eGriz
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Joined: 27 Mar 2002
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Location: Missoula, Montana
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Pride eye another upset; Young Hofstra squad aims to duplicate success in 2000 (Missoulian).
Griz secondary will be Hofstra's primary target (Great Falls Tribune).
Griz vs. Hofstra: UM Press Release.
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Extra Point - Week Two: What a Weekend! (Dougherty, TSN).
Chart Toppers (Garner, I-AA.org).
Paul Johnson on I-A/I-AA differences (Naval Academy).
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Big Sky Notebook: The other Griz take long trek to MSU (Great Falls Tribune).
Big Sky coaches ignore MSU's success (The Daily Inter Lake).
UMaine seeking more support for football games (Bangor Daily News).
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BBall: Powerful foes will test UM (Great Falls Tribune).
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Griz vs. Hofstra satellite coordinates: KU BAND, AMC 9, TRANSPONDER 17
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Pride eye another upset
Young Hofstra squad aims to duplicate success in 2000
By RIAL CUMMINGS of the Missoulian
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2004/09/09/sports/sports01. txt
The last time the Hofstra Pride showed up at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, it was a gray day that Montana football fans would rather forget. Hofstra edged Montana 10-9 in the 2000 season opener, spoiling Coach Joe Glenn's debut.
Saturday, unranked Hofstra returns to Missoula to face the No. 2 Grizzlies. The Pride, coming off a rough two seasons, are eager to recapture the national spotlight. There would be no better way to do it than to upset the Griz.
"Even when we were Division III, we never shied away from playing the best," said Hofstra coach Joe Gardi, whose 15th season began last week with a 45-0 thumping of hapless Albany, N.Y. "There is not a tougher place to play in I-AA football than Missoula. It's a big challenge, but one we look forward to."
Hofstra's run of four Division I-AA playoff appearances in five years ended in 2002, when the Pride went 6-6, including a 21-0 loss to visiting Montana. Last year, ravaged by injuries to a half-dozen key players, Hofstra slid to 2-10, the worst mark in Gardi's tenure. That doesn't sit well with the veteran coach, who shepherded the Long Island school into the I-AA ranks in 1993.
Maine, which came to Missoula last Saturday and lost 27-20, was picked to win the Atlantic 10 Conference's North Division in preseason polls, while Hofstra - which returns 12 starters - was picked to finish last. Hofstra, like Montana, has a small senior class.
Continued…
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2004/09/09/sports/sports01. txt
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Griz secondary will be Hofstra's primary target
By GEORGE GEISE, Great Falls Tribune
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20040909/localsp orts/1201724.html
Last Saturday, the Montana Grizzlies played an Atlantic 10 Conference powerhouse and allowed the Maine Black Bears only 234 yards through the air.
This Saturday, the Grizzlies meet another Atlantic 10 Conference team that threw for almost that many yards in the first quarter in its opener.
Clearly, UM's secondary will be tested when unranked Hofstra (1-0) challenges No. 2 Montana (1-0) at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
"Certainly, Hofstra has a different personnel group and a different personality than Maine," UM coach Bobby Hauck said Wednesday before practice. "Hofstra wants to throw the football and they're very good at it. Their quarterback (Bobby Seck) is very accomplished. He sees defenses well and he knows where to go with the ball. When he played last year, they won."
Seck played only four games last season when Hofstra went 2-10, the worst record ever for veteran coach Joe Gardi. That's one reason why the Pride was picked last in the Atlantic 10's Northern Division in preseason polls; Maine was the No. 1 pick.
Maine utilized a balanced offense revolving around running back Marcus Williams and quarterback Ron Whitcomb. Williams gained 105 tough yards, and Whitcomb added 234 through the air, 84 of them on a late drive.
Continued…
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20040909/localsp orts/1201724.html
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Griz vs. Hofstra: UM Press Release.
http://web.montanagrizzlies.com/umgriz/news/news_content/Footb all_Men/2004/GrizHofstraFB.pdf
Game 2: Second-ranked Montana Hosts Hofstra Pride
Web, State, Local, Big Sky (9/7/04) MISSOULA, MONTANA -
THE GAME: The second-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies (1-0/0-0 Big Sky Conference) host the Hofstra University Pride (1-0/0-0 Atlantic 10 Football Conference), Saturday, September 11, 2004 in UM's Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
KICKOFF: Kickoff in Washington-Grizzly Stadium (23,183/SprinTurf) is 1:07 p.m. (MTN.). Montana Press Box Phone: 406-243-4167.
