Peter Fields, like Jim O’Day before him, has denied talking turkey with the Western Athletic Conference in a story by the Bozeman Chronicle’s Will Holden.
Fields, Montana State University’s athletic director, said his conversations with WAC commissioner Karl Benson haven’t included overtures or hints about joining the WAC. In his words:
“Karl and I are friends. [...]

Fresno State and Nevada restarted the Reshuffle Party with Tuesday’s announcement they are leaving the WAC for the Mountain West Conference, and while Montana watches all factors of this movement with interest, the sticker shock stands out for me.
This Fresno Bee story has the WAC collecting a $5 million fine from each departing school, withing [...]

Here’s a photo the Missoulian received Monday from Afghanistan. Army specialist Kristopher Krause, a Hamilton native now a part of the U.S. Army’s 230th Vertical Engineer Company, sent it along with the following words:
“I live in Missoula and I have attached a photo that was taken by us earlier today (Aug. 15) on top of [...]

Here’s an old YouTube video of an Alabama fan voicing his displeasure with the Tennessee Volunteers, which is who the Montana Grizzlies open up the 2011 football season.
Thought it was funny the first time I saw it — it dates back at least a couple years to the Phillip Fulmer Era at UT — and [...]

Here’s a short story from the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Argus-Leader about a quarterback and receiver named Matt Hermanson who has verbally committed to the University of Montana for football.
South Dakota isn’t a hotbed for Griz recruiting — I only found three Grizzlies who came from Mount Rushmore State, including linebacker Kent Clausen (Aberdeen, 1976-79) — [...]

There’s two-for-ones and there’s what Portland State has set up for its home football slate, which is being played at 7,600-seat Hillsboro Stadium this season.
According to a release from UM, Griz fans who want to see their team play PSU on Oct. 16 can buy a ticket only if they purchase a ticket to another [...]

Here’s a story from the Los Angeles Daily News that includes a snippet about Antwon Moutra’s impending transfer to Montana from UCLA. Moutra was a highly-recruited receiver out of Carson, Calif., who turned down a scholarship offer from Robin Pflugrad – then an Oregon assistant – to play for the Bruins.
Two years later – he [...]

Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone. Here’s the expanded state bests I compiled through May 4. The Midland Roundtable meet in Laurel set the 100-meter dash standings on their ears. Big tail wind, low times.
But since Rial Cummings began this project years ago, it’s been our policy to take the marks as they are — wind-aided [...]

And it’s heavy.
The NCAA approved expanding the Football Championship Subdivision playoff grid to 20 teams, and the new look has its good points and bad. As examples, Montana athletic director Jim O’Day provided me with mock 20-team brackets for the last two postseasons.
Things to like: Montana would’ve had a first-round bye in each season, playing [...]

Here’s a story in today’s Las Vegas Review-Journal about Coach Bobby Hauck’s first team meeting with his new football team, the UNLV Rebels.
“He didn’t talk too long,” defensive end Malo Taumua said. “He didn’t need to talk too long. He wants to get to work.”
Sounds like the Bobby we all know. He’s also been hitting the [...]