Griz Gab

This week in Grizzly Athletics:

--- Friday, Sept. 17 - Colorado College women's soccer at UM, 5 p.m., South Campus Field; UM women's tennis at Washington State Classic; UM volleyball team vs. Boise State at Boise State Northwest Challenge, 7:30 p.m.

--- Saturday, Sept. 18 - UM football at Sam Houston State, 6 p.m.; UM men's/women's cross country at Montana State Invitational, 9 a.m., Bozeman; UM women's tennis at Washington State Classic; UM volleyball team vs. No. 3 ranked University of Washington at Boise State Northwest Challenge, 10 a.m.; UM volleyball team vs. Florida A&M at Boise State Northwest Challenge, 5:30 p.m.

--- Sunday, Sept. 19 - UM women's soccer at Nebraska, 1 p.m.; UM women's tennis at Washington State Classic.

. Camellia Bowl football teams to be honored on Nov. 6. Members of the 1969 and 1970 Grizzly football teams who participated in the Camellia Bowls in Sacramento, Calif., will be honored prior to the UM-Northern Arizona game on Saturday, Nov. 6 On Friday night before the game, the group will have a social gathering at the Inn on Broadway starting around 5 p.m. For more information, contact Robin Peters at 406.728.1697 or Ron Nord at 406.728.5735. Both the 1969 and 1970 football teams went 10-0 during the regular seasons before losing the Camellia Bowls and national championships each year to North Dakota State.

Want to know the latest happenings in Grizzly Sports? For everything taking place in UM Athletics (and more), check out the official web site of the Montana Grizzlies and Lady Griz at www.montanagrizzlies.com. Stories are updated daily, and this week include:

. Saturday's football game television schedule announced. Saturday's football game between The University of Montana Grizzlies and Sam Houston State will be televised locally by KECI Television out of Missoula starting at 6 p.m. The game will also be televised across Montana by various Eagle Communications outlets. Also, new satellite coordinates were announced Thursday, and they are: KU Band, AMC 9, Transponder 9. If satellite coordinates are changed for any reason, the updates will be listed on the UM Athletics web site at www.montanagrizzlies.com.

. UM football game day experience recognized by Sports Illustrated. The University of Montana was ranked as the 25th best place to experience a college football game, in Sports Illustrated's "On Campus" issue that comes out this week.

. Top-ranked Griz football team battles Bearkats. The No. 1 ranked University of Montana Grizzlies (2-0, 0-0 Big Sky) face their first road game of the season in Huntsville, Texas, playing the Sam Houston State Bearkats (1-1, 0-0 Southland), Saturday, Sept. 18. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. (MTN) in Bower's Stadium (14,000 - artificial).

. UM volleyball faces tough weekend tournament. The University of Montana volleyball team, coming off a second-place showing at last weekend's UC-Davis Invitational, will face a daunting task this weekend at the Boise State Northwest Challenge.

. Griz soccer tackles Colorado College, Nebraska. The University of Montana women's soccer team continues their 2004 non-conference schedule this week with matches against Colorado College and Nebraska.

. Lorenzen named Montana NCAA Woman of the Year. The NCAA announced this week that former University of Montana women's basketball standout Brooklynn Lorenzen has been named its Woman of the Year for the state of Montana.

. Golf squad finishes 11th at Ptarmigan Classic. The University of Montana women's golf team shot a closing-round 313 on Tuesday afternoon to claim 11th place at the Ptarmigan Classic hosted by Colorado State University. Griz golfer Jasi Acharya shot a one-over-par 73 on Tuesday to finish with a 54-hole total of 220, tying for seventh place.

. Griz cross country teams open at MSU Invitational. The Montana Grizzly cross country teams will open their 2004 season this Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Montana State Invitational. The men's five-mile race will begin at 9 a.m.; the women's three-mile race will start at 9:40 a.m.

. Mascot champ headed for Windy City. It's no bull: Barry Anderson, who took Monte, the University of Montana mascot, to national acclaim, is growing horns and turning pro. Anderson on Wednesday accepted an offer from the Chicago Bulls of the NBA. This season he'll become Benny the Bull.

. Griz and Lady Griz basketball to host coaching clinic. University of Montana basketball coaches Larry Krystkowiak and Robin Selvig have announced "A Day with the Grizzlies," a one-day coaching clinic that will take place on Saturday, October 30, on campus at Adams Center. The clinic will feature guest speakers along with the instruction from both UM men's and women's basketball coaching staffs.

. Former Griz coach battling lymphoma cancer. Former University of Montana football coach Jack Swarthout is battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and a number of his former players are seeking to add to his support. This month the web site CaringCoaches.org is focusing on Swarthout and his need to seek alternative cures and treatments.

. Colt Palmer honored by AFCA. Griz fullback Colt Palmer has been honored by the American Football Coaches Association for his work off the football field. He was named to the combined lower-division "Good Works Team" by the AFCA on Wednesday. Palmer, of Omaha, Neb., was honored for volunteering time to the Montana Special Olympics, local Special Olympics competitions, Little Guy Wrestling, Little Grizzly Football, walks to aid Downs Syndrome charities and the Read Across America program. Eleven players from Division I-A and 11 more from divisions I-AA, II and III and NAIA were named to two teams. Palmer is a 230-pound senior out of Omaha, Neb.

