The Bobcat Nation

It's been in the newspaper, etc., but this is official.


BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Danny Sprinkle, whose name remains etched in the
MSU and Big Sky Conference record books, joined Brad Huse's first Bobcat
coaching staff on Thursday, bringing one of the most popular figures in the
school's basketball history back into the program.
An All-Big Sky player at MSU from 1995-99, Sprinkle remains sixth in
Bobcat history in scoring with 1,497 points scored from 1995 to '99. He is
also the school's career three-point record-holder. His 263 long-range bombs
is third in Big Sky history. "I'm extremely excited to be back, and I'm
ready to get this thing rolling," Sprinkle said. "Coach Huse is here to
build something special, and we want to get the 'Cats back on top."
Huse said he is pleased to bring Sprinkle back to Bozeman. "Danny is
one of Montana State's favorite sons," he said, "and it was a no-brainer for
me and one of my first priorities to get him back involved with the program.
He's done a great job establishing a strong recruiting network, and his ties
in the state of Montana are very important. His experience at Northridge
will make him a great assistant coach at Montan a State."
A four-year starter at MSU, Sprinkle sparked one of the thrilling
episodes in Bobcat history on March 9, 1996. The freshman scored 30 points
in the Big Sky Championship game in front of a frenzied, electric
Worthington Arena crowd to lead MSU to the school's second Big Sky
Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth. Huse, who took over as Montana
State's head coach last week, was a Bobcat assistant at the time.
That championship season remains special, Sprinkle said. "Obviously
we had that great season my freshman year, and every relationship on that
team is special. That team was special because of what we accomplished, and
I think we all understood what a wonderful coaching staff we had. Coach Huse
is one of the people that myself and a lot of the players from that team has
stayed in touch with. That team had great camaraderie."
Sprinkle returns to Bozeman after six seasons as an assistant at Cal
State Northridge. He began his coaching career there in 2000-01, the season
the Matadors won the Big Sky in their last year in the league, as an
administrative assistant. That summer, as CSN prepared to join the Big West,
long-time Northridge coach Bobby Braswell promoted Sprinkle to the full-time
position he has held since. He is the only member of Braswell's staff to
remain during that time, and he has coordinated the school's recruiting
efforts over the past three seasons.
Sprinkle said the two head coaches with whom he's been associated at
the college level have played major roles in his career. "Coach (Bobby)
Braswell (of Cal State Northridge)is extremely detail-oriented," he said.
"He demands perfection. I learned so much from him every day,
around-the-office work recruiting, budget. He's so organized, and that rubs
off. It made me a better worker. Mick Durham had a huge influence on me.
When I came here, from a basketball sense, I knew how to play, but he taught
me how to read things and how to play differently."
Montana State's first Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, Sprinkle earned
league tourney MVP kudos for his stunning effort in 1996. Sprinkle earned
All-Big Sky honors as a sophomore in 1997, and honorable mention honors as a
junior and senior. The Helena High product led the Bobcats to the Big Sky
Tournament in all four of his seasons at MSU, including the 1996 and '98
championship games, averaging 13.4 points with 233 assists and 74 steals
over the course of his career. Sprinkle shot 47.3 percent (529-of-1,118)
from the field and 45.1 percent (283-of-628) from three-point range as a
Bobcat. Sprinkle graduated from MSU with a bachelor's degree in Health
Enhancement in 2000.
A three-sport standout at Helena High, Sprinkle was a two-time
all-state basketball player. He was born in Pullman, Wash., on Oct. 12,
1976. His father, Bill, was a standout football player at Great Falls
Central and the University of Washington.

-sprinkle resume & mug attached-

A four-year starter at MSU, Sprinkle sparked one of the thrilling
episodes in Bobcat history on March 9, 1996. The freshman scored 30 points
in the Big Sky Championship game in front of a frenzied, electric
Worthington Arena crowd to lead MSU to the school's second Big Sky
Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth.

I was there that night. That game and the Hurley shot to win Cat/Griz are my two favorite basketball games I've attended. This type of enthusiasm is waiting to be unleashed. Huse is the guy for the job.

