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Where Are They Now?
- Thread starter 4theluvofgriz
- Start date
http://missoulian.com/college/article_40a0ca51-e9d2-5d35-b025-1662dc95e837.htmlAllezchat said:
Paul LaMantia is ready to put away his crutches, but not his cleats.
The University of Montana senior is fighting his way back from his second knee surgery since December with an eye toward contributing on special teams before his eligibility ends. LaMantia, a defensive tackle who transferred from Boise State after the 2005 season, tore his posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last season against Eastern Washington.
The Oakdale, Calif., native had his first procedure in December to clean up cartilage. The plan was for LaMantia to play through the season, and then have a more complete surgery to fully repair the damage, but the pain was too much.
"It was a pretty significant amount of pain," LaMantia said. "I tried to play through the spring, but with my PCL still not 100 percent I was having trouble keeping a straight face just walking."
LaMantia, who said he believes he injured his knee by driving it into the ground while making a tackle, said he had micro fracture surgery in late April. After crutching around an immobilized leg for nearly three months, LaMantia said he has gone from 290 pounds to about 225 pounds under an aggressive rehab program.
"I've been able to jog one and a half to three miles a day," said LaMantia, who had 27 tackles in 12 games last year. "They say I'm a little ahead of schedule."
LaMantia, who already used his redshirt year with Boise State in 2004, is no stranger to overcoming leg injuries. He was diagnosed with Compartment Syndrome, a painful condition where muscle tissue is constricted, while recovering from a broken tibia he suffered against Weber State in 2006.
"I've been on crutches almost every year since I've been here," he said. "I'm never sad to see them go."
LaMantia said he has only watched the Griz play on TV, but might attend today's game against Sacramento State in person.
"Since I'm from California, I'd love to see the Hornets get their teeth kicked in," he said.
Q: What is your outlook for the future as far as playing for the Griz?
A: Obviously at 220 or 225 pounds, I can't play at defensive tackle. I'm hoping to get in on special teams. I really enjoyed it. You get to run at full speed and hit somebody. It's really an adrenaline rush.
Q: How are you feeling now?
A: Pretty good. I'm definitely picking up speed. I'm starting to transition into more football oriented activates. Coach (Bobby) Hauck and Coach (Kraig) Paulson have been really supportive, looking out for my football career and my health after football.
Q: Do you have any specific goals or time table for playing this year?
A: I'd love to run full speed into a Cat. That would be a nice way top go out. Nothing like being able to beat up on your little brother.
Q: How much does the chance to get to play in at least one more game mean to you?
A: It would mean a tremendous amount to me. It's what I've done this past decade. You want to see it through, but you have to give it time. It's kind of heart breaking, like telling a fisherman he can't fish anymore.
Q: What brought you to Montana?
A: I didn't want to wait a year sitting out if I transferred, so I looked up who was in the top 10 (in Division I-AA) and I knew I wanted to stay out west. I looked up who won between the two schools that year (2005) and it was MSU. A teammate though, Tanyon Bissell, who's from Bozeman, said, "You really need to look into the U."
I did a little more homework and realized the Griz and Missoula were for me.
(more Q & A's in the Link)
Colter_Nuanez56
Well-known member
4theluvofgriz said:
After playing several seasons in the CFL, Trey Young runs Official Player Watch helping prospects, including many from the Big Sky, earn tryouts and spots with CFL teams.
http://www.officialplayerwatch.com/
statler & waldorf
Well-known member
Silenoz said:
Real class, Silenoz. :roll:
garizzalies
Well-known member
This quote did not get near enough attention. What a beautiful statement. A Bozemanite was the one to set him straight! And that person referred to us a “the U.” Ha!Bear Axed said:
Zirg
Well-known member
4theluvofgriz said:
That was Bill Schwanke,former Griz play by play announcer, who did those great articles. I enjoyed them too. The Missoulian sports section is down to about 3 pages these days-baseball standings and box scores and a cpl high school tennis and track stories when there isn't a Griz game. We'll never see those kind of articles again and we'll all probably live to see the end of daily newspapers alltogether. Sorry Colter.
I used to work for the company that did the audit for Great Harvest in Dillon. One of our audit procedures is to do a positive confirmation. I type up a letter, Great Harvest puts on letterhead and signs their name to it, and I send it to a sample of customers.
I’m scanning the sample and I see the name Brian Ah Yat.
This was back in 2006-ish. We sent the letter addressed to him to Honolulu. At the time he had a couple Great Harvest stores.
So I’m not sure if he’s still doing that or if he’s moved on to something else. Bread doesn’t make a lot of money but if I recall he had two stores so I’m sure he was at least slightly north of the average. The CFO at the time seemed to think he was a pretty nice guy.
I’m scanning the sample and I see the name Brian Ah Yat.
This was back in 2006-ish. We sent the letter addressed to him to Honolulu. At the time he had a couple Great Harvest stores.
So I’m not sure if he’s still doing that or if he’s moved on to something else. Bread doesn’t make a lot of money but if I recall he had two stores so I’m sure he was at least slightly north of the average. The CFO at the time seemed to think he was a pretty nice guy.
Andy Petek works for Lithia in Helena
TJ Oelkers works for Stryker in Bosie
Jason Francis works for Stryker in Spokane
Matt Steinau own Orange Coast Finacial in Laguna Niguel
Dan Orizott works for Depomed Phamaceuticals in Connecticut
Calvin Coleman is in Las Vegas and works for a company that buys back time shares
TJ Oelkers works for Stryker in Bosie
Jason Francis works for Stryker in Spokane
Matt Steinau own Orange Coast Finacial in Laguna Niguel
Dan Orizott works for Depomed Phamaceuticals in Connecticut
Calvin Coleman is in Las Vegas and works for a company that buys back time shares
Liquor up front!
Well-known member
The most successful former Griz is Chris Lebsock.
HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
The Ah Yat's no longer have the Great Harvest Franchise. Brian is a high school quarterback coach. HIs QB, a 2020 prospect, got an offer from Michigan in 8th grade.
Sold my dad a new ram truck a few years ago. good guy227GRIZ said:
