eGriz
eGriz.com RULER!
Joined: 27 Mar 2002
Posts: 3620
Location: Missoula, Montana
1573 eGriz Bucks
|
Portland St. good for first 58 minutes (Missoulian).
Grizzlies hope bye week a positive thing (The Daily Inter Lake).
Montana Resumes Big Sky Slate at PSU (UM Press Release).
Big Sky Notebook (Great Falls Tribune).
---
Don Hansen Predictions.
The Cult of I-AA: Searching for Lois on I-AA Message Boards (Garner, I-AA.org).
---
MSU at NAU: Bobcats really pull a rabbit out of the hat (The Daily Inter Lake).
MSU at NAU: Montana's loss, NAU's gain (Arizona Daily Sun).
***
Vote for Monte as Mascot of the Year!
http://r.espn.go.com/espn/contests/capitalone04/index
You can vote once per day.
***
Portland St. good for first 58 minutes
By FRITZ NEIGHBOR of the Missoulian
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2004/10/28/sports/sports03. txt
An 82-yard drive in one minute and 55 seconds. A touchdown and game-winning field
goal in the final 2:06 a week later.
Those are what separate the Portland State Vikings from Big Sky Conference contender
and league also-ran.
On Oct. 16, Portland State took leads of 21-3 and 24-10 over Montana State, only to
see the Bobcats drive for a game-tying touchdown as time ran out. MSU won 31-24 in
overtime. Last week the Vikings led Northern Arizona 20-10 with just over seven
minutes left, and ended up giving up a field goal with 12 seconds remaining. NAU
prevailed 21-20.
Now the Vikings, 1-3 in the Big Sky and 3-4 overall, have to right their ship by
Saturday, when they host the fourth-ranked Montana Grizzlies at PGE Park. Portland
State may be playing for pride, but 12th-year head coach Tim Walsh said that's
plenty to get his Vikings going.
"Maybe it's a bigger game than some people may anticipate," Walsh said. "What a
statement they can make for themselves by coming out and playing hard after the last
two weeks."
The Vikings have been playing hard. They sit first in the league in total defense,
first in pass efficiency defense, second best in passing yardage given up, first in
scoring defense, and second in time of possession. That's not to mention giving up
the least sacks and committing the fewest penalties in the Big Sky, and rushing for
a robust 184.9 yards a game on offense.
Add it up and the Vikings are in a three-way tie for fifth in the conference.
"If you don't look at the standings, you'd say, 'Wow, that team's pretty good,' "
Walsh said. "Bottom line, we've allowed our opponents to score points where we
shouldn't allow them to score these last two games. We've given up 27 points in our
last 10 minutes of football. You take those last 10 minutes (the last five in each
game) away and we're good."
Portland State came into this season with high expectations, built up behind a
seasoned defense and the return of star running back Ryan Fuqua. The defense,
anchored by linebackers Tolo Tuitele and Joey King and 290-pound Kansas transfer
Chuck Jones at defensive tackle, has not disappointed. Fuqua, a 205-pound senior,
has been solid even when not healthy. He suffered a torn muscle in his hip against
McNeese State, and sat out a 41-21 home loss to Eastern Washington. The next two
games he ran for 82 and 108 yards, and for another 90 against NAU. He has 607
rushing yards this season. For his career, he has 4,316 yards and 38 touchdowns on
the ground.
"He was 60 percent against MSU and 75 percent against Northern Arizona," Walsh said.
"He hasn't practiced all week, and I don't know if he's going to practice. He's not
healthy, that's just a fact of life, and he's still averaging 100 yards a game. That
speaks well for him."
The offense took another hit early when big-play receiver Ryan Brown went down with
torn cartilage in his left knee during preseason camp. He returned from surgery
three games ago, and has 10 catches for 117 yards.
"It's as good as you could ask for," Brown said of his knee, which has bothered him
since high school. "The speed's there. The main thing is conditioning."
Conditioning may be a key for Portland State, which has been real good for 3fi
quarters.
"The past two games are probably the toughest losses I've ever encountered," Brown
said. "It's hard to play a team so hard, so tough for 58 minutes, then the last two
minutes have them pull out the win. All losses hurt, but I guess it makes it that
much tougher when it's that type of a game. As a team, we did play pretty good
football."
Brown's return made things a little easier for quarterback Joe Wiser, who has
completed just 48 percent of his passes. Junior receiver Shaun Bodiford has excelled
the last three weeks, averaging 17.8 yards a catch. The offensive line, pressed into
drive-blocking partly by Brown's absence, has continued to gel.
"That's probably one of the reasons we are running it so well," Walsh said.
There's no question about that. Against MSU's league-best run defense (111.1 yards a
game), the Vikings piled up 124 yards. Last week they ran for 216 against a solid
NAU squad, including a 55-yard TD burst from Fuqua. Neither performance got PSU a
win.
"You never envision yourself being down in the conference," said Brown. "With the
type of defense and the type of running game we have, I probably expected to be more
up on the win-loss spectrum. But the season's not over. We have a lot more to play
for. We just want to go out there and show people that hey, we are a good football
team."
That's what Walsh is hoping for.