GRIZ DEFEAT MAINE: Two Division I-AA heavyweights squared last Saturday afternoon, and the third-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies held off the 11th-ranked Maine Black Bears for a hard-fought 27-20 victory in the 2004 opener for the teams.
RECORD CROWD FOR HOME OPENER: A home-opener record crowd of 23,228 Washington-Grizzly Stadium fans saw the Montana-Maine game. The previous record crowd for a home opener was 23,102 vs. North Dakota State last season. The 23,228 fans is the fifth largest crowd in 127 games played in UM's stadium.
GRIZ IN OPENERS: Montana has now won 15 of its last 17 opening season contests. The Griz are now 63-41-2 in openers since the 1897 season.
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.
LEAGUE TITLE/PLAYOFF REGULARS: Montana has now won out-right or shared the Big Sky title the last six years in a row and nine of the past 11 seasons. Montana 2003 playoff berth was -- its 11th straight playoff berth, breaking the record it had shared with Eastern Kentucky, (10 straight, 1986-95) for the most consecutive playoff appearances.
SEGARS BREAKS ANOTHER BIG SKY RECORD: Senior punt returner Levander Segars broke the Big Sky record with his 114th career punt return against Maine. He passed Boise State's Rick Woods, who had 113 returns from 1978-81. Segars holds the league record of with 1,245 punt return yards.
Continued…
http://web.montanagrizzlies.com/umgriz/news/news_content/Footb all_Men/2004/GrizHofstraFB.pdf
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Extra Point - Week Two: What a Weekend!
By Matt Dougherty, The Sports Network
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page= cfoot2/news/AGN3485377.htm
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - I just found out what my life lacked in college. Little did I know, when I woke up Saturdays around Noon and turned on ESPN, how great it could be to have a football game on campus five or six weekends a year.
Not only was the game at Montana unbelievable, the whole atmosphere makes the home football weekend into a showcase event. From going out on Friday to the early tailgates on Saturday, game day truly brings the community and much of the state together in Missoula.
After a Friday night at Red's and Stock's and a burger at the Missoula Club, I was more than ready for the atmosphere before the game. The trailers, flags, and general festive attitude would dissuade anyone with the perception that I- AA is not big time college football.
As fan support goes, I'd ask anyone to find a way down to the sidelines at Washington-Grizzly Stadium and listen to the home crowd before and during the game. That is, listen if you're hearing allows it. As many Griz fans suggested, I could have used earplugs with the cannon shooting off and deafening crowd noise combining for a decibel level that left my ears ringing.
The game itself lived up to its billing as the best matchup of the weekend. Maine and Montana appeared to be even physically even, and if not for some mistakes and costly penalties the Black Bears may have pulled the upset. Montana's offense proved its versatility with a shotgun attack led by quarterback Craig Ochs, and the Grizzlies have the look of a squad that should stay in the top five all season. If Maine can get through a tough early schedule, the Black Bears proved to be a playoff-caliber team as well.
The game was well worth the two long plane rides, one of which left Missoula on Sunday at 6 am (which still felt like Saturday night). It was even worth the achy knees I now face for a few days after being crammed into a seat in coach for five straight hours. A bit of advice, people. Before you recline back for an in-flight nap, take a look at who is behind you. When you're 6-3, you just pray the person in front of keeps that seat in the upright and locked position.
As eye opening as the trip to Missoula was, it wasn't the only football action I took in. Before the long trip Northwest, I made a quick drive for some I-AA action in Philadelphia. Or, to be exact, in Villanova, Pa. And for all that I saw in Missoula, the thing that stuck in my mind by Sunday afternoon was the play of the Villanova defense.
Granted, Villanova did not play an offensive juggernaut in Bucknell. But in the first three quarters, the defensive line dominated up front, the linebackers tracked down every ball carrier after little or no gain, and the secondary allowed almost nothing in the passing game. The Wildcats surrendered just 178 yards of total offense, and if not for three turnovers would have held Bucknell to single digits in points.
Right now, Maine, Montana and many others are more complete than the 'Cats. Marvin Burroughs had flashes of brilliance but also was inconsistent and ineffective at times. The offense moved the ball throughout the first half, but had trouble putting points on the board when they reached Bucknell territory.
However, Burroughs is a sophomore who has little game experience. He shows the potential to become a great playmaker in time. If that time comes before the end of the regular season, coaches will not want to see Villanova on their playoff schedule.
WEEK ONE NOTEBOOK
Co-Teams of the Week: Nicholls State and New Hampshire
I usually hate doing this. The whole point of awards and recognition is to honor a significant achievement, and including more than one winner will take the importance away. But in this case, I would be remiss if I failed to mention either of these squads for what they accomplished last week.
