northern Colorado has lost 12 straight, and are now faced to play a tough Cal Poly team for their third-straight road game. Cal Poly is 2-2.
The two teams are familiar with one another, as the Bears were members of the Great West Conference with Cal Poly prior to coming into the Big Sky. The Bears are 2-5 all-time against the Mustangs, and never managed to beat them when the two were members of the same conference.
The Bears may be hurting even more now than they have been in previous games. They lost three key players to injury against Northern Arizona last weekend, and all of them are questionable for today’s game.
John Eddy suffered a right ankle injury, Korey Askew went down with an injured left leg, and Quincy Wofford hurt his right leg.
Northern Colorado junior quarterback Mike Vlahogeorge is in good shape, however, as he is just 33 yards shy of passing for 500 yards in just his first season with the Bears.
I’m saying Cal Poly wins big, and the Bears fall for the 13th time in as many games.

Utterbacks: From backyard to Washington-Grizzly

2007-09-24T10:43:00.000-06:00

By: Roman Stubbs
GameDay Kaimin

Their story has gone down many roads: Through the record books, through Baker and through one January phone call. It could start anywhere. But fittingly, Loren and Brandon Utterback’s story starts in a small town on the Missouri River, past the wheat fields of Central Montana, in a backyard.
“We used to run out into our backyard with our Joe Montana jerseys on, playing all day and all night,” recalls Loren, who is in his final season as a Griz linebacker.
His brother remembers the beginning of something special.
“Our backyard had some great games,” said Brandon, a talented special teams player and back-up running back for the Griz. “Me being the youngest, I would always take a lot of hits, sometimes that would knock me out for the day. That’s where it all started. We knew that we always wanted to play college football. That was our goal.”
To the Utterback brothers, it was a backyard of dreams. A dream that all roads would lead to Missoula.
“My parents instilled in me and my brothers hard work,” said Brandon. “It didn’t matter if it was football or school, we grew up in a family and a town that was all about hard work.”
With guidance from their father, Brad, the brother’s work ethic and passion for football went hand-in-hand. Their older brother Ryan, who played at MSU-Northern, introduced them to the weight room. Loren filmed Fort Benton High games as a young boy. Brandon grew up in Fort Benton coach Kevin Smith’s strength and conditioning program. With football and hard work in their blood, the brothers would soon become Fort Benton’s finest.
“They come from a very good family, a very hard working family,” Smith said. “The thing about the Utterback boys is that they are incredible football players, but they are also incredible human beings.”
Loren’s road to being a three-year starting linebacker began from the sandlots of Fort Benton, where he learned early on the Utterback way. The hard work, the roll-up-your-sleeves and grab-your-lunch-pail type of hard work.
Entering his senior year of high school, Loren became the face of one of Montana’s best high school programs. A two-time All-State pick, recruiters were buzzing about his strength and athletiscm.
Then came the roadblock.
In the third game of his senior year, Loren tore his ACL. “A lot of tears were shed that night we found out,” Smith said. “You watch a kid grow up in your program and work his ass off to get to this point, then see that. It’s devastating. I’ll tell you one thing: we we’re all sad, but Loren never cried.”
He couldn’t cry. It could’ve been the end for him, had he decided to forgo his senior year and have reconstructive surgery. Instead he did what he’d always known. Grabbed his lunch pail and went to work.
“I had worked too hard to lose everything,” Loren said. “I mean, my teammates, the state title, and my dream of playing college football – all of it was on the line. I felt like I had no other option but to strap a brace on and play on it.”
Loren did physical therapy on weeknights, and then carried his torn ACL into a nine-game stretch in which he rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 22 touchdowns en route to the 2002 Class B state title.
“What he did that year I’ll never forget,” Smith said. “But that’s Loren. He has so much pride, so much will, and he cares about his teammates. That’s what a leader is all about.”
While many recruiters shied away because of his knee, Loren still had an offer from Bobby Hauck, and after making a visit to Washington-Grizzly Stadium decided on Montana. While his dream of playing college football had been fulfilled, Loren wasn’t satisfied.
“I wanted to show all the schools who quit on me that they made a mistake,” Loren said. “I had a chip on my shoulder.”
Loren would have to carry that chip on his shoulder plenty his freshman year. He had heard the doubts about his knee, about his abilities coming out of the Class B, about whether he was going to make it off the practice squad as a running back. After watching Lex Hilliard have an outstanding freshman year, Utterback approached Hauck and offered to help the team win from another position. Then, shortly after his move to linebacker, he got a phone call in mid-January of his freshman year. It was former All-American defensive end Ciche Pitcher, who had designated his number 37, the prestigious defensive hallmark given to a native Montanan, to Utterback.
“I was so surprised. It was great to know that I had gotten to that point, but also with the tradition of the jersey it pushed me that much harder to represent it well,” Loren said in a down-to-earth manner.
It’s his opponents whom he has put down to earth, however, earning him not only a 2006 All-Big Sky selection, but also respect from his coaching staff.
“Everything Loren has gotten he has earned. He earned his scholarship. He’s earned respect for small schools. He’s earned the 37 jersey and he’s earned his way as a starter and leader of this team,” said linebackers coach Ty Gregorak, who paused, then added, “And Brandon is on his way. He’s younger, and plays a lot like his brother – with a lot of intensity and a lot of heart.”
There have never been any shortcuts for Brandon. There was never a detour he could take to escape the hits in the backyard as the baby brother, or escape any legacy shadow his older brother might have cast over him in high school.
No shortcuts, no problem. Brandon ran right through it. The guy became a man-child at Fort Benton, rushing for 1,915 yards as a senior, becoming the state’s then all-time leading rusher. After 7,000 career all-purpose yards, little brother wasn’t so little anymore.
“Loren has always pushed me, ever since we were little,” Brandon said. “I have fed off the example he has set, it always reminds me to work harder.”
When it came down to signing day, a fork was pitched in the road. The suitors came calling, but in the end he was a Griz, right alongside his brother.
“I really wanted to make my college decision my decision,” Brandon said. “I looked into what I wanted academically and athletically, and UM was a good fit. Loren has had a huge impact on me, and he was a big part in why I chose to play at UM.”
Coming out of high school as one of the best prep players in state history has no guarantees, though. And to Brandon, that’s exactly what he wants.
“I have to pay my dues,” he said. “That’s the one reason why this program is so great: guys have to come in here and earn their spot, and I’m ready to do that. I just want to help our team win and get to our ultimate goal, which is a national championship.”
After completing his redshirt season, Brandon has become a fixture on special teams, all the while staying true to playing running back, fighting his way up the depth chart in the coming years. That lets him bang heads in practice with a familiar face.
“They really look after each other as brothers, but they’re also both extremely competitive against each other,” Gregorak said. “Brandon brings it against Loren. We were in spring drills, and there were one-on-one battles going on. They wanted to go at each other. Their intensity shows how much they want to win.”
On game day, Loren Utterback doesn’t get superstitious. He’s too old-school for that. He’ll tighten his socks, put on his prestigious jersey and head down the tunnel, running out with his brother behind, just like they did with the childhood Joe Montana jerseys on. They’ll shoot a look up to their blue-collar roots in the north end zone stands, never forgetting where they came from. Then it’s time for work. As Fort Benton’s finest, this is the brothers’ new backyard of hope.
Hope that all roads lead to Chattanooga.

