R.I.P. Montana’s Football Dominance?
Following crushing defeats to both the Cats and the Griz last weekend, the Montana Mint Superfans discuss the fading playoff hopes for both schools, the reasons behind the demise of Montana’s once dominating football presence, and the arrests of three Grizzly football players. Also, the Montana Mint’s Hot Take Nate takes on coach Rob Ash and the Billings Gazette reporter defending him.
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On to the Superfans….
Bear Tycoon (Griz fan): With the Cats getting dumped in North Dakota and the Griz losing a rainy day in Portland…What a bummer of a weekend. Those were basically must win games. RIP Montana football seasons.
Clarence Toole (Griz fan): Before you two over react, let me recap the games with this video.
“They are who we thought they were.” – Dennis Green
Montana State 38, North Dakota 44
Going into the MSU v. UND game, we knew the Bobcats defense had the stopping power of a spitball. We were all curious to see how MSU planned to slow down UND RB John Santiago. It turns out they just decided to not, allowing his 230 yards and 3 TDs on 30 carries.
We knew MSU’s scheme was shitty; their technique was shitty; and while I hate calling out college kids for playing shitty, their personnel was shitty too. I streamed the game from a local coffee shop—one of those dog friendly places with spotty Wi-Fi —and the constant buffering allowed me to see freeze frames of MSU defenders completely out of position. MSU safeties were taking angles to the ball so obtuse that I’m beginning to wonder if they’d drive from Havre to Malta via Lewistown .
Saturday just reinforced what we already knew: Dakota Prukop is Sisyphus—a man forced to roll a heavy boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down; repeating this action for eternity. For Dakota, he racks up points, only to watch his lead disappear once the defense takes the field again. This season must feel like an eternity for him.
University of Montana 16, Portland State 35
UM v PSU was infuriating to watch. Griz were out executed in every phase of the game. I’m not sure playing a 12th man would have enabled us to wrap up their QB, Alex Kuresa. Every time they needed a big play, he’d break off a dozen yards. UM was spying him too! By the end of the game Kuresa ran 11 times for 119 yards and 2 scores. Their running back, David Jones, added 165 more yards and another score. The energy on the Griz defense seemed low. PSU’s read option kept us on our heels and they were the team delivering the pops. It was just depressing to see a great defense get dismantled so easily.
Not helping matters, Makena “The Dud Dude” Simis took a hard regression after last week’s explosion. He sailed 3 picks, on back-to-back-to-back drives, all to safety Patrick Onwuasor (pronounced: Defensive Player of the Week). The PSU corners did a number on Jamaalis Henderjones, and by looking at the box score you can’t determine if Ellis even made the trip. Stitt now has a tough decision moving forward: Do I bring back Gus or let it ride with The Dude?
Z-Train (Griz fan): I watched that Dennis Green clip maybe 20 times. I love when coaches just fucking erupt mid press conference. It’s also really funny that he is screaming about a Rex Grossman led bears team.
Bear Tycoon (Griz fan): Both teams are 4-4. The Griz are 3-2 in Big Sky Conference play and the Cats are 2-3. To have a prayer at the FCS playoffs, both teams need to win out.
Looking at their schedules, the Griz are at Idaho State, home for Easter Washington, and in Bozeman for Cat/Griz. Cats are home for Southern Utah (where they are underdogs), at Idaho State (can they get their first road win in more than a year), and then home for the Griz. Both teams can’t win out because they play in the last week of the season.
Putting the Cat/Griz game aside, what are the chances of either team going 2-0 the next two weeks. I give the Griz about a 30 percent chance of winning out (80 percent chance of beating ISU, 40 percent against Easter Washington). And I give the Cats about a 15 percent chance (30 percent chance against SUU, 50 percent on the road against ISU).
Super depressing.
Clarence Toole (Griz fan): Of the games remaining, Idaho State is the only game that doesn’t make me nervous. EWU I’d say we have an outside shot at winning, especially if Gus is back. EWU has snatched some victories from the jaws of defeat this season. If they don’t bring their A game, I think the Griz could put them down. Play at home helps us a lot here. I actually think all this “negative” Griz press will be fuel on the fire. This type of shit motivated people, even if it isn’t directed right at them.
Z-Train (Griz fan): I have been thinking about how dang depressing this season is for the state of Montana. I always saw FCS football as Montana’s thing. Out-of-staters think we are essentially insane yokels for caring so much about FCS football. To really every state other than MT, the FCS is at most a hyperlocal thing, and probably generally an afterthought. Like Villanova alums were probably jazzed when they beat the Griz for the chipper that year, but no way Philadelphia, or Pennsylvania, was even aware it happened.
Hot Take Nate (Cats fan): It is so depressing that we are getting outplayed by teams in cities where people would rather go to the farmers market than the football game.
I live in Northern California – 40 minutes from Sacramento State, 45 minutes from UC Davis, and about 2.5 hours from Cal Poly. You know how many people I’m friends with out here that went to these schools want to talk FCS football? One. And the only reason he talks to me about FCS football is he played at Sacramento State.
