eGriz
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Joined: 27 Mar 2002
Posts: 3620
Location: Missoula, Montana
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Ochs back with first-team offense (Missoulian).
Maine might be UM's toughest foe, but not vice versa (Great Falls Tribune).
Two coaches, two styles (The Daily Inter Lake).
UM Press Release.
Sagarins
---
Cats must take NAU seriously (Tucson Citizen).
Ex-Lakers coach Jackson to appear at UM fundraiser (Missoulian).
‘Fitz' is gaining exposure (Independent Record).
***
Ochs back with first-team offense
By JON KASPER of the Missoulian
Signs of game week are everywhere in Missoula.
Students are back at the University of Montana. There are lines at the Adam
Center ticket office. Crews are busy prepping Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Oh, and the town is buzzing with rumors about the health of the Grizzlies'
starting quarterback.
Will senior Craig Ochs be under center when the third-ranked Grizzlies play
host to No. 11 Maine on Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium?
On Tuesday, it appeared likely. Ochs, who has been nursing an injured right
thumb, threw the football and took snaps with the first-team offense. Ochs
was late arriving to practice, missing out on an opportunity to speak with
the media.
"He's getting out of class and he should be ready to go today,'' said
Montana coach Bobby Hauck said before Ochs' arrival. "I saw him at the 2
o'clock meeting.''
While Ochs was warming up, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior was able to catch
the balls returning in his direction. Ochs sat out both of Montana's
scrimmages because of the thumb injury. He's been sporting tape on the thumb
during practices.
Ochs is listed first on this week's depth chart. No players were listed as
injured in the weekly press release.
Senior backup Jeff Disney said he's prepping himself to start, just as he
always does, but hasn't been told that Ochs won't be able to play.
"To be honest, I have no idea,'' Disney said. "I haven't been told anything.
As far as I know, he's playing. Of course I'm going to prepare myself to
start, because that's just the way that I am."
Disney guided the Grizzlies to a 30-20 victory over Maine in last season's
opener when Ochs was out with an injured ankle. Disney completed 17-of-30
passes for 152 yards and a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jon Talmage.
"I have some confidence,'' Disney said. "But again, it's a new season.
They've got game film just like we do. They've had a lot of time to prepare
for us."
True freshman kicker Dan Carpenter has been named the starter for Saturday's
game. Carpenter won a close battle with sophomore Paul Cahill.
"Well, we charted every kick we took in a competitive setting during camp,''
Hauck said. "He had a better percentage.''
Montana true freshman cornerback Quinton Jackson has been cleared to play.
Jackson, who joined the Grizzlies at the beginning of camp, had some issues
with the NCAA Clearinghouse which forced him to miss roughly two weeks of
practice.
Jackson is a 5-11, 180-pounder from Kent, Wash. Jackson had planned to
walk-on at the University of Washington, before Montana offered him a
scholarship just before preseason camp started.
Ochs is one of 16 players on the first Walter Payton Award watch list
released Monday by the Sports Network. The Payton is awarded to the top
offensive player in Division I-AA football.
Colgate running back Jamaal Branch, who won the award last season, is also
on the list. Northern Arizona QB Jason Murrietta and Eastern Washington QB
Erik Meyer are the other Big Sky Conference players included. Noticeably
absent is Weber State running back Nick Chournos, who led the Big Sky in
rushing last season.
Weber State defensive end Brady Fosmark and Montana State linebacker Roger
Cooper are on the first Buck Buchanan Award watch list. The Buchanan goes to
the top defensive player in I-AA. Former Idaho State defensive end Jared
Allen, who is now with the Kansas City Chiefs, won the Buchanan last season.
Maine running back Marcus Williams, who rushed for 1,284 yards last season,
is on the Payton list.
The lists will be updated throughout the season. They can be found at
www.sportsnetwork.com
The winners will be announced at an awards banquet in Chattanooga, Tenn., on
the eve of the national championship game.
The Black Bears will fly to Missoula via a charter plane Thursday with a
scheduled arrival time of 8 p.m. The Black Bears will hold a walk-through at
Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Friday.
Two Big Sky teams begin play Thursday night.
Eastern Washington travels to Southland Conference member Nicholls State,
while Portland State plays host to Western State of Colorado.
Montana, Idaho State, Northern Arizona and Weber State will all be in action
Saturday. Idaho State and Northern Arizona will both take on Division I-A
opponents Saturday. Idaho State travels to San Diego State in the first
meeting between the teams. Northern Arizona meets Arizona. The Lumberjacks
lost 34-14 to Arizona State last season.
Montana State and Sacramento State don't open until Sept. 11.
***
Maine might be UM's toughest foe, but not vice versa
George Geise, Great Falls Tribune
University of Montana coach Bobby Hauck thinks Saturday's opponent just
might be the toughest football foe the Grizzlies will play all season.
"From what I've seen on film, Maine could be the best team we'll see," Hauck
suggested Tuesday before practice. "I might change that (opinion) down the
road, but they're ranked as high as No. 2 in the country in one poll, and we
know from experience that they are a very physical football team."
Football coaches are famous for hyping their opponents, and it makes
political sense for Hauck to exude a healthy respect for the Black Bears,
who come to Missoula as the No. 11 team in The Sports Network's poll of NCAA
Division I-AA teams.
Hauck's Grizzlies are ranked No. 3 in that same poll, considered the most
accurate barometer of I-AA power among a half-dozen media conducting such
balloting.
But you can be sure that Maine coach Jack Cosgrove won't be calling UM the
toughest opponent the Black Bears face this year. Only a fool would make
that statement, and Cosgrove is no fool.
After this week's trip to Missoula, Maine is home to meet No. 27 Northern
Colorado, then the Black Bears face back-to-back games against Mississippi
State and Delaware.
Yes, that's the same Mississippi State that plays in perhaps the best
Division I-A league in the country, the Southeastern Conference.
Yes, that's the same Delaware that's the defending I-AA national champion,
and the same Blue Hens program that's the overwhelming pick of most
pollsters to repeat this fall.
"There's no question that they've got the toughest schedule in I-AA for the
first four games," said Hauck. "It's a killer."
Hauck readily admits that he would prefer a less demanding opponent to start
his second season as head coach.
"It would be nice with our inexperience in the offensive line and secondary
to start with a lesser opponent," said Hauck, who follows up Maine with I-AA
opponents Hofstra, Northern Colorado and Sam Houston State.
The Maine sports information department reports the Black Bears have the
fourth-toughest schedule among all I-AA schools this season.
"It's a good schedule of what you want -- a tough, competitive nonconference
schedule with a break before you get into the A-10 schedule," Cosgrove said
on the school's website. Delaware, like Maine, is a member of the highly
competitive Atlantic-10 Conference. The Black Bears and Blue Hens are in
diifferent divisions, but their game will count in league standings.
Maine lost 30-20 to Montana a year ago in Orono, Maine, but the Black Bears
outgained the Grizzlies 293 yards to 218.
Montana's Levander Segars returned a kickoff 91 yards for one touchdown, and
the Grizzlies got another TD on a fumble recovery.
Most of Maine's top offensive players return this season, led by quarterback
Ron Whitcomb (186-329 for 2,428 yards, 21 TDs) and 236-pound tailback Marcus
Williams (1,284 yards, 12 TDs). The Black Bears also return their top four
receivers, three starters in the offensive line, and many defensive.
Veterans backup quarterback Jeff Disney guided the Griz to their victory in
the opener a year ago, and he's taken most of the snaps in the team's two
preseason scrimmages. Starting QB Craig Ochs has been hampered by a thumb
injury, and Ochs wasn't able to throw the football without pain on Monday.
But he's still projected as the starter for Saturday's game, Hauck insisted.
"Craig's our No. 1 guy," said Hauck. "Jeff had a good camp and so did (true
freshman) Cole Bergquist. With Craig not playing, they both had some good
opportunities to play with the No. 1 and 2 offenses (in scrimmages)."
Hauck prefers not to talk about injuries, and refers to even the most
serious physical problems as "day-to-day." That's how he categorizes the
status of star defensive end Lance Spencer, a junior from Malta who
underwent knee surgery last season and still isn't 100 percent. Spencer
isn't listed on the two-deep roster released by the school Tuesday.
The status of cornerback Chris Clark is also murky. Clark, who started
several games a true freshman in 2003, has some academic problems that
apparnetly weren't resolved in summer school. Hauck lists sophomore Tuff
Harris of Colstrip as the starter at corner along with veteran Kevin
Edwards.
I guess we'll have to wait until Saturday to see who the Grizzlies have
suited up, and whether the opposition is as tough as Hauck believes.
***
Two coaches, two styles
By Andrew Hinkelman, The Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell), August 28, 2004
MISSOULA — College football coaches can be mercurial sorts, equal parts
gregarious gladhanders and secrecy savants.
Take, for example, Montana coach Bobby Hauck, whom I met for the first time
yesterday at Grizzly football media day (which will produce a season preview
later this week; a Montana State preview will run the week after).
After being introduced, Hauck chatted me up about my background, where I
work, how I like it, etc. But the second I pulled out my notebook and
recorder, I could practically feel the force field go up around Hauck.
His answers to my questions, while courteous, were short and carefully
crafted not to reveal any more information than he wanted.