Bob Ford has a history of training great coaches

2007-09-24T10:42:00.000-06:00

By: Bill Oram
GameDay Kaimin

Up and down the East Coast, one finds an astonishing number of football coaches with roots in one unlikely program: the University at Albany.
Head coaches at Elon University, the University of Pennsylvania, Hofstra, Yale and Johns Hopkins – and the list goes on – all spent time early in their careers with the Great Danes. So did New York Jets assistant Tony Wise and former Dallas Cowboys head coach Dave Campo, now an assistant with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But while young coaches have taken elsewhere the lessons they learned at Albany, their mentor never left.
Bob Ford has been at the helm for the Great Danes since 1970, when he helped reinstate football after a 46-year hiatus.
“When I first came here I thought I was going to stay three years, use it for a professional stepping stone and move on,” Ford said.
Montana coach Bobby Hauck, whose second-ranked Grizzlies host Albany Saturday, compared Ford to local coaching legend Hal Sherbeck. Sherbeck was a four-sport star at UM before coaching at Fullerton College in California for 31 years.
“Bob Ford is similar to that,” Hauck said. “He’s won a whole bunch of games, he’s had people go on … But it’s pretty obvious (Ford) has really enjoyed being at Albany. It ßmust be a good place to live, a good place to work.”
Like many of his protégés, Ford, who turned 70 this month, had opportunities to take higher profile jobs, but he said he never wanted to leave Albany.
“I started the program from scratch,” Ford said. “As other opportunities came up to go other places that paid more money, it was sort of my baby, I guess, and I just didn’t want to walk.”
Former Montana quarterbacks’ coach and current Idaho offensive coordinator Steve Axman is one of the only Albany products to make a name for himself in the West, Ford said.
Axman coached Northern Arizona in the 1990s, before stints as an assistant at Washington and UCLA, and most recently Montana in 2006.
“Basically he’s developed a tremendous program that has really put an awful lot of people into coaching,” Axman said.
Part of the reason Ford never felt compelled to take over another program, Ford said, was that Albany offered a community where he felt at home.
After a nomadic childhood in which he lived in all six New England states and in 14 different towns in Maine alone, the now silver-haired Ford had little interest in moving around.
“Dad moved virtually every spring trying to find the job, and God bless him he never found it,” Ford said in his thicker-than-New England-clam-chowder accent. “And I found the job right out of college, coaching college football.”
A former starting quarterback at Springfield College in Massachusetts, Ford was an assistant at St. Lawrence University, Albright College and his alma mater before settling down in Albany.
Ford guided the Great Danes’ program from a club sport in 1970 to Division III, then Division II and finally Division I-AA (now the Football Championship Subdivision) in 1999. Over the years, he compiled the second-highest number of wins among active FCS coaches with a 218-160-1 record.
Axman spent only one year in the mid-1970s under Ford, but said he understands how Ford inspired so many people to become coaches.
“He had a tremendous ability to deal with young people and correct them, and help them to understand what they needed to correct as coaches,” Axman said. “But he always made them feel positive that they were going in the right direction.”
The direction in which Ford’s 2007 Great Danes are headed is up for debate. The team is 1-2 after last week’s loss to Hofstra, yet Ford maintains that the team may be among the best he’s coached at Albany.
It’s something of which Hauck will be wary entering Saturday’s tilt at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, because he knows Albany’s biggest not-so-secret weapon will be patrolling its sideline.
“I think our team’s at a distinct disadvantage,” Hauck said, “because Bob Ford’s forgotten more football than I know.”

Coaches prepare for strong competition

2007-09-24T10:41:00.000-06:00

By: Bill Oram
GameDay Kaimin

If the coaches in today’s contest are proven correct, the game will be won by one team’s big guys doing the little things.
Bob Ford, head coach of the University at Albany since 1970, is concerned about Montana’s offensive line. After watching film this week, Griz head coach Bobby Hauck was impressed by the Great Danes’ defense.
When the teams meet today, one side will have to give.
“The offensive line is just, oh it’s huge,” Ford said. “They’re just very talented. It’s easier to say the running backs or the receivers (make the difference) ... but it’s won or lost down there in the trenches.”
Hauck sounded just as impressed by the group that will be facing off against the Grizzlies’ veteran line.
“Last year they were in the top five in the nation in scoring defense, rushing defense, I think total defense,” Hauck said. “They’re definitely talented, in particular in their front seven. They’ve got really good players.”
Montana (2-0) is Albany’s (1-2) highest-ranked opponent this season. The team lost to No. 19 Hofstra last weekend and fell 11-13 against Colgate two weeks prior in a game Ford said the Great Danes “pissed it away, just flat out pissed away.” The losses sandwiched their lone win against Fordham.
The Griz, conversely, are coming off a bye week, but in their first two games Montana outscored Southern Utah and Fort Lewis College by a combined score of 86-17.
Albany’s offensive line is another position Hauck will be watching closely. The unit’s average weight is just less than 300 pounds and is more than any other line the Montana defense has matched up against all season. However, defensive tackle Kelly Kain isn’t worried.
“I think I play against the biggest O-line and I think the most talented O-line every day in practice,” he said. “It will be nothing new. I line up against 330-pound guys every day in practice.”
The Albany offense is led by quarterback Vinny Esposito, who threw for 173 yards without any interceptions in the win against Fordham.
Hauck said he wasn’t sure what to expect from Albany because the Great Danes have used different game plans in each contest this season.
“They do a nice job of emphasizing what they think they have an advantage at, and it will be interesting to see what they decide to run against us,” Hauck said.
However, early this week, even Ford didn’t sound convinced he knew what might help his team beat the Griz.
“If you look at Montana ... you’re trying to find a weakness,” Ford said. “Something that you say, ‘OK, in this match-up we’re going to be able to do certain things.’ There doesn’t seem to be any apparent weaknesses. They have the most impressive team I think we’ve ever seen.”

Big Sky teams face off after breaking records last weekend

2007-09-24T10:40:00.001-06:00

By: Amber Kuehn
GameDay Kaimin

Three Big Sky Conference teams take on non-conference opponents. The other six play each other. Here is a look at all you need to know about the league’s match-ups taking place today outside of Griz Nation, and who I predict will come away with a win.

No. 25 Eastern Washington at Idaho State (3:05 p.m.)
The Eagles kick off their 2007 conference campaign undefeated as they head to Holt Arena in Pocatello, Idaho. to take on a familiar foe.
A win over ISU would already give Eastern Washington the same number of victories as they had in all of 2006 (three).
“We’re an improved football team from a year ago,” said EWU head coach Paul Wulff. “We’ve done a nice job, I can sleep a little better. But we’ve got a lot more to prove and we’ve got a whole season in front of us.”
EWU broke into the Sports Network FCS poll this week at No. 25 after a 41-31 victory over UC Davis last Saturday.
If it’s true what they say about history repeating itself, the past doesn’t bode well for the Eagles. Eastern has lost its league opener three times in the past five years, and two of those defeats came to Idaho State.
“We’ve always struggled in Pocatello,” Wulff said. “Most teams do.”
The Bengals are also trying to match their win total from a year ago. In 2006, ISU went 2-9 overall, and a dismal 1-7 in conference play.
Idaho State is 1-1 this season, coming off a 61-10 loss to Oregon State.
The last time these two teams took the field against each other, EWU defeated ISU 40-6.
The Eagles’ high-powered offense should continue. They had 567 yards of total offense against Montana-Western and followed up with a 478-yard performance last weekend. EWU ranks third nationally in yards of total offense.
As for their opponents offensive force, ISU receiver Eddie Thompson had 12 catches for 174 yards in the game against Oregon State. Quarterback Russel Hill also had a stellar performance with 23-of-38 passing for 295 yards.
Wulff said ISU has a veteran team on offense as well as on defense, where seven starters are seniors.
“Defensively, they’ve got some weapons to score points on you,” Wulff said. “They have some very explosive weapons offensively also, and Eddie Thompson is one of the best receivers in the league right now.”
I’m highlighting this as the game to watch, as I think it will be a close one. It could go either way, but I’ll call Eastern Washington with the win.
You can catch these two teams in action on www.bigskytv.org after the Griz game.