"We need to do something in the next four weeks to let these young people finish
with something positive, and let them realize that sometimes life isn't always
fair," said the coach, who has led the Vikings to the I-AA playoffs once, in 2000,
since they joined the Big Sky in 1996. "If we end up 7-4, maybe we can say that. If
we don't play well these last four weeks, maybe we weren't as good as we thought."
***
Grizzlies hope bye week a positive thing
By ANDREW HINKELMAN, The Daily Inter Lake
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2004/10/27/sports/sport s02.txt
College football's bye week can be a blessing or curse. If your team has a lot of
injuries, just isn't playing well or has a big game on the other side, then it can
be blessing.
But if your team is on a roll and playing well, a week off can derail momentum
midseason.
For the fourth-ranked Montana Grizzlies, their bye more closely resembles the latter
scenario. The Griz have won four in a row and tied for first atop the Big Sky.
Coach Bobby Hauck, however, thinks his team benefited from the down time.
"It was good," he said Tuesday from his office in Missoula. "It gave us a chance to
work on fundamentals, and it also gave our coaches a chance to go out and recruit."
It also allowed any injured players to recuperate.
"That's obviously beneficial," Hauck said. "They get another week of treatment and
rehab, but we weren't real banged up to begin with.
"The thing you worry about is it does take you out of a rhythm. We had won four in a
row and were on a bit of a roll.
"It's always interesting. You never know if it's going to fall for you at the right
time."
Still, the second-year head coach is confident the week off -- such as it is --
helped the team, and Montana will be ready for its last regular season road trip, at
Portland State.
"Everybody does it differently," Hauck said of the bye week. "We lifted four times
and practiced three times in full pads.
"It was productive for us. And evidenced by yesterday's practice, we had one of our
better practices of the year, our kids are ready to go."
* RIVALRY RENEWED: While not approaching the fervor of the 'Cat-Griz game, or even
the Governor's Cup with Eastern Washington, Saturday's trip to Portland State does
have a bit of history behind it.
When they kick off at 4:30 p.m. MDT, it will mark the 32nd meeting between the
schools. Montana is the Vikings' most-played opponent, making the Griz the closest
thing to a rival PSU has.
Montana leads the series 21-10, including a 10-7 mark in Portland and an 11-3 in
Missoula. The Griz have won four in a row and seven of the eight games since
Portland State joined the Big Sky. The Vikings' only win was a 51-48 win in Portland
in 1999.
***
Montana Resumes Big Sky Slate at PSU
UM Press Release
http://web.montanagrizzlies.com/mtgriz/files/news_content/Foot ball_Men/2004/GrizatPSUfb04.pdf
THE GAME: After an open week, the fourth-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies
(6-1/ 3-0 Big Sky Conference) continue their 2004 conference season Saturday,
October 30, playing the Portland State Vikings (3-4/1-3 Big Sky) Saturday, October
30, in PGE Park (20,000, Nexturf surface) in Portland.
KICKOFF: Kickoff is 4:35 p.m. (MTN.). PSU press box Phone: 503-294-2942.
LAST GAME: MONTANA 31, at EASTERN WASHINGTON 28: Griz junior linebacker Shane
MacIntyre blocked a 28-yard field goal attempt by the Eagles' Sheldon Weddle with 18
seconds remaining, giving Montana a critical league victory.
ANOTHER WINNING SEASON: The Grizzlies' victory at EWU on October 16th gives Montana
its 19th consecutive winning season, dating back to 1986.
REPEAT PERFORMANCE: Senior defensive tackle Jonny Varona blocked a field goal
attempt by the Bengals in the closing seconds of the Grizzlies' October 9th game, a
24-22 Homeconing win over Idaho State.
OCHS PICK STREAK ENDS: Senior quarterback Craig Ochs passed for 230 yards and a
touchdown. Ochs had thrown 117 straight passes without at interception before being
picked off by EWU in UM's first drive in the third quarter. He had not thrown an
interception in the Grizzlies' previous three games.
HILLIARD HAS CAREER DAY: Sophomore halfback Lex Hilliard rushed career-highs of 116
yards and three touchdowns. He had scoring runs of 18, 8, and 2 yards on 19 carries.
SEGARS BREAKS I-AA RECORD: Senior receiver/returner Levander Segars had one punt
return at EWU, breaking the I-AA record for number of returns with 124. He passed
Chuck Calhoun, who had 123 at Southwest Missouri State from 1990-93. The record for
punt return yardage is 1,448 yards by James Madison's Delvin Joyce, set from
1997-2000. Segars has 1,325 punt return yards and needs 124 more to break that
record.
MAC TABBED "POW": Griz junior linebacker Shane Mac Intyre (Helena) was
named the Big Sky Player of the Week on defense (Octo. 18). In the EWU win he had 10
tackles, three for losses, a pass deflection, and blocked a potential game-tying
field goal in the closing second of the game.
Montana Remain Ranked Fourth in the Nation
The Griz stayed at fourth in the nation in The Sports Network's I-AA weekly rankings.