Everyone would have understood if Nicholls State struggled in the home opener against Eastern Washington. To begin with, the Colonels lost a majority of the starters from a mediocre 2003 team. Two weeks before the game, head coach Daryl Daye was fired amidst an academic scandal he was not directly involved in. Jay Thomas was promoted from the assistant position and had scant little time to prepare for the opener. The Colonels dedicated the game to coach Daye, and played on an emotional high on their way to a 30-0 halftime lead. Nicholls State ran all over a good Eastern Washington team in the 37-14 victory, and proved their mental strength by playing such a strong game after a difficult couple of weeks.
On any other week, New Hampshire earns this honor by itself. The Wildcats, who have been a thorn in Delaware's side in recent years, went into Delaware and knocked off the defending champion Blue Hens, 24-21. The fact New Hampshire won is not as surprising as how they won. Star quarterback Mike Granieri was expected to be the Wildcats best chance at an upset, but he went down with a serious knee injury in the second quarter. Redshirt freshman Ricky Santos came in to complete 10-11 passes for 146 yards and lead the Wildcats to victory. Reports are that Granieri will be out for an extended period of time, maybe even the season, but the Wildcats showed their might with the win last week.
Best Top 25 Win: No. 8 McNeese State 35, Southern 17
Questions persisted for both powers entering the season. The Cowboys, especially, had to find replacements for 11 All-Southland picks and critics questioned McNeese State's ability to remain a national power. The Cowboys made a resounding statement about their elite status with a convincing road win against a quality opponent. Michigan State transfer Kris Bush ran for 129 yards, quarterback Scott Pendarvis threw for another 254, and the Cowboys never trailed in the game. The Cowboys have sent a message that the Southland title may still have to come through Lake Charles.
Worst Top 25 Loss: New Hampshire 24, No. 1 Delaware 21
11 of last week's top 25 teams fell, so the Blue Hens are not without company in the loss column. However, Delaware wasn't on the road, wasn't facing a I-A team, and did not have any significant injury that led to the defeat as others did. A team that is expected to finish in the middle of the A-10 North simply outplayed the Blue Hens. To make matters worse, it was New Hampshire, not Delaware, that had to overcome a major injury during the game. It's a long season, and one game is still just one game. But Delaware could not have envisioned starting its title defense with a home loss.
Best Game: No. 3 Montana 27, No. 11 Maine 20
To be fair, I was at this contest and got an appreciation for how competitive the matchup was. Still, it was the only game involving two ranked teams and both teams showed why they are serious playoff contenders. The duel turned from a defensive struggle to a Montana shootout after the Grizzlies switched to a shotgun formation after halftime. However, Maine tied the score at 13 early in the fourth and the game remained tight until the final minutes. Montana deserved the win, but Maine also proved itself with a strong effort in a tough environment.
Continued…
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page= cfoot2/news/AGN3485377.htm
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Chart Toppers
Scott Garner, Cult of I-AA columnist, I-AA.org
http://www.i-aa.org/article.asp?articleid=60133
The question has been posed before, usually on team message boards: Who is the greatest I-AA team of all time?
Inevitably, where the question is posted casts great influence on the answer that was given. Go to the Southern Connection, home of all things Georgia Southern, and the list usually went something like GSU 89, GSU 99, GSU 86, GSU 87, GSU 2000, GSU 90. Post the same question on eGriz, the place where Montana fans go to chew the fat, and the answer was almost always UM 95, UM 96, UM 2001, UM 2000. Sometimes the order changed (can UM 96 really be a better team as I-AA runner-up than UM 2001 was as I-AA champ?), but the dominant school usually remained the same. In other words, you don't ask Mia Wallace which restaurant makes the best milkshake while she's sitting at Jackrabbit Slim's and expect to get an unbiased answer.
So, several weeks ago, I posed the question in my very first column for I-AA.org. Typically, fans of I-AA schools with championship heritage have emailed their alma mater's top squads. But a few fans of I-AA in general have also called in some more "unbiased" nominations. Overall, we have a consensus of about 15 teams that keep coming up again and again.
Now before anyone gets too excited, I'm not going to crown a top I-AA team of all time in today's column. Nope. Today I'm just stirring up the schizzle a little bit with a preliminary list. I'm also setting down a couple of rules and clearing up one troubling issue.
First, the ground rules. Since I'm the one writing the column, I'm the one who gets to make the rules. If you don't like them, you can challenge by writing me at garner@I-AA.org. Otherwise, can it. FIRST RULE: Dynasty teams get a head start on the list's top spots. Any team that made multiple championship appearances in a five-year span are considered dynasties. This puts Delaware's reigning championship team in a hole to begin with, because history has yet to reflect on them. Sorry, Hens, you'll probably be relegated outside of the top five. Should Delaware win a second I-AA championship (or at least make the finals), then I will immediately revisit the all-time greatest list after the title game in Chattanooga and adjust Delaware's finish accordingly. The reason dynasty teams get a boost is because they had to sustain a level of excellence over the five-year period--a tough task in I-AA, where scholarships (and thus, depth) are reduced. For Youngstown State to make four straight title game appearances (1991-1994) and win three titles suggests talent from top to bottom unmatched by UMass in 1998, when they won a single title, then were gone altogether from the playoffs by 2000. SECOND RULE: This is not a tournament. We are not asking if the 1983 Southern Illinois team could beat Montana's 1995 squad. You can't put teams in a time machine and you can't impose limitations faced by teams from one era on teams from another. THIRD RULE: Throw out margin of victory in the playoffs. Internet Guys (the ones who live for this kind of thing--and you'll be the topic of a future column) like to brag how their teams cut through the playoffs like Led Zeppelin through a throng of groupies. Playoff fields have had varying degrees of difficulty and playoff draws have left teams with tougher (or easier) roads to the championship. Oh, yeah, the playoffs enter into the equation, but not always the way you would like.
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http://www.i-aa.org/article.asp?articleid=60133
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Paul Johnson on I-A/I-AA differences
Naval Academy Athletic Association
http://www.navysports.com/sports/football/release.asp?RELEASE_ ID=16429
Q. As a coach who was at an I-AA school and played I-A schools what concerns you about a game like this?
A. When I was coaching at Georgia Southern we didn't look at it any differently than playing anybody else. It was another opportunity. We were probably a little different, because we were one of the premier I-AA schools, but it was a great opportunity to play in front of more people than you normally would have. You sell your guys on the fact this is your chance to show people that you're a Division I player.
Q. It's kind of a throwaway game for them, because the Atlantic-10 is really the only thing that matters to them.
A. Not really. There record matters when it comes time to the playoffs and picking at-large teams.
Q. This game would count against that?
A. Sure it would. If you lose more than three games you're not going to make the playoffs and you may not make it with three losses. It's important for them to win the game.
Continued…
http://www.navysports.com/sports/football/release.asp?RELEASE_ ID=16429
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Big Sky Notebook: The other Griz take long trek to MSU
George Geise and Scott Mansch, Great Falls Tribune
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20040909/localsp orts/1201728.html
It's a nice little drive. The Adams State Grizzlies are on the road as we speak, riding the bus from Alamosa, Colo., to Bozeman for Saturday's nonconference game against the Montana State Bobcats.
The Griz will stay tonight in Cody, Wyo., and are slated to get to Bozeman sometime Friday afternoon.
Adams State head coach Wayne McGinn wasn't sure exactly the total mileage, but figured "it's about a thousand miles."
McGinn said he's talked recently with Northern Colorado coach Kay Dalton about the logistics of the trip.
Bobcat fans might shudder at that, because Dalton's UNC club shocked the Bobcats two years ago in Bozeman, 14-10.
Alamosa is 230 miles southwest of Denver.
LIKE RIDING A BIKE: Northern Arizona unveiled a new running back last week in a 21-3 loss to Arizona. But he needs no introduction to Montana prep football fans.
Senior linebacker Vince Henman of Laurel, who rushed for a then-state record 4,669 yards and 48 touchdowns during a glorious high school career and has been a standout starter on the defensive side of the ball at NAU, rushed two times for nine yards against the Arizona Wildcats.
Henman, a 6-foot, 230-pounder, carried for four yards on 3rd-and-1 and picked up five yards on his other rushing attempt. He lined up at fullback in short-yardage situations for head coach Jerome Souers.
"I'll do anything to help the team out," Henman told the Arizona Daily Sun."
Continued…
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20040909/localsp orts/1201728.html
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Big Sky coaches ignore MSU's success
By Andrew Hinkelman, The Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell)
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/NewsEngine/SelectStory_AD.tpl?co mmand=search&db=news.db&eqskudata=74-818143-34
The still-searching-for-respect Montana State Bobcats get a late start on the 2004 season, opening with Division II Adams State on Saturday, one week after most of the rest of college football got under way.
And despite a No. 12 national ranking and three straight conference titles, the Bobcats did not receive much love from other Big Sky coaches, who voted MSU fourth. Media covering the Big Sky tabbed the 'Cats second.
