Archive for the ‘Once A Griz Always A Griz’ Category
Frisco Is Great Location For FCS Championship Game
By JIM O'DAY - I was part of a small committee assigned to look into the facilities and communities being considered as the site for the NCAA Division I Football Championship title game starting in 2010. ... more
This Year’s Griz-Cat Game Just Got More Interesting
By JIM O'DAY - I was recently approached to do some podcasts on topics and issues pertaining to Division I athletics, and particularly, the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.... more
SOMT Appreciative of Washington Family Support
By JIM O'DAY - Last week, Dennis and Phyllis Washington, and the Washington Companies/Montana Rail Link, kindly donated the usage of their “Silver Cloud” train to Special Olympics Montana.... more
Trying The Podcast Route And Addressing FCS Issues
By JIM O'DAY - I was recently approached to do some podcasts on topics and issues pertaining to Division I athletics, and particularly, the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.... more
Griz Have Waited A Long Time For This Game With NDSU
By JIM O'DAY - The Grizzlies may have their work cut out for them this Saturday in Fargo, N.D., but they also have an opportunity to return UM to a status of NCAA Division I FCS superiority.... more
Special Memories With Former Griz Coach Joe Glenn
By JIM O'DAY - Saturday’s match-up in Missoula with the Montana Grizzlies and the South Dakota Coyotes could well be the last for Joe Glenn in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.... more
NCAA Troubles Ahead
By JIM O'DAY - Intercollegiate Athletics was a large part of my professional career for many years. Thus, I continue to watch what is happening across the national collegiate sports scene quite closely. ... more
Former Missoula Resident, Kent Shaffer, Honored in Cut Bank
By JIM O'DAY - Former Missoula resident, Kent Shaffer ("Sarge"), was recently honored in Cut Bank by having the timing shack at the Cut Bank Track and Field Complex named after him. ... more
Montana Split in Support of Neighboring Super Bowl Contenders
By JIM O'DAY - Montana was put in a unique situation last week when it was the only state where residents were able to purchase tickets to both the NFC and AFC championship games.... more
Another Important Griz-Cat Football Game is Upon Us
By JIM O'DAY - Call it the “Brawl of the Wild,” or “The Great Divide,” but regardless, Saturday's 113th Annual Brawl of the Wild is easily the biggest sporting event in the Treasure State each year.... more
Vacating UM’s 2011 Big Sky Conference Football Title Is Wrong
By JIM O'DAY - The NCAA has redacted the University of Montana's 2011 championship from the record books. Here is why making that victory vanish into a football Bermuda Triangle is unfair.... more
End of and Era: Annette Rocheleau Hanging up Her Whistle
By JOEL CARLSON - Annette Rocheleau, who has been with longtime Montana coach Robin Selvig as a player or assistant coach for all but 13 of Selvig’s 798 career wins, has announced her decision to retire.... more
Paying My Last Respects to a Good Friend, Miller Barber
By JIM O'DAY - My friend, PGA golfing professional Miller Barber was affectionately known as “Mr. X, or “The Mysterious Mr. X.” Miller passed away Tuesday night in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 82.... more
Lack of Significant Financial Resources Stressing FCS Programs
By JIM O'DAY - There are many obstacles to building successful intercollegiate athletics programs at small Division I schools – and, unfortunately, most future decisions may be dictated by limited funding.... more
Big 10 Decision Could Have Major Impact On FCS Schools
By JIM O'DAY - A decision made more than a thousand miles away last weekend could have a major impact on the schools playing at the Football Championship Subdivision – including Montana and Montana State.... more
More Realignment Changes Taking Major Toll On FCS Football
By JIM O'DAY - The continued exodus of teams from the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision is concerning, and could eventually have a dramatic impact on schools such as UM and MSU.... more
How About the Griz and Lady Griz!!!
By JIM O'DAY - Regardless of what happens later this week in their NCAA Division I basketball tournaments, the Montana Griz and Lady Griz have a lot to be proud of this past season.... more
Are Pre-Determined Tournament Sites in the Big Sky’s Future?
By JIM O'DAY - Missoula is benefitting this week by hosting both the men’s and women’s Big Sky Basketball Tournaments. But is this format is economically feasible, or should the league look at predetermined... more
Missoula and Western Montana Hoop Action is Heating Up
By JIM O'DAY - For the first time in many years, both the Montana Grizzlies and the Lady Griz stand alone atop the standings of the Big Sky Conference late in the year. Both face crucial battles in the coming ... more
Time Demands of an Intercollegiate Athlete: By a Student-Athlete
By JIM O'DAY - It's challenging for student-athletes to be competitive on the playing fields, courts and courses as well as the classroom. It's a delicate Balance.... more
Home Town Proud
By JIM O'DAY - Cut Bank – and much of Montana for that matter, shows their hometown pride for Alexis Wineman, who was crowned Miss Montana 2012 last summer, and who appeared in the Miss America program in Las... more
National Letter of Intent Signing Date Only 3 Weeks Away
By JIM O'DAY - In three weeks, UM and many other Division I intercollegiate athletic programs around the country will announce their in-coming football recruits starting with the 2013-14 school year.... more
What Do The Financial Numbers Mean for UM/MSU Athletics?
By JIM O'DAY - Last week, the Montana University System released information pertaining to the financial pictures of the athletic programs across the state. But if you compare apples-to-apples what do the numbe... more
Wish We Were Headed For Frisco, Texas
By JIM O'DAY - On Saturday, the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision title game will be played in Frisco, Texas. I hope some day our Montana fans have a chance to experience the atmosphere that "Te... more
Hiring, Retaining College Coaches is Becoming Much More Difficult
By JIM O'DAY - Hiring and retaining coaches at the Football Championship Subdivision level for Division 1 is becoming increasingly difficult and challenging.... more
Former UM Coaches/Missoula Stars Making It Big In College Football
By JIM O'DAY -Dave Doeren is the latest in a long line of former University of Montana coaches who is making it on a much bigger stage these days.... more
Lots On Tap This Week For Missoula Sports Fans
By JIM O'DAY - If you're a College Sports Fan, there are a number of events scheduled in the next few days in and around Missoula.... more
Football in the rear-view mirror
By JIM O'DAY - With football, volleyball, cross country and soccer now in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to support the men’s and women’s basketball programs at UM.... more
At Long Last: My First In-Person Griz-Cat Game in 5 Long Years
By JIM O'DAY - For the first time in 5 years, I'll be at the Griz-Cat game in person. Each of the past 4 years, I was in Indianapolis representing the UM as the AD.... more
Jim O’Day: Once a Griz Always a Griz
By JIM O'DAY - It’s no secret I love Missoula, and my family and I have decided that of all the choices and places we could call home, we choose to MAKE IT MISSOULA!... more