Montana State at Weber State (1:35 p.m.)
The Bobcats’ record of 1-1 is what most people expected at this point in the season after games against Texas A&M and Dixie State. But the Weber State record of 0-2 can be somewhat deceiving. The Wildcats losses have come from Boise State and perennial powerhouse Cal Poly.
Although they haven’t won a game yet in 2007, the Wildcats have a strong quarterback in Jimmy Barnes and a solid offensive line anchored by All-America candidate David Hale.
MSU cornerback Kory Austin was Big Sky Player of the Week for his touchdown-scoring punt return against Dixie State, the sixth-longest in school history. He also had the longest blocked field goal return ever at MSU.
Weber State should look out for running back Demetrius Crawford, who played a stellar game his first time wearing the blue and gold. He rushed for 128 yards against Dixie State.
The Bobcats have won six straight games against the Wildcats. I expect MSU to finish on top again. You can catch it on TV on Altitude.

Northern Colorado at Northern Arizona (3:05 p.m.)
The Bears head to Flagstaff hoping to snap their current 11 game losing streak. They have yet to win a conference match since joining the Big Sky in 2006. Northern Colorado is 2-5 all-time against NAU.
The Lumberjacks have dropped their last two against Arizona and Appalachian State.
The Bears have yet to prove they can contend in the Big Sky. For that reason, I’m taking the Lumberjacks, whose only losses have come at the hands of extremely tough opponents.
This game is also being televised on www.bigskytv.org.

Portland State at San Diego State (3:35 p.m.)
This is the first-ever meeting for these two teams on the football field.
San Diego State has yet to win a game this season.
Vikings quarterback Brian White and linebacker Jordan Senn both received Big Sky Player of the Week honors for last Saturday’s performances. White completed 26 of 37 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns, including his own 2-yard rushing score.
The Aztecs were 3-9 in 2006, and despite their winless record are averaging 361 yards per game on offense. They have allowed 566.5 yards on defense. The shaky defensive core allowed Washington State quarterbacks to pass for 469 yards and five touchdowns in the opening game.
I’m tempted to go with Jerry Glanville and the Vikings for the upset. After all, PSU pulled off a 17-6 upset over a Mountain West opponent (New Mexico) last season.

Sacramento State at New Mexico (6:05 p.m.)
The Lobos are 2-1, and Sac State is still searching for a win. This is the second FBS team the Hornets will play, the first season they’ve ever played more than one.
Sac State leads the FCS in sacks, averaging six per game.
Those same sack leaders will have to find an answer for Lobos QB Donovan Porterie. He threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona as New Mexico beat a Pac-10 team for the second time in school history. Running back Rodney Ferguson may also give the Hornets some trouble, as he is averaging 114.7 rushing yards per game.
New Mexico is too good of a team to ignore. Sorry, Sac State, I don’t see your first victory of the season coming this weekend.

Where Are They Now: Adam Boomer

2007-09-24T10:36:00.000-06:00

By: Bill Oram
GameDay Kaimin

The only time a “boom” is heard in Washington-Grizzly Stadium these days is when the cannon is fired in celebration of a Montana score. But it wasn’t that far back when a “boom” meant much more to Grizzly football fans.
From 1997 to 2000, a high energy linebacker consistently brought the cacophonous crowd to its feet with every tackle, each one prompting from 19,000 pairs of Griz-loving lungs a low, appreciative chant of his oh-so-appropriate surname: Boomer.
“It was more like a ‘boo,’ then with a (soft) ‘er’, Adam Boomer recalls. “Everyone was like ‘Why are they booing that kid?’”
But any neophyte who thought the Montana faithful were jeering No. 42 would have been helplessly mistaken. His hard hits, which surely reverberated through the bones of countless offensive offenders, also sent jolts through the raucous crowds.
“They’d start chanting ‘Boomer! Boomer! Boomer!’ Then if he made a play, they really got into it,” said Grizzly assistant coach Tom Hauck, who joined the program in 2000 and is the uncle of head coach Bobby Hauck. “It wasn’t that he was playing to the crowd or anything, but they really got into him.”
A four-year starter, Boomer racked up 268 tackles – including 32 for loss – in his career at Montana. He was named first team All-Big Sky Conference his final two seasons.
“He was one of those guys, played with a high motor, he practiced with a high motor,” said Grizzly defensive coordinator Kraig Paulson, one of the few current Griz coaches who was around during Boomer’s playing days. “He’d give you everything he could.”
After leaving the University of Montana, Boomer did a two-year spell in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but in 2002, a torn ACL in his left knee – the same injury from his right leg that sidelined Boomer his freshman year – abruptly halted that pursuit.
“I sat down (on the field) and told the trainer I had a torn ACL and they helped me off,” he said.
That’s how his football career ended.
In the ensuing handful of years he moved back to Missoula, spent some time visiting churches across the country as a motivational speaker and then happened into a sales career.
Boomer isn’t particularly inclined to gush about what he does these days. True to the humble reputation he owned as a Grizzly star, he brushes off an inquiry of what he’s up to.
“Well I’m watching a little Yankees baseball right now,” he said.
And why not? Boomer and his wife – they’ve been married four years – are now proud residents of Manhattan, N.Y. He sells screws and rods used in spinal surgeries. He works with nurses and neurologists and trains residents to properly use the equipment. His wife is in her third year of medical school at New York Medical College. Last month, Boomer started pursuing his MBA at Pace University in New York.
It’s a long way from Boomer’s hometown of American Falls, Idaho, population 4,000. The East Coast was not a place he ever saw himself, especially after he first visited shortly after his CFL career was cut short.
“When I first came out here and visited, the smell of urine and garbage wasn’t very enticing for Manhattan,” Boomer said, “but you get used to it and you pay extra for it now.”
While the big city certainly has its detractions, according to Boomer, he’s grown to appreciate some of the most essential amenities.
“The food’s just the most amazing food you’ve ever had in your life and it’s right around the corner. And it’s all open until midnight. There’s a place down the street that doesn’t even open until 5 o’clock,” he marvels.
But don’t think for a second that Boomer has stopped caring about Montana, the Grizzlies, or football.
“I still read the Missoulian to see what the weather’s like,” he said. He said a week doesn’t go by in which he doesn’t talk to a former coach or teammate.
Paulson said he expects Boomer to be successful in business; it was his way as a Grizzly, too. He went all out.
“The beauty of it is when you got to know him off the field he was very likeable,” Paulson said.
Boomer hasn’t attended a Griz game in years, but hopes that changes this season.
“Hopefully we can get out to Tennessee this fall,” he said.
The Football Championship Subdivision national championship game is held annually in Chattanooga, Tenn. Boomer was there twice as a player: as a redshirt freshman in 1996 and as a senior in 2000. The Griz lost both title games.
Boomer’s father-in-law recently asked him what he missed most about playing football.
“I was like, the violence,” Boomer said.
That shouldn’t suggest he yearned for bloodlust, Paulson said, rather that he desired to be in on every play, that he loved the action.
He took a great deal of pride in every hit, every opportunity to make a sound that was, for a while, a Griz Nation favorite.
Boom.

‘You get the glory when you get it’

2007-09-08T01:03:00.001-06:00

Senior offensive tackle Cody Balogh blocks Southern Utahdefensive tackle Aaron
Fernandez from getting to Jeff Larson last Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Tim Kupsick/GameDay Kaimin