The funniest example came after I asked him about quarterback Craig Ochs’
health — he sat out both of Montana’s fall scrimmages with minor injuries
and missed a good chunk of last season — and Hauck replied, in the great
coach’s tradition, “He’s fine.”
Never mind the fact that Ochs was standing about five feet away doing
another interview with a large bandage around his right wrist and thumb. If
that’s “fine,” I wince at the thought of “hurt.” (It’s just a flesh wound,
’tis but a scratch!)
After the official interview was over, and the notebook and recorder were
put away, Hauck lowered his shields and was again an easygoing guy, breezily
talking with outgoing Missoulian beat writer Jon Kasper, a couple of radio
guys and me.
He even made fun of his interview style, cutting off a question (not even
related to Griz football) from Kasper after a couple of words with “He’s
fine, no problems, he’s not injured.”
Everyone enjoyed a good chuckle, but it also underscored the tenuous
relationship between coach and press, especially at a high profile (for
I-AA) program like Montana. Coaches want reporters to like them, but they
don’t want to give away the battle plans, either.
On the other side of the dial is Bobcats coach Mike Kramer, whom I met
earlier this month in Kalispell. We talked for almost an hour on a lot of
different topics, and his answers were always candid and thorough.
And to be fair, Kramer and I met one-on-one in an office five weeks before
the start of the season, a much different scenario than during a group media
day seven days before the opener.
He even brought up the scandal involving his former assistant coach from
last year, and how he, his staff and the university were committed to
improving the conduct of the MSU athletic department, a subject I hadn’t
even planned on broaching.
When asked if I could talk to him during the season to do stories, Kramer
without hesitation gave me his cell phone number (a professional first) and
encouraged me to call “anytime.”
Compare that to Hauck, who while willing to do weekly phoners, would rather
I go through the Montana Sports Information Department to set up the
interviews (the most common way such requests are handled).
The coaches of the two Big Sky universities in the Treasure State are
studies in contrast — Hauck is a slight, diminutive presence intent on
controlling the flow of information and Kramer is a booming,
larger-than-life personality with a devil-may-care attitude.
Neither approach is better than the other, and both are eminently preferable
to the talks a lot, doesn’t say much type like Rick Neuheisel.
It’s a good dichotomy to have, and it will make for an entertaining college
football season over the next 12 weeks — more if one or both teams make the
playoffs.
———
This week’s top 10 (missing eight items after two faked a motorcycle crash
to avoid a spell check, two more flunked spell checks and the others botched
the 4x100 word relay.):
2. The Dream is over. The U.S. men’s basketball team — the basketball
players formerly known as the Dream Team — picked up a bronze medal in
Athens and had one more Olympic defeat (3) than the previous 14 incarnations
had combined (2).
And while I will admit to enjoying an Olympus-sized dose of schadenfreude, I
disagree that this was as big an embarrassment as some would have you
believe.
Yes, a true NBA all-star team should be able to have its way with the rest
of the world, but this was far from the best America could offer.
What I’m more astounded by is how so many other national teams have improved
so much in the 12 years since Barcelona.
That as much as anything is the lasting legacy of that original Dream Team —
so inspiring (or perhaps enraging) was that run to gold that a half-dozen
national teams now have the athletes and talent necessary to dethrone Team
USA.
1. A Greek success. We still have today to go, so there’s still opportunity
for fiasco, but who would have thought as recently as three weeks ago that
these Olympics would have gone as well as they have?
Sure, most venues (except for beach volleyball) have been morbidly devoid of
spectators, but aside from that it appears little, if anything, has gone
wrong in Athens from an organizational standpoint.
I’m not sure which is more amazing — that the Greeks actually pulled
everything together at the last minute or that the Greeks KNEW they would
pull everything together at the last minute.
***
UM Press Release
Game 1: 3rd-ranked Montana Opens Season vs. 11th-ranked Maine
THE GAME: The third-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies (0-0/0-0 Big Sky
Conference) host the 11th-ranked University of Maine Bears (0-0/0-0 Atlantic
10 Conference), Saturday, September 4, 2004 in UM’s Washington Grizzly
Stadium.
KICKOFF: Kickoff in Washington-Grizzly Stadium (23,180/SprinTurf) is 1:05
p.m. (MTN.).
18TH WINNING SEASON IN A ROW!: The Grizzlies begin the 2004 season with 18
straight winning seasons in a row -- dating back to 1986.
GRIZ ON TV
The Griz-Black Bear game will be televised by KPAX-TV and its MTN
affiliates. KPAX’s Tom Katz will call the play-play-by-play and John Langler
also of KPAX provides color commentary.
GRIZ IN OPENERS: Montana is 62-41-2 in season openers since 1897 and has won
14 of its last 16. The last opening-season loss was 10-9 to Hofstra in 2000
at home.
GRIZ SECOND IN ATTENDANCE LAST SEASON: Montana was second in Division IAA in
total attendance last year, averaging 22,469 for eight games in expanded
Washington Grizzly Stadium. Yale led I-AA averaging 23,578 in five games.
CONSTANT LEAGUE CONTENDERS: Montana has now won out-right or shared the Big
Sky Conference championship the last six years in a row and nine the past 11
seasons.
I-AA TITLE GAME REGULARS: Montana has played in the Division I-AA
championship game four times the past nine seasons. The Griz won their
second national crown in 2001 with a 13-6 win over Furman University. UM’s
first title came in 1995, a 22-20 victory at Marshall. Montana also played
for the championship at Marshall in 1996 (a 49-20 loss) and in 2000 against
Georgia Southern (a 27-25 setback) in Chattanooga.
11TH I-AA PLAYOFF BERTH IN A ROW: In 2003, Montana advanced to the I-AA
playoffs 11 seasons in a row, breaking the record it had shared with Eastern
Kentucky, (10 straight from 1986-95) for the most consecutive playoff
appearances.
GREEN 4th ON SINGLE-SEASON LIST: Senior halfback and Walter Payton Award
Candidate Justin Green rushed for 1,145 yards last season, which ranks him
fourth on Montana’s single-season list. He played in all 13 games last
season and started in the last nine.
SINGLE-SEASON RUSHING LEADERS
1. Yohance Humphery......................1,658 yards.........2001
4. Justin Green..............................1,146 yards.........2003
SEGARS BREAKS ONE BIG SKY PUNT RETURN RECORD/TIES ANOTHER: Senior returner
Levander Segars has 113 career punt returns for a league-record 1,245 yards.
He broke the mark of 1,141 yards set by Boise State’s Rick Woods from
1978-81. He is tied with Woods for the most returns with 113.
2004 SCHEDULE/RESULTS (0-0/0-0)
Date-Opponent Time (Mtn.)
9/4-Maine (KPAX-TV) 1:05 p.m.
9/11-Hofstra (KECI-TV) 1:07 p.m.
9/18-@Sam Houston St. (KECI-TV) 6:00 p.m.
9/25-Northern Colorado (KECI-TV) 1:07 p.m.
10/2-@Weber State* (KPAX-TV) 6:05 p.m.
10/9-Idaho State*$ (KPAX-TV/CSTV) 1:05 p.m.
10/16-@E. Washington* (KPAX-TV) 3:05 p.m.
10/23-OPEN DATE ----
10/30-@Portland State* (KPAX-TV) 4:35 p.m.
11/6-Nothern Arizona* (KPAX-TV)12:05 p.m.
11/13-Sacramento St.* (KPAX-TV) 12:05 p.m.
11/20-Montana State* KPAX-TV) 12:05 p.m.
(104th meeting)
*Indicates Big Sky Conference game
$Homecoming
#Division I-AA Playoff Game
2004 BIG SKY PRE-SEASON POLLS
COACHES POLL
TEAM (First Place Votes) POINTS
1. MONTANA (5) 44
2. Eastern Washington (2) 40
3. Northern Arizona (1) 32
4. Montana State 31
5. Weber State 28
6. Idaho State 20
7. Sacramento State 17
8. Portland State 12
MEDIA POLL
TEAM (First Place Votes) POINTS
1. MONTANA (16) 209
2. Montana State (6) 183
3.Northern Arizona 182.5
4. Eastern Washington 146.5
5. Idaho State (4) 133
6. Weber State 98
7. Sacramento State 67
8. Portland State 61
Griz fans can relive all of last week’s action on Sundays at 10:30 p.m. by
watching the "Bobby Hauck Show" on KPAX-TV of Missoula. KPAX Sports Director
Tom Katz hosts the show.
Hauck’s radio show, with Mick Holien as host, airs live on Mondays on KGVO
Radio from Paradise Falls, from 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
MONTANA’S 2004 RETURNING STARTERS (13)
OFFENSE (7)
WR-Jon Talmage, 6-4, 195, Jr., 2V (9 starts)
WR-Tate Hancock, 5-10, 170, Sr., 3V(13 starts)
TE-Willie Walden, 6-7, 270, Sr., 2V(13 starts)
RT-Cory Procter, 6-5, 295, Sr., 3V(13 starts)
LG-Brad Rhoades, 6-5, 275, Jr., 2V (13 starts)
RB-Justin Green, 6-0, 225, Sr., 1V (8 starts)
QB-Craig Ochs, 6-2, 205, Sr., 1V (7 starts) KICKERS (1)
P-Tyson Johnson, 6-2, 185, So., 1V (13 starts)
DEFENSE (5)
DE-Lance Spencer, 6-4, 230, Jr., 2V(6 starts)
DT-Jonny Varona, 6-3, 280, Sr., 2V(12 starts)
NT-Blake Horgan, 6-3, 275, Sr., 3V(8 starts)
CB-Kevin Edwards, 6-2, 195, Jr., 2V(6 starts)
FS-Matt Lebsock, 5-11, 185, So., 1V (7 starts)
MONTANA’S 2003 STARTERS LOST (11)
OFFENSE (5) DEFENSE (6)
OT-Dylan McFarland, 6-6, 295, Sr., 4V(13 starts) SS-Dave DeCoite, 6-1, 203,
Sr., 4V (13 starts)
LG-Jon Skinner, 6-6, 310, Sr., 4V(13 starts) LB-Joel Robinson, 5-11, 230,
Sr., 4V (13 starts)
WR-Dane Oliver, 5-8, 170, Sr., 3V(13 starts) LB-Andy Thompson, 6-3, 220,
Sr., 4 (12 starts)
OC-Derek Decker, 6-5, 290, Sr., 4V(6 starts) DE-Tim Bush, 6-3, 245, Sr., 4V
(11 starts)
FB-Brad Weston, 6-1, 225, Sr., 3V (6 starts) OLB-Brent Meyers, 6-1, 200,
Sr., 3V (13 starts)
SPECIAL TEAMS (1) CB-Vernon Smith, 6-1, 175, Sr., 2V (8 starts)
K-Chris Snyder, 6-0, 204, Sr., 4V
2003 LETTERMEN LOST (20/starters bold face): Tim Bush, DE; Doug Clarke, WR;
Chris
Connors, DE; Derek Decker, OC; David DeCoite, SS; Jason Dellaselva, DB;
Garth Enger, OC;
Justin Hartman, QB; Dylan McFarland, OT; Brent Meyers, OLB; Dane Oliver,
WR/Holder;
Ciche Pitcher, DE; Joel Robinson, LB; Kyle Sampson, QB/WR; Jon Skinner, OT;
Vernon
Smith, CB; Chris Snyder, K; Andy Thompson, LB; Brad Weston, FB; Ben Winn,
TE.
2004 LETTERMAN RETURNING (43): Nathan Adkins, CB; Dylan Brown, OL; John
Cahill,
DT; Dan Carr, DE; Chris Clark, CB; Mike Costanzo, WR; Jeff Disney, QB;
Dustin Dlouhy, DE;
Kevin Edwards, CB; Garth Enger, OC; Jason Frink, OL; Brady Green, RB; Jay
Green, OC; Justin
Green, RB; Tate Hancock, WR; Tuff Harris, CB; Jefferson Heidelberger,
WR/Returns; Lex
Hilliard, RB; Adam Hoge, LB; Blake Horgan, NT; Tyson Johnson, P; Matt
Lebsock, FS; Shane
MacIntyre, LB; Kerry Mullan, DT; Mike Murphy, DE; Kyler Noel, LB; Craig
Ochs, QB; Chris
Orwig, OG; Colt Palmer, TE/Snaps; Chris Polhemus, CB; Michael Potts, DE;
Cory Procter, OT/
Snaps; Brad Rhoades, OT; Michael Rubie, CB; Alan Saenz, DT; Levander Segars,
WR/Returns;
Ja’Ton Simpson, TE; Lance Spencer, DE; Jon Talmage, WR; Tyler Thomas, SS;
Jonny Varona,
DT; Nick Vella, LB; Willie Walden, TE; JR Waller.
2003 REDSHIRTS (11): Brian Carlson, LB; Van Cooper Jr., SS; Casey Cordial,
QB; Brandon
Dwyer, WR; Ryan Gustafson, OL; Alex Hawthorne, LB; Drew Hedrick, QB; Kelly
Kain, DT; Eric
Michel, OL; Kyle Ryan, LB; Loren Utterback, LB.
MONTANA’S 2003 STAT LEADERS (Returnees Bold Face)
RUSHING: Justin Green: 252carries for 1,146 yards (4.5 average)=14 TDs.
Long: 37.
PASSING: Craig Ochs: 121-204-8 (.593) for 1,612 yards=9 TDs. Long: 68t.
RECEIVING: Jefferson Heidelberger: 41 for 433 (10.6 average)=1 TD. Long: 54.
Jon Talmage: 24 for 507 (13.8 average)=5 TDs.
PUNT RETURNS: Levander Segars: 42 for 513 yards 12.2 average)= 2 TDs. Long:
60.
KO RETURNS: Jefferson Heidelberger: 22 for 628 (28.5-yard average). Long:
73. Levander Segars: 10 for 293 (29.3 average). 1 TD. Long: 91t.
INTERCEPTIONS: Kevin Edwards: 4 for 13. Long: 13.
SCORING: Chris Snyder 124 points.
TOTAL OFFENSE: Craig Ochs: 1,612 yards/180.1 per game.
PUNTING: Tyson Johnson: 68 for 38.4-yard average. Long: 70.
FIELD GOALS: Chris Snyder: 25-of-30 Long: 54.
ALL-PURPOSE YARDS: Jefferson Heidelberger: 1,247 yards/95.9 per game.
TOTAL TACKLES: Dave DeCoite: 85 (41 solo/44 assists) and Brent Meyers: 85
(46 solo/39 assists); SACKS: Tim Bush: 9.5 for -65.
FUMBLES RECOVERED: Andy Thompson: 3
TACKLES FOR LOSS: Brent Meyers: 13 for -45
FORCED FUMBLES: Three with 2.
Montana In I-AA Rankings
The Griz begin the 2004 season ranked third in The Sports Network’s weekly
rankings. Montana has been ranked in TSN’s top 25 for 156 of the past 160
weeks (dating back to the 1993 season). The Griz have been in TSN’s top 10
67 of the previous 71 weeks.
GRIZ CAPTAINS
Craig Ochs, Senior, QB
Justin Green, Senior, RB
Jonny Varona, Senior, DT
GRIZ HEAD COACH BOBBY HAUCK
(2nd Season at Montana: 9-4)
MAINE HEAD COACH
Black Bear head coach Jack Cosgrove is 60-66 is his 12th season at Maine and
overall. Bobby Hauck (Montana, 1988) made his head coaching debut with a win
at Maine in Montana’s opener last season.
Hauck, 40, was named UM’s 33rd head coach on Dec. 20, 2002. He has been in
the coaching ranks
for 17 seasons, including 16 at the college level. He came to UM from the
University of Washington, where he had been an assistant for four seasons.
Prior to that he was an assistant at Colorado
for four years.
Hauck’s Assistant Coaching Stints:
1987: Sweet Grass H.S. (Montana)
1988-89: Univ. of Montana (GA)
1990-91:UCLA (GA)
1992: UCLA
1993-94: Northern Arizona
1995-98: Colorado
1999-2002: Washington
2003-04: Montana (Head Coach)
YEAR: O-All W-L SKY:-W-L
2003 9-4 5-2
2004 0-0 0-0
Personal: Wife Stacey, twin daughters Sydney and Alexandra, and son
Robby.Birth date: June 14, 1964
COACH HAUCK HAS 3RD BEST FIRST-YEAR MARK
Coach Bobby Hauck’s 9-4 record in 2003 was the third-best ever record for a
first-year coach at Montana. (Mick Dennehy was 14-1 in
The Sports Network’s 2004 I-AA Pre-season Top 25 Poll (Aug. 15)
Team (1st-place votes) 2003 Rec. Pts. 2003 Final Rank
1. Delaware (57) 15-1 1,753 1
2. Southern Illinois (7) 10-2 1,569 9
3. Montana (3) 9-4 1,500 14
4. Wofford (1) 12-2 1,406 3
5. Colgate 15-1 1,323 2
6. Northern Iowa (2) 10-3 1,316 5
7. Furman (1) 6-5 1,225 NR
8. McNeese State 10-2 1,150 8
9. Villanova 7-4 1,039 25
10. Georgia Southern 7-4 969 24
11. Maine 7-5 893 NR
12. Western Illinois 9-4 839 6
13. Western Kentucky 9-4 816 7
14. Northern Arizona 9-4 728 10
15. Montana State 7-6 654 21
16. Stephen F. Austin 7-4 583 NR
17. Grambling State 9-3 576 17
18. Northwestern State 6-6 558 NR
19. Massachusetts 10-3 557 11
20. Appalachian State 7-4 462 NR
21. Eastern Kentucky 7-5 434 NR
22. Northeastern 8-4 395 20
23. Lehigh 8-3 328 23
24. N. Carolina A & T 10-3 281 16
25. Penn 10-0 222 12
Others receiving votes (in order of points, minimum of five required):
Southern (221),
Northern Colorado (216), Bethune-Cookman (125), Jacksonville State (120),
Idaho
State (108), Eastern Washington (95), Cal Poly (78), Gardner-Webb (72),
South Carolina
State (69), Hampton (40), Harvard (37), Illinois State (26), Sam Houston
State (24),
Nicholls State (22), Yale (22), Samford (20), Alabama A&M (16), Weber State
(15),
Youngstown State (15), James Madison (10), Southeast Missouri (10), New
Hampshire
(9), Southeastern Louisiana (8), Fordham (7), Tennessee State (6), Alabama
State (5),
Portland State (5), VMI (5).
GRIZ 2003 ALL-BIG SKY SELECTIONS (RETURNEES)
Individual Award Winners Newcomer of the Year: Justin Green, Running Back
SECOND TEAM-OFFENSE
Justin Green, RB
Levander Segars, Return Specialist
SECOND TEAM-DEFENSE
Jonny Varona, DT
HONORABLE MENTION-OFFENSE
Cory Proctor, OT
Willie Walden, TE
Craig Ochs, QB
HONORABLE MENTION-DEFENSE
Alan Saenz, DT
Blake Horgan, DT
Kevin Edwards, CB
Tyson Johnson, P
GRIZ-BLACK BEAR SERIES
Montana leads the series 1-0.
First game (2003): Montana 30,
@Maine 20.
2003 TWO-DEEP--OFFFENSE
WR-2-Jon Talmage. 6-4, 195, Jr., 2V
9-Ron Rodamer, 6-5, 220, Sr., TR
81-Mike Costanzo, 6-1, 190, Sr., 1V
WR-1-Levander Segars, 5-9, 175, Sr., 3V
30-Tate Hancock, 5-10, 170, Sr., 3V
WR- 8-Jefferson Heidelberger, 5-10, 165, Sr., 3V
3-Ryan Bagley, 6-4, 197, Fr., HS
88-Brandon Dwyer, 5-10, 188, Fr., RS
LT--75-Cory Procter, 6-5, 295, Sr., 3V
68-Jason Frink, 6-4, 280, So., 1V
LG- 69-Chris Orwig, 6-5, 288, Jr., 2V
60-Dan Carter, 6-5, 315, Fr., HS
72-Colin Dow, 6-5, 275, Fr., HS
OC-66-Jay Green, 6-3, 285, Sr., 1V
64-Dylan Brown, 6-4, 290, Sr., 1V
RG-73-Jeff Marshall, 6-5, 275, So., SQ
78-Eric Michel, 6-6, 270, Fr., RS
63-Ryan Wells, 6-4, 282, So., SQ
RT-76-Brad Rhoades, 6-5, 285, Jr. ,2V
74-Ryan Gustafson, 6-5, 270, Fr., RS
71-Cody Balogh, 6-7, 290, Fr., HS
RB-33-Justin Green, 6-0, 225, Sr., 1V
38-Lex Hilliard, 6-0, 220, So., 1V
20-JR Waller, 5-9, 210, Jr., 2V
41-Brady Green, 5-9, 195, So., 1V
QB--7-Craig Ochs, 6-2, 205, Sr., 1V
5-Jeff Disney, 6-1, 198, Sr., 1V
14-Cole Bergquist, 6-2, 192, Fr., HS
TE-87-Willie Walden, 6-7, 270, Sr., 2V
89-Ja’ton Simpson, 6-5, 244, Jr.,1V
-------------------------------------
FB-45-Colt Palmer, 6-1, 230, Sr., 3V
48-Kyler Noel, 6-1, 235, Jr., 2V
SPECIAL TEAMS
PATs, FIELD GOALS
29-Dan Carpenter, 6-2, 190, Fr., HS
80-Paul Cahill, 6-0, 185, So., SQ
PUNTS
26-Tyson Johnson, 6-2, 180, So., 1V
PUNT RETURNS
1-Levander Segars, 5-9, 175, Sr., 3V
KICKOFF RETURNS
1-Levander Segars, 5-9, 175, Sr., 3V
8-Jefferson Heidelberger, 5-10, 165, Sr., 3V
HOLDER
26-Tyson Johnson, 6-2, 180, So., 1V
SNAPS
45-Colt Palmer, 6-1, 230, Sr., 3V
52-Nick Vella, 6-2, 230, Sr., 2V
2004 OFFENSIVE DEPTH
2004 DEFENSIVE TWO-DEEP
DE-90-Mike Murphy, 6-3, 240, So., 1V
94-Dan Carr, 6-1, 230, Sr., SQ
DT- 55-Jonny Varona, 6-3, 280, Sr., 2V
95-John Cahill, 6-2, 280, Sr., 3V
DT-42-Blake Horgan, 6-3, 275, Sr., 3V
99-Alan Saenz, 6-2, 292, Jr., 2V
DE -21-Dustin Dlouhy, 6-2, 238, So., 1V
92-Mike Potts, 6-4, 235, So., 1V
LB(mike)-52-Nick Vella, 6-2, 230, Sr., 2V
46-Kyle Ryan, 6-3, 222, Fr., RS
LB(will)-50-Adam Hoge, 5-11, 215, Sr., 3V
43-Alex Hawthorne, 6-1,215, Fr., RS
OLB(sam)-47-Shane MacIntrye, 6-3, 222, Jr., 2V
37-Loren Utterback, 6-2, 218, Fr., RS
CB(B)--23-Kevin Edwards, 6-2, 195, Jr., 2V
18-Jimmy Wilson, 5-11, 175, Fr., HS
CB--10-Chris Clark, 5-11, 175, So., 1V OR
13-Tuff Harris, 6-0, 185, So., 1V
36-Chris Polhemus, 6-2, 195, Jr., 1V
FS--27-Matt Lebsock, 5-11, 185, So., 1V
32-Torrey Thomas, 6-0, 175, Fr., HS
SS--19-Van Cooper Jr., 6-2, 210, So., HS
31-Tyler Thomas, 6-0, 190, Jr., 2V
MAINE BLACK BEAR NOTES
7-5 LAST SEASON: Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears were 7-5 a year ago and
have 15 starters and 39 lettermen back. Maine lost several games by a
touchdown or less. Four of their five losses were by eight points or fewer,
including a 24-21 setback to eventual national champion Delaware on the
road.
TOUGH EARLY SCHEDULE: After opening with the Grizzlies the Black Bears host
Northern Colorado, play at Mississippi State, and open their Atlantic 10
Conference schedule at Delaware, the current top-ranked I-AA team.
PAYTON CANDIDATE: Marcus Williams, a 5-10, 225-pounder from Amherst, Mass.,
rushed for 1,284 yards and 12 touchdowns last year and had six 100-yard
games and is a Walter Payton Award nominee. He was a finalist for the award
last season and ranked 15th in I-AA, averaging 116.73 yards rushing a game.
Williams gained 70 yards on 23 carries last season against the Griz.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Maine signal-caller Ron Whitcomb (6-2, 212) was a
redshirt freshman a year ago and had his first career start against the
Griz. He went on to be the conference “Rookie of the Year” and passed for 21
touchdowns. He set a school record by throwing TD passes in 11 straight
games. He was 15-of-31-1 for 188 yards and a score last season against
Montana.
TOP RECEIVERS BACK: Maine returns its three top receivers in junior Ryan
Waller (53catches-528yards-5 TDs); senior Christian Pereira (52-820-10); and
junior Kevin McMahan (36-598-5). Pereira and Waller each have five catches
vs. Montana last season.
DEFENSIVE LEADERS: Maine has seven starters back on defense, led by senior
safety Brandon McGowan and junior linebacker Jermaine Walker, who were
ranked one-two on the team last season with 85 and 83 tackles, respectively.
TALENTED SPECIALISTS: Senior punter/kicker Mike Mellow is back for Maine, as
is Arel Gordon, who averaged 26.6 on kickoff returns and 14.8 on punt
returns. Gordon was ranked seventh in I-AA in punt returns and 16th in
kickoff returns.
MAINE AMONG NATIONAL STAT LEADERS: Maine was 20th in I-AA in total defense
last season, allowing 308.55 yards a game. The Black Bears were 18th in the
country in rush defense (allowing 114.82 yards per game).
2004 Griz Opponents/Current Record
DATE OPPONENT (2003 Rec.) REC. Season Opener (9/4)
9/4 MAINE (7-5) 0-0 @Montana
9/11 HOFTSRA (2-10) 0-0 Albany (9/2)
9/18 at Sam Houston State (2-9) 0-0 Ouchita Baptist
9/25 N. COLORADO (9-2) 0-0 N. Dakota State
10/2 at Weber State* (8-4) 0-0 Southern Utah
10/9 IDAHO STATE* (8-4) 0-0 @San Diego State
10/16 at E. Washington* (6-5) 0-0 @Nicholls St. (9/2)
10/23 Open Date --- -----------
1/30 at Portland State* (4-7) 0-0 Western St. (9/2)
11/6 NORTHERN ARIZONA* (9-4) 0-0 @Arizona
11/13 SACRAMENTO ST.* (2-9) 2-9 at Nevada (9/11)
11/20 MONTANA STATE* (7-6) 0-0 Adams State (9/11)
*Big Sky Conference team
2003 GRIZ-MAINE STAT COMPARISONS
Griz/Opp. Maine/Opp.
189.0/89.9 Rushing Offense 176.8/139.3
177.2/203.6 Passing Offense 231.1/193.7
366.2/293.5 Total Offense 407.9/333.0
32.5/18.6 Scoring Offense 36.5/23.9
25-11/29-18 Fumbles-Lost 22-17/25-15
29.2/20.2 Kickoff Returns 23.6/19.1
11.8/7.9 Punt Returns 16.5/6.8
31:46/29:29 Time of Possession 29:52/29:50
GRIZZLIES FINAL 2003 NATIONAL
DIVISION I-AA RANKINGS (13 Games)
PASSING OFFENSE 76th 178.08 ypg
RUSHING OFFENSE 26th 189.23 ypg
TOTAL OFFENSE 59th 367.31 ypg
SCORING OFFENSE 17th 33.08 ppg
RUSHING DEFENSE 5th 93.62 ypg
PASS. EFF. DEFENSE 68th 121.81 avg.
