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Griz Greats - the silver anniversary of the 1995 national champions

Colter_Nuanez56

Well-known member
Griz Greats: the Silver Anniversary of the 1995 national champion Grizzlies brought to you by Blackfoot and First Security Bank is a long form interview series hosted by Ryan Tootell and Colter Nuanez of ESPN Missoula delving into the oral history of the University of Montana’s 1995 Division I-AA football championship.

The Griz football program has established a reputation as one of the most dominant in the history of small-school college football over the last 35 years. But UM’s first 20 years in the Big Sky Conference were largely uneventful.

When Don Read arrived in Missoula in 1985, one of the greatest head coaches in college football history ushered in a new era that helped the Grizzlies eventually rise to levels of dominance unseen in the West.

In 1995, Read’s 10th and final season at the helm, the Grizzlies caught lightning in a bottle, riding a hot streak by quarterback Dave Dickenson to the first national championship in the history of the university. From Dickenson’s peerless play throughout the playoffs to Andy Larson’s unforgettable field goal to beat the Marshall Thundering Herd on their own field in the national title game to Read riding off into the sunset with a national title in his final game as a college head coach, the 1995 Grizzlies and the stories behind that unforgettable season are the stuff of legend.

Tootell and Nuanez will present more than two dozen interviews with former players, coaches, administrators, media members, Missoula and Montana community leaders and much more to unveil the decade-long rise that culminated in a national championship that changed the face of the University of Montana and the city of Missoula forever. First Security Bank, Blackfoot and ESPN Missoula hope you enjoy Griz Greats – the Silver Anniversary of the 1995 national champion Grizzlies.

Episode 0 - Griz Greats preview with Tootell & Nuanez
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0XhPRcfScBZ1Z77MGvpwod?si=Big8JYCbSK2Hvdl-kZcm8w
 
Episode 1 - Mick Holien, former Voice of the Griz
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0nolzS9Fp5eEGFZDH38ptc?si=llXQRRXVT_myRqQXMUkxJQ
 
Thank you for doing this.
The production quality and depth is outstanding.

We are lucky to have you guys, Colter & Mike.

Go Griz
 
Man, i can't say enough about this podcast.

These are incredible interviews, Griz fans and we are lucky to have this archival. I live in Portland and our local sports media has really dried in the last five years, don't take Colter & Ryan for granted.

Production quality, cross-reference of stories, excellent interviews and this is a show I've looked more forward to than any Netflix docu-series this year.

Some cool stories, off the top of my head:

Andy Larson - struggles in his early career, inspiration from Jody Rice, UM's first premier kicking recruit

Mick Holien - Larry Donovan storming into a station to find him, a Marshall fan swapping jackets with him on the field in Huntington

Blaine McClemurry - that hit on the receiver in the 95 title game (when the kid got up and celebrated), growing up and coming from Troy, MT

Dave Dickenson - comparisons of Air Read & the CFL, mental fortitude, wearing basketball high-tops to his NFL tryout, physical exhaustion& shoulder issues 94-95, Don Read coaching tree

Wayne Hogan - first impressions of Missoula after flying in the night before for his interview, the intimidation of George Dennison, culture of Bobby Bowden / Florida State, thoughts RE: Don Read + Mick Dennehy + Joe Glenn, several self-deprecating comments regarding his infamous budget mishandling

GREAT story from Wayne Hogan about the arrival & subsequent alcohol consumption of Griz fans at the Holiday Inn in Huntington, WV.

Dave Guffey - my favorite interview. Full gamut of stories from when he began as SID in 1978. Mike Montgomery hiring Robin Selvig, proposed new stadium site at Fort Missoula in the late 70s, getting head-butt + bleeding + crying (joy) after the national championship, comparisons of each head coach + their relationships with the media

Looking forward to hearing Matt Wells, Jim O'Day, some of the O-line, Joe Douglas....

so well done
 
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