Down but not out - we have all been there

[Miguel]

It is amazing how civil and supportive fans from other Big Sky schools are on the message board when our defense is spotting them an average of 42 points a game...

 

[Brian]

It is amazing how civil and supportive fans from other Big Sky schools are on the message board when our defense is spotting them an average of 42 points a game...

My guess is they have all been there at one time or another (except Montana and they were never supportive). I bet out basketball team doesn't get much sympathy this season.

 

[Beardown]

It is amazing how civil and supportive fans from other Big Sky schools are on the message board when our defense is spotting them an average of 42 points a game...

My guess is they have all been there at one time or another (except Montana and they were never supportive). I bet out basketball team doesn't get much sympathy this season.

Not true about UM. They struggled with wins and support in the 1980's. Some say they even considered dropping the program. Of course some fans even if they were around during that time forget that.

 

[mountainbear]

Beardown
You raise a great point, as well as a question:
Re. Montana's previous struggles......isn't it amazing how we tend to forget the tough (unsupported/negative) times when things are going well? That's a common thread to life as well as athletic programs.
Your comment raises a question: is this our worst team....or merely our worst record in recent memory? Are the two synonymous?
Interesting stuff to ponder

 

[Beardown]

Montana State didn't win a game in Kramers first year.

 

[dakota]

griz football started in 1995 :thumb:

fti

 

[beardevil39]

With all this talk about losing trends, I had to do a little research and found that Montana Griz actually had a bout twenty years of losing from 67till 86 and you are right beardown, there was talk of cutting off funding for the program but they took off in 86 and have never looked back so it gives me hope for our Bears !! Lets not give up yet. GO BEARS and Bear fans !!

 

[WILDCAT]

It is amazing how civil and supportive fans from other Big Sky schools are on the message board when our defense is spotting them an average of 42 points a game...

My guess is they have all been there at one time or another (except Montana and they were never supportive). I bet out basketball team doesn't get much sympathy this season.

Weber has been there, at one point and it wasnt long ago they considered dropping the program, Right now we are better, but we still struggle with fan support, it took us 40 years to win the Sky for only the 3rd time.

Most Weber fans will never laugh at programs who have struggled, because we have been there done that, I dont even laugh at ISU, I actually feel bad for them, AND I HATE THEM :shock:

There are some good Griz fans, unfortunately they are outnumbered by the crackpots on egriz. The Griz fans who come to Ogden to watch games are some of the greatest bunch of people, all passionate about thier team.

Weber has beaten Montana more times in the last 3 years than ANYONE else in the nation, and there are still griz fans on Egriz who dont want to be affiliated with Weber State, just because we cant fill our football stadium, thats it, despite the success of our hoops program, just because we cant fill our stadium.


On a side note about your hoops team, People are gonna want to beat you, but We want you to keep your success going, dont fall back into obscurity like EWU, PSU and MSU have.

 

[Beardown]

griz football started in 1995 :thumb:

fti

LOl, you wish! The Griz had a couple things go in their way. First, a great head coach, I believe it was Dennehy? Correct? And second, a great donor who put in a lot of money towards a nice stadium.

No reason UNC can't get both of those. I do believe the first thing that needs to happen is Jay Hinrichs needs to either resign or get fired and second Kay Norton needs to hire a great AD to get things going.

 

[walkon79]

With all this talk about losing trends, I had to do a little research and found that Montana Griz actually had a bout twenty years of losing from 67till 86 and you are right beardown, there was talk of cutting off funding for the program but they took off in 86 and have never looked back so it gives me hope for our Bears !! Lets not give up yet. GO BEARS and Bear fans !!

And for all but about 3 of those 20 years, UM was arguably the WORST team in the BSC.

So there's always hope :mrgreen: :nod:

 

[bearsradio]

Some thoughts, since, while in MIssoula, I saw an article in a mag the paper put out recently highlighted the opening of Washington-Grizzly Stadium...It was a good piece on how things changed there and UM types use the intersection of the stadium opening & the hiring of Don Read as the start of the "new era".

