George Ferguson Ferguson From the fringe ...
MISSOULA - Somebody forgot to tell the Massachusetts Minutemen that they aren’t supposed to come into Washington/Grizzly Stadium and handle one of the most rabid, noisy crowds in stadium history. Nobody seemed to mention to Umass running back Steve Baylark that Division I-AA running backs just don’t rush for 165 yards and score two touchdowns on the Montana defense. And nobody seemed to tell anybody in Amherst, Mass., that people can’t come to Missoula and spoil one of the most electric atmospheres in Montana sports history. I mean, come on. A sold out night game. ESPN in the house. Fireworks, skydivers in the dark, loud music, bonfires, even the Governor Schweitzer and Jon Tester on the sidelines. How could the Minutemen possibly overcome all of that? But all of that and more happened on Friday night in Missoula as No. 3 Umass spoiled not only Montana’s “Friday Night Lights” party, but the No. 2 Grizzlies’ hopes of winning a third national championship. And now the fallout from one of the most magical night’s in Montana history is more like a nuclear winter. Some Montana fans seem to be divided on whether or not a 12-2 season and a deep run into the playoffs is worthy of great season status. In past year’s, what the Grizzlies did in 2006 winning 12 games in a row, a Big Sky title, having a legitimate shot at winning a national championship, and making piles of money for the university would be considered a rousing success. But not to some of the new generation of Griz fans. Some fans are still clambering for UM head coach Bobby Hauck’s head on a proverbial silver platter, even while it is becoming clear that NCAA Division I Athletic Directors are possibly looking to hire him away from UM. Let’s face it, some people have been trying to run Hauck out of town since the day he got to Missoula no matter how much he has succeeded, and what better reason than a two-point loss at home, on national television. Simply embarrassing and uncalled for right? Wrong. Montana did sputter offensively Friday night. The Griz scored 17 points in the second quarter, and then proceeded to pick up just three first downs and gain 67 yards in the entire second half. A half in which the Grizzlies committed four turnovers and failed to score a single point. That alone has caused many disgruntled Griz fans to label Montana’s offense a travesty. And if the Hauck bashers are bad, don’t even get some Grizzly fans started on UM Offensive Coordinator Rob Phenecie. Still, give credit where credit is do. Montana may have been severely dominated in time of possession and in total yards, but the Griz defense still surrendered just five points in the second half and gave the UM offense a chance to win the game at the end. That is the mark of a good team, and the Grizzlies were a very good team in 2006. In fact, while Griz fans, players, the band and everyone else may feel the sting of the loss to Umass for quite some time, there is no reason to panic and no reason to call for anybody’s job after a 12-2 season. Hauck has led the Grizzlies to 41 wins in four years, four Big Sky championships, a national title game berth in 2004, and a playoff appearance every season he has been at UM. There aren’t too many coaches that have enjoyed that much success at any level. And while the Montana offense isn’t as pretty as it once was, Phenecie has called every play in those 41 wins, and that fact can’t be disputed. Better still, Montana led the nation in attendance this season and last. And in the two previous year’s, UM finished second. And the waiting list for season tickets at UM is a mile long. Now plans for a 2,000 seat stadium expansion have been solidified for 2008, and all of those factors indicate to this writer that no matter how difficult things were in the second half Friday night, everything is pretty much roses in Griz nation, even if a few fans here and there don’t think so Still, there is no doubt that Umass crashed a big Grizzly party Friday night and somebody has to take the blame. The stadium was electric, the fans were ear-splitting loud and the atmosphere was as fun as I have seen in my 80-plus games at Washington/Grizzly Stadium dating back to 1994.Yes, I am that old. But as I skulked out of the stadium Friday night, chilled to the bone and headed for a long night at Red’s Bar, even l was looking to pin the blame on somebody. And that somebody is Umass. How dare they be so good. How dare they run the football right down Montana’s throat. And how dare they come into Missoula and spoil this night. Well they dared and they did. And instead of blame, maybe Griz fans should just tip their caps and move on. To some, Montana’s season will be defined by a loss and an interception by senior transfer Josh Swogger. Now that I have resigned myself to the fact that Umass deserves all the blame I mean credit, the 2006 Griz season, for me will be defined by what it was, instead of what it could of have been. A great year, a great team, a great coach and one amazing night in December. And there is no need to blame anyone for that.