"We're not taken seriously by my fellow coaches in the conference," Montana State head man Mike Kramer said in an interview last month. "We return a dynamic quarterback, a really good offensive line that can push the ball up and down the field and we return a great defensive front.
"But we lose the secondary, so my fellow coaches vote us the fourth-best team in the conference."
It is that secondary that is the primary cause of concern for Kramer and the Bobcats. All four starters have to be replaced.
"Out of the secondary, we lost the conference's two-time leading tackler, Kane Ioane, and we lost Joey Thomas, two four-year starters," Kramer said. "Actually we lost three four-year starters - Jay Hackett is also (gone), and DeAngelo Wall."
That means the Bobcats will have a very young secondary. Of the eight players listed on the two-deep depth chart for Saturday's opener, only three are upper classmen. The rest are either sophomores (three) or redshirt freshmen (two).
Sophomore Ryan Force, who started two games last year, gets the nod at free safety and junior Demond Goins will start at strong safety.
Redshirt freshman Kory Austin and sophomore Martin Henderson will be on the corners. Sophomore transfer Eddie Smith also figures to see some significant playing time.
"We think that Eddie Smith will be one of the top corners in the conference, maybe the nation, next year," Kramer said. "He was supposed to get his start at the University of Oregon in 2001 and was waylaid by the University of Oregon academically.
"His mother sued the University of Oregon and won, and the NCAA re-granted him all his eligibility. He opted not to return to Oregon and instead went to San Mateo junior college where he used one year of his eligibility.
"He has three years remaining and is a tremendous, tremendous, tremendous athlete. He should be our stopper corner that Joey Thomas was for us, and we will continue to play a lot of man-to-man, we'll continue to fashion a defense that most teams in this conference don't feel they can play."
Continued…
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/NewsEngine/SelectStory_AD.tpl?co mmand=search&db=news.db&eqskudata=74-818143-34
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UMaine seeking more support for football games
By Pete Warner, Bangor Daily News
http://www.bangornews.com/editorialnews/article.cfm?ID=433816
ORONO - The University of Maine football team has generated plenty of excitement among its fans in recent years. Coach Jack Cosgrove's Black Bears, who are amidst one of the most successful four-year spans in program history, made consecutive NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances in 2001 and 2002.
This week, 18th-ranked UMaine (0-1) is preparing for its first home game of the season Saturday at 6 p.m. on Morse Field at Alfond Stadium against No. 23 Northern Colorado (1-0).
If the anticipation of the home opener weren't enough, UMaine is giving area youngsters and other prospective fans more reasons to get on the Black Bear bandwagon.
"Once people come out here, they enjoy it and see it's a good time," said UMaine Athletic Marketing and Promotions Director Shaun Russell. "We're just trying to build on that."
Saturday is "Military Appreciation Day" at UMaine, where members of the armed services and family members can buy tickets for $5 and receive a 15 percent discount on merchandise at the Bear Necessities athletic store.
In addition, members of the Maine Army National Guard are sponsoring a free cookout and tailgate event with hot dogs and drinks, starting at 3-4:30 p.m., that is open to the public. The Guard will have a replica of the No. 16 NASCAR stock car driven by Greg Biffle and also will have military vehicles on display.
The UMaine marching band will present a patriotic halftime tribute as part of its show.
"We want to pay tribute to the folks who serve the country and protect us," Russell said.
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http://www.bangornews.com/editorialnews/article.cfm?ID=433816
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BASKETBALL
Powerful foes will test UM
By SCOTT MANSCH, Great Falls Tribune
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20040909/localsp orts/1201726.html
Larry Krystkowiak hopes his first Montana Grizzly team plays a hard-nosed brand of basketball.
Certainly there's nothing soft about the nonconference schedule it will face.
The Grizzlies in 2004-05 will play national powers Gonzaga, Missouri and Stanford -- all on the road -- in addition to home games against strong nonleague foes Cal State Northridge and Santa Clara.
"What we're trying to do is put ourselves in position to be ready for our league," said Krystkowiak, the ex-UM and NBA star hired last spring to replace Pat Kennedy, who resigned to take a job at Towson University. "You can't play a real weak schedule and expect to be ready for conference play."
The game at Stanford, coached by former UM head coach Mike Montgomery, is slated for Dec. 23 and will be reciprocated next season when the Cardinal visit Missoula. Several of the nonleague games, in fact, will be repaid by matchups in Missoula during the 2005-06 season.
"We're maybe paying the price a little bit this year, but we'll have an excess of home games next season," Krystkowiak said.
Continued…
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20040909/localsp orts/1201726.html
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