. GSA taking booster bus to Weber State football game. There is still space available on the Montana Grizzly Scholarship Association's booster bus to the Weber State game on Oct. 2. Two buses are leaving at 6 a.m. that day, one going through the Bitterroot and another from Adams Center. They'll return Oct. 3 at around 6 p.m. Cost is $135, which includes one night's lodging at the Ogden Marriott, lunch, snacks, game ticket and refreshments. Reservations can be made at either the GSA office or by phoning 1-877-422-2255 (243-6481 locally).

. Football post-game socials to be held in the Grizzly Sky Club. Following Griz home football games, the post-game wrap-ups will be held in the Adams Center Sky Club. The socials will be sponsored by the Grizzly Scholarship Association, and will include game re-caps by head football coach Bobby Hauck and other members of his staff. Following the Homecoming football game on Saturday, Oct. 9, however, the event will take place in the Ballroom of the Holiday Inn-Parkside in Missoula.

. Hobbs Cabinets supporting Grizzly Athletics with Fund-Raiser. Tom and Kathy Hobbs of Hobbs Cabinets in Missoula have started a new fund-raising program for Grizzly Athletics whereby they will donate 10% of the sale of their custom kitchen cabinets if a customer mentions they would like to support UM Athletics. The Hobbs' will be advertising the program on local television in the near future. For more information, please contact either Tom or Kathy Hobbs at Hobbs Cabinets (406.251.1382). Grizzly Athletics appreciates the support of this fund-raising effort.

. Conoco Grizzly Golf Scramble is Oct. 8. The 24th annual Conoco Grizzly Golf Scramble has been moved to the fall in conjunction with a Grizzly home football game. This year's tournament will take place on Friday, Oct. 8 at the new Phantom Links Golf Club in Missoula. The cost is $150 per person, which includes green fees, cart, range balls, dinner and tee prizes. For entry forms, or to reserve a spot in the tournament, contact the Grizzly Scholarship Association at 406.243.6485.

. GSA truck raffle underway. The second annual Grizzly Scholarship Association Truck Raffle is underway. Tickets for this year's drawing are $10 each, or 15 for $100. Proceeds go toward funding scholarships for UM student-athletes. The Ford F-150, custom-detailed truck will be drawn at this year's Griz-Cat men's basketball game in Missoula. Tickets are available at the GSA office in the Adams Center, as well as from members of the Missoula GSA Board of Directors and members of the State GSA Board of Directors. For more information, contact the GSA at 406.243.6485.

. GSA sponsoring 'Griz Prowl' fundraiser. The Montana Grizzly Scholarship Association has launched the Grizzly Prowl, an effort that uses art to raise money for athletic scholarships for student-athletes.

The Grizzly Prowl is similar to other fund-raisers/art exhibits that have been started around the country. Chicago used cows in its exhibits, Seattle had pigs and Billings had horses. Missoula, of course, will use grizzlies.

Thirty-five life-size, fiberglass grizzly bear sculptures will arrive in Missoula by June to be decorated/painted by regional artists. Each bear will be six feet long, three feet high and 20 inches wide. Once the bears are given the artistic touch, they will find their homes in area businesses that have sponsored them. Then by early fall, people will be able to take the "Grizzly Prowl" and view the bears at various sponsor locations. In 2005, the bears will be available for purchase during an auction. For more information, visit the following web site: http://grizzlyprowl.com or call C.J. Peterson at 406.531.9444. Also, information is available at the Grizzly Scholarship Association at 406.243.6485.

. Class of '54 to hold 50-Year Reunion at Homecoming. The Griz of the Class of 1954 will hold a 50th reunion during the week of Homecoming this fall. They will gather to cheer on the Griz football team of 2004, which will be playing host to the Idaho State Bengals on Saturday, Oct. 9. Team captains from the '54 squad will be recognized during the game.

The last of Coach Ed Chinske's teams had arguably one of the toughest schedules ever thrust upon a gang of Grizzlies. A non-conference game against Iowa and a 12-day road trip added to an already rugged Skyline Conference schedule. The reunion also includes anyone on the 1952-53 and 1955-56 teams, who were teammates of the Griz of '54. The Griz of 1954 won three of four home games but struggled to break into the win column on the road. However, two of those games were against nationally ranked teams, including the No. 3 Iowa Hawkeyes. The games against Iowa and Denver comprised one of the longest road trips in UM history. The team traveled by train to Iowa and then on to Denver. They left on September 29, 1954, (the same day Willie Mays made his famous over the shoulder catch of a blast by Vic Wertz in the 1st game of the World Series) and didn't return until October 10.

The Hawkeyes, led by coaching legend Forest Evashevski and featured future National Football League quarterback/receiver Jerry Reichow, were fresh off their opening day victory against Michigan State and ranked No. 3 in the country. This was, as far as can be determined, the highest ranked opponent in school history and the Griz held their own for much of the game before bowing 48-6. They also built a lead against Denver University before losing by a touchdown. Denver went on to win the Skyline Conference crown, suffered one loss all season and ended up 18th in the final UPI poll. The Griz also beat a good Bobcat team, coached by Tony Storti. Montana's Dick "The Penguin" Imer set a new Skyline Conference rushing record and finished the season as one of the leading rushers in the nation. Imer's 1953 average of 8.2 yards a carry (86 carries for 703 yards) in 1953 is still a Montana single-season record.

Many of the seniors from that '54 team went on to play in the first alumni game the following spring to help raise money for the Athletic Department. They established the "spring" tradition, which continues to this day. They are also in the process of cementing their legacy by securing a $20,000 endowment to fund a scholarship for a Grizzly football player. The 1954 Grizzly football team: continuing to promote the Griz heritage through the years.

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