An outlook on the rest of the season:

[AZGrizFan]

From Colter Nuanez:
Sophomore Jackson Thiebes is the starting left tackle. The Kalispell product didn’t play football in 2012 at Lewis & Clark College. He walked on to the Griz as a tight end the next spring and redshirted last fall. Freshman Josh Janssen finds himself in the starting lineup after injuries cost juniors Ellis Henderson and Chase Naccarato their seasons. John Nguyen, a 5-foot-7, 180-pound sophomore tailback, is starting at fullback. Converted wide receiver Mitch Saylor is the starting tight end after 2013 starter Jordan Harper left the team. In other words, it’s likely the Grizzlies’ offense will continue to struggle down the stretch.

Is Colter wrong on this gem or did we lose our fullback too? If so I guess I missed that.

No, he's wrong about that. Not only is Nguyen NOT starting at FB, he's not even PLAYING other than returning kicks and punts. Wilson has started and played 98% of the plays where there's been a FB on the field.

 

[PlayerRep]

From Colter Nuanez:
Sophomore Jackson Thiebes is the starting left tackle. The Kalispell product didn’t play football in 2012 at Lewis & Clark College. He walked on to the Griz as a tight end the next spring and redshirted last fall. Freshman Josh Janssen finds himself in the starting lineup after injuries cost juniors Ellis Henderson and Chase Naccarato their seasons. John Nguyen, a 5-foot-7, 180-pound sophomore tailback, is starting at fullback. Converted wide receiver Mitch Saylor is the starting tight end after 2013 starter Jordan Harper left the team. In other words, it’s likely the Grizzlies’ offense will continue to struggle down the stretch.

Is Colter wrong on this gem or did we lose our fullback too? If so I guess I missed that.

And Nuanez' discussion of Thiebes was fine, but he apparently doesn't realize that Reese has started the last 4 games, and 5 of the last 6. Thiebes started at NDSU, but I think Reese got most of the plays there too. I don't know if Thiebes has even played in the last 4 games. Nguyen, who isn't the fullback, had 2 carries from running back against CP, including 1 in the first half.

 

[Proud Griz Man]

From Colter Nuanez:
Sophomore Jackson Thiebes is the starting left tackle. The Kalispell product didn’t play football in 2012 at Lewis & Clark College. He walked on to the Griz as a tight end the next spring and redshirted last fall. Freshman Josh Janssen finds himself in the starting lineup after injuries cost juniors Ellis Henderson and Chase Naccarato their seasons. John Nguyen, a 5-foot-7, 180-pound sophomore tailback, is starting at fullback. Converted wide receiver Mitch Saylor is the starting tight end after 2013 starter Jordan Harper left the team. In other words, it’s likely the Grizzlies’ offense will continue to struggle down the stretch.

Is Colter wrong on this gem or did we lose our fullback too? If so I guess I missed that.

Nyugen returned kicks and played the last series (last minute) at TB. I found Colter's writing to be informative, but recognized that he is now slanted to his audience. Injuries are not new to Griz football. 2nd and 3rd string depth has to step up and perform, or Griz underperform.

 

[go96griz]

From Colter Nuanez:
Sophomore Jackson Thiebes is the starting left tackle. The Kalispell product didn’t play football in 2012 at Lewis & Clark College. He walked on to the Griz as a tight end the next spring and redshirted last fall. Freshman Josh Janssen finds himself in the starting lineup after injuries cost juniors Ellis Henderson and Chase Naccarato their seasons. John Nguyen, a 5-foot-7, 180-pound sophomore tailback, is starting at fullback. Converted wide receiver Mitch Saylor is the starting tight end after 2013 starter Jordan Harper left the team. In other words, it’s likely the Grizzlies’ offense will continue to struggle down the stretch.

Is Colter wrong on this gem or did we lose our fullback too? If so I guess I missed that.

No, he's wrong about that. Not only is Nguyen NOT starting at FB, he's not even PLAYING other than returning kicks and punts. Wilson has started and played 98% of the plays where there's been a FB on the field.

Thanks, I know I saw Wilson playing vs. Poly. Either Colter made a huge mistake in his write up or Wilson got hurt late. I was assuming that since Colter specifically made this statement that he must know what he is talking about. As PR also pointed out, Thiebes has been a non-factor for a long time now so I'm surprised as well that Colter made a big to do about that. It just goes to show that even the best of the reporters can't really know everything about the other teams.

 

[JayLarson]

When did #38 become our starting fullback?

 

[poorgriz]

Six paragraphs on UM.

It's still the Big GRIZ Conference, and everyone knows it.

Yep. Always will be.

LOL. That ship sailed quite some time ago. I assume you don't actually believe that. One would think if a team can be considered the class of the conference, they'd actually WIN the conference once in awhile. :roll:

 

[AllWeatherFan]

MSU still has to play ISU, CP & Montana. The 'scats could just as easily lose all three as the Griz.

You nailed it. Coach Ron Ash is shopping for a good buy on adult diapers at this very moment. And he's being super nice to the clerk at Safeway. Because Coach Ron Ash is a super nice guy, there is no denying that.

 

[Brock Landers]

Colter, like idioteagle above, is a cat and is playing to his base.

Griz are a lock at 8-4. And Colter's smart enough to know it.

Colter is definitely not a Cat

 

[ordigger]

Six paragraphs on UM.

It's still the Big GRIZ Conference, and everyone knows it.

Yep. Always will be.

LOL. That ship sailed quite some time ago. I assume you don't actually believe that. One would think if a team can be considered the class of the conference, they'd actually WIN the conference once in awhile. :roll:

Not really....recognition and tradition go a long ways. We could win just one game each year and nationally fans would still associate college football at our level with the Griz. I travel extensively, and have worked in PA, WV, KS, CO, OK and currently Texas. Everywhere it's the Griz, not the Cats, nor the Eagles not even Northern Colorado in Springs. The week of the Baylor/TCU game a group of Baylor fans wanted to know if our "bears" had won too. It's not living in the past which confuses many; but a tradition that has been 25 years in the making. It will take decades to erode that.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

It's still the Big GRIZ Conference, and everyone knows it.

Yep. Always will be.