By: Jake Grilley
GameDay Kaimin

Playing offensive line can be humbling.
Each game day, fans pack Washington-Grizzly Stadium to cheer on their beloved Montana Grizzlies. Whenever the Griz make a big play, the decibel level inside the stadium increases exponentially as 23,000-plus fans collectively cheer. The definition of a big play is a rather broad one to most fans. A long run will get fans on their feet. An acrobatic reception will surely get people to put their hands together.
How about a well-executed base block?
Colin Dow, Cody Balogh, Eric Michel, Terran Hillesland and Brent Russum, the starting offensive line for the Montana Grizzlies, don't expect much of a reaction - and they are OK with that.
"No one notices us," senior left tackle Balogh said. "That's why we are the offensive line."
Junior center Dow echoed the sentiment.
"Sometimes it can be a pain in the ass," he said. "You want to be recognized, but you are conditioned to appreciate the recognition you get from other players and coaches."
The five starters on the offensive line agree that you don't play offensive line for the praises.
"We do it for the team," Balogh said. "You do it for the guy next to you."
The group, as Balogh put it, "is a team within a team."
The offensive line started an annual summer camping trip to bring the offensive linemen closer together off the field. They also have a weekly dinner and an occasional poker night.
"If you don't like the guy next to you, you won't work as hard," Dow said. "We love being around each other and love playing for each other."
The offensive line epitomizes its "team-within-a-team" mentality. It has its own separate meeting area and its own section of the locker room.
"We are a unit," said junior right tackle Russum. "As our coaches tell us, everything starts with the front five."
The offensive line finds that when things go right it doesn't see much of the credit, but when things go south it often has to shoulder much of the blame.
"We try not to worry about how other people think about our play," said senior left guard Michel. "It is lose-lose at times."
•••
According to stats from last season, fans have a reason to direct criticism toward the offensive line.
In 2006, the Grizzlies were last in the Big Sky Conference for giving up sacks. The team surrendered 49 sacks for 290 yards.
"We want to move to first in the conference," said sophomore right guard Hillesland. "It is something we worked on during spring and fall camps."
Russum agrees with Hillesland and noted sacks are a fair way to judge the offensive line.
But Russum and the rest of the offensive line believe other factors such as rushing yards, passing yards, effectively running the football and protecting the passer also help to define an efficient offensive line.
Grading Montana's offensive line by those statistics draws a vastly different conclusion. Montana was first in rushing offense in the conference in 2006 and second in passing offense.
"We measure our success in wins," Michel said. "Also how we come together with things on the line."
The offensive line knows even with success in passing and rushing and putting up wins it will receive heat if it doesn't give up fewer sacks.
"That's the great thing about being 6-5 and over 250 pounds," Dow said. "We have the broad shoulders to take the criticism."
Other than giving up fewer sacks, the offensive line has set goals it wants to achieve this season.
Each player said getting senior running back Lex Hilliard the university record in rushing yards is his number one priority.
"Our goals are based on other people's achievements," Balogh said.
The linemen each had individual goals for the season such as not being called for a false start or holding and not allowing their man getting in on a sack or a solo tackle.
The players agree that their success correlates directly to their coaches.
"Our coaches prepare us for the defensive schemes," Balogh said. "We pretty much know what the other team is going to do on game day."
When offensive line coach Pete Kaligis was asked about his offensive line he answered definitively.
"Don't talk to me about the offensive line," Kaligis said. "Talk to the guys, they are the ones doing the work."
•••
Russum believes the more hard work they put in, the better they will be come Saturday.
"It is all about preparation, putting in the time and knowing the defensive tendencies," he said. "When you are prepared it is just like starting a car, you just put the key in."
The players agree it takes a certain type of personality to play on the offensive line.
"You have to be tough, hard-nosed and bring it on every down," Michel said. "You can't take a play off. You are in there on every play."
Balogh said it comes with the territory.
"It takes a special breed to get hit on every play," he said.
Another unique aspect that the offensive line faces that other positions don't is that all five guys must play as one.
"The coolest part is that five guys have to be in sync and know what the other guys are going to do," Dow said.
Balogh said it takes a total team effort.
"You give it all you have," Balogh said. "It takes all five guys doing the right thing all at once for it to work."
The close-knit offensive line likes to keep its sense of humor.
"On the field we know each other's quirks," Michel said. "It keeps us loose, if we can crack a joke."
Hillesland echoed this.
"We are the jokesters of the team," he said. "Other guys will be serious, listening to music - we try to be laid back. We like to have fun."
The offensive line enjoys doing things that the average fan might not expect.
On their nights out it wouldn't be out of the ordinary seeing the members of the offensive line dancing or singing karaoke together.
•••
Even though fans don't often compliment the offensive line in terms of its singing and dancing abilities, the players do appreciate when fans notice their hard work.
"The support the offensive line does get can go unnoticed at times," Dow said.
He wanted to recognize those fans that have supported the offensive line and he and the rest of the players appreciate all their support.
Still, the offensive line tends to shy away from the limelight and instead gravitates toward one another.
"It is a humble position," Russum said. "You get the glory when you get it."
Balogh especially likes the family atmosphere of the line.
"We are all brothers, we are the first to get in each others face and we are the first to congratulate," Balogh said. "We are close, we are the kind of guys that can call each other at 3 a.m."

Five Big Sky teams soldier on, four rest

2007-09-08T01:02:00.002-06:00

By: Amber Kuehn
GameDay Kaimin

Only five of the nine Big Sky Conference teams will take the field today.
Eastern Washington, Montana State, Sacramento State and Weber State all take the weekend off for a welcomed bye week. Of those teams, EWU was the only one to post a win last weekend.
Northern Arizona is the only Big Sky team to hit the road this weekend.
Here's a look at the other games going on today around the conference.

Idaho State hosts Southern Oregon (3:05 p.m.)
The Bengals are the only team that didn't play a game last weekend. They kick off their 2007 season today with a new head coach, John Zamberlin. Zamberlin spent the previous 10 years on the sideline at Central Washington University. In his time there, Zamberlin never lost a game to Southern Oregon.
ISU will take on the Red Raiders from Southern Oregon inside the confines of Holt Arena. It is the first of six home games for the Bengals, the first time ISU has had more home games than road games since 2003.
Zamberlin isn't the only one making his debut this game. It is also the first game for redshirt freshman quarterback Russel Hill.
The Raiders have already played two games this season, losing one and winning the other - a 45-42 quadruple overtime thriller over Eastern Oregon. In 2006, Southern Oregon was 3-8. Head coach Steve Helminicek has never faced ISU. In fact, this is the first time ever the two teams will meet on the gridiron.
Idaho State has won 18 straight against lower-division opponents since 1990, and they shouldn't have any trouble winning this one.

Portland State hosts UC Davis (6:05 p.m.)
UC Davis (a member of the Great West Athletic Conference) comes to PGE Park off a disappointing loss, falling 28-21 to Division II Western Washington last weekend. But the Vikings are coming off of their own disappointing loss - or losses. Not only did they suffer a season-opening loss to McNeese State, they also lost two key players to serious injuries in that game. Fullback Bobby McClintock (ACL) and quarterback Tygue Howland (metatarsal) are now out for the season. Senior Brian White will replace Howland as starting quarterback. He threw for 150 yards on 11-of-18 passing last weekend.
Portland State has won six straight games against UC Davis, and five straight home openers. UC Davis has lost three straight road games, and is in only its third season in Division I football. The Aggies have had 37 consecutive winning seasons, including a 6-5 record last year.
The Vikings have never scored fewer than 32 points against UC Davis in PGE Park.
Portland State and new head coach Jerry Glanville are looking to bounce back after last weekend's defeat, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to do so victoriously.

Northern Arizona at Arizona (7:05 p.m.)
Last weekend's game against Western New Mexico proved easy for the Lumberjacks. That's a good thing, considering this game against PAC-10 Arizona will be one of the most difficult match-ups this season. But perhaps an even tougher game looms in the distance. In just a week, NAU will face top-seeded Appalachian State, whose upset over Michigan is still resounding in the sporting world. But first, Northern Arizona has to set its sights on the team in Tucson - the Wildcats.
Arizona is coming off an opening-weekend 20-7 loss to Brigham Young University, where the Wildcats only managed to run 64 plays. They likely have a better chance at winning this week, but don't count out NAU just yet. The Lumberjacks could be the next Mountaineers, and perhaps Arizona is their Michigan. Upset? Probably not. But no one expected last weekend's knock-off either.

Northern Colorado hosts Chadron State (1:05 p.m.)
After getting stomped on by Division I Hawaii, the Bears now face a lower-division opponent: Chadron State. But don't let the Division II label fool you. Many of the same players return from last year's Chadron State team that upset Montana State.
The Eagles are coming off a 55-14 triumph over Wayne State, in which the offense scored on seven of 10 possessions. It marks the most points Chadron State has scored in a game since 2002.
The Bears and Eagles haven't faced each other in 44 years. To be honest with you, I don't know who to take in this game - it really could go either way.

