The Bobcat Nation

Fetherston commits to play for Grizzlies
By TOM COTTON - IR Sports Editor - 12/21/06
Helena High football standout Ryan Fetherston has verbally committed to play for the University of Montana.

Fetherston, who is 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, started at both linebacker and quarterback last fall for the Bengals and helped the team reach the semifinals of the Class AA playoffs.

He was also a state wrestling champion at 189 pounds last season. He is currently undefeated at 215 this year.

“I think he will fit in great,” said Helena High coach Tony Arntson, a former Grizzly football player. “He is a good Montana football kid. He is tough and physical.”

Montana State and Carroll College also recruited Fetherston.

Fetherston was a first-team all-state selection as a linebacker last season and a second-team all-state pick as junior.

“I am really excited about choosing to play for the university,” Fetherston said. “I like the program and coaches.”

Fetherston is slated to be redshirted next season and will likely play at either defensive end or outside linebacker.

“I like playing defense a little better,” he said. “You get to give hits instead of taking hits.”

He joins fellow Helena High alumni Dan Carpenter and Mike Ferriter on the team.

“They took me under their wing (in high school),” Fetherston said. “Hopefully they will do the same thing when I go there.”

Sounds like a true athlete. Sure wish that Cats could have got him.

Agreed, sounds like a good get for the Griz.

seeing the name Fetherston makes me want to start quoting "Necessary Roughness"

Too bad there aren't any scenes worth quoting.

Sounds like a great athlete. Will be interesting to hear why Kramer didn't go after him. I know Kramer's mode is usually to target and offer schollies for a select few of the best MT athletes that he feels ate D1 material, to fill a specific need. So maybe this wasn't a good fit? Another possibilty is that he had information that said this kid was already committed to the Griz, in which case - why waste the time for a low percentage convert?

catacat it says right in the article that MSU and CC also recruited him and has been "reported" elsewhere that we offered a full ride and chance to play special teams right away while Griz offered half and a redshirt. Sounds to me like Kramer went after him .

Congratulations to the Griz. They got a good one.

Another of the benefits of the Griz's success the past 20 years is the half- or partial scholarship, as in this case.

Maybe someone could use their Christmas break to analyze how many MT kids are getting full and partial schollies at each school; I know the Griz split up a lot of theirs, at least in a kid's first year or two.

To my knowledge, Kramer doesn't offer partials; anyone know any more "dope" on this issue?

I'm not trying to make a point; I'm just curious about the breakdown of in-state scholarships.

Oh, and nice get, Griz.

El_Gato wrote:Another of the benefits of the Griz's success the past 20 years is the half- or partial scholarship, as in this case.

Maybe someone could use their Christmas break to analyze how many MT kids are getting full and partial schollies at each school; I know the Griz split up a lot of theirs, at least in a kid's first year or two.

To my knowledge, Kramer doesn't offer partials; anyone know any more "dope" on this issue?

I'm not trying to make a point; I'm just curious about the breakdown of in-state scholarships.

Oh, and nice get, Griz.

i just wonder
1) why exactly the kid passed up on a full ride from the cats...
2) if this kid is playing with a full deck of cards, to use a catchphrase

I don't want to hear anyone saying MSU doesn't recruit Montana kids anymore. Obviously we outrecruited UM on this guy and still didn't get him. Recruiting is one thing, getting is another. Next time someone says we don't 'recruit' in-state kids, tell them we 'recruit' them, but don't always 'get' them. Reminds me of that 'UM cares about the playoffs, MSU only cares about beating UM' thing.

HB: He is a 4.0 student at Helena High...what do you think??

info197176 wrote:HB: He is a 4.0 student at Helena High...what do you think??

If true, first off good for him, second it means he would be getting the Montana top 5% or whatever scholarship to cover his tuition so in effect even though the Griz only offered half (room/board half) he is still getting everything paid for.

tetoncat wrote:catacat it says right in the article that MSU and CC also recruited him and has been "reported" elsewhere that we offered a full ride and chance to play special teams right away while Griz offered half and a redshirt. Sounds to me like Kramer went after him .

Sorry - I was thinking about a different thread where someone said that "MSU talked to him but Kramer didn't" No idea if the validity of that, but that's what I was referring to. If Kramer was recruiting this kid hard... he would have driven to Helena and spent some time in his living room, unless there were other circumstances going on here that we don't know about.

And regarding the special teams thing, this is another of those, "What really went on?" things. If we told him that "you'd have a chance to play as a Freshman"... that's a far cry from "You'd have to play as a Freshman", which is what another poster cited as one of his reasons for picking UM...

kmax wrote:

info197176 wrote:HB: He is a 4.0 student at Helena High...what do you think??

If true, first off good for him, second it means he would be getting the Montana top 5% or whatever scholarship to cover his tuition so in effect even though the Griz only offered half (room/board half) he is still getting everything paid for.

Is that getting into grey area at all. I know he earned the 4.0 scholarship and all other Montana High School kids are eligible, but is it kind of like recruiting a speedster for track and having him play football still counts the scholarship against football? I'm just wondering, I know people can go after financial aid however they can get it. Any thoughts?