I try to tell everyone out here that the FCS is awesome because we have playoffs. You can lose two games, be the best team in the country, and get a chance to prove it on the field. The fact that both Montana teams will be out of the playoffs and teams that average 3,000 fans per game are getting in it sucks.
I didn’t mind when teams like Appalachian State and North Dakota State were repping the FCS in championship games because they had amazing fan bases. I’m not down with the likes of Portland State and North Dakota beating us in front of a handful of locals.
Z-Train (Griz fan): There is always the nagging truth in the back of Montanans minds that we compete mostly with an unholy mix of out of state juco dudes, a few select Montana all-stars that weren’t good enough to go Pac 12, disgruntled FBS benchwarmers, and athletic guys a bit too small to cut it elsewhere. That has been our mostly successful secret sauce, and as sorry as that looks to some Alabama fan, I always justified caring so much about it because we were so dang good at it.
If this trend in the Big Sky Conference continues, with more parity leading to Cats and Griz struggling just to be relevant, and talent rich eastern schools dominate the playoffs, it’s gonna upend our little utopian FCS sports world in MT.
I hope this year is just a blip, for the first time in our lives, the FCS playoffs won’t matter in Montana, and we’re saying this in early November!
Coach (Cats fan): I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t happy the Griz are losing, but I wish the Cats were winning.
In the case of the Griz, I honestly think this is just a down year, not a systemic failure. You guys had one when Delaney took over and then thing were back to normal. Griz fans don’t deal well with mediocrity. I don’t think the Griz are that far off. Remember that they are learning how to play under a new scheme and a new coaching staff. So, Griz Nation, sit down, shut the fuck up and deal with it.
On the other hand, the Cats have had bad seasons and have had to deal with it many times. I’m concerned about the Cats and their porous defense, but I have faith in Ash and his ability to recruit. We need to continue to rely on places like Texas and California because speed kills in the Big Sky. We can get our tough defensive kids from in state and our skill guys from out of state.
Z-Train (Griz fan): You’re right. Montana has such a small pool of talent, our schools have to knock it out of the park in out-of-state recruiting EVERY YEAR to be successful, and it is getting more difficult. I think you are seeing our WA and CA recruiting (usually the goldmine for UM) get hit by EWU’s success, for example.
Other schools just have to be average hitters in a 300 mile radius, picking up the leftover kids with bad academics or an attitude problem, and they will be monsters. That’s why otherwise unknown places like Towson, Sam Houston State, Youngstown State, Furman, Jacksonville State, McNeese State, or Charleston State piss pound us. It goes on and on with schools none of us would consider going to, and don’t know where they are, but nevertheless knock Montana teams out of the playoffs every year. Montana schools don’t have the same built-in constituency of athletes where we can just return to the well every year and be ok.
I used to think that Washington-Grizzly Stadium and Joe O’Brien Memorial Stadium were our trump cards for recruiting. But these attractions aren’t what they once were. You do get the odd recruit saying he signed up after going to a game at WaGriz and visiting Missoula, because it’s an amazing atmosphere, but I hate relying on that. For example, EWU has a horrible stadium and is in a crappy town, but for the last five years have blown us out of the water with athletes. Guys like David Jones or John Santiago used to be locks to go to Griz, that’s no longer the case.
Clarence Toole (Griz fan): Snap out of is Z-Train or we will change your Mint name to Montana Eeyore.
The environment isn’t any different today as it was in 1995. Your point about MT’s talent pool is correct, and as such, UM has always needed out of state talent. However, I disagree that guys like David Jones or Santiago used to be locks to attend UM. If that were true, our all-time rushers and receivers should be NFL-talent Californians. They’re not. Instead they are NFL-talent Montanans. Guys like Mard Mariani, Chase Reynolds, and Lex Hiliard. UM’s top RB’s and top WR’s are all Montana boys! This year we have arguable the best WR combo in team history, we’re still likely to miss the playoffs.
This is simply a down year. We’ve got a new coach with a new system. We’ve cycled through 3 QB’s, and we’re in a RB lull (all out of state RBs, by the way).
Bear Tycoon (Griz fan): Well hopefully Cats fans are comfortable with Coach Rob Ash, because signs are pointing to him staying. He apparently signed a secret contract extension over the summer and embedded reporter Greg Rachac made a compelling case for him to stay.
Hot Take Nate (Cats fan): I read that Rachac piece, and got so angry I wrote a rebuttal article that posted earlier this week. It is time for Ash to go.
Z-Train (Griz fan): Wow. Just read your article. FUCKING CASE CLOSED. If I was Dr. Cruzado and I read that article, Ash would be on the streets by 1:45 pm.
Bear Tycoon (Griz fan): Hot Take Nate from the top rope!!!!!!
Hot Take Nate (Cats fan): Nothing pisses me off more than a reporter who writes an article like that to keep a positive relationship with the coach he’s embedded with.