Montana was ranked first in the nation five weeks ago, prior to its loss at Sam
Houston State (Sept. 18). The last time UM had been ranked first in the nation was
Nov. 11, 2002. The Griz'top ranking and I-AA-record 24-game win streak ended Nov.
16, 2002 with a 30-21 loss to E. Washington in Spokane.
Montana has been ranked in TSN's top 25 for 164 of the past 168 weeks (dating back
to the 1993 season).
The Griz have been in TSN's top 10 75 of the previous 79 weeks.
(TSN's top 25 listed on Add 2-2-2 of this release).
OCHS NINTH ON CAREER LIST: Ochs' 3,266 career passing yards keep him ninth on the
career list. He has 15 career starts. He is the ninth QB in Griz history to pass for
more than 3,000 yards.
OCHS RANKED NATIONALLY: Ochs is ranked fourth in the league and 21st in the nation
in total offense, averaging 246.29 yards a game. He is second in the conference in
passing efficiency (145.89) and is 18th in the I-AA ranks in that category.
GREEN 11TH IN CAREER RUSHING: Senior halfback Justin Green has 1,518 career rushing
yards in 16 career starts and remains 11th on the career list. He needs 37 yards to
go up to 10th. Green's 108 career points keep him 22nd in scoring.
TALMAGE/HANCOCK ON CAREER LIST: Junior wide receiver Jon Talmage has 1,616 career
receiving yards, keeping him 15th on the career list. Senior receiver Tate Hancock
has 1,173 career receiving yards and is ranked 22nd.
SPENCER ON SACK LIST: Junior defensive end Lance Spencer remains sixth careerwise in
sacks and is now tied for ninth in tackles for loss.
SKY PICK LEADER: Junior cornerback Kevin Edwards' four interceptions this season
ranks him second in the Big Sky and 20th in the nation.
VIKING SERIES
(32nd Meeting) Montana leads the series 21-10 The Griz have won six of the
last seven. The last PSU win was 51-48 in overtime in Portland in 1999.
PSU VIKINGS NOTES:
RESULTS (3-4/1-3) TO DATE: PSU is 3-4 with wins over Western State of Colorado
(38-0), McNeese State (35-14), and Sacramento State (31-0).
The Vikings have lost at Fresno State (27-17), to Eastern Washington (41-21), at
Montana State (31-24, OT), and at Northern Arizona (21-20).
PSU LAST WEEK: The Vikings led Northern Arizona the entire game, until Paul Ernster
kicked a 48-yard field goal with 12 seconds left in the game. PSU out-stated NAU 388
to 339 in total yards.
PSU rushed 45 times for 216 yards, led by junior Joe Rubin (5-11, 225, who had 26
carries for 133 yards and a TD, while senior Ryan Fuqua (5-11, 205) picked up 90
yards on 10 carries and scored once.
Senior quarterback Joe Wiser was 11-of-24-1 for 172 yards. Junior Shaun Bodiford
(6-1, 185) had a team-high 5 catches for 93 yards.
PSU STAT LEADERS: Fuqua has rushed for a team-high 607 yards and 6 TDs, while Rubin
has 426 yards and 4 scores. Fuqua is second in the league and 23rd in the country in
rushing, averaging 101.17 yards a game.
Wiser is 87-of-188-8 for 1,107 yards and 7 TDs. Bodiford leads in receiving with 29
catches for 409 yards and 3 TDs.
On defense, linebackers Tolo Tuitele (6-1, 235, Sr.) and Joey King (5-10, 205, Jr.)
have a team-high 49 tackles each.
PSU IN NATIONAL RANKINGS: The Vikings lead the Big Sky in several defensive
categories. They are ranked 37th in I-AA in total defense, allowing 328.43 yards a
game.
PSU is rated 22nd in pass efficiency defense (100.70), 25th in scoring defense
(19.14 ppg), and 26th in rushing defense (119/0 ypg). They are sixth in net punting
(39.38-yard average).
Quoting Montana Coach Bobby Hauck
ON PSU: "What shows up on the video tape when watching Portland State is the fact
that they are very physical on defense, very physical in their special teams, and
they are very physical on offense for that matter. Their offense starts with their
running game. They have very good running backs and are solid in the running game.
That is where their offense starts -- their running game.
"On defense they are among the league leaders, or lead the league in several
categories. They have been playing extremely tough on defense. They have two
shutouts this season.
ON THE GRIZ: "The week off was good for our team because we worked on funamentals,
which is important to us because we have such a young team. We're getting healthier
as the season progresses, which is unusual, but obviuosly a big plus for us."
OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
WR-2-Jon Talmage. 6-4, 195, Jr., 2V
9-Ron Rodamer, 6-5, 220, Sr., TR
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
71-Cody Balogh, 6-7, 290, Fr., HS
LG- 69-Chris Orwig, 6-5, 288, Jr., 2V
60-Dan Carter, 6-5, 315, Fr., HS
OC-66-Jay Green, 6-3, 295, Sr.,1V
73-Jeff Marshall, 6-5, 275, So., SQ
64-Dylan Brown, 6-4, 290, Sr., 1V
RG-73-Jeff Marshall, 6-5, 275, So., SQ
68-Jason Frink, 6-4, 280, Jr., 1V
71-Cody Balogh, 6-7, 290, Fr., HS
RT-76-Brad Rhoades, 6-5, 285, Jr. ,2V
71-Cody Balogh, 6-7, 290, Fr., HS
74-Ryan Gustafson, 6-5, 270, Fr., RS
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
DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
DE-90-Mike Murphy, 6-3, 240, So., 1V
92-Mike Potts, 6-4, 235, So., 1V
53-Kroy Bierman, 6-3, 225, Fr., HS
DT- 55-Jonny Varona, 6-3, 280, Sr., 2V
95-John Cahill, 6-2, 280, Sr., 3V
98-Kerry Mullan, 6-3, 290, So., 1V
DT-42-Blake Horgan, 6-3, 275, Sr., 3V
99-Alan Saenz, 6-2, 292, Jr., 2V
DE -96-Lance Spencer, 6-2, 255, Jr., 2V
91-Mike Stadnyk, 6-4, 240, Fr., HS
21-Dustin Dlouhy, 6-2, 238, 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--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
SPECIAL TEAMS
PATs, FIELD GOALS
29-Dan Carpenter, 6-2, 190, Fr.,
HS KICKOFFS
93-Pete Sloan, 5-9, 175, 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 MONTANA COACHING STAFF
Bobby Hauck (Montana, 1988) Head Coach/Special Teams
Jeff Hammerschmidt (Arizona, 1991), Defensive Coordinator/CBs
Rob Phenicie (Memphis, 1989), OffensiveCoordinator/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
***
Big Sky Notebook
Great Falls Tribune
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20 041028/SPORTS/410280325/1006
MONTANA
Montana senior quarterback Craig Ochs saw his streak of 117 straight passes without
an interception end in the third quarter at Eastern Washingotn on Oct. 16. Ochs had
gone three complete games without a pick.
The transfer from Colorado ranks 21st in the nation in total offense (246 yards per
game) and 18th in passing efficiency among I-AA quarterbacks.
Even if the Grizzlies (6-1) don't win another football game this year, they have
clinched their 19th straight winning season - a school record. You have to go all
the way back to 1985, Larry Donovan's last season at UM, to find the Grizzlies' last
losing record (3-8).
Montana had posted just one winning record in 10 previous years (7-3 in 1981) before
Don Read took over the program in 1986 - the same year Washington-Grizzly Stadium
opened.
Lex Hilliard, a sophomore running back from Kalispell, estabished career records for
yards rushing (116 yards) and touchdowns (three) in the 31-28 victory at Eastern
Washington. But that wasn't enough to move Hilliard ahead of senior Justin Green on
the depth chart.
UM coach Bobby Hauck said Hilliard will again back up Green, but both players have
been designated as captains for Saturday's game at Portland State.
Griz fans also can expect junior JR Waller to get some carries Saturday, since he's
a former Portland high school star. Waller scored the winning TD against Portland
State two years ago at PGE Park.
---
MSU at NAU: For pair of Jacks, revenge may be in the cards
The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks are looking for a little payback these days.
Vince Henman and John Perrigo especially.
"Our team is looking for revenge, but for me and John it's a little more personal,"
said Henman. "We'd like to show some of those coaches who maybe didn't give us
serious looks back in high school."
The Lumberjacks play host to Montana State Saturday night in a key Big Sky
Conference game. A week from Saturday, the Jacks will be in Missoula to take on the
Montana Grizzlies.
Henman and Perrigo are Laurel natives who have found a home at NAU.
"We might've gone to the Cats or Griz if we'd been heavily recruited, but we
weren't," said Henman, a 6-0, 230-pound senior linebacker.
Perrigo, a 6-1, 235-pound senior defensive end, and Henman have combined for 73
tackles this year, including 14 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Henman, a
former heavyweight wrestling champion who rushed for a state-record 4,669 yards at
Laurel, has six quarterback sacks. He originally accepted a scholarship from Air
Force, then transferred to NAU when Perrigo put in a good word for him with the
Lumberjack coaches.
"I think I got a partial (scholarship) offer from the Bobcats, nothing real big, and
the Grizzlies told me I could walk-on," Henman said.
The rest of the Lumberjacks might not be lacking for motivation in the coming weeks,
either. Montana State scored two touchdowns in the last 2:13 a year ago to earn a
21-17 victory over the Jacks. Then the next week, the Grizzlies hammered NAU 59-21.
"Against the Bobcats we dominated most of the game," Henman said. "But we didn't
finish. It was a credit to them. They beat us. ... That game is still in the back of
our heads."
Veteran Green Bay Packers scout Sammy Seale was in Bozeman recently to watch the
Bobcats play Portland State.
Seale said he was specifically watching MSU linebackers Roger Cooper and Jonathan
Molock, and long-snapper Dusty Daws. Cooper is a preseason All-American, while
Molock has impressive speed. Bobcat coach Mike Kramer said Daws is the best
long-snapper he's ever coached.
Seale, a former defensive back in the NFL with the Raiders and Chargers, was asked
what's going on in Green Bay with ex-Montana State star cornerback Joey Thomas, the
Packers' rookie who has barely seen the field despite being taken in the third round
of the draft last spring.
