Griz football begins new practice season
3/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Montana junior quarterback Craig Ochs hit receiver Jon Talmage on a 12- yard in-route, but the sophomore receiver was immediately tackled by a swarm of defenders.
This play, however, was not a flashback to a chilly October day at Washington Grizzly Stadium. Talmage's tacklers weren't donning the blue and yellow of Northern Arizona University or the black and orange of Idaho State. Talmage was tackled by a group of his own teammates as the University of Montana concluded its first week of spring football practices.
The University of Montana kicked off its spring football practices Monday in preparation for the upcoming 2004-2005 season. The Griz are coming off a respectable 9-4 season in which they were ousted from the 1-AA playoffs by a 43-40 loss to Western Illinois. Montana also dropped a football contest to its heated rival Montana State.
But with a new spring comes a new outlook for Montana.
"We're looking pretty good; it's better than last year," said junior quarterback Jeff Disney, noting that the team has had time to develop better chemistry.
One of Disney's fellow juniors, Levander Segars, agreed and said it is just good to be out on the playing field again.
"It's about time for a little football. I was getting sick of basketball," Segars said.
The Griz have had an interesting off-season and probably couldn't have been happier to begin practices Monday.
The football team has come under some scrutiny lately after the recent athletics department's financial shortfalls. Some of the $1 million deficit the department incurred has been blamed on the team's extensive travel expenses last season.
"It's good (to be playing again)," Disney said. "Any time there are off-field matters like that it's good to be on the field."
UM head coach Bobby Hauck said that the deficit didn't really affect his team and that the spring ball gave them an opportunity to go over some fundamentals.
"I'm assuming we are going to have a season," Hauck said. "So we need to get back on the field and get ready for August."
Hauck said Montana started the week with three very good practices but slipped Thursday, and because of a lack of effort did not finish off the week very well.
Montana looks to have a prosperous season as it returns a plethora of important players from last year. While the Griz lost seniors, like kicker Chris Sndyer, offensive lineman Dylan McFarland and defensive lineman Tim Bush, it appears that with a combination of senior leadership and a handful of new players ready to step up to the challenge, Montana won't miss a beat.
"It feels good," Segars said of the first week of practice. "We got a bunch of new kids and we'll be able to show our senior leadership."
Hauck said young players such as linebackers Kyle Ryan, Alex Hawthorne, Adam Hoge and Shane MacIntyre; defensive backs Chris Clark and Tuff Harris; and offensive lineman Ryan Wells (all of whom are freshmen) have had impressive outings this week. Hauck was also impressed with the efforts of sophomores Chris Orwig, an offensive lineman, and Ja'Ton Simpson, a tight end.
The practices also provided an opportunity for the Griz to showcase their talent for the Missoula public.
About 20-25 people attended Thursday's practice, and some used the opportunity to voice their opinions about the upcoming season.
"The defense needs a little bit of work and I think the offense is going to be awesome," said Ed Swain, a Missoula resident and hardcore Griz fan who attends almost every Griz game, both at home and away. "I really like that Green (UM running back Justin Green). He's an awesome football player."
Swain also voiced his water-cooler opinions of the recent athletics department difficulties and the football team's relationship to them.
"I think it is good (they are back on the field)," Swain said. "These guys have nothing to do with what happened."
A couple UM students watched some of the drills from behind the chain-link fence that separates the practice field from the spectators.
Ellen Burns, a UM freshman in environmental science, took a timeout from her intramural softball game to watch some snaps.
"I have a lot of faith in the 2004 football team; they look good," Burns said.
Due to the women's basketball tournament this weekend in Missoula, UM football is done with practices for the week. Montana will reconvene Tuesday in anticipation of its scrimmage game March 26.
This play, however, was not a flashback to a chilly October day at Washington Grizzly Stadium. Talmage's tacklers weren't donning the blue and yellow of Northern Arizona University or the black and orange of Idaho State. Talmage was tackled by a group of his own teammates as the University of Montana concluded its first week of spring football practices.
The University of Montana kicked off its spring football practices Monday in preparation for the upcoming 2004-2005 season. The Griz are coming off a respectable 9-4 season in which they were ousted from the 1-AA playoffs by a 43-40 loss to Western Illinois. Montana also dropped a football contest to its heated rival Montana State.
But with a new spring comes a new outlook for Montana.
"We're looking pretty good; it's better than last year," said junior quarterback Jeff Disney, noting that the team has had time to develop better chemistry.
One of Disney's fellow juniors, Levander Segars, agreed and said it is just good to be out on the playing field again.
"It's about time for a little football. I was getting sick of basketball," Segars said.
The Griz have had an interesting off-season and probably couldn't have been happier to begin practices Monday.
The football team has come under some scrutiny lately after the recent athletics department's financial shortfalls. Some of the $1 million deficit the department incurred has been blamed on the team's extensive travel expenses last season.
"It's good (to be playing again)," Disney said. "Any time there are off-field matters like that it's good to be on the field."
UM head coach Bobby Hauck said that the deficit didn't really affect his team and that the spring ball gave them an opportunity to go over some fundamentals.
"I'm assuming we are going to have a season," Hauck said. "So we need to get back on the field and get ready for August."
Hauck said Montana started the week with three very good practices but slipped Thursday, and because of a lack of effort did not finish off the week very well.
Montana looks to have a prosperous season as it returns a plethora of important players from last year. While the Griz lost seniors, like kicker Chris Sndyer, offensive lineman Dylan McFarland and defensive lineman Tim Bush, it appears that with a combination of senior leadership and a handful of new players ready to step up to the challenge, Montana won't miss a beat.
"It feels good," Segars said of the first week of practice. "We got a bunch of new kids and we'll be able to show our senior leadership."
Hauck said young players such as linebackers Kyle Ryan, Alex Hawthorne, Adam Hoge and Shane MacIntyre; defensive backs Chris Clark and Tuff Harris; and offensive lineman Ryan Wells (all of whom are freshmen) have had impressive outings this week. Hauck was also impressed with the efforts of sophomores Chris Orwig, an offensive lineman, and Ja'Ton Simpson, a tight end.
The practices also provided an opportunity for the Griz to showcase their talent for the Missoula public.
About 20-25 people attended Thursday's practice, and some used the opportunity to voice their opinions about the upcoming season.
"The defense needs a little bit of work and I think the offense is going to be awesome," said Ed Swain, a Missoula resident and hardcore Griz fan who attends almost every Griz game, both at home and away. "I really like that Green (UM running back Justin Green). He's an awesome football player."
Swain also voiced his water-cooler opinions of the recent athletics department difficulties and the football team's relationship to them.
"I think it is good (they are back on the field)," Swain said. "These guys have nothing to do with what happened."
A couple UM students watched some of the drills from behind the chain-link fence that separates the practice field from the spectators.
Ellen Burns, a UM freshman in environmental science, took a timeout from her intramural softball game to watch some snaps.
"I have a lot of faith in the 2004 football team; they look good," Burns said.
Due to the women's basketball tournament this weekend in Missoula, UM football is done with practices for the week. Montana will reconvene Tuesday in anticipation of its scrimmage game March 26.
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