How are the griz Doing it?

gtapp · Post by **gtapp** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 9:30 pm

For years (up until this year) I could understand the griz success. Every single year you had at least two “Stud” O-Lineman of NFL caliber (albeit late round), a great running back, a great QB, at least two great WR’s, a great kicker, at least two Stud D-Lineman, one or two great LB’s and a great CB and safety. This year you have a great RB and a great DE (Murphy). Other than that you may have some good players but not the All American Studs you used to have and yet you keep on winning these big games. To be honest, I just don’t get it! On paper, you just don’t have near the top talent you usually have. I never expected you to beat this Cal-Poly team. They made both us and NDSU look like a NAIA team. I don’t know how you keep doing it. I don’t even think you have a good head coach and yet the results are always the same! It is almost as if you could hire Homer Simpson as your coach and recruit all of your players from Darby and Corvallis HS and still win 8 games. You need to bottle whatever it is and sell it!

BWahlberg · Post by **BWahlberg** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 11:10 pm

1. On most occasions Washington Grizzly Stadium really helps. Today's atmosphere really helped fuel the teams emotions, IMO.

2. Hauck's teams avoid back-to-back losses. In fact...the only "back-to-back" loss he's had was in 2003 when the cats beat the Griz and then in the 1st round of the playoffs the Griz lost to W. Ill.

3. While this team may not have an NFL caliber lineman this year it does have an NFL caliber running back. If Lex ran for 85 - 125 yards today, the Griz would've lost.

4. Our defense. They were banged up but made good plays, and killed two late drives with interceptions.

Just some of my opinions.

JahGriz · Post by **JahGriz** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 6:02 pm

There is a lot more to it than this, but would say: Depth and Attitude/Confidence.

CatFamily · Post by **CatFamily** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 6:48 pm

Having such a terrific facility and great support from the Missoula community and surrounding area has lent volumes to the success of the Grizzly football program. It is so much easier to attract talent with the atmosphere and excitement the fans and community provide. Truly a GREAT thing for the State of Montana!

I hope within the next few years Bobcat Stadium will be another of the top facilities in the nation and the community and surrounding area will too add to enthusiasm and excitement in the program much as it has this year. If this continues the Bobcat program will continue to get back to being one of the top programs in the nation along with the Griz.

JahGriz · Post by **JahGriz** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 8:35 am

No doubt, facilities (stadium mainly) and community support are big to get to the depth we have.

But beating Cal Poly, this year, is only one game. The Griz still have a long way to go, and need to improve quite a bit to get where they want to be this year.

PDXKat · Post by **PDXKat** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 9:37 am

The griz are a good team at home, no question about it - their crowd is truely the 12th man. No excuses offered but you put the griz down there in CP's cow pasture field and the results likely would be different than Saturdays. Do the griz play the last 3 of 4 on the road? With a very good PSU team left to play at home, no one has a cakewalk to this years BSC title.

Platinumcat · Post by **Platinumcat** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:34 am

gtapp wrote:For years (up until this year) I could understand the griz success. Every single year you had at least two “Stud” O-Lineman of NFL caliber (albeit late round), a great running back, a great QB, at least two great WR’s, a great kicker, at least two Stud D-Lineman, one or two great LB’s and a great CB and safety. This year you have a great RB and a great DE (Murphy). Other than that you may have some good players but not the All American Studs you used to have and yet you keep on winning these big games. To be honest, I just don’t get it! On paper, you just don’t have near the top talent you usually have. I never expected you to beat this Cal-Poly team. They made both us and NDSU look like a NAIA team. I don’t know how you keep doing it. I don’t even think you have a good head coach and yet the results are always the same! It is almost as if you could hire Homer Simpson as your coach and recruit all of your players from Darby and Corvallis HS and still win 8 games. You need to bottle whatever it is and sell it!

I think that the tradition they have created is a HUGE part of it:
1) The kids buy into it when they go to play there
A. We're a national powerhouse, we expect to win
B. We never lose at home (this is their mentality)
C. We never never lose two games in a row

2) The Griz may not have a bunch of All-American status players in this year's team. But, they are playing with a LOT of young players; this is the part that scares me the most. This is supposed to be their re-building year and, yet, there they are ranked in the top 10. Again, the quality players they can bring in due to their tradition makes even lean years successfull.

I coach youth wrestling. I have read a book called Winning State Wrestling. The whole premise of the book deals with the powers of attitude in competition and how to develop that attitude. The Griz have this, again, because of their tradition.

A side note: Anyone who is looking for a great read, I highly recommend that book for any sport. I believe you can access the website at www.winningstate.com

BWahlberg · Post by **BWahlberg** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 6:25 pm

and....

Hauck is a good coach with a good supporting crew. Yes, I'm not sold on Phencie even after 2 1/2 years, but he put together great games, and then total crap games.

elkmcc · Post by **elkmcc** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:47 pm

IMO an extra ingredient the Griz have is depth. It becomes more obvious as the season progresses but often the Griz #2's are as good or even better than many of the starters. And the 3's are not much of a step down. This is a huge advantage especially when combined with BH's prepensity to sub.

Montana might not have the individual best talent at most positions but they do have most talent at most positions. Depth pays off as injuries mount throughout the season. I believe this is a big reason the Griz have made several deep runs throught the playoffs. Even so, the Griz too aren't immune to the injury bug. Playoff runs over the years have been stalled by injuries to key players. ie: '94 DD.

Luck, it all boils down to a lot of luck and that is not a quantity that can be recruited.

bozbobcat · Post by **bozbobcat** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 11:07 pm

elkmcc wrote:

Luck, it all boils down to a lot of luck and that is not a quantity that can be recruited.

To me, it seems like the Grizzlies are lucky quite often. I felt that MSU's win at Weber was kind of like Grizzly luck. Like I said on other topics, the Griz just find this way to win, especially at home. As you also said, injuries become a factor, like in 2002 at the end of the season. I hope the Cats can have some of this Grizzly luck.

BWahlberg · Post by **BWahlberg** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 11:55 pm

I think a lot of football "luck" comes from a disciplined team that is well coached. You see it with a lot teams across the nation, on many levels.

How are the griz Doing it?

How are the griz Doing it?

Re: How are the griz Doing it?