The next Griz uniforms?
I know the Montana Grizzlies just got new football uniforms but with a few very small changes, these new Cal uniforms would look pretty slick.
Quick look at the Cal Poly offense
For the first time in years, the Montana Grizzlies football team will go on the road and play a formidable FCS opponent as part of their non-conference schedule. That'd be Cal Poly on September, 6th. So now the fans can stop asking "will a weak schedule come back to haunt us?" (the answer is yes) and start asking more concrete football questions like, you know, "will we win?" The Griz haven't lost a regular season game since the first game of the '06 campaign, that's 21 in a row. Cal Poly looks very worthy of ending that streak.
Saturday Sound Offs has a brief preview on the Mustangs (scroll down). Here's their take on what could be one of the FCS' best offenses:
If you're not an FCS fan, you should be a fan of Mustang QB Jonathan Dally. His legs do more damage than his arm, if you can believe that. Cal Poly was fifth last year in rushing, gaining over 270 yards a game. Dally was the leading rusher statistically. That, however, doesn't mean he can't chuck it as well. Dally was second in the FCS in passing efficiency which is the holy grail of QB stats. Cal Poly relies on FB Jon Hall more than most teams utilize that position and James Noble did a good job at RB last year with over five yards a touch. Tredale Tolver and Ramses Barden team up to make a pretty impressive combo at WR and the line did its job finishing 27th in sacks allowed. In the FCS, there's just about no offense as feared as Cal Poly's.
Dave Coulson of the The Sports Network has more on Dally in his FCS quarterback rankings:
Dally made an immediate impact last year as a JC transfer, beating out the now-departed Matt Brennan and finishing second to San Diego's Josh Johnson in NCAA passing efficiency. Dally is one of the new breed of QBs who can beat you with both his arm (2,238 yards) and legs (763 yards), and leads an offense that ranked second in total offense a year ago.
My take: they leave our young defense more torched than a Montana forest in August. In the playoffs last year, Wofford's option offense blew up a much more formidable Griz D for 333 rushing yards. Not only do the Mustangs bring a similar offensive ground game, but also a much more skilled quarterback.
A lesson in handling negative press, courtesy of Paul Wulff
The Montana Grizzlies football team has suffered more than enough negative exposure. Throughout most of it the administration, and especially Bobby Hauck, have been relatively silent. We'll get a blurb in the newspaper story on how the actions of a few should not reflect poorly on the rest of the team but not much more. Never do we see the openness and level of accountability current Washington State head coach and former Eastern Washington head coach Paul Wulff displayed after the Seattle Times published a scathing article on the Cougars' past transgressions.
AOL's Fanhouse has his response:
In response to the Sunday story, Wulff hopped on the sports radio airwaves yesterday on KJR-AM in Seattle. You can give it a listen here. Most of all it was a chance for Wulff to respond in his own voice, beyond just a couple of lines in the story about what WSU is already doing to correct the problems of the past.For example, since the APR debacle, academics have taken on a whole new level of importance. In Wulff's first semester in Pullman, the football team just turned in a 2.72 GPA for the spring, the highest in the last 30 years. The goal for this fall is to turn in the highest GPA in team history. And Wulff has already implemented a team "Unity Council", a 16-player group that will sit in judgment in dealing with players who stray off the beaten path. They will recommend punishment to the coaching staff, and the input will be part of the ultimate decision on each player.
The closest thing we have? Bobby Hauck appearing on his weekly KPAX show and ripping into the reporters who first covered the home invasion story.
An FBS move success story
There are a myriad of examples Griz fans bring up when attempting to argue for or against moving the football team to the Football Bowl Subdivision. The discussion normally revolves around the success of Boise State and the apparent failure of Idaho University. It makes sense, considering the schools' proximity to Missoula. However, here's a school we rarely hear about: Troy University.
Troy University began its first season in the FBS in 2001, only eight seasons after they moved up from Division II. They haven't simply made the transition; according to an article in the TimesDaily (membership may be required, it let me in then it didn't), they have thrived since the move.
"We felt confident when we made the move because we had a great university and good tradition in our football program," [Troy head coach Larry Blakeney] said Tuesday before speaking to the Russellville Civitan Club. "We did well when we went to Division I-AA and then the crowning jewel was moving to I-A. There is no doubt that it has paid off for our team, but especially for the university."
Troy has something special with Blakeney. He's coached at Troy since 1991, having the fourth longest tenure coaching a Division I football team. He saw the program move from Division II to the FCS and then from there to the FBS. The odds of Bobby Hauck being in Missoula in five years, let alone staying with the program when (probably if) it moves to the FBS, are probably around the same as Cole Bergquist winning the Heisman.
Their résumé since the move: three Sun Belt titles, two bowl game appearances and a home win over Missouri (then ranked 17th) in 2004. Now, they're looking for something more.
"We're proud of the progress we've made, especially going to two bowl games in four years," Blakeney said. "Now, we want to move toward getting a home-and-home series with an SEC or ACC team."How about Alabama or Auburn?
