CrunchGriz
Well-known member
Like all of you, I'm stunned and disheartened by the way the season ended. Sucks to have a season end like that.
However, we should celebrate the players on this team who gave their all, every game, all season, and some for their entire careers:
Dante Olson - Two-time Big Sky First Team All-Conference middle linebacker (one time unanimous), Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year, two-time All-American, two-time Buck Buchanan Award finalist, Campbell Award finalist, two-time national leader in total tackles (leading one season in average total tackles, and the other in both average and gross total), set the Montana and Big Sky record for season's total tackles, and the Montana record for a career. Beast, period, on the field, and apparently one of the nicest, most giving young men you could ever find off of it. True scholar-athlete. And, with all due respect to Jason Crebo, the best linebacker ever at Linebacker U.
Jerry Louie-McGee - Unanimous All-Big Sky First Team All-Conference punt returner, tied for the Montana career lead in punt return touchdowns, set the Montana record for career receptions, single-game receptions, and average receptions per game for a season. Ninth in Montana career receiving yards. Most electric, fearless player the Griz have had in my memory, despite almost always being the smallest player on the field.
Samori Toure - All-Big Sky First Team All-Conference wide receiver, set the Montana season records for most receiving yards and catches. If you jam him, he'll make a move and blow by you for a touchdown, if you lay off he'll catch a short route and get huge YAC.
Marcus Knight - Set the Montana record for a season for rushing and total touchdowns. 1000-yard season. Great combo of power, speed, and moves. Any time you're in the record books above Chase Reynolds, you've left a mark.
Malik Flowers - Set the Montana record for most kickoff return yards in a season. Speed kills.
Jace Lewis - First-team All Big Sky linebacker. 125+ tackles. If he wasn't a teammate of a certain DO, he'd be the best linebacker on the team, and would be the star on any other team in the conference.
Robby Hauck - Second-team All Big Sky safety. 125+ tackles. No bigger than the kid next door, but absolutely fearless in run support.
...and too many more to name: punt coverage team, Adam Wilson (both for kickoffs and punts), kick coverage team, gamer Dalton Sneed (except for one poor, and unfortunately, final game), Cy Sirmon, Moses Mallory, Jesse Sims, Josh Sandry, Gavin Robertson (biggest hitter on the team, which is amazing considering that he was a teammate of DO), Sammy Akem (oh, how we missed you, Sammy....), and a host of others. Tons of heart on this team, and a whole lot coming back next year.
Thanks to all of you for a great season. You were a blast to watch. For all the seniors, best of luck in your future careers--you've all shown that you will be assets to whatever employers may be lucky enough to grab you.
However, we should celebrate the players on this team who gave their all, every game, all season, and some for their entire careers:
Dante Olson - Two-time Big Sky First Team All-Conference middle linebacker (one time unanimous), Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year, two-time All-American, two-time Buck Buchanan Award finalist, Campbell Award finalist, two-time national leader in total tackles (leading one season in average total tackles, and the other in both average and gross total), set the Montana and Big Sky record for season's total tackles, and the Montana record for a career. Beast, period, on the field, and apparently one of the nicest, most giving young men you could ever find off of it. True scholar-athlete. And, with all due respect to Jason Crebo, the best linebacker ever at Linebacker U.
Jerry Louie-McGee - Unanimous All-Big Sky First Team All-Conference punt returner, tied for the Montana career lead in punt return touchdowns, set the Montana record for career receptions, single-game receptions, and average receptions per game for a season. Ninth in Montana career receiving yards. Most electric, fearless player the Griz have had in my memory, despite almost always being the smallest player on the field.
Samori Toure - All-Big Sky First Team All-Conference wide receiver, set the Montana season records for most receiving yards and catches. If you jam him, he'll make a move and blow by you for a touchdown, if you lay off he'll catch a short route and get huge YAC.
Marcus Knight - Set the Montana record for a season for rushing and total touchdowns. 1000-yard season. Great combo of power, speed, and moves. Any time you're in the record books above Chase Reynolds, you've left a mark.
Malik Flowers - Set the Montana record for most kickoff return yards in a season. Speed kills.
Jace Lewis - First-team All Big Sky linebacker. 125+ tackles. If he wasn't a teammate of a certain DO, he'd be the best linebacker on the team, and would be the star on any other team in the conference.
Robby Hauck - Second-team All Big Sky safety. 125+ tackles. No bigger than the kid next door, but absolutely fearless in run support.
...and too many more to name: punt coverage team, Adam Wilson (both for kickoffs and punts), kick coverage team, gamer Dalton Sneed (except for one poor, and unfortunately, final game), Cy Sirmon, Moses Mallory, Jesse Sims, Josh Sandry, Gavin Robertson (biggest hitter on the team, which is amazing considering that he was a teammate of DO), Sammy Akem (oh, how we missed you, Sammy....), and a host of others. Tons of heart on this team, and a whole lot coming back next year.
Thanks to all of you for a great season. You were a blast to watch. For all the seniors, best of luck in your future careers--you've all shown that you will be assets to whatever employers may be lucky enough to grab you.
