TIWIW for Weber; Wow, and a look at WOU

That was impressive. Say what you will about Weber State missing starting quarterback Mike Hoke, but the now-No. 10 Montana Grizzlies’ 45-10 win over the Wildcats Saturday was a thing of beauty. For example: That first touchdown pass to Peter Nguyen. The screen play has been off and on over the years for the Griz, [...]

End of the HOG and the new it was it is

Game time is near for the Big Sky Conference showdown between the No. 11 Montana Grizzlies and Weber State; as I look down on te field I see Trumaine Johnson and Gerald Kemp dressed out; Jon Opperud (appendectomy) is not. It promises to be a physical game — at least, if you count up all [...]

Things I’d wish I’d written, NAU edition

I’m not sure where to go with the news that Trumaine Johnson and Gerald Kemp were arrested for allegedly scuffling with police following the Montana Grizzlies’ 28-24 win at Northern Arizona. Well, there’s this: Both players have a lot to lose as Montana nears the end of a promising season – Johnson in particular, with [...]

GameDay in Flagstaff

Vuvuzela Alert! The Montana Grizzlies are approaching kickoff in Flagstaff, Ariz., and among the new amenities at the remodeled Walkup Skydome: Several dozen soccer horns set next to the improved seating. Great. On the field Montana will have to deal with a Northern Arizona team hungry for a win, in its homecoming game, against an opponent [...]

Things I wish I’d written, PSU edition

The dust has settled on Montana’s 30-24 win over Portland State Saturday, and after further review… there were more close calls than previously reported. I mentioned in Sunday’s Missoulian game story that the first half could have been worse, but the defense for the now No. 12th-ranked Griz came up with a goal-line stand after [...]

Tavoy speaks

This item on Tavoy Moore’s dismissal by ISU coach Mike Kramer ran in the Idaho State Journal although it has an Associated Press byline. The senior running back says he was dismissed for complaining about Kramer publicly criticizing his players — namely Moore, who did get a pretty good public flogging in the ISJ the [...]

A quarter-century in Washington-Grizzly Stadium

If you saw the fall issue of The Missoula Magazine, you should have read the cover story by Nick Lockridge about WGS turning 25. He got Merrill Hoge on the phone. It’s one of the few interviews where Hoge didn’t complain about Vince Young. I kid. But on that subject, the Missoulian is seeking fans’ [...]

TIWIW, Idaho State edition

There were impressive moments in the now No. 14-ranked Montana Grizzlies’ 33-0 win at Idaho State Saturday, including the play of Gerald Kemp. The junior played a few snaps at quarterback but was used more heavily as a slot receiver. Kemp’s first of eight receptions, for 13 yards, ended with him “trucking” an Idaho State [...]

Gameday on Oct. 8

Here’s the most recent look at Saturday’s game between No. 16 Montana and the Idaho State Bengals, who are playing in a better-lighted, nicer-carpeted, noisier Holt Arena these days. It’s the first of several possible tipping points for the Griz, who played their most complete game way back in week 2, in a 37-23 win [...]

Things I wish I’d written, Northern Colorado version

This should be called Things I wish I’d recorded: Somehow, in all the homecoming hoopla, I forget to set my DVR for the Montana Grizzlies’ 55-28 win over Northern Colorado Saturday. Well, there’s this: At the 1:25 mark of Amanda Beterman’s Missoulian video of the game, you can see 368-pound UNC noseguard Marcus Felker going [...]