Skyhawks respect Grizzlies’ strength

2007-09-08T01:02:00.001-06:00

By: Bill Oram
GameDay Kaimin

The University of Montana and Fort Lewis College football teams have little in common.
The Grizzlies annually dominate the Big Sky Conference of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. The Skyhawks are competitive in the Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
The Griz fly to most of their away games. The Skyhawks bus from Durango, Colo., to all of theirs.
The Skyhawks' media guide lists Ed Rifilato as both the team's head coach and equipment manager.
But on Saturday, the two teams will share the field at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Griz head coach Bobby Hauck acknowledges his team appears to have a decided edge in the match-up.
"It's a game that on paper looks like one we should win, but we are constantly going to remind ourselves that last weekend Michigan looked like they should have won their game on paper," he said.
Last weekend saw one of college football's most shocking upsets when Appalachian State, the top-ranked team in the FCS, edged Football Bowl Subdivision No. 5 Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The possibility of an upset in the Grizzlies' game against Fort Lewis wouldn't be entirely without precedent. Last season, Chadron State, another RMAC team, knocked off Montana State in Bozeman.
However, even Rifilato acknowledges that's not likely to happen in Missoula.
"Of course we want to play well and get better, but I'm not sure you can do that against Montana," he said.
The experienced Grizzlies last weekend dismantled a competitive Southern Utah team in Missoula. This will be the opener for the Skyhawks.
"They're a little bit of an unknown coming in," Hauck said. "They were a good team last year, won a lot of games, played well. I anticipate they'll come in excited to play."
As of Wednesday, Rifilato was yet to determine a starting quarterback for the game. Last season Matt Gutierrez threw for 186 yards per game while guiding the Skyhawks to a 7-4 finish, enough for second in the RMAC. This season the job is still wide open, according to Rifilato, who said Tom Stoffel and David Nieman, both juniors, are competing for time.
"We're going to use them both," Rifilato said, but added that he isn't "much for switching quarterbacks in and out."
Montana had its own quarterback controversy over the summer before Hauck tabbed junior Cole Bergquist the starter over freshmen Jeff Larson and Andrew Selle and sophomore Clint Stapp.
The Skyhawks return only 19 letterwinners from last year's team. The most exciting playmaker from that group is senior wide receiver Brandon Cummings, who had 39 catches and six touchdowns in 2006.
"They're not a veteran team as they were a year ago," Hauck said, "but Ed's been there for a while now. I'm sure his recruiting has taken over and they have a good looking group."
Rifilato acknowledges the Griz, with home-field advantage and history on their side, will be an intimidating force.
"I don't know if you can stop that," Rifilato said. "Montana has earned that right for you to respect them like that. It's not like you're going against someone that's not good."
On Hauck's end, he maintains that his team's focus can't be on the opponent.
"The important thing for us to remember is it's not who is coming out the visitors tunnel ... it's who is coming out of the home team's tunnel," he said. "And the Montana Grizzlies have to show up to play. It's irrelevant who the opponent is."

New faces heading Big Sky programs

2007-09-08T01:01:00.000-06:00

By: Roman Stubbs
Montana Kaimin

The Big Sky conference opened a new chapter in its storied football history this year, when four new head coaches took over at programs aiming to change conference hierarchy.
"It's exciting to be part of a transitional year in the Big Sky," said John Zamberlin, who replaced Larry Lewis at Idaho State.
Former NFL head coach Jerry Glanville took over at Portland State, while Marshall Sperbeck and Rob Ash made their debuts in the Big Sky for Sacramento State and Montana State.
Following the dismissal of head coach Mike Kramer in mid-May, Montana State introduced Ash on June 11, only 80 days before the Bobcats' season opener. Ash took over a program that went to the Division I-AA quarterfinals a year ago.
Ash led Drake to the quarterfinals in 2006. In 18 seasons there, he amassed a 125-63-2 record, earning Pioneer Football League Coach of the Year honors three times.
Zamberlin arrived at Idaho State with an impressive resume. His 10-year career at Central Washington yielded a record of 63-41, with 38 of those wins coming in the past five seasons. Zamberlin turned heads in 2002, when his program finished with a No. 5 nationwide ranking after going on the road to upset eventual Big Sky co-champion Montana State, as well as a convincing 38-14 win over UC Davis. In solidifying Central Washington into a consistent Division II program, he netted four Great Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year awards. Zamberlin, who played middle linebacker for six seasons in the NFL, also has had defensive coaching stints at Massachusetts, Richmond and Eastern Washington. He inherited an Idaho State program that has won just 10 games in three seasons.
"We're headed in the right direction in getting the program back in the Big Sky hunt," he said.
Also roaming the sidelines for the first time in Pocatello is former Montana State defensive coordinator Rob Christoff, who will assume linebacker-coaching duties for the departed Aaron Hineline.
Zamberlin made one of his first significant personnel decisions when he announced redshirt freshman Russell Hill would start the opener against Southern Oregon. Hill is the first Bengal freshman to start at the helm since 1997.
The Bengals return 15 starters from 2006, along with 40 letterwinners. Among the returnees is preseason All-American center George Yarno. While winning hasn't been a constant on campus in recent history, Zamberlin said he feels that hard work and leadership can make Idaho State a winner in the Big Sky.
"We feel good about our returnees," he said. "The key is for us to be committed to each other, and continue to improve on every rep. We're looking to win every game we play, regardless of who it's against, and if we have that attitude we can be a very competitive team."
New Sacramento State head coach Marshall Sperbeck is coming off of a very successful 15-year career at Foothills JC, which is a member of the Northern California Football Conference. He compiled a 109-53 record, including eight bowl wins and a JC national ranking in seven of the last eight seasons.
An offensive guru, Sperbeck has steadfastly applied his own stamp on the Sacramento State program, hiring five new coaches, recruiting and signing over 20 athletes, and also vowing to improve the strength and conditioning program. In addition, Sperbeck has implemented his own offense in his quest to turn around a program that has gone 11-33 the past four seasons.
"Our program is just trying to improve day by day. We have tremendous support from the community, and we want to make this program special for Sacramento," said Sperbeck, who also focuses his recruiting efforts in Northern California.
Sperbeck's Hornets lost to Fresno State, 24-3, last weekend.
Portland State's program has been perpetually swirling since Glanville's hiring on Feb. 28. While Glanville brings instant star credibility to the City of Roses, the former NFL head coach also has extensive coaching experience. He served as Hawaii's defensive coordinator the past two seasons, and prior to that was head coach of the Houston Oilers from 1986-89 and the Atlanta Falcons from 1990-93. In crafting his own staff, Glanville also convinced former Hawaii offensive coordinator Mouse Davis to accompany him to Portland Sate, which is Davis' alma mater. Glanville and Davis have sculpted a run-and-gun scheme for their offense, a similar system in which they utilized Heisman Trophy candidate Colt Brennan at Hawaii a year ago.
Glanville has publicly said that he plans to have the "hardest hitting team on the West Coast," and has vowed to turn the Vikings into city favorites. Portland State fell to McNeese State, 35-12, last weekend.

Where are they now: Craig Ochs

2007-09-08T00:58:00.000-06:00

Former UM quarterback Craig Ochs returns to the sidelines
in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Only this time he is a coach, not a player.
Tim Kupsick/GameDay Kaimin

By: Bill Oram
GameDay Kaimin

Typically, the idea behind a "where are they now" story is to find someone who has gone off into the world, far from Missoula, and been relegated to Grizzly lore.
Not in the case of Craig Ochs.
Where is he now? You probably already know. But if not, lower your GameDay Kaimin (be sure to put it somewhere close, where you'll remember to pick it up again), peer down the Griz sideline and find the cluster of Griz quarterbacks (Nos. 14, 12, 16 and 7 for reference). See that young guy, probably in the white visor, who looks like he's telling them what to do? That's Ochs.
Fans of University of Montana football don't have a hard time remembering Ochs, a Griz assistant coach, and it may even be easier for supporters of opposing Big Sky Conference teams. He was the vaunted Colorado Buffalo transfer who came to Montana on a white horse, knight-in-shining-armor kind of stuff. High expectations? You bet.
Then he performed.
In 2004, Ochs' senior season, the former Buffs starter guided the Griz to a 12-3 record and a berth in the national championship game. His 3,807 passing yards that season were the second most in Montana history, second only to a tally way back in 1995 by some guy named Dickinson.
After leaving Montana, Ochs bounced around, initially landing with the NFL's San Diego Chargers where he worked closely with Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees. He was among the team's final cuts leading into the 2005 season.
From there, he caught on with the Buffalo Bills, who allocated him to the Frankfurt Galaxy of the now-defunct NFL Europe.
In Frankfurt, Ochs had what he calls a "really good season," starting for the Galaxy in the second half of the season. The team, though, went on to win the World Bowl (the league championship) without Ochs, who blew out his shoulder in the final regular season game.
The ensuing NFL season for Ochs was spent on Buffalo's injured reserve, and he was eventually released last spring. A handful of NFL teams showed interest in signing him, the most intense interest coming from the New Orleans Saints. Then Montana coach Bobby Hauck called.
"He actually brought it up with me a couple of years ago during my senior year, if I'd ever be interested in coaching," Ochs said.
At the time he told Hauck he was more interested in pursuing a pro career. However, with a less-than-reliable shoulder, a wife and a newborn daughter, his priorities had changed.
"In all fairness, I think the NFL, just with my injuries at this point, was kind of a long shot," he said.
Steve Axman, the quarterbacks' coach at Montana had accepted an offensive coordinator position with the University of Idaho Vandals, creating a vacancy that was attractive to Ochs.
"I was ready to get a little more stability and start working toward a concrete future," he said.
In April, he found himself coaching players in the very situation he had been just three years earlier. Several players on Montana's roster, including senior running back Lex Hilliard, were freshmen in Ochs' final year.
"He's a smart guy, he's going to gain experience and knowledge," Hauck said. "He has ... a distinct advantage having played in this system over someone else coming in new."
For Ochs, becoming a coach wasn't necessarily where he saw himself at this stage of his life.
"If you would have asked me that (whether he would become a coach) early in my college career I would have said absolutely not," he said. "But the more I played and probably the more obvious it became my professional career was going to be tough ..."
And his highest-profile pupil thinks he made the right decision.
"I couldn't think of a guy that would understand the position that I am in more than Coach Ochs," said junior Cole Bergquist, Montana's starting quarterback. "He understands the pressure that goes along with playing quarterback for the Grizzlies."
Pressure is one thing Ochs encountered regularly during his stints in the pros. In Germany, fans are allowed to use whistles to throw off opposing players. While in NFL camps, being cut was only a bad practice away.
Ochs hopes to be able to relate what he learned after he left Montana to the team's current crop of quarterbacks.
"Watching guys like Drew Brees in practice, they bring every day a competitive fire to practice, to the weight room, whatever it is," he said. "If I can convey that to these guys, maybe it will make them better. Because the great ones at that level, there's not a day off for them, even at practice."
Montana's quarterbacks have plenty of potential, Ochs said, and are soaking up what they learn from him.
"All four guys are very coachable, they want to be real good," he said.
Bergquist said that while he hasn't thought much about coaching someday himself, he admires how seamlessly Ochs made the transition. He thinks working under center is the perfect training ground for coaches-to-be.
"Just spending so many hours in the film room, it just really helps you pick up the whole game of football," he said. "After you've played quarterback it wouldn't be too hard to go into coaching from that. You'd have to get under some other good guys and learn from them, but you already pretty much know the game."
Knowing the game doesn't necessarily guarantee stability. Ochs found in his playing career that there's always uncertainty.
"(Transferring) certainly
wasn't what I envisioned when I went to CU," he said. "But we all have our story where life takes a turn we didn't plan on, but sometimes it's for the best. This one most certainly was."

The wait is over: Lex Hilliard returns to the football field

2007-09-04T19:59:00.000-06:00

By: Bill Oram
GameDay Kaimin

It was just a routine drill. Something he’d done probably 20,000 times. Certainly nothing as tough as any one of his rushes en route to the 2,884 career yards next to his name in the record books.
Three powerful steps and he’d be in the end zone, past linebacker Shawn Lebsock, and back on the sideline waiting for the next drill. But Lex Hilliard didn’t make a single step.
As he pushed off his left leg, the Montana Grizzlies’ offensive workhorse felt his leg buckle. His first thought was that a prankster teammate stepped on his heel. But as he looked back from the ground he saw no one.
A hot pain shot up his calf, like it had been seared by a blowtorch. He likens the initial pop to being thwacked by a Barry Bonds swing.
Lebsock, who had the closest view of the incident, called the series of events “really weird and creepy.” The linebacker, who will sit out this season with his own injury, never touched Hilliard – he just watched him collapse. Then he noticed a lump protruding from the running back’s lower calf.
Lying on the ground, Hilliard reached to where his Achilles tendon should have been, and felt only mush.
“I wish somebody had stepped on me or something,” Hilliard says, the scowl that seems permanently chiseled into his face softening, “so it could have been that instead.”
On the second day of 2006 fall practice, Lex Hilliard’s senior season was already over, the result of a ruptured Achilles.
The nasty injury is that of weekend warriors; of beer-swilling, middle-aged, pot-bellied slow-pitch softball players. Not of finely tuned physical specimens. Not of 21-year-old star athletes. Not of Lex Hilliard.
The perennial Walter Payton Award candidate never complained of tendonitis in his Achilles before the injury, and showed no other standard preemptive signs associated with a ruptured tendon.
“When it happens to someone that’s in as good as shape as he is, it’s kind of the same chance as getting hit by a lightning bolt” says Chad Kay of Northern Rockies Rehabilitation and Athletic Training Center, who worked as Hilliard’s primary physical therapist during the recovery.
Reconstructive surgery was the day after the injury and rehab was the next eight months.
“From what I know about it, there’s really no reason it should have blown,” says Kay, a Big Sky Conference running back from 1993-94. “It just did. Just unlucky.”
Though he was supposed to be a senior last year, the 6-foot, 240-pound Hilliard turned to the medical red-shirt he had available, which granted him a second chance. It also gave him a reason to work for 2007.
“Probably the first couple of weeks of rehab was probably the worst pain,” Hilliard says now. “It was probably worse than the actual injury itself because you had to get therapeutic massages into the Achilles after it had been ruptured just to start the healing process.”
Initially, Hilliard’s therapy focused on letting the reconnected Achilles heal, and then slowly the exercises progressed to calf raises, and exercises to test how much weight the Achilles could support.
“It just all goes so slow,” Hilliard says. “You’re just waiting and waiting and waiting, just until the day you can even hop or skip. I mean, every little inch you just get more excited, more excited, just until you’re able to run again.”
There was no chance he would return for any of the 2006 season. Hilliard, who had never before suffered a serious injury, knew it from the moment he felt that pop in his leg. His goals going into the season focused on a national championship and, though he won’t admit it, likely Montana’s career rushing record. After the injury, his goal was more elementary.
“I was going to be able to run out of the tunnel,” he says. And he did. It was before the team’s last game, a heartbreaking playoff defeat at the hands of the University of Massachusetts, and the crowd roared.
“It took a long time to get to that point,” Hilliard says, “but it’s worth it now.”
Everyone who was around Hilliard last year says he remained optimistic and focused, determined to come back stronger and better.
“Battling significant injury is hard mentally,” head coach Bobby Hauck says. “It’s always interesting to see how guys will respond and react. As expected, he has come back like a champion.”
In fall camp Hilliard appeared to be in top form.
He ran with the power and intelligence of someone who hadn’t missed any time at all, or maybe like someone for whom playing football is a sixth sense.
That he maintained a positive outlook throughout the ordeal is almost incomprehensible to some.
“I can’t imagine,” says junior center Colin Dow, who injured his leg in a motorcycle accident over the summer. “I was only out for half of fall camp and I couldn’t keep my head up.”
It wasn’t hard to remain upbeat, Hilliard says now. Being sidelined on crutches was motivation enough, he says, “watching games, realizing you want to be out there.”
Despite Hilliard not being in the huddle last season, teammates rallied around him.
“I think it spoke volumes about the kind of person he is, that after he was injured, his teammates still voted him a captain,” Hauck says. “So he was actively involved in the team in the locker room, he just wasn’t on the field.”
Wide receiver Rob Schulte says having Hilliard back on the team this year makes everyone’s job a little easier.
“Any time you’ve got a stud at a position like that,” he says, “whether it’s an offensive lineman or whatever, it just takes tension off the other parts of the offense.”
At practices this season Hilliard saw players on the field anxious to run off for a drink of water, or a quick breather. He’s quick to remind teammates they should stay on the field as much as they can.
“Just now you’re like, ‘Whatever.’ I’ve stood on the sideline for a year, it’s not any fun over there,” Hilliard says. “It’s nothing you want to be a part of.”
The rushing record, however, is something his teammates want to be a part of. It’s not the team’s main focus, but players acknowledge it would be nice to send Hilliard out on top.
“There’s 1,186 yards until he gets that record,” Dow says. “We (the offensive line) have a goal in mind for him to get that. Obviously some of that is on our shoulders, actually a lot of it is. I have no doubt that he’s going to make it.”
The ever-positive Hilliard maintains he isn’t concerned about the rushing record. He is just happy to be able to take things in stride again.