PapaG wrote:A four-year starter at MSU, Sprinkle sparked one of the thrilling
episodes in Bobcat history on March 9, 1996. The freshman scored 30 points
in the Big Sky Championship game in front of a frenzied, electric
Worthington Arena crowd to lead MSU to the school's second Big Sky
Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth.

I was there that night. That game and the Hurley shot to win Cat/Griz are my two favorite basketball games I've attended. This type of enthusiasm is waiting to be unleashed. Huse is the guy for the job.

I was also there that night. I was 14 at the time but remember the fieldhouse crowd like it was yesterday. What a great game and the high-point of MSU hoops in my lifetime. I still have the t-shirt that says Cats Are Back hanging in my closet.

Spinkle is a great hire for lots of reasons already mentioned, but suffice it to say that MSU basketball is going to start "feeling" alot different with the energy and passion of Huse and Sprinkle working the court.

rtb wrote:

PapaG wrote:A four-year starter at MSU, Sprinkle sparked one of the thrilling
episodes in Bobcat history on March 9, 1996. The freshman scored 30 points
in the Big Sky Championship game in front of a frenzied, electric
Worthington Arena crowd to lead MSU to the school's second Big Sky
Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth.

I was there that night. That game and the Hurley shot to win Cat/Griz are my two favorite basketball games I've attended. This type of enthusiasm is waiting to be unleashed. Huse is the guy for the job.

I was also there that night. I was 14 at the time but remember the fieldhouse crowd like it was yesterday. What a great game and the high-point of MSU hoops in my lifetime. I still have the t-shirt that says Cats Are Back hanging in my closet.

I was also there that night- '96 was a special year.

A couple buds and I made the road trip to the final two games of the regular season, Idaho and EWU, to see who was going to be the BSC champs (it was coming down to 'Cat/Griz).

I can't remember if it was a Thurs/Sat or Fri/Sat format, but after a round of golf in Lewiston, we cheered on the 'Cats to a win over ID in Moscow. The EWU game was a Sat. afternoon game in Cheney and we had decided that if the 'Cats won we would go back to Moscow for the ID/Griz game, because if the griz lost we would win the conference and host the tourney.

We were seated right behind the 'Cat coaches at EWU (if you've ever been there, you'll realize what I mean), and the coaches and players knew us and what our intent was. Shortly after half time, Ass't Coach Huse turned around and said "we've got this one in the bag- you guys get the hell down the road".

Well, we did & it's a good thing we had a (semi) DD, because myself and the other bud had quite a fireup party on the drive back to Moscow.

We got to the game just after halftime & the griz were winning by a fairly good margin- can't remember how much, but it seems like the 12-14 point range.

Long story made short, my fireup partner and I (in all of our Blue and Gold) ended up with the ID cheerleaders and in no time got not only the student section, but the entire ID fan section cheering very loud. There was a pretty good griz crowd that wasn't particularly happy with us, but the local frat bro's said "keep it up, we've got you covered".

First time ID took the lead the griz called a timeout & Blaine "suspenders" Taylor turned around, gave me a look that if looks could kill I wouldn't be here today, and tossed a cup of ice in my direction (it went under his players bench).

As many times as I had tried, it was the first time that I knew that I had taken a coach out of his game. ID won & the 'Cats host the tourney (first game of the tourney is ID/UM & ID wins again= griz go home).

Hate to toot my own horn, but we made the 'Spokesman Review', Missoulian' & I think the 'Chronicle'. I do know that Mick and the team (Danny, et al) watched the game in Spokane and several of the MSU atlhetic staff watched the game at the fieldhouse.

No doubt there a few griz who were there that would still like to rearrange certain parts of my body.

Sorry, but I've never expounded on it, but both Brad and Danny will remember.

Let's do it it again!!! Go!! 'Cats!!

I was a poor college student in 96. I remember scraping up money to buy tickets for that game. It was well worth it! That game kicked butt. I also still have one of those Cats Are Back t shirts.

From the Tribune on Danny.

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/p ... 40335/1006

The Trib says Huse is still gathering assistants. When the dust settles it looks like you will have a very impressive staff.

I was on my way back for the game and broke down at 12:00 at night in dickenson N.D. I watched the game from a bar/bowling alley that next night, and the final game from my house in minniapolis. At least my family made a sign that was on espn.