"You'd have to ask Green Bay and ask the coaching staff," Seale said. "When I'm out
here I'm just like all the rest of the fans. I watch 'em on TV and I wonder why he
isn't playing, too, but that's not my place to ask. My place is to find players and
that's what I do.
"I'm sure he'll get an opportunity. Most third-round draft choices get an
opportunity. If not this year, then next year."
By the way, Thomas played quite a bit in last week's Green Bay victory over Dallas
and might even start this week against the Washington Redskins. That's because the
Packers might be without secondary starters Darren Sharper and Al Harris, who
suffered knee injuries last week.
*** ***
Don Hansen Predictions
http://www.donhansen.com/goto.php?url=predictions
40-35 Montana (6-1) over Portland State (3-4) [H] 3:35 KPAX/KAJ-TV
31-14 Eastern Washington (5-3) [H] over Sacramento State (2-5) 2:05 Sports West
(Tentative)
23-20 Northern Arizona (4-3) [H] over Montana State (5-2) 6:05
35-21 Idaho State (2-5) [H] over Weber State (0-8) 3:05
28-24 Sam Houston State (6-1) over Stephen F. Austin (5-2) [H] 2:00
31-27 Maine (4-3) over Massachusetts (3-5) [H] 1:00
27-10 Hofstra (3-4) [H] over Richmond (2-5) 12:00 A-10 TV
28-14 Georgia Southern (7-1) [H] over South Dakota State (4-3) 1:00
31-14 Southern Illinois (7-1) [H] over Western Illinois (4-4) 6:00
24-21 Navy (1-A) (6-1) [H] over Delaware (6-1) 1:30 CN8
20-14 Cal Poly (7-0) [H] over UC Davis (5-2) 6:00
42-14 William & Mary (5-2) over Towson (3-4) [H] 6:00
49-0 James Madison (6-1) [H] over VMI (0-8) 3:00
31-14 Western Kentucky (5-2) [H] over Illinois State (4-3) 7:00
35-0 Harvard (6-0) over Dartmouth (0-6) [H] 12:30
31-17 Pennsylvania (5-1) [H] over Brown (4-2) 1:00
28-17 Villanova (5-3) over Rhode Island (4-3) [H] 12:00
21-14 Lehigh (6-1) [H] over Colgate (5-2) 1:00 CSTV
21-14 Northeastern (3-4) [H] over New Hampshire (5-2) 6:00
35-16 Appalachian State (5-3) over Chattanooga (1-6) {h} 6:00
21-14 North Dakota State (5-3) [H] over Northwestern State (5-2) 1:00
35-7 Wofford (5-2) [H] over The Citadel (1-5) 1:30
24-14 Northern Iowa (3-4) [H] over Southwest Missouri State (5-3) 4:05
42-24 SC St (5-2) over Delaware State (2-6) [H] 1:00
21-14 Texas State (3-4) over McNeese State (3-4) [H] 7:00
24-7 Southern Utah (3-4) [H] over Montana-Western (NAIA) (5-3) 6:00
33-21 Youngstown State (2-6) [H] over Indiana State (4-4) 4:00
***
The Cult of I-AA: Searching for Lois on I-AA Message Boards
Scott Garner, Cult of I-AA columnist, I-AA.org
http://www.i-aa.org/article.asp?articleid=62653
First there was Dungeons & Dragons. Then comic books. The discovery of Anime.
Skateboards. Punk rock. Blacktop basketball.
These are the things that wasted my life when I was younger. Now, I have sports
message boards.
Making a foray into the world of sports message boards is bad enough when the topic
is the Yankees and Red Sox or fantasy football. But begin rooting around in the
virtual smoky rooms of the Cult of I-AA football and you will discover some of the
most dedicated, informed, demented, misinformed, intelligent, passionate, moronic,
instigating, investigating and just plain odd folks in all of sports fandom. I'm
talking to you, rabidsaluki. And you, GoodGodGriz, Montana's GGG answer to the
KKK-you are all about Griz supremacy.
You don't know me, but I read you all.
I see it when WataugaMan posts his thoughts on Appalachian State. And Stumpy, well,
what can you say about Stumpy? Nothing at all unless you hang around the thoroughly
Unofficial Furman Fan Page. The list goes on. Of all the wonderful things the
Internet has brought us (and I think I smell a babe link lurking any moment now, so
look for the blue letters), the Cult itself has few resources that can equal team
message boards.
Heck, the Internet itself is a great tool for finding out who the starting linemen
of Cal Poly are or learning that the South Dakota State Jackrabbits have a unique
nickname to college athletics. It's also a good way to email your favorite (or
least-favorite) online columnist and let him know what you really think about him.
But none of these other tools can compare to message boards, and the beauty of
message boards can be boiled down to one word: anonymity.
To post on a message board is to leave a flaming "Z" like Zorro and keep your
identity as secret as, well, whoever the guy behind the Zorro mask was. Some posters
identify themselves even in their name: scottgarner95 is obviously Scott Garner,
Class of 95. Others give it away in their posts. But some of the best posters around
keep their identity as secret as Clark Kent.