Grizzlies to be tested early by Thunderbirds

2007-09-04T19:55:00.000-06:00

By: Bill Oram
GameDay Kaimin

Finally, today all of the University of Montana football players will be wearing the same color jerseys.
With the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in town, anything resembling practice has come to an end. Any fine-tuning of the offense, defense or special teams will have to be done on the fly.
According to Griz head coach Bobby Hauck, the team is ready.
“We’ve had good work from the end of last season to now,” Hauck said. “We’re right where we ought to be.”
The last time the Griz ran out of the tunnel onto John Hoyt Field in front of a packed house was in anticipation of a national semi-final against the University of Massachusetts Minutemen. The Griz narrowly lost that game 19-17, and according to senior running back Reggie Bradshaw, nothing could be better than getting back on the field.
“We’re really excited,” he said. “We’ve been at it since the end of last season. We’ve been out there grinding.”
In Southern Utah the Grizzlies face a team that is recovering from a dismal 3-8 season and was winless in the five-team Great West Conference. However, the mark may be somewhat misleading, according to fourth year T-Bird’s coach Wes Meier.
“We’ve got a group back that is very competitive, that has played a lot of ranked teams,” he said.
Last season SUU burst out to a 3-1 record before going on a rest-of-the-season winless streak. However, it dropped back-to-back games to perennial national powers in Cal Poly and McNeese State by a combined eight points. Against Cal Poly, the T-Birds fumbled three times inside the five-yard line.
“They have a lot of confidence,” Meier said. “They know they can be competitive, but they also know it’s going to take a game with very few mistakes to (beat Montana).”
Hauck and UM’s schedule makers have received criticism for scheduling a slate of unimpressive non-conference opponents – Albany and Fort Lewis College are the others, – but Hauck discounted that notion immediately.
“You’d have to be an idiot not to know these guys would be hard to beat,” Hauck said of Southern Utah.
The T-Birds’ strength will likely be experience. They return six all-conference players, including play caller Wes Marshall, a player that worries Hauck.
“Their quarterback worries me, he’s a veteran,” Hauck said. “So we won’t be fooling him. He’s seen everything 100 times. He’s athletic; he can run and pass, he runs the option, he throws the ball down the field well.”
Marshall’s numbers from a year ago are solid, but not gaudy. He had a 56 percent completion rate and passed for 1,942 yards. His 14 interceptions should have the Grizzly secondary salivating.
One of many storylines for Montana is its own quarterback. Junior Cole Bergquist has finally been handed the keys to the team after patiently waiting in the wings, playing when past starters went down. He started one game last year and eight in 2005.
Once inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium, the T-Birds will find themselves in an environment unlike anything they have experienced in the Great West Conference.
“We’ve done all kinds of things to try to not let that become such a factor for us,” Meier said. The team piped ear-splitting crowd noise into its own stadium in an effort to simulate the raucousness of Montana’s 23,183 (capacity) fans.
The Grizzlies lead the all-time series 2-1, the most recent tilt being in 2002. Three T-Birds from that team are currently on Meiers’ staff, and he said they’ve talked about that game, a 68-45 shootout that the Griz won, being among their career favorites.

Big Sky teams travel for openers

2007-09-04T19:54:00.000-06:00

By: Amber Kuehn
GameDay Kaimin

Four other Big Sky Conference teams take to the gridiron today to kick off their seasons, and three of them are playing at Football Bowl Subdivision schools. The Griz are the only Big Sky team playing at home today. Here’s an outlook of the teams and what you can expect to see in each game:

Montana State at Texas A&M (6:05 p.m.)
The rival Bobcats head to College Station, Texas, to square off with the Aggies. The taste of sweet upset victory still lingers in many of their mouths, as MSU pulled off a season-opening win over I-A Colorado last year. But don’t expect to see too many surprises in this one.
After an 8-5, 6-2 BSC finish in 2006, the Cats began making headlines for more than their play on the football field. The legal troubles surrounding the team eventually led to the ousting of head coach Mike Kramer. Now, with new head coach Rob Ash taking over, the 2007 season should be one of transition for Montana State.
Jack Rolovich, who started the final seven games of last season after Cory Carpenter went down with an ankle injury, will finish where he left off. Ash named Rolovich the starting quarterback earlier this week.
Aaron Mason will likely dominate the running game again. Mason ran for 645 yards and had nine touchdowns last season.
“We’re looking really good right now,” Mason said. “I like the speed of our team.”
Quarterback Stephen McGee returns for the Big 12 Conference Aggies. McGee set a school record for passing last season, throwing for 2,295 yards and rushing for 665 yards.
If the A&M offense doesn’t give the Bobcat D enough trouble, the weather may factor in as a problem (it’s been hot and humid there all week), and playing in front of 80,000-some people isn’t something MSU is used to. But Mason said it’s still an experience just to be able to play them.
“It’s a dream,” he said. “I used to watch those games on TV when I was younger, and never could have imagined I’d get to play them. I’m sure playing in front of that many people will be like something I’ve never experienced.”
Carpenter may have received National Player of the Week honors last year when MSU upset Colorado, but if Rolovich can pull off a win over the Aggies, he’d be deserving of a National Player of the Decade award. But Mason says not to count the Cats out just yet.
“Any given Saturday,” he said. “It all depends on which team shows up.”

Northern Colorado at Hawaii (6:05 p.m.)
The Bears are entering just their second year in the Big Sky, and coming off a season where they only won a single game. Dominic Breazeale returns to take the snaps, and Andy Birkel, a Nebraska transfer, will make his Big Sky Conference debut after sitting out last season with an injury. Other than that, the Bears are lacking talent and plagued by new injuries.
The defense, on the other hand, should be strong. Northern Colorado returns six starters, and Aaron Henderson has been touted one of the top corners in the league.
The coaches and media chose the Bears to finish last, and they have to begin their season at Aloha Stadium. Hello big blowout. Last year may have been a transition season for the Bears, but they need to prove they can play with the boys in the Big Sky before I bet on them to beat a team in the Western Athletic Conference.
Hawaii is coming off one of the school’s most successful football seasons ever and returns plenty of talent. Heisman Trophy candidate Colt Brennan is a quarterback who easily could have forgone his senior season to play in the NFL. Hawaii finished last season second behind Boise State, and tied a school record for most victories in a season with 11 wins.

