George Ferguson
Well-known member
Stitt, Haslam and crew were in Havre today to talk to Griz fans and boosters. Here's a few key points from what was said. I did an interview as well that will be in tomorrows HDN.
Haslam: Said that the Academic Center is nearing completion. Also talked about the softball team and how they will finish their first season in the Top 20 in all of NCAA in attendance. Finally, talked about the Champions Center. The utilities phase of construction will begin the day after graduation ceremonies. Official groundbreaking will be the week after the last home game.
Stitt: Asked by many about the starting QB. Said Brady is awesome and while the race isn't over, he's closer to the finish line than the rest. Didn't even mention any other QB's except for when I asked about Pflug. He said Willy is an exciting prospect and as a QB, has what he likes. But he said he has LONG way to go from a physicality standpoint. He said Willy had some real rough days during the spring, and there were times when he told himself and the other coaches too ease up on him because "He should be thinking about prom right now, not playing football against a defense as good as ours". He said the best thing about him is they have lots of time to develop him. He said Willy will run the scout team this season.
Was asked about Ellis Henderson. He said there are zero questionmarks about his health and that coaches like Green say he's not back to full strength, but that he's already BETTER physically than he was before he got sick. Said EH IS the punt returner.
Was asked about what the champions center will do for recruiting, and he said actually, the first thing is, the players who are on the team now that will be here when it's done are who he's most excited for because he said they DESERVE better facilities. He said a football-only building will only help to enhance the team chemistry and bond that he's trying to create because he wants his team to spend as much time together as possible. All of them, together, as much as possible. He said they can't trust each other if they don't know each other and that the current facilities don't allow for that because they can't all condition and lift and hang out together at the same time.
He talked about NDSU quite a bit. He said all he's worried about is getting that first three and out on defense against them, and getting that first first down against them. That's all he's worried about and after those things happen, he'll go from there. He said he's extremely methodical and old school and refuses to look ahead.
He also talked about the tradition and culture at Montana. He told the players he doesn't want to change things but he does want to get back to Montana the way he first saw them when he was at Northern Colorado, and that was a team where 9-5 or just winning a Big Sky title wasn't anywhere good enough. Referenced last season and said how some players said "last year was a good season". He said that's fine, but now 9-5 isn't good enough anymore. He said the bar is, and has to be set much, much higher.
That's the nuts and bolts of the afternoon.
Haslam: Said that the Academic Center is nearing completion. Also talked about the softball team and how they will finish their first season in the Top 20 in all of NCAA in attendance. Finally, talked about the Champions Center. The utilities phase of construction will begin the day after graduation ceremonies. Official groundbreaking will be the week after the last home game.
Stitt: Asked by many about the starting QB. Said Brady is awesome and while the race isn't over, he's closer to the finish line than the rest. Didn't even mention any other QB's except for when I asked about Pflug. He said Willy is an exciting prospect and as a QB, has what he likes. But he said he has LONG way to go from a physicality standpoint. He said Willy had some real rough days during the spring, and there were times when he told himself and the other coaches too ease up on him because "He should be thinking about prom right now, not playing football against a defense as good as ours". He said the best thing about him is they have lots of time to develop him. He said Willy will run the scout team this season.
Was asked about Ellis Henderson. He said there are zero questionmarks about his health and that coaches like Green say he's not back to full strength, but that he's already BETTER physically than he was before he got sick. Said EH IS the punt returner.
Was asked about what the champions center will do for recruiting, and he said actually, the first thing is, the players who are on the team now that will be here when it's done are who he's most excited for because he said they DESERVE better facilities. He said a football-only building will only help to enhance the team chemistry and bond that he's trying to create because he wants his team to spend as much time together as possible. All of them, together, as much as possible. He said they can't trust each other if they don't know each other and that the current facilities don't allow for that because they can't all condition and lift and hang out together at the same time.
He talked about NDSU quite a bit. He said all he's worried about is getting that first three and out on defense against them, and getting that first first down against them. That's all he's worried about and after those things happen, he'll go from there. He said he's extremely methodical and old school and refuses to look ahead.
He also talked about the tradition and culture at Montana. He told the players he doesn't want to change things but he does want to get back to Montana the way he first saw them when he was at Northern Colorado, and that was a team where 9-5 or just winning a Big Sky title wasn't anywhere good enough. Referenced last season and said how some players said "last year was a good season". He said that's fine, but now 9-5 isn't good enough anymore. He said the bar is, and has to be set much, much higher.
That's the nuts and bolts of the afternoon.