A quick rant (skip to next topic if you want to keep your train of thought)
Who the hell was fooled by a pair of glasses? A pair of freaking glasses. That is
all that separated Clark Kent from Superman. The man works in a friggin' newspaper,
supposedly staffed by the finest journalists in Metropolis, a newspaper that
constantly runs pictures of Superman blown up 600 percent on the front page, and no
one from the paper boy to Ace Reporter Lois Lane notices that the 6-foot-5,
barrel-chested, overly-clumsy, handsome-even-in-specs reporter who has never been in
the same zip code as Superman might-just might-have some 'splainin' to do. Either
everyone in Metropolis is as dumb as burlap sack full of wet hammers or Lois was
seriously turned on by role-playing.
Speaking of Lois... Now that the new Superman flick is rolling merrily along toward
production, whom would you like to see as Lois Lane? Remember when traditional
blonde Tea Leoni had dark locks in Bad Boys? She's got my vote. You can email your
own Lois Lane suggestion to garner@I-AA.org. I'll crown a winner next week.
Just so you don't think I'm completely off topic here, former Superman Dean Cain
played I-AA football at Princeton and had the division's interception record until
former Bethune-Cookman and current Jacksonville Jaguars star Rashean Mathis broke
the record. See, it all comes back to the Cult, boys and girls.
Back to the boards
It is the guys with the secret identities who can really make things interesting on
a message board. From purposely posting misinformation to letting us in on
behind-closed-door conversations (that may really be misinformation) to simply
torturing other fans with verbal barbs, Mr. Anonymous is the guy (or gal) who keeps
a message board interesting. Even when you hate the guy making the posts, you stop
and watch the carnage. It's like seeing two outfielders converge on a fly ball and
you just know they don't see one another and you just know know they are going to
collide. You suspect strongly someone may be injured, perhaps critically and
although you will cover your children's eyes, you must see the humanity for
yourself. That's the effect the anonymous poster has on a message board. Total
chaos.
The only thing worse that a poster with a secret identity is a poster with a secret
identity posing messages on another team's boards. This Kamikaze of the Internet has
little interest in doing anything more than stirring up a piss-pot full of trouble
and fostering ill-will between two groups of fans. For an example, see the Georgia
Southern-Appalachian State or Montana-Montana State rivalries. There's plenty of bad
blood between the teams already but fuel on the fire from the fans makes these games
special. Like the beer commercial should say with the booming voice-over, "Here's to
you, Mr. Marauding Internet Fan of Another Team. You are such a fan of your team
that you go on another team's message boards just to taunt and cheer about your
boys. You fuel border wars and split friendly relationships between institutions of
higher learning asunder. You are the Gremlin that mucks up the works. You are that
guy, the one who has posted 7,838 messages, some of them just three words long or
one smiley face barfing on another smiley face. Thank you for making I-AA college
football special. This Bud's for you."
Nay Sayers
It's hard to believe that this is the 11th "Cult of I-AA" column I've done, and
beginning with the very first one, I've been working to crown the Greatest I-AA Team
of All-Time. There are those who doubt my objectivity in this matter, as witnessed
by the Little Black Rain Cloud over the I-AA.org mailbag this week.
"Is Scott Garner supposed to be writing an article that pertains to 1-AA fans across
the nation or is he still writing for Georgia Southern? Perhaps he is best suited to
writing a more regional piece. He is obviously a rabid GSU supporter - indicated by
his constant and tiring reference to Georgia Southern games, players, coaches,
etc... which is fine if that is the purpose of the column. I get the impression he
is trying to write for a wider audience but can't suppress his clear bias and
passion to everything Georgia Southern. When he finally announces his 'Greatest 1-AA
team of all time' Gee, I wonder who it might be."
Touché.
I wasn't even supposed to be at work today!
If you tuned in last week, the Cult itself voted out Western Kentucky's Cinderella
story in 2002 from consideration as the Muhammad Ali of I-AA football. What we are
left with is the 10 greatest teams of all-time, a list without the consensus of
anyone except me. But I feel good about it.
Any regrets?
Sure. Lopping off Montana 1996 might have been a bit premature considering that they
were a superior team to the 1995 national champions in every respect except for the
outcome of their final game. And placing Georgia Southern's 1985 team on the initial
list rather than the far-superior 1986 squad was a bad decision. I think I left out
a 1980 Boise State team that may have deserved some consideration, at least as part
of initial 16 teams. That last move prompted at least one message board poster to
cry about East Coast bias. Listen pal, only six national championship trophies in
the history of I-AA reside west of the Mississippi River. Two of those belong to
Montana, who was represented three times on the initial list. Two of the remaining
three trophies live in the cases of teams not even in the Cult any more! Plus, I
lived in Reno, so cut me a break on the bias. I have this guy in the previous
segment giving me hell one way and this other guy giving me hell another... I'm near
tears just thinking about it. Remember that Michael Douglas flick, Falling Down? The
next thing you know, I'm going to be shooting up golf carts with sawed-off shotguns.
But I digress.
Here are the top 10 teams left alive in this survival of the fittest. They are
presented chronologically, not geographically, so we're going to start in Kentucky
if that's okay with all the cartographers out there.
1979 Eastern Kentucky, 1982 Eastern Kentucky, 1983 Southern Illinois, 1989 Georgia
Southern, 1994 Youngstown State, 1995 Montana, 1996 Marshall, 1999 Georgia Southern,
2001 Montana, 2003 Delaware.
As we speak, Cult scientists are working on a set of criteria by which all of the
remaining 10 teams may be measured. Once again, these best-and-brightest minds are
calling on you, the Cult clergy, to give us some suggestions for how to evaluate the
teams. Please email those thoughts to garner@I-AA.org. So far, here are the
categories we'll rank teams in-some are empirical statistics while others are a
ranking based on a potentially biased opinion.
Our categories thus far:
Wins in the season in question; Previous and following year's win total; Total
number of playoff games in three year span; National titles won in three-year span;
Quality of playoff opposition; Quality of regular-season opposition; Offensive
firepower; Defensive firepower; Tradition of Excellence; Personnel; Coaching.
Have some categories you'd like to add? Email them in for consideration. In two
weeks, I'll thumbnail each of the Top 10 teams based on the complete categories.
Bonus Babe
Because I'm feeling generous and my brunette-to-blonde ratio was getting way out of
hand, here's Maxim cover girl Laura Prepon (from That 70s Show). I'm not sure what
this has to do with I-AA football, but if you can make a connection and email it to
me, I'll print it.
Scott's Top 25
Here is my top 25 ballot for the Sports Network poll from this past week. No
records. No explanations. Just a list.
1. Georgia Southern
2. Southern Illinois
3. Delaware
4. Montana
5. Furman
6. James Madison
7. Cal Poly
8. William & Mary
9. Western Kentucky
10. New Hampshire
11. Maine
12. Sam Houston State
13. Stephen F. Austin
14. Jacksonville State
15. Northwestern State
16. Lehigh
17. Villanova
18. Eastern Washington
19. Penn
20. Montana State
21. Harvard
22. Colgate
23. Wofford
24. Hampton
25. Northern Arizona
Cult Count
Number of brunettes linked, cumulatively, in this column: 5
Blondes and redheads: 2
Complaints about nesting babe pictures in the Cult columns received so far: 0
Compliments about nesting babe pictures in the Cult columns received so far: 872
Messages posted by High Priest in the last week (all boards): 6
Number of aliases used by High Priest on message boards: 3 (including High Priest)
*** ***
***
Bobcats at Lumberjacks
Bobcats really pull a rabbit out of the hat
By ANDREW HINKELMAN, The Daily Inter Lake
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2004/10/27/sports/sport s01.txt
After four straight down-to-the-wire wins for No. 24 Montana State, including
last-second wins against Weber State and South Dakota State and an overtime win over
Portland State, Bobcats coach Mike Kramer revealed Tuesday the nefarious plan behind
the end-of-game drama.
"We're just trying to increase the amount of money we get from our medical stock,"
he joked. "We're working on some medication for all the people with angina."
It's easy to kid around as long as MSU keeps winning the close ones, but South
Dakota State's comeback from a two-touchdown deficit with less than two minutes to
go in the game -- which forced another game-winning drive from Travis Lulay and the
offense -- highlighted the problems at cornerback.
"I would like to think it didn't have to be," said Kramer of SDSU's rally. "But our
top four corners are down, and when teams get desperate and are chucking it down the
field ...
"It's something we're aware of and it's hopefully something we can get just a little
bit better at."
After the Jackrabbits tied the game, Lulay moved Montana State 69 yards in 49
seconds to set up EJ Cochrane's winning field goal.
That drive, along with another near the end of the first half -- eight plays, 59
yards (though 15 were erased on a penalty) in 1:35, ending in a missed field goal --
showcased the growth of the Bobcats' passing attack since the first couple of games.
"We are catching the ball," Kramer said, alluding to a plague of drops in the early
part of the season. "The one thing that has not been an issue is protection. Travis
is able to combine excellent protection along some astute pass running.
"South Dakota State tried to take away the run all day and that left some passing
lanes open. We hurt ourselves with penalties in the second quarter. Otherwise I
think the game would have been a blowout."
-- INJURY UPDATE: Cornerback Kory Austin is still hampered by a hip pointer, but
will practice today in hopes he can play Saturday. That should enable Ryan Force to
move back to safety, his natural position.
"Had he played safety on those last couple of (SDSU) passes, the outcome would have
been a little less dramatic," Kramer said.
***
Montana's loss, NAU's gain
By ED ODEVEN, Arizona Daily Sun
http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?story ID=96919
People said they were too small and too slow to play Division I football. Boy, were
they wrong.
Northern Arizona seniors Vince Henman and John Perrigo have had a great impact on
the Lumberjack defense -- this season more than ever. An impact, one could equate,
to the grand distance from their hometown of Laurel, Mont., to Flagstaff: 1,045
miles.
Injuries have reduced NAU's depth and experience on defense. Henman and Perrigo are
the lone returning senior starters save for safety Jeremy Thornburg. Even so, the
Laurel natives have produced snap after snap, game after game.
Both seniors had exceptional outings last Saturday against the Portland State
Vikings, a must-win game for the Jacks in their quest to remain a factor in the Big
Sky Conference race. Henman finished with game highs of 12 tackles and three sacks
and was graded out at 96 percent for the contest, while Perrigo had six tackles and
two sacks. The duo combined for 4 1/2 tackles for a loss.
"You'll find bigger bodies, you'll find all the measurables that are faster and
stronger, but I don't know if are going to be able to find kids that are tougher
than these two," NAU coach Jerome Souers said.
But more than anything, both of them have an uncanny knowledge about what the other
guy will do, how he'll play. That comes from being buddies since elementary school,
teammates since junior high.
"I think that that's an example of synergy," Lumberjack linebackers coach Greg Lees
said of their playing style. "One plus one equals three. That's John Perrigo and
Vince Henman. That's not two guys, that's three guys."
Well, those three guys, err, two, won't need any fiery speeches to motivate them for
NAU's next two foes: Montana State and Montana.
"This is it for us," Perrigo said. "It's always nice to play the Montana schools.
It's a little extra added emotion."
Especially after what occurred last season in Bozeman. The Jacks fell 21-17 to MSU,
a game in which the Bobcats scored 14 points in the final 67 seconds.
"That was a hard game," Perrigo said. "We've got to have some payback for that one."
Payback is a driving force for what'll happen in the next two weeks. Leadership and
productivity, however, are the key ingredients for the Montana pals' success.
"There's just a presence about him," NAU defensive line coach Bill Smith said of
Perrigo. "He's not a big rah-rah guy, but it's still by example and the players
really look to him to set the pace."
Henman's signature traits on the football field are strength and maturity.
"You can't block him," Souers said. "He doesn't make mental mistakes."
***
Long before they ever thought about what it'd be like to experience the rivalry with
the Montana schools from afar, Henman and Perrigo had etched their names into the
annals of sports history in the Treasure State.
In 1999, they helped lead Laurel to the Class A state title, a 21-10 triumph over
Hamilton. Perrigo was the defensive MVP of the championship game.
Henman rushed for a Montana prep record 4,669 yards, including 1,889 as a senior. He
was a three-time all-state and all-conference selection at fullback and a two-time
state champion wrestler. Yet the Henman name was not at the top of recruiting lists
for the Montana schools.
Coming out of high school, Perrigo and Henman both wanted to play for either MSU or
Montana, but neither received full-ride scholarship offers.
That's when they took different paths: Perrigo to Flagstaff in 2000, Henman to the
U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.
Perrigo's brother-in-law, Josh Branen, happened to be a graduate assistant coach at
NAU at the time. So he sent game film to the Lumberjacks. Then Souers' staff
contacted Perrigo, and he's been a Lumberjack ever since.
"I thought this was my best opportunity to show what I had," Perrigo said, adding
that offers from NAIA schools were the best ones he received before coming to
Flagstaff.
"It's been great. I have no regrets," Perrigo said of his days at NAU. "It's
something that I'll remember for the rest of my life."
Perrigo earned All-Big Sky honorable mention honors as a junior in 2003, starting
every game for the second straight year and finishing with 7 1/2 sacks.
"I'll tell you what, people missed the boat on him," Smith said. "We were fortunate
that he came our way. You're looking at a guy that is one heck of a football
player."
Henman, meanwhile, spent two years at Air Force and played on the junior varsity
football squad.
"I wasn't ready for the military in my life at the time," Henman admitted. "I think
if you are going to be in the academy you've got to be all for the military and want
to be in it and make it your life. At that time in my life, I wanted to play
football and kind of enjoy college.
"I was better than I think they thought I was," he said. "I kind of let Johnny know
that I was going to transfer out."
Which is precisely what happened. Henman arrived in Flagstaff as a walk-on in 2002.
"I don't care where you come from, you've got to earn it," Souers said, referring to
scholarships.
Indeed, they've both earned them -- and then some.
***
It could be first-and-10, on a game-opening drive, or fourth-and-goal from the 1,
with 10 seconds to go. Either play, and all those in between, you know what you'll
get from Henman and Perrigo.
"We play with a lot of heart, good ol' Montana boys. It's what you gotta do," Henman
said. "You're not necessarily the biggest, fastest and strongest, but we play with
everything we've got."
Indeed, they've come a long way since their days as energetic lads growing up in
small-town Laurel.
"We didn't have Pop Warner (teams). We had flag football," Perrigo recalled.
"The first tackle football was in seventh grade," Henman remembered.
Now, more than a thousand miles from home, Henman and Perrigo have strengthened the
unbreakable bond that is their friendship. What does the future hold for them? They
don't know yet.
Perrigo plans to become a physical education teacher. Henman wants to become a
private pilot and own a hunting/fishing lodge in Alaska.
In the meantime, they can reflect on their good times on and off the gridiron.
"It's a great time. Me and Vince have been buddies since elementary school," Perrigo
said. "It's just nice to have him around. We hang out all the time, go fishing,
camping. Our girlfriends are really good friends and our families (too). There's
nothing more than I can ask for."
Except for victories over Montana State and Montana the next two weeks.
|
|
|
|
