Dear Rob :: Letters from the decades

As women's basketball in the Big Sky Conference moved into the 2000s, there were more and more challengers taking aim at Montana, programs that were coming for the king, trying to knock Robin Selvig and his Lady Griz off their long-held throne.

Idaho State, under coach Ardie McInelly, defeated Montana three times in 2000-01, including in the Big Sky championship game.

The Lady Griz lost in the Big Sky tournament semifinals in close games in 2001-02 and 2002-03, the latter ending with a trip to the WNIT. Both of those tournaments were won by Weber State, then coached by Carla Taylor.

Then came the reply from Missoula: not so fast.

Behind 2003-04 Big Sky MVP Brooklynn Lorenzen, Montana won the league at 14-0, which started a new mini-era of dominance. Between 2003-04 and 2008-09, the Lady Griz won the Big Sky title five times and four times made the NCAA tournament.

Montana's Big Sky record in those six seasons: 80-10.

The decade produced a long list of memorable games, none more so than March 20, 2004, when Montana faced Louisiana Tech inside Dahlberg Arena in the first round of the NCAA tournament, a 12-seed hosting a 5-seed.

Every seat was filled, all 7,413 of them, and they watched the Lady Techsters race out to an 8-0 lead. Louisiana Tech led 36-25 with four minutes left in the first half, the seeds holding to form, when Katie Edwards just about brought the old barn down.

She hit a 3-pointer, scored inside, hit another 3-pointer. After Hollie Tyler scored twice to bring Montana within three, Edwards hit her fourth 3-pointer of the first half with 27 seconds left to tie it. The echoes of the 1980s and 90s had been awakened. They were still there, and they were thunderous.

Montana would build an 11-point, second-half lead, only for Louisiana Tech to rally and break thousands of hearts with an 81-77 victory.

You wonder, if she closes her eyes and remembers what the ball felt like leaving her fingers, sees it go through the net and hears the roar she created, if she still gets the goosebumps she gifted us.

Writing letters to their coach and representing the 2000s are Edwards and Shadra Robison.

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Dear Rob,

The 1950's, 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's have already said it all best. Just kidding, you aren't that old! In all seriousness, their letters capture the essence of our beloved coach, Rob Selvig, perfectly.

We, as people, can evolve, change and grow over time. But what stands out to me the most is that your impact on your players across all generations remains utterly consistent. The love, admiration and respect that we all have for you is unwavering (even after we all had to ride in a car with you). You are the connecting piece that allows us all to be a part of the treasured Lady Griz Family, which extends across generations and those to come. It is truly remarkable how you made hundreds of young ladies feel that they mattered and that their contributions, large or small, mattered. Even though you have retired, you are still coaching us in our lives through the decisions we make, the paths we take and the people we are becoming or hope to become, all because you coached us, challenged us and made us want to become the best versions of ourselves.

You were the inventor of "Dad Jokes" before they were a thing, you struggled with the introduction of car key fobs (trunk would be popped open and car alarm would be sounding off once we finally located our rental car) and you wore your vest and jacket inside out more often than not, purely on accident. You could rattle off U.S. and world history facts that only Professor Harry Fritz would know. Through all of your bench blurting – "We're the worst team in America," "She's the other team's best player," "What is she, a mad bomber?" "Having her back on defense is like having nobody back," etc. – we always knew you wouldn't replace us with any other team in the world (well, maybe not until after the game).

As you embark on such a momentous weekend, take a seat in shotgun and let us drive and guide you through celebrating this remarkable accomplishment! We won't even curse at you, get honked at, receive obscene gestures from passersby or even get fined for cruising past toll booths without paying. We are blessed to have been able to play a game we are so passionate about, with teammates we revered and coaches we loved, while also making history by being a part of your storied, 38-year coaching legacy! Thank you for allowing us to be a small part of your life, as the impact you have and will continue to have on all our lives is monumental. You are hands down the Best Coach in America!

Congratulations Rob, Jane, Jeff, Dan and family on "Robin Selvig Court"!

With love,

Katie Edwards, on behalf of the 2000's

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Rob,

Congratulations!!

I still remember the day that I called you to commit to be a Lady Griz. I remember feeling like that was the biggest honor and accomplishment to say that I was going to play for Robin Selvig.

I know not every athlete is blessed to have a coach that loved and supported them in all aspects of their life, both on and off the court. I don't think people truly realize how much you loved each one of your players and the impact you had on our lives.

We were lucky enough to play for a coach who knew how to push us to be the best we could be, whether that was playing our hardest on the court or working to make us the best people we would be when we hung up our shoes.

You are so incredibly deserving of this dedication, and I hope that each time people see your name on the court they will remember what an amazing coach you were and the impact you had on the University of Montana and Missoula.

Each and every one of us is truly thankful for the impact that you had on our lives. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for shaping me into the woman I am today.

Love,

Shadra (Robison) Emmert
Lady Griz 2005-10

University of Montana Athletics

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