"We would love to play in Jordan-Hare or Bryant-Denny Stadium," he said, "but that's probably not going to happen in the foreseeable future. It's political more than anything, and you hear the argument that those schools have nothing to gain and everything to lose by playing us. I don't blame them, but we would sure relish that opportunity."
It's tough scheduling tough opponents when you're not on their level, especially getting them to come to your place. However, Troy hasn't given up and settled for playing lower-tier teams. In 2008, they play the two teams from last year's national championship game: LSU and Ohio State.
Ladies face off tonight in Montana-Wyoming all-star game
Tonight, womens all-star teams from Montana and Wyoming will play each other in an annual game of hoops. Wyoming has won three of the last four but Montana leads the overall series--which is in its twelfth year--by four.
The Montana team will feature five Division I players, including future Lady Griz Ali Hurley. The Billings Gazette has a profile on Hurley, along with her thoughts on coming to UM and playing in the all-star game.
University of Montana grad to head up Obama campaign
This doesn't have anything to do with Griz sports but it's worth noting: Jim Messina, a 1993 University of Montana graduate, will be serving as chief of staff on Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Let me take this time to formally endorse Obama; move over Al Gore.
After the jump is an editorial I wrote for a class a few months back, citing one of the reasons I think he should be the next president.
Continue Reading...Griz should hire Micheal Ray Richardson
The Montana Grizzlies basketball team has yet to add an assistant coach after Brian Marso resigned following a rough, yet chalupa-filled season. Well, here's a candidate: former Griz great Micheal Ray Richardson. It's something I touched on in my podcast with Jim O'Day, now let me lay out my reasons.
Credibility
Micheal Ray Richardson was drafted fourth overall in the 1978 NBA Draft. Two spots later, the Celtics drafted Larry Bird, who had led the Indiana State Sycamores to the NCAA Championship game. Yeah, a Griz going ahead of Larry Legend. Whenever there's a scuffle or disagreement between player and coach, "I played so great in college I was drafted ahead of Larry Bird" has to trump all.
Not only did Micheal Ray play hoops at the highest level of competition, but he excelled at that level. In his second season in the NBA, he became the first player to lead the league in both assists and steals. This was during an era when the NBA was as good as it's ever been and probably every will be.
This part of his past gives him instant respect from players.
Experiences
Micheal Ray was banned from the NBA for life in 1986 after three failed drug tests. Then, he got another chance. He proceeded to fail two more drug tests (for cocaine). He knows how badly stupid off-court mistakes can mess up your game, career and life. There isn't a more suitable person to preach to players on the subject.
Apart from his troubled past, Richardson also has experience as a head coach. While it was in the CBA, we know it helps. He coached the Albany Patroons and Oklahoma Cavalry.
Style
Micheal Ray Richardson is a fiery guy. He yells, he talks, he isn't afraid to speak his mind. It's gotten him in trouble at times but I'd rather have a coach or player who talks too much than one who talks too little. With the talk came a certain attitude. He had a swagger about him. He had confidence. Last year's Griz team had next to no swagger.
His style of play would also be greatly valued. He hustled on both sides of the ball, always looking to make a steal and go the other way or make the extra pass for easy points. This attitude is something the current team sorely lacks.
A minority hire
Race is a weird issue. No one should ever be hired or not hired because of the color of their skin. But let's face it, Montana is very very white. Having one African American coach on the staff may make coming to this place seem a little less daunting to some recruits.
Aside from recruiting, this seems like the perfect candidate. Tinks, please consider it. Great highlight reel after the jump.
Let's be honest, the Bobcat stadium plans look pretty good
Montana State University's football stadium is terrible. It has heinous fairground-like metal bleachers and an old looking grandstand. The worst part: it's probably one of the best in our conference and is second only to UM in conference attendance. The Big Sky Conference: where D-1 ball at high school football stadiums happens.
Anyway, they're looking to make some major improvements. I have to say... not too shabby.
Going off the video, it looks great. Their goal is to have 22,000 seats in eight years. Two major problems: the money and whether or not they can even put fans in that many seats. If I recall correctly, there were even a few empty seats for last year's Griz-Cat game. Not good.
However, this video and these plans would get me legitimately pumped to be a Cat fan. I almost want to donate money myself.
Montana Grizzlies podcast with Jim O'Day
The posts haven't been as frequent as we sink into the offseason and the Missoula weather starts to change but here's something new: the first ever Grizzoulian podcast. I hope to do one more this month then make it a more consistent feature in the fall.
My guest on the first one is University of Montana Athletic Director Jim O'Day. We start by talking about next years hoops team then move onto football scheduling, the draft, the expansion and more.
To download the half-hour long podcast, right-click on the link below and select 'download link target' or something similar.
Cameron Rundles heading to Wofford
There'd been rumors floating around about where Cameron Rundles would end up transferring to, with the initial thought being Wayne State. That doesn't appear to be the case.
It looks like Cameron Rundles is headed to Wofford, the same tiny school that upset us in football. Wofford plays in the SoCon, a Division I conference. So, I believe he will have to sit out a year.
Well, good luck as a Terrier.
