By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN
The University of Montana Grizzly football team is scheduled to face Weber State in Ogden November 3 of this year. In March it was assumed it would be a battle of coaching wits between Robin Pflugrad and new Wildcats’ coach John L. Smith. Now the Saturday before the Presidential election will pair Interim coaches Mick Delaney and Jody Sears.
That day John Smith will be leading the Arkansas Razorbacks against the OLE Miss Rebels, Pflugrad is likely hoping to be in Philadelphia watching his son Aaron play for the Eagles (who signed Pflugrad to a free Agent Contract Saturday).
Josh Osweiiler has some special connection with the Denver Broncos. When Osweiiler enrolled at Arizona State one of this chief rivals for playing time at quarterback was Jack Elway son of John Elway now the head of Operations for the Broncos. Jack Elway lost his taste for competitive football and has remained at Arizona State as a student. Following a downturn following John Elway’s retirement, the Broncos return to the AFC Playoffs and the AFC title game under the guidance of former Arizona State quarterback Jake Plummer.
Alysheba won 2 legs of the Triple Crown in 1987.
Twenty-five years ago this week Missoula had a connection to the Kentucky Derby winner. Missoula businesswoman Pamela Sharbauer was part owner with her mother of Alysheba who surprised the racing world with wins in both the Derby and Preakness before coming out short in the Belmont.
Oddly, there was another type of championship type of runner born on that Derby Saturday in Havre. Future Griz and NFL star Marc Mariani was born on May 2, 1987 and after being a multi-sport star at Havre High came to UM and helped the Griz to a pair of National Title game appearance and then onto the Tennessee Titans and an appearance in the Pro Bowl.
Just sort of an interesting fact from the NBA. Kris Humphries got a lot of practice rebounding during his turbulent off season and it shows in the stats. Humphries finished 5th in the league in rebounding, maybe next season Lamar Odom will be among the rebounding leaders.
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Chris Walterskirchen has been an observer of Montana sports for nearly half a century. A Kalispell native, Chris has worked in various capacities for professional and college sports organization of at various times: ranging from announcing and statistical work to the concessions and even a stint as a costumed mascot.
Chris has academic degrees in communications and elementary education. His style of sports trivia involves more than just who won and who lost, but also focuses on the obscure or human side of sports. In this blog you will learn things like the Grizzly football team has won 210 games over the 19 seasons since they have had Monte as their mascot or that UNLV is the only school that both the Griz and Lady Griz have both faced in the NCAA basketball tournament
When not following sports Chris enjoys taking care of animals of all kinds (a peacock rescue?) and reading to pre-schoolers.