Read was the one to set the tone for the program, including the 1st national title...recovering from a decade that included just 1 winning season. That came on the heels of the Jack Swarthout (and Jack Elway) era that ended with the stain of legal & NCAA issues:

"In 1972, a federal grand jury returned a 32-count indictment charging five university officials and coaches (including Swarthout) with conspiring to illegally use federal-aid money by using some of the funds to pay for fictitious jobs for athletes. Though Swarthout was found innocent, the charges hurt recruiting and the student-body government decided to withdraw financial support for athletic programs."

Swarthout had led UM to unbeaten conference seasons in '69 & '70...

 

[Beardown]

Just about EVERY program in America has been down at one point. It just so happens all Colorado D1 programs have been down the past 5-6 years. Time to recruit outside the state?

With all the updates to our facilities, and I shouldn't really be complaining because I think they're great, BUT Nottingham is still in need of upgrades to compete with others in the conference. My wish list would include a video screen score board and better East stands (and take away the track). MSU has updated their seating to make their stadium look more like a "bowl." Lots of room around Nottingham to make that happen. That brings me to the fundraising issues. I do know the University is in the "quiet" phase of a capital campaign. I believe this means securing naming rights to upgrades in buildings around campus. Last I heard (and this was before the 2008 economic crises) is that Pat Striker is or was a big time player in some upgrades at Nottingham. Not sure if the economic conditions have changed things or not. Brian, can you merge the non-game posts into a different thread? We are getting off track big time.

 

[Brian]

Good point Beardown. This is the result of the split (took a while to figure out). :thumb:

 

[Beardown]

Here is a list of notable alumnus, according to wikipedia. We need to hit up some of these guys for the Capital Campaign, get some naming rights - I like Nottingham Field at Ed Werder Stadium. That has a nice ring to it!!!

Steve Antonopulos, head athletic trainer of the Denver Broncos
Glen Alps, printmaker, coiner of the term collagraph
Gregg Brandon, college football coach of the Wyoming Cowboys
Fred Brown, The Denver Post political writer and columnist
Jennifer and Natalie Jo Campbell, December Playmates 2008
Steven Dietz, playwright
Reed Doughty, football player of the Washington Redskins
Ben Dreith, American Football League and National Football League referee
Bill Frisell, jazz guitarist
Greg Germann, actor from Ally McBeal
Marian Hesse, Grammy-winning horn player
Vincent Jackson, football player of the San Diego Chargers
Virgil Jester, baseball player
Dirk Johnson, football player
Dave Keller, baseball player and coach
James P. Kelley, money manager
Bill Kenney, football player and politician
Maryanne Kusaka, politician
Carlotta Walls LaNier, member of the Little Rock Nine
James A. Michener, author
Carol Mutter, Marine Corps Lieutenant General
Brad Nuccio, Senior Vice President of Saint Louis Science Center and Executive Director of National Center for Science
Mark Nuccio, currently the Assistant Principal and Eb clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic
Brad Pyatt, former National Football League player and current Arena Football League wide receiver
Sayyid Qutb, author and a leading Islamist of the 20th century
Jeannie Ritter, Colorado First Lady
Neal Rubin, The Detroit News columnist and author of comic strip Gil Thorp.
Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, Captain of U.S. Airways Flight 1549, that successfully landed in the Hudson River in 2009, he has a M.A. in Public Relations from UNC
Aaron Smith, football player of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Tom Tancredo, R-CO, member of United States House of Representatives and presidential candidate.
Tom Walsh, R-WY, mayor of Casper and member of the Wyoming House of Representatives (2003–2008); received Ed.D. through UNC[13]
Wellington Webb, former mayor of Denver
Ed Werder, reporter for ESPN
Connie Willis, science fiction author
Kenneth W. Winters, member of the Kentucky State Senate
Jack Cassinetto, plein air painter

 

[Brian]

Here is a list of notable alumnus, according to wikipedia. We need to hit up some of these guys for the Capital Campaign, get some naming rights - I like Nottingham Field at Ed Werder Stadium. That has a nice ring to it!!!
...
Jennifer and Natalie Jo Campbell, December Playmates 2008
...

:shock:

I would hit them up....for money for the program (in case my wife sees this).