Sacramento State at Fresno State (7:05 p.m.)
What’s with all of the Big Sky teams playing WAC opponents? The Hornets haven’t beaten the Griz in 13 attempts, so I’m not counting on them to defeat the Bulldogs of Fresno State. Sac State struggled some last year, going 4-7,4-4 in the conference. The Hornets have a new coach in Marshall Sperbeck, and were picked to finish seventh by coaches and media.
Fresno State coach Pat Hill has a banged-up team, having lost key starters to injuries suffered in past scrimmages. Injuries and inexperience are coupled with off-the-field concerns. Linebacker Quaadir Brown was suspended for the season opener after being charged with vandalism and trespassing, and defensive end Chris Lewis was suspended for the semester, facing a possible probation violation after being arrested on suspicion of theft.
Last season, the Bulldogs posted a 4-8 record, their worst since 1978.

Portland State at McNeese State (7:05 p.m.)
I am choosing this as the game to watch today, as it likely could be a close one and features two key Football Championship Subdivision teams.
New coach Jerry Glanville is forced to replace eight starters on last year’s Portland State defense, which led the Big Sky in seven categories, including turnover margin and sacks per game. The Vikings were chosen to finish second behind the Griz.
McNeese State returns Southland Conference Player of the Year Steven Whitehead at running back, and SLC Freshman of the Year Derrick Forroux is back at quarterback. Whitehead enters the 2007 season with 3,154 all-purpose yards, but the Griz were able to stop him in the playoffs last season in a 31-6 thumping. Perhaps Portland State can find a solution for this team with a ton of talent.

Griz runner believed in himself when others didn't

2007-09-04T19:51:00.000-06:00

By: Katie Michel
GameDay Kaimin

For cross country runner Duncan Hendrick, running is like breathing. It may not come easy to him, but he couldn’t live his life without it.
When he was a baby, at just 18 months old, asthma constricted his airway forcing him to undergo nebulizer treatments anywhere from three to eight times a day. A mist of medication would enter his lungs as he struggled for a breath of fresh air that was so essential to his existence.
Now a senior ready to complete his last seasons of cross country and track and field, running has been the best medicine of all by reducing the severity of his asthma, allowing him to breathe easier.
“Without running I wouldn’t be the same person I am today,” Hendrick said. “It’s shaped my character.”
Hendrick, who comes from a family of runners, has been running competitively since seventh grade. A mere 70 pounds at the age of 13, Hendrick was not a standout athlete, partially because of the asthma that constricted him.
“It hindered a lot of his endurance activity,” said Daniel Hendrick, Duncan’s father.
“Then he found if he could just run through it, he could do it. It came from a belief in himself. He just went out and worked at it so he could be good at it.”
Hendrick stuck with it, and hoped to someday run for a Division I school, despite a lack of faith by his coaches and teammates. He thought differently.
“I started training harder because I wanted that,” Hendrick said. “You have to be self-motivated. I could tell in high school people (doubted) I would get into a D-I school. I had times where I questioned whether I could get better but you have to push through those.”
Last season at the Montana Open, Hendrick placed first with a 6K career best of 19:02, an accomplishment that he had fallen short of in past races. Hendrick often struggles not because of asthma or sore muscles, but because of his mind.
“Sometimes I mentally crash during good races. For most people it’s the mental aspect that holds them back,” Hendrick said.
In the last cross country season of his college career, Hendrick said his biggest goal is to stay strong mentally, even when he isn’t physically.
“You’ve got to look at the positive things,” he said. “Accept the pain because it’s supposed to be hard. Every race I come in with a positive attitude.”
As the lone senior on the team, Hendrick wants to set the pace and show his improvement by having his best season to date.
“He’s gotten stronger and he’s become more of a leader,” said head coach Tom Raunig. “Sometimes he’s run down in the season because he is such a hard worker.”
Peaking too soon has plagued Hendrick’s past seasons and prevented him from saving his best for last, something that Hendrick is looking to change.
“I’m focusing on training smart and training hard. This season should be different” Hendrick said. “I’d like to leave my last season without having any doubts about it.”
Hendrick’s days revolve around training with all other activities fitting in between. When he isn’t racking up more than eight miles a day through workouts, circuit training, jogs and form drills, he is studying to finish his degree in biology with the hopes of going to medical or graduate school.
“I just try to fit in stuff whenever I can,” he said.
No regrets and a successful season are all Hendrick wants, something his father Daniel knew might not have been possible without his son’s determination to overcome his asthma.
“The reality is he didn’t put any limits on himself,” Daniel Hendrick said. “For me, I’m just happy he’s competing.”
In the next step forward in his life, Hendrick said that although his college running career will quickly come to an end, his love and appreciation for the sport that gave him relief from his asthma will never stop.
“I can’t see myself without running.”

Where are they now: Tuff Harris

2007-09-04T19:43:00.000-06:00

By: Jake Grilley
GameDay Kaimin

Fans across the National Football League agree that Arrowhead Stadium, home to the Kansas City Chiefs, is one of the loudest and toughest places to play a football game.
When Tuff Harris stepped on the field at Arrowhead for his second preseason game as a Miami Dolphin, even with over 70,000 Chiefs fans rooting against him, the rowdy football atmosphere in Kansas City must have felt a little like home.
“Playing for Montana prepared me well to play at this level,” Harris said. “Griz Nation is up there. NFL fans are good, but they don’t get much better than Griz fans.”
Harris said as a Griz he learned how to mentally and physically ready himself as a football player and developed a strong work ethic that has helped him succeed at such a high level.
Playing for Montana, however, didn’t prepare Harris for every aspect of the NFL.
“The biggest difference is that size and speed of the game is so much faster and quicker,” Harris said. “Everything happens a fraction of a second sooner than it did in college.”
Harris, a four-year defensive and special teams standout at Montana, joined the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent last spring, but he still isn’t quite accustomed to his new uniform. Running on to the field in the teal and orange of the Dolphins and not the maroon and silver of the Grizzlies has taken some getting used to, Harris said.
But he isn’t letting the color of his jersey stand in the way of his play. Harris has amassed nine tackles, eight of them solo and one pass deflection in three preseason season games with the Dolphins.
Harris found one series particularly rewarding for Montana football during the Dolphins’ first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
At cornerback, Harris lined up against Jacksonville wide receiver and former Grizzly Jimmy Farris.
“Not many Montana players make it (to the NFL),” Harris said. “For whatever reason they are often looked over, but Montana players have the talent to play at this level.”
Senior running back and former teammate Lex Hilliard praised Harris’ achievements.
“Any of these guys playing in the league puts Montana football on the map,” Hilliard said. “(Montana has) talent year after year. So many guys can make (the transition to the NFL).”
Harris said being an NFL player is isn’t much different than being a collegiate athlete, but every once in a while he’s reminded just how far he has come in his football career.
“I haven’t really been star struck,” Harris said. “But eating breakfast with guys like Trent Green and seeing some of these players, it makes me realize where I am.”
Even though Harris has spent his summer in South Florida, he still keeps tabs on what is happening back home.
Harris stays in contact with former coaches, players, friends and a few fans that let him know what is going on with the Grizzlies and how things are back home.
Harris has advice for those who are lucky enough to still wear maroon and silver.
“Enjoy being part of Griz Nation, those are times you will cherish,” Harris said. “Keep it up and work hard, anyone can make it.”
Harris believes he made it to where he is today by not jeopardizing his dreams.
“I made a lot of right decisions, I wasn’t perfect, but making good decisions helped me fulfill this dream of mine,” he said.
Harris’ dream still isn’t complete. Final cuts – trimming down the Miami roster to 53 players – will occur this weekend, something that Harris
doesn’t think about.
“I keep it out of mind,” Harris said. “I am not looking too far ahead. I am still living in a dorm, if I do make the roster, I will have to find an apartment in a hurry.”
As a young boy growing up in Montana, Harris one day dreamed of playing in the NFL.
“Lots of people dream about it,” Harris said. “Reality is staring me right in the face.”