TOTAL DEFENSE 21st 310.69 ypg
SCORING DEFENSE 27th 20.46 ppg
KICKOFF RETURNS 1st 28.14yp ret.
PUNT RETURNS 16th 12.55 yp ret.
NET PUNTING 6th 39.20
TURNOVER MARGIN 40th +.40
QUOTING MONTANA HEAD COACH BOBBY HAUCK:
“Maine returns a lot of starters from a very good team of a year ago. We
will definitely have our hands full. They could be the best, or one of the
best, teams that we play all season.
“Maine is a very physical football team. You need to be prepared to stand
toe-to-toe with them and slug it out. If you are not ready for that they
could just run over you. They are a team that can come out of the gate
fast.”
2003 Big Sky Standings
TEAM Big Sky: W -L O-All
Montana State* 5-2 7-6
MONTANA# 5-2 11-3
Northern Arizona# 5-2 9-4
Weber State 4-3 8-4
Idaho State 4-3 8-4
Eastern Washington 3-4 6-5
Portland State 1-6 4-7
Sacramento State 1-6 2-9
*Earned Big Sky’s automatic bid to playoffs.
#Received an at-large I-AA playoff berth.
GRIZ HAVE RACKED UP “W’s”
Montana has now won 7 or more games in 15 of its last 16 seasons. The Griz
have eight or more wins 11 years in a row and have won 10 or more contests
seven of the past 11 seasons.
2004 MONTANA GRIZZLY NUMERICAL ROSTER
NO.- NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. EXP. HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS SCHOOL)
1 - Levander Segars WR/Rets. 5-9 170 Sr. 2V Colorado Springs, CO (Rampart
HS)
2 - Jon Talmage WR 6-4 200 Jr. 2V Anaheim Hills, CA (Orange Lutheran HS)
3 - Ryan Bagley WR 6-4 197 Fr. HS Great Falls, MT (C. M. Russell HS)
4 - Muckie Foreman DB 6-1 185 Fr. HS Spanaway, WA (Spanaway HS)
5 - Jeff Disney QB 6-1 198 Sr. 1V Glendora, CA (Chaffey JC)
6 - Tyler Joyce LB 6-5 210 Fr. HS Aurora, CO (Overland HS)
7 - Craig Ochs QB 6-2 205 Sr. 1V Boulder, CO (U of Colorado)
8 - Jefferson Heidelberger WR/Rets. 5-10 175 Sr. 3V Nevada City, CA (Nevada
Union HS)
9 - Ron Rodamer WR 6-5 220 Sr. TR Morgantown,P WV (Notre Dame)
10 - Chris Clark CB 5-11 175 So. 1V Los Angeles, CA (Cathedral HS)
11 - Matt Troxel WR 5-9 165 Fr. HS Coeur d’Alene, ID (Lake City HS)
12 - Casey Cordial QB 6-1 190 Fr. RS Missoula, MT (Sentinel HS)
13 - Tuff Harris CB 6-0 185 So. 1V Colstrip, MT (Colstrip HS)
14 - Cole Bergquist QB 6-2 192 Fr. HS San Clemente, CA (San Clemente HS)
15 - RETIRED IN HONOR OF QB DAVE DICKENSON
16 - Drew Hedrick QB 5-10 190 Fr. RS Billings, MT (Billings Senior HS)
17 - Van Cooper, Jr. Safety 6-2 190 Fr. RS Denver, CO (Cherry Creek HS)
18 - Jimmy Wilson CB 5-11 175 Fr. HS San Diego, CA (Point Loma HS)
19 - Tim Parks CB 5-10 170 Fr. HS Moreno Valley, CA (Moreno Valley HS)
20 - JR Waller RB 5-9 197 Jr. 2V Portland, OR (Benson HS)
21 - Dustin Dlouhy DE 6-2 217 So. 1V Idaho Falls, ID (Skyline HS)
22 - RETIRED IN HONOR OF DB TERRY DILLON
23 - Kevin Edwards CB 6-2 190 Jr. 2V Spokane, WA (Lewis & Clark HS)
24 - Rob Schulte RB 5-8 185 Fr. HS Great Falls, MT (Great Falls HS)
25 - Luke Lovell DB 6-0 180 So. TR Great Falls, MT (U of Mary)
26 - Tyson Johnson P/Holder 6-2 180 So. 1V Stevensville, MT (Stevensville
HS)
27 - Matt Lebsock Safety 5-11 190 So. 1V Billings, MT (Billings Skyview HS)
28 - Andrew Schmidt RB 6-1 210 Fr. HS Bozeman, MT (Bozeman HS)
29 - Dan Carpenter K 6-2 190 Fr. HS Helena, MT (Helena HS)
30 - Tate Hancock WR 5-10 170 Sr. 3V Salina, KS (Central HS)
31 - Tyler Thomas FS 6-0 190 Jr. 2V Dillon, MT (Beaverhead County HS)
32 - Torrey Thomas Safety 6-0 175 Fr. HS Dillon, MT (Beaverhead County HS)
33 - Justin Green RB 6-0 230 Sr. 1V San Diego, CA (San Diego Mesa Col.)
34 - Quinton Jackson CB 5-11 180 Fr. HS Kent, WA (Renton HS)
35 - Colt Anderson DB 5-10 180 Fr. HS Butte, MT (Butte HS)
36 - Chris Polhemus CB 6-2 200 Jr. 1V Missoula, MT (Sentinel HS)
37 - Loren Utterback LB 6-1 215 Fr. HS Fort Benton, MT (Fort Benton HS)
38 - Lex Hilliard RB 6-0 220 Fr. HS Kalispell, MT (Flathead HS)
40 - Brian Carlson TE/FB 6-1 230 So. SQ Billings, MT (Billings West HS)
41 - Brady Green RB 5-9 195 So. 1V Brighton, UT (Brighton HS)
42 - Blake Horgan DT 6-3 275 Sr. 3V Spokane, WA (East Valley HS)
43 -Alex Hawthorne LB 6-1 210 Fr. RS Mesa, AZ (Dobson HS)
44 - David Haile OLB 6-4 215 Fr. HS San Jose, CA (Milpitas HS)
45 - Colt Palmer FB/Snaps 6-1 230 Sr. 3V Omaha, NE (Millard North HS)
46 - Kyle Ryan LB 6-3 210 Fr. RS Billings, MT (Billings West HS)
47 - Shane MacIntyre LB 6-3 222 Jr. 2V Helena, MT (Helena Capital HS)
48 - Kyler Noel TE 6-1 214 Jr. 2V Helena, MT (Helena Capital HS)
49 - Jake McCarthy DB 5-10 180 Fr. HS Omaha, NE (North Platte HS)
50 - Adam Hoge LB 5-11 225 Sr. 3V Bozeman, MT (Bozeman HS)
51 - Ross Brunelle LB 6-0 220 Fr. HS Spokane, WA (East Valley HS)
52 - Nick Vella LB 6-2 230 Sr. 2V Castro Valley, CA (Bishop O’Dowd HS)
53 - Kroy Biermann LB 6-3 215 Fr. HS Hardin, MT (Hardin HS)
54 - Jaison Carriger DE 6-3 232 Jr. TR Butte, MT (Utah State)
55 - Jonny Varona DT 6-3 280 Sr. 2V Medical Lake, WA (Medical Lake HS)
56 - Tyler Korwin DL 6-3 215 Fr. HS Great Falls, MT (Great Falls HS)
57 - Karl Pitcher LB 6-2 210 Fr. HS Anaconda, MT (Anaconda HS)
58 - Ross Brunelle LB 6-0 230 Fr. RS Spokane, WA (East Valley High School)
59 - Kelly Kain DT 6-4 280 Fr. RS Great Falls, MT (C.M. Russell HS)
60 - Dan Carter OG 6-5 315 Fr. HS Bellingham, WA (Bellingham HS)
61 - David Dorn DE 6-2 245 Fr. RS Hardin, MT (Hardin HS)
62 - Trapper Hight OL 6-4 260 Fr. HS Mike City, MT (Custer County HS)
63 - Ryan Wells OT 6-4 270 So. SQ Hamilton, MT (Hamilton HS)
64 - Dylan Brown OC 6-4 290 Sr. 1V Kinsey, MT (Miles City HS)
65 - Garth Enger OC 6-4 275 Jr. 2V Bothell, WA (O’Dea HS)
66 - Jay Green OC/Snaps 6-3 295 Sr 1V Glasgow, MT (Utah State)
67 - Kevin Bell OT 6-4 265 Fr. HS Santa Clarita, CA (Hart HS)
68 - Jason Frink OT 6-4 260 Jr. 1V Post Falls, ID (Post Falls HS)
69 - Chris Orwig OG 6-5 288 Jr. 2V Shawnee Mission, KS (Shawnee Mission E.
