BOBBY HAUCK

[grizWR]

Man, someone in this conference has got to beat UM. Hope it is Weber. But if not, UM will eventually go on the road in the playoffs and lose, just like every other year. I don't know what is more impressive: UM's playoff streak, or their lack of a national championship streak. Surely when it comes to the nation as a whole, UM is a poser. They would finish in the middle of the pack in the Colonial.

Hmm. Interesting post. Most Weber fans I encounter are good (even great) football fans and enjoy some good competition and even a little banter. This post caught my eye for a couple reasons...

1. I'm assuming when you say "lack of a national championship streak," you're referring to a national championship victory? Because in that case, I guess you're correct...UM hasn't won a national title since all the way back in 2001. So, great observation.

2. Let me see...the last time the Griz went on the road in the playoffs and lost...I guess that would be as recent as, well, 2004 if you want to count UM's loss to JMU in the National Championship. Prior to that, the Griz to lost to McNeese State on the road in 2002. Doesn't really seem like it happens every year to me. By the way, didn't Weber get beat on the road in the playoffs last year??

3. The Griz would finish in the middle of the CAA. Maybe. However, I do remember a game last fall in which the Griz went to the CAA champion (and then-ranked #1 in FCS) James Madison Dukes and beat them in a nationally televised game. So, perhaps "middle of the pack" is a bit of a stretch.

In any case, the Halloween game should be a good one. I hope a lot of you are coming up for it.

It's just a good thing for UM that it gets so many home playoff games, because they are 1-8 all time on the road in the playoffs, and 1-2 at neutral sites. That's a .111 winning percentage on the road, and a .166 overall winning percentage away from Missoula. Those numbers are hard to argue with. I'll give it to them, UM is great at home (22-6 for a .786 winning percentage in the playoffs), but it just appears to me that most years they blow through the Sky, get home field for most of the playoffs, and win games UNTIL THEY HAVE TO LEAVE MISSOULA. It's no wonder UM wants to get the national championship game contract. If that happens, maybe they will win the national championship more often than 10% of the time they make the playoffs (2 national championships in 19 playoff appearances, and 7 straight years without winning one). But until that happens, or until UM shows me otherwise, I'll just count on them making the playoffs and then eventually losing when they have to leave Missoula. And as far as the CAA goes, UMass, New Hampshire, Richmond, Villanova, William & Mary, and Delaware could all have an argument that they are as good or better than UM. And there's still James Madison, who is having a down year but is traditionally very good. You place UM in that conference and there is no way in hell they have anywhere near the success they have in the Sky. Anyway, good discussion, and I think Halloween will be the game of the year in the conference. And just one more thing, what is the general feeling in Missoula regarding Hauck? I know he wins, but I keep hearing how big of a jerk he is.

My point was that picking at UM based on its "lack of national championships" (i.e. two in the last 17 years) is a weak approach. There are several other angles you could play that would make a lot more sense.

With regard to Hauck, it's a love/hate relationship in Missoula. Half the fans love him for continuing the winning and dominant tradition and the other half hate him and pick at his every move because he hasn't won a national title for us. These are the fans that are fanning the fire for all this student newspaper stuff you're reading about. My personal view on Hauck is luke warm. I often question his play calling and game plans, but I have to give him credit; while the Griz play to the level of their opposition week in and week out, he usually finds a way to win the game. I'm not too wrapped up the whole power struggle between the UM student newspaper and the football program because the media typically will report their side of the story extremely well in situations like these and "spread the word" (i.e. "leaking" the story to ESPN). Perhaps I'm biased though.

Looking forward to Oct 31. My gut says that it'll be close (as expected). We'll see if Hauck has another last minute "W" stashed up his sleeve.