Coach (Cats fan): To be fair and coming from experience, you can’t berate your sources or they won’t give you shit when it’s time for an article. We learned that in the J-School almost every day. He can’t piss off Rob Ash and still make a paycheck. He has to tiptoe around some issues. I agree that Rackhack’s article has some questionable insights, but the guy can’t just hammer Ash and expect him to keep feeding him quotes for articles.
Also, how do you pronounce this guy’s name? Is it RaChawk? Or Rackhack? RACHAWK???????
Z-Train (Griz fan): So do you fire the nice guy that runs a tight ship because he can’t quite get over the hump? It’s an interesting question, and probably the only interesting thing left in UM or MSU football this season.
Bear Tycoon (Griz fan): Not the only interesting thing, Z-Train! We haven’t talked about the three Griz players that were arrested last weekend!! After word leaked out on Sunday that five University of Montana students, including three Griz players, were arrested for breaking into a house, the Montana internet exploded. Social media exploded with theories and rumors about what went down. Now that all involved have pled guilty to misdemeanor criminal trespass and received 6 month suspended sentences, things have died down a bit. It was quite the rollercoaster to follow.
Z-Train (Griz fan): After initially assuming the worst (I’ve been conditioned to assume the worse after a string of horrible crimes) I now think, if their story is true, that they made an honest mistake and I feel bad for them. The homeowner was probably justifiably scared and he sounded remorseful that they were up on felony burglary charges. I think it was just a guy that saw a lot of large dark figures in a part of his house on a dark and stormy night and did what Mr. Karma should’ve done–just call the cops to sort it out.
Hot Take Nate (Cats fan): I was a tad introspective this after reading about this and thought about all the stupid stuff I did when I was in college… hell even after college. I never want to, right off the bat, be one of those people who is like, “Oh, those young kids are idiots – how could you ever do that” because odds are I did some of the same stupid shit to an extent. There are dozens of stories I can think of where we’d do stupid/illegal stuff with no bad intent under the influence of alcohol and immaturity. I would have accepted any punishment had I been caught and been very sorry. I don’t want to make this out to be a Griz thing because, on the surface, it looks like it was kids doing young and dumb shit.
Coach (Cats fan): The thing that pisses me off is the way the Missoulian is painting these remorseful college athletes. Of course they’re remorseful! They got caught. Anyone (well, most) put in a public situation and charged with a crime will be remorseful in order to dodge a stiff penalty. Some college athletes (basketball and football players) are the most cocky, entitled brats on a college campus. We build them up to be idols and legends, when in reality they’re just like the rest of us only a little quicker and stronger. It’s not just a Griz thing either. Same with the Cats. I almost hate how much we put these kids on a pedestal; hell, all athletes in general. They’re just like everyone else, just more athletic.
That Crittenden kid from Whitefish is the one who should be getting more press. That kid is probably respectful and a great representative of UM. Screw clowns like these ones in trouble.
Clarence Toole (Griz fan): I would love it if Critt got some more press. His major is Chemistry. Chemistry is an insane degree path for an athlete to take. So many labs and so much homework. I’ve never understood why it takes 4 years to earn a B.S. in Chem and 4 years to earn a B.A. in Communications.
Z-Train (Griz fan): Critt is also Rhode Scholar finalist so he will miss Cat-Griz for final interview in Seattle. Awesome that he’s made it that far, and too bad he has to make this (clearly the right) choice. It’s a big blow to Griz defensive front.
Bear Tycoon (Griz fan): Looking past all of the drama, do we think the Griz can take care of business against Idaho State?
Clarence Toole (Griz fan): For the past 20 minutes I’ve been trying to piece together a narrative for how Idaho State could beat the Griz. The only game on their schedule that appears to have clues is their 37-31 victory over UND. This is really the best case scenario for ISU. Their QB, Michael Sanders had himself a day, throwing for 427 yards and 4 TDs on 32-49 passing. ISU has a dangerous set of WRs in KW Williams (12 rec, 204 yards, 2 TD) and Madison Mangum (10 rec, 142 yards, 1 TD) that require attention. If the Griz have difficulty dispatching ISU, it will come at the hands of these gentlemen.
I still think the Griz take care of business. Griz do their best work on the defensive side of the ball. ISU’s run game is so impotent it landed a supporting role in a Cialis commercial (the star of that commercial is the Cat’s Defense). Senior cornerback Nate Harris has looked really good all season, and our pass rush is formidable enough to deflate a proportion of ISU passing virility. Also, let’s not forget how clueless UND’s secondary looked when they played UM. The ISU passing digits against UND could be an artifact general UND haplessness.
Bear Tycoon (Griz fan): Right, but we still have The Dude at quarterback. Is this a problem?
Z-Train (Griz fan): At this point, I think we would be better off trying to get the center to snap a vertical pass down the field to Henderson or Jamal every play, and take all these QB bozos out of the picture.
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