HS)
70 - Carl Roeller DE 6-5 210 Fr. HS Hayden Lake, ID (Coeur d’Alene HS)
71 - Cody Balogh OL 6-7 290 Fr. HS Steilacoom, WA (Steilacoom HS)
72 - Colin Dow OG 6-5 275 Fr. HS Billings, MT (Billings Senior HS)
73 - Jeff Marshall OT 6-5 275 So. SQ Newport Beach, CA (Newport Harbor HS)
74 - Ryan Gustafson OT 6-5 250 Fr. RS Billings, MT (Billings Skyview HS)
75 - Cory Procter OT 6-5 295 Sr. 3V Gig Harbor, WA (Gig Harbor HS)
76 - Brad Rhoades OT 6-5 285 Jr. 2V Bellingham, WA (Sehome HS)
77 - Craig Mettler DL 6-4 240 Fr. HS Walla Walla, WA (Walla Walla HS)
78 - Eric Michel OG 6-6 275 Fr. RS Billings, MT (Billings West HS)
79 - Kyle Gallagher OL 6-1 260 Jr. TR Corvallis, OR (Oregon State)
80 - Paul Cahill K 6-0 185 So. SQ Billings, MT (Billings West HS)
81 - Mike Costanzo WR 6-1 190 Sr. 1V Chino, CA (Chaffey JC)
82 - Mike Ferriter WR 6-1 180 Fr. HS Helena, MT (Helena HS)
84 - Ryan Richardson DB 6-0 195 Fr. TR Butte, MT (Colorado State)
85 - Tyler Poole TE 6-2 215 Fr. HS Spokane, WA (Ferris HS)
86 - Tom Martin CB 5-8 175 Fr. HS Columbus, MT (Columbus HS)
87 - Willie Walden TE 6-7 275 Sr. 2V Vancouver, WA (U of Oregon)
88 - Brandon Dwyer WR 5-10 188 Fr. RS Kalispell, MT (Flathead HS)
89 - Ja’Ton Simpson TE 6-5 230 So. 1V Long Beach, CA (Bellflower HS)
90 - Mike Murphy DE 6-3 220 So. 1V Great Falls, MT (C.M. Russell HS)
91 - Michael Stadnyk DE 604 240 Fr. HS Regina, Saskatchewan (Miller Comp.
School)
92 - Michael Potts DE 6-4 220 So. 1V Missoula, MT (Loyola HS)
94 - Dan Carr DE 6-1 220 Sr. SQ Broomfield, CO (N. Colorado)
95 - John Cahill DT 6-2 270 Sr. 3V Billings, MT (Billings West HS)
96 - Lance Spencer DE 6-2 255 Jr. 2V Malta, MT (Malta HS)
97 - Jesse Carlson DL 6-3 255 Fr. HS Billings, MT (Billings West HS)
98 - Kerry Mullan DT 6-3 290 So. 1V Stevensville, MT (Stevensville HS)
99 - Alan Saenz DT 6-2 295 Jr. 2V Newport Beach, CA (Newport Harbor HS)
2004 COACHING STAFF: Bobby Hauck, Head Coach/Special Teams, (Montana,
1988));
Jeff Hammerschmidt, (Arizona, 1991), Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks);
Rob Phenicie, (Memphis, 1989), Offensive Coordinator/QBs;
Tim Hauck, (Montana, 1990) Safeties; Kraig
Paulson (Montana, 1987), Assistant Head Coach/ D-ends;
Dominic Daste (Washington, 2001), Offensive Line;
Dave Schramm (San Diego State, 1988), Recruiting Coordinator/OT/TE;
Ty Gregorak (Colorado, 2001), Linebackers;
Luther Carr (Eastern Washington, 1995), Wide Receivers;
Tom Hauck, Defensive Tackles (Montana, 1965);
Ron Kowalski, (Eastern Montana, 1966), Running Backs.
MONTANA 30
MAINE 20
GAME 1 - August 30, 2003 at Orono, Maine
Morse Field • 9,345
QUARTER 1 2 3 4 SCORE
Montana 7 6 7 10 30
Maine 10 0 3 7 20
ORONO, MAINE –First-year head coach Bobby Hauck got his first win as head
coach of the Grizzlies, as Montana used strong special teams play to post a
30-20 over Maine in the Grizzlies 2003 season opener. After the Black Bears
got on the board first with a 36-yard field goal, Grizzly kick-returner
Levander Segars returned the ensuing kick 91 yards for the game’s first
touchdown, putting Montana up, 7-3.
Quarterback Jeff Disney threw his first touchdown pass at Montana, hooking
up with Jon Talmage on a 25-yard scoring strike. Disney also scored on an
8-yard scramble. Talmage had three catches for 53
yards and a touchdown. Senior safety Dave DeCoite returned a fumble four
yards for a touchdown and made six tackles, leading a Grizzly defense that
limited Maine to just 283 yards of total offense, including 69 in the second
half. Six different Grizzlies combined to sack Maine quarterback Ron
Whitcomb five times.
The Maine defense held Montana to 218 total yards, and limited them to a
season-low 49 yards rushing on 33 carries, which averages out to just 1.5
yards per carry.
SCORING SUMMARY
Maine 1st-03:45 M. Mellow 36 field goal, 3-0, Maine
Montana 1st-03:35 Levander Segars 91 kickoff return
Chris Snyder kick, 7-3, Montana
Maine 1st-00:53 K. McMahan 40 pass from R. Whitcomb
Mellow kick, 10-7, Maine
Montana 2nd-10:34 Jeff Disney 8 run
Dane Oliver pass failed, 13-10 ,Montana
Montana 3rd-09:58 Dave DeCoite 4 fumble recovery
Snyder kick, 20-10, Montana
Maine 3rd-04:30 Mellow 37 field goal, 20-13, Montana
Montana 4th-09:02 Snyder 27 field goal, 23-13, Montana
Montana 4th-05:31 Jon Talmage 25 pass from Disney
Snyder kick, 30-13, Montana
Maine 4th-00:22 Ryan Waller 9 pass from Whitcomb
Mellow kick, 30-20, Montana
TEAM STATS MAINE MONTANA
First Downs 15 12
Rush Att-Net Yards 42-95 33-49
Passing Net Yards 188 169
Att-Comp-Int 31-18-1 31-15-1
Total Net Yards 283 218
Fumbles-Lost 3-3 3-2
Punts-Avg 7-31.6 7-37.6
Penalties-Yards 6-80 12-104
Time of Possession 32:58 27:02
3rd Down Cons. 6x18 7x16
4th Down Cons. 1x1 0x0
Sacks by Yards 2-26 5-30
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: Montana-Justin Green: 12-26/0; JR Waller: 11-25/0. Maine-M.
Williams: 23-70/0; R. Whitcomb:
15-11/0.
Passing: Montana-Jeff Disney: 17-30-1=152/1TD. Maine-Whitcomb:
15-31-1=188/2.
Receiving: Montana-Dane Oliver: 5-35/0; Jon Talmage: 3-53/1. Maine-C.
Pereira: 5-76/0; Ryan Waller:
5-23/1.
Defense: Montana-Joel Robinson: 8TT, PB; Brent Meyers: 6 TT, TFL; Dave
DeCoite: 6TT, TFL, FR.
Maine-F. Lazo: 10TT, TFL, Int; J. Walker: 10TT, FR, 2PB; B. McGowan: 9TT,
TFL, FF.
***
Griz Still #1 in Sagarins
78 Montana
79 Delaware
80 Western Michigan A
81 North Texas A
82 Kansas A
83 Western Illinois
84 Louisiana Tech A
85 Western Kentucky
86 UAB A
87 Connecticut A
88 Tulane A
89 UCF(Central Florida) A
90 Vanderbilt A
91 Nevada A
92 Wyoming A
93 Indiana A
94 East Carolina A
95 Akron A
96 Rice A
97 Houston A
98 Duke A
99 Villanova
100 Pennsylvania
101 McNeese State
102 Temple A
103 Ball State A
104 Northern Iowa
105 Navy A
106 Massachusetts
107 Troy State A
108 San Jose State A
109 Georgia Southern
110 Rutgers A
111 Utah State A
112 Middle Tennessee A
113 Tulsa A
114 Northern Arizona
115 Baylor A
116 Colgate
117 Wofford
118 Ohio U. A
119 Furman
120 Lehigh
121 Northeastern
122 Eastern Washington
123 Maine
124 New Mexico State A
125 North Dakota State
126 Kent State A
127 Appalachian State
128 Montana State
129 William & Mary
130 Idaho State
131 Central Michigan A
132 Idaho A
133 Youngstown State
134 Northern Colorado
135 Southern Illinois
136 UC Davis
137 Portland State
138 Stephen F. Austin
139 Illinois State
140 Harvard
141 Eastern Michigan A
142 Louisiana-Lafayette A
143 Hofstra
144 Weber State
145 NW Louisiana
146 Eastern Kentucky
147 Arkansas State A
148 Cal Poly
149 SMU A
150 James Madison
151 UTEP A
152 SMS(SW Missouri St.)
153 New Hampshire
154 Richmond
155 South Dakota State
156 Jacksonville State
157 Eastern Illinois
158 Fordham
159 Louisiana-Monroe A
160 Rhode Island
161 Yale
162 Army A
163 Sacramento State
164 Western Carolina
165 Nicholls State
166 Buffalo A
167 Grambling
168 Indiana State
169 Florida Atlantic A*
170 Brown
171 Sam Houston State
172 Southern U.
173 Citadel
174 Murray State
175 Bethune-Cookman
176 Southern Utah
177 SE Missouri State
178 No. Carolina A&T
179 Florida A&M
180 Gardner-Webb
181 Tennessee State
182 Tennessee Tech
183 Princeton
184 Hampton
185 Samford
186 Lafayette
187 Texas State
188 SE Louisiana
189 Bucknell
190 Dartmouth
191 So. Carolina State
192 Alabama A&M
193 Towson
194 Chattanooga
195 Dayton
196 Columbia
197 Alabama State
198 Elon
199 Fla. International A*
200 Holy Cross
201 VMI
202 Cornell
203 Duquesne
204 Alcorn State
205 Jackson State
206 Liberty
207 Morehead State
208 Morgan State
209 Howard
210 Albany (NY)
211 Texas Southern
212 San Diego
213 Georgetown
214 Ark.-Pine Bluff
215 Drake
216 Delaware State
217 Monmouth-NJ
218 Robert Morris
219 Tenn.-Martin
220 Sacred Heart
221 Norfolk State
222 Valparaiso
223 Davidson
224 Coastal Carolina
225 Stony Brook
226 Wagner
227 Miss. Valley State
228 Jacksonville
229 Charleston Southern
230 Austin Peay
231 Marist
232 Butler
233 Central Conn. State
234 Iona
235 Savannah State
236 Saint Peter's
237 Prairie View A&M
238 La Salle
239 St. Francis-Pa.
240 ***UNRATED***
***
(Arizona Wild)Cats must take NAU seriously
CORKY SIMPSON, Tucson Citizen
University of Arizona football could be a walking case of the blues - and
I'm not talking about the all-navy uniforms the Wildcats will wear - on
Saturday.
One of the most anticipated seasons in history could end in a pile of wood
chips on opening night if rookie coach Mike Stoops is unable to convince the
Cats they are in for a battle when they face the Northern Arizona
Lumberjacks.
Saturday's kickoff will be at 7 p.m at Arizona Stadium.
NAU was as good as Arizona was bad last season. Enough said.
The Lumberjacks were ranked by one magazine as the No. 3 team in the nation
among Division I-AA schools coming into this season.
The Lumberjacks finished 9-4 last year, won the Big Sky Conference
championship and reached the quarterfinals of the I-AA national playoffs.
Arizona State had to come from behind to beat them.
And NAU is loaded again. So there you are.
Arizona was pretty much finished at the end of August a year ago. After a
42-7 romp over Texas-El Paso on Aug. 30, the Cats lost eight in a row and
ended 2-10.
They were 1-4 when coach John Mackovic was relieved of duty and replaced by
defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz after a Sept. 27 overtime loss to Texas
Christian.
I've never seen more excitement in the Tucson community over football than
this preseason.
Jim Livengood, the athletic director, outrecruited virtually every school in
the country looking for a new coach to bring in Stoops.
Not since Larry Smith rebuilt Wildcat football in the 1980s after the
program was rocked by NCAA scandal has there been such anticipation. Smith's
success brought fans and respect back to the program.
Stoops hopes to do the same thing, but his timetable would be set back by a
loss to NAU.
It certainly could happen. Because frankly, NAU is the better team at this
point. Better talent? Not likely. Just better as a team.
Oh, I know. We're talking Arizona and NAU, and it's been 72 years since the
Lumberjacks beat Arizona. A Stanford grad, Herbert Hoover, was in the White
House when NAU defeated the Cats 7-6 in a 1932 game played at Phoenix.
Arizona completed that season with a 4-5 record. NAU was 3-2-2.
The Cats hold an overall 6-1 advantage against the Flagstaff school. The
biggest UA win was 52-6 over NAU in 1945.
Northern Arizona is extremely well coached by Jerome Souers, who's in his
seventh season. Gary Bernardi, a Wildcat assistant for seven years under
Smith, has joined the Lumberjacks after 10 years at UCLA.
Kent Derdivannis, the radio voice of the Lumberjacks, used to speak Wildcat.
Derdivannis broadcast Arizona games in the 1980s.
August 30, 2004
Official Payton Watch and Buchanan Battle Lists Announced (TSN).
Harmon Forecasts: Montana 28, Maine 10.
Glenn expects turnaround at Wyoming (AP, Billings Gazette).
***
Official Payton Watch and Buchanan Battle Lists Announced
Payton Winner Branch, Runner-Up Eugene Among First Group of Candidates (TSN)
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - A total of 32 players have been chosen
by The Sports Network, I-AA college football’s most widely recognized
information service, as official "Payton Watch" and "Buchanan Battle"
members. The "Payton Watch" and "Buchanan Battle" pages, which can be found
at The Sports Network’s website (www.sportsnetwork.com) keep track of the
quest for the 18th Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the top player
in I-AA football, and the 10th Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top
defensive player in I-AA. The honors will be presented at the 18th annual
I-AA College Football Awards on Thursday, December 16th in Chattanooga, TN,
on the eve of the 2003 I-AA National Championship. The Eddie Robinson Award,
honoring I-AA’s top coach, and the Sports Network Cup, bestowed upon the
nation’s best I-AA mid-major program, will also be presented on Dec. 16th.
Ten players who appeared on last year’s final Walter Payton Award ballot are
among this year’s initial pool of 16 Payton candidates. That group includes
the 2003 Payton winner, Colgate running back Jamaal Branch. Branch ran for
an NCAA record 2,326 yards and tied a I-AA record with 29 rushing touchdowns
in 2003. Grambling State quarterback Bruce Eugene, who has finished in the
top three in the Payton voting the past two seasons, also returns to the
list. Eugene threw for 3,805 yards and 34 touchdowns a season ago. Tennessee
State running back Charles Anthony, Georgia Southern running back Jermaine
Austin, Yale quarterback Alvin Cowan, Northern Iowa running back Terrance
Freeney, Valparaiso wide receiver Rob Giancola, Samford wide receiver Efrem
Hill, Northern Arizona quarterback Jason Murrietta and Maine running back
Marcus Williams all return to the watch list.
Four players, including three linebackers, who appeared on last year’s final
Buck Buchanan Award ballot, are among this year’s 16 Buchanan candidates.
Illinois State’s Boomer Grigsby, Cal Poly’s Jordan Beck, Northeastern’s Liam
Ezekiel and Southern Illinois safety Alexis Moreland are each returnees to
the Buchanan Battle list. Grigsby, who made 179 tackles for the second
straight season and finished second in the voting, is the leading returning
vote getter. Idaho State defensive end Jared Allen, a fourth-round draft
pick of the Kansas City Chiefs, was the 2003 Buck Buchanan winner.
The official "Payton Watch" and "Buchanan Battle" lists will undergo three
revisions prior to the distribution of ballots on November 22nd. The first
revisions will be announced October 6th, the second November 3rd, and the
third just prior to the distribution of ballots. The ballots will be mailed
electronically to the media and I-AA sports information directors selected
for the voting process on November 22nd, and will be due Wednesday, November
24th. The top three finalists (in terms of votes received) for the Walter
Payton Award will be invited to attend the presentation in Chattanooga, TN,
with the winner of that Award not announced until the event.
Following are the 32 current members of both the "Payton Watch" and
"Buchanan Battle" lists, with additional information on each player, as well
as history and facts about each of the I-AA awards, available at
www.sportsnetwork.com.
"Payton Watch" Candidates (Aug. 30) Charles Anthony, RB, Tennessee State;
Jermaine Austin, RB, Georgia Southern; Adam Bergen, TE, Lehigh; Jamaal
Branch, RB, Colgate; Alvin Cowan, QB, Yale; Bruce Eugene, QB, Grambling
State; Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Harvard; Terrance Freeney, RB, UNI; Rob
Giancola, WR, Valparaiso; Efrem Hill, WR, Samford; Vincent Jackson, WR,
Northern Colorado; Erik Meyer, QB, Eastern Washington; Jason Murrietta, QB,
Northern Arizona; Alonzo Nix, WR, Chattanooga; Craig Ochs, QB, Montana;
Marcus Williams, RB, Maine.
"Buchanan Battle" Candidates (Aug. 30) Lee Basinger, DL, Wofford; Jordan
Beck, LB, Cal Poly; Antoine Bethea, DB, Howard; Roger Cooper, LB, Montana
State; Nick DiPadova, LB, Southern Utah; Liam Ezekiel, LB, Northeastern;
Brady Fosmark, DL, Weber State; Boomer Grigsby, LB, Illinois State; Sidney
Haugabrook, DB, Delaware; John Paul Jones, DL, McNeese State; Mike Killian,
LB, Furman; Tad Kornegay, DB, Fordham; Alexis Moreland, S, Southern
Illinois; Kevin Talley, LB, Norfolk State; Paul Thomas, DL, Tennessee State;
Mario Williams, DB, Gardner-Webb.
***
Harmon Forecasts
Eastern Washington 21 *Nicholls State 17
*Weber State 29 Southern Utah 14
*Arizona 21 Northern Arizona 14
*San Diego State 34 Idaho State 13
Alabama A&M 17 *Tennessee State 16
Alabama State 20 Howard 10
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 22 *Mississippi Valley 16
Bethune-Cookman 44 Savannah State 9
*Cal Poly 40 Humboldt State 7
*Campbellsville 24 Austin Peay 12
*Central Connecticut State 20 Sacred Heart 19
*Delaware 23 New Hampshire 7
*Florida International 35 Jacksonville 7
*Furman 35 Presbyterian 6
*Grambling 30 Alcorn State 15
Hampton 28 Jackson State 12
*Holy Cross 14 Duquesne 7
*Lafayette 54 Marist 6
*Lehigh 52 Stony Brook 6
*Liberty 34 West Virginia Tech 6
Massachusetts 45 *Delaware State 9
McNeese State 21 *Southern U. 10
*Morehead State 21 Coastal Carolina 7
*Morgan State 28 Bowie State 7
North Carolina A&T 38 North Carolina Central 6
*Sam Houston State 20 Ouachita Baptist 14
San Diego 21 *Azusa Pacific 20
South Carolina State 42 Benedict 7
*Southern Illinois 29 SE Missouri State 6
*Southwest Missouri State 44 Drake 8
*Stephen F. Austin 45 Henderson State 7
Texas Southern 43 Prairie View A&M 6
*Texas State 34 Angelo State 7
*The Citadel 50 Charleston Southern 6
Towson 18 *Elon 7
*Valparaiso 28 Wisconsin Lutheran 14
*Villanova 38 Bucknell 10
Virginia State 20 *Norfolk State 17
*Western Carolina 46 West Virginia State 7
*Youngstown State 29 Slippery Rock 7
Alabama 34 Utah State 9
*Boise State 35 Idaho 7
*Georgia 52 Georgia Southern 7
*Georgia Tech 42 Samford 7
*Hawaii 31 Florida Atlantic 6
*Illinois 33 Florida A&M 7
*Iowa State 16 Northern Iowa 14
*Kansas State 44 Western Kentucky 7
*Louisiana-Lafayette 20 NW State (La.) 9
*Nebraska 36 Western Illinois 7
*North Carolina 21 William &Mary 6
*North Carolina State 49 Richmond 7
*Ohio 32 Virginia Military 6
*Wyoming 27 Appalachian State 6
***
Glenn expects turnaround at Wyoming
Associated Press, Billings Gazette
LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - Wyoming football head coach Joe Glenn is more of a
cheerleader than any of the women who wear "WYO" across their chests and
shake those brown-and-yellow pompoms.
That much was evident at the Cowboys' final preseason scrimmage Thursday at
War Memorial Stadium.
"We took a big step last year!" Glenn shouted at his team as the Cowboys
huddled at midfield after the scrimmage. "And we're ready to take that next
step this year!"
The next step for Glenn and Wyoming is a bowl game, and heading into the
season the Pokes are focused on little else. The Cowboys haven't been to a
bowl since the 1993 Copper Bowl, and they desperately want to get back to
bowls under a coach who has the rah-rah - and now the recruiting season
under his belt - to get them there in his second year.
"We want to prove to everybody that we're better than last year," wide
receiver Jovon Bouknight said. "We had a good year last year, but I think
we're even better. And we want to make it to that bowl game."
Wyoming is coming off a 4-8 season in which the Pokes could hang on to some
big rivalry wins and not much else. Wyoming beat both Brigham Young and
Colorado State at home in 2003. This year, the Cowboys travel to BYU and
CSU, and visit Texas A&M.
Wyoming also gets Ole Miss and Utah, ranked No. 20 in The Associated Press
preseason poll, at home.
The tough schedule means a tough road ahead for the Cowboys. So how to get
better and topple those top teams?
"I think we've got flat-out better athletes this year," Glenn said.
But while he might have better athletes, some of his skill-position players
are greener than a forest.
Junior quarterback Corey Bramlet might have good bloodlines, but he has very
little experience running the Pokes after his brother, Casey, dominated the
snaps for the last three years. The Cowboys also lost starting running back
Derek Armah and wide receivers Malcom Floyd and Ryan McGuffey.
Bramlet has the inauspicious task of replacing his brother's passing
production. The elder Bramlet led the Mountain West Conference's most
prolific passing attack last year, at 261.2 yards per game, and finished as
Wyoming's all-time passing leader with 9,664 yards. He's currently the
third-string quarterback for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals.
Corey Bramlet, meanwhile, has played in six games and thrown for 130 yards
with the Cowboys.
At wide receiver, the Pokes should have no problem filling the hole with
juniors Bouknight and Josh Barge. The two combined for 196 yards receiving
at the team's final scrimmage and combined to average 85.4 yards per game
last year.
At running back, Wyoming hopes to employ a double-headed monster attack with
two running backs who have different styles.
"Joe Harris is hammer man, he can bring it," Glenn said. "I think it's a
great one-two punch. You get Harris hammering it in there and Ivan
(Harrison) with the little shake-and-bake."
On defense, it's the same story: plug the holes where they need to be
plugged, and maybe the defense won't leak.
The defense will sorely miss linebacker Tyler Gottschalk, who had 17 more
tackles than anybody else on the team in 2003. He was also among the team
leaders in sacks and tackles for losses.
Gottshalk's position will be manned by sophomore and Sheridan native Austin
Hall, who has two redshirt freshmen backing him up. The other linebacker
slots are filled by seniors Randy Tscharner, the team's second-leading
tackler last year, and Guy Tuell.
In the secondary, Glenn is happy with what he's seen so far in practice, and
used the word "athletic" again for that group. But between the two safeties
and two corners, three of the starters are sophomores and one is a junior.
Sophomore cornerback Derrick Martin doesn't seem to care about that. He
changed his jersey number to 1 in the offseason and brought a huge yellow
sign reading "no passing zone" to the Wyoming media day earlier this month.
Some questions about the upcoming Griz campaign (Missoulian).
Ready to roar (Missoulian).
---
A Bears fact: Williams is among best (Portland Press Herald).
Northern Colorado: UNC Offense Shows Improvement in Final Scrimmage (UNC).
Saints slip by Div. II Wildcats (Independent Record).
***
Some questions about the upcoming Griz campaign
By RIAL CUMMINGS of the Missoulian
A year ago, the Montana Grizzlies were humming "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" -
thanks to area forest fires - and preparing to fly across the country to
play Maine. They had a new coaching staff, new quarterbacks, and plenty of
question marks.
The 2004 football opener is Saturday, again against Maine. This time the air
is clear, the site is Washington-Grizzly Stadium, and second-year coach
Bobby Hauck, his staff, and his quarterbacks are settled. Hopes are high
that the Griz can improve on a 9-4 campaign that ended with a double
overtime loss at home to Western Illinois in the opening round of the
Division I-AA playoffs.
But, as always, there are plenty of question marks. Here are a few of the
more intriguing ones:
Will you be able to tell the Griz without a scorecard?
Nope. And not just because the two-deep lineup features a number of
newcomers. Montana's new uniforms don't have the names of the players on the
back, so fans had better get used to memorizing jersey numbers.
What are the prospects for the offense?
Good, possibly excellent. Craig Ochs, a former starter at Colorado, appears
to be the real deal at quarterback. Justin Green, Lex Hilliard and JR Waller
might be the best trio of running backs in school history. Five of the top
six receivers are back, and hungry to improve their production over last
season. Willie Walden, a 6-foot-7, 270-pound tight end, can blot out the
sun. It all hinges on the development of an offensive line that returns only
two fulltime starters and became less experienced with the loss of Garth
Enger to a season-ending injury. Senior tackle Cory Procter could follow in
Dylan McFarland's bear tracks as an NFL prospect, but he'll be surrounded by
a young and relatively untested group.
Will the Griz run the ball 66 percent of the time, as they did in Hauck's
first season?
Absolutely not. The coaching staff plans to chuck the passing game
altogether and go with the option. OK, OK, just kidding. There was plenty of
hot air expended over this issue last season, and global warming is again
threatened this fall. Given the talent at running back and the relative
inexperience up front, it would be understandable if the Griz pounded away
on the ground. Look for a lot of two- and three-receiver sets; do not look
for the "basketball on grass" approach of Don Read. Bottom line, the Griz
have the tools to be a more balanced football team. In fact, they'll have to
be if they want to make some noise in the playoffs.
Will the lack of an experienced place-kicker haunt the Griz?
Keep your fingers crossed. True freshman Dan Carpenter and sophomore Paul
Cahill haven't been particularly impressive during fall camp while trying to
replace All-American Chris Snyder. The Griz struggled at times in the red
zone last season, settling too often for field-goal attempts instead of
touchdowns. That's a luxury they won't be able to afford this time around.
Can Ochs stay healthy?
Keep your fingers double crossed. First it was the concussions at Colorado.
Then came the ankle injury that required surgery and delayed his Griz debut
by 4fi games. Ochs has had a brittle college career, and was never really
100 percent last fall. He's already missed a week of practice because of an
injured thumb, although it appears he'll be ready for Maine. Jeff Disney is
an adequate backup, but for the Griz to be at their best, Ochs needs to be
at his best.
Will youth catch up with the Griz defense?
The line looks good, especially at tackle. It would help immensely if Lance
Spencer, returning from a torn ACL, can regain his form and give UM a
legitimate sack threat coming off the end. The linebackers in UM's 4-3
alignment look solid, although all three starters from last year are gone.
The position looks deep, and should produce plenty of growth as the season
progresses, but will someone emerge as a consistent playmaker? The secondary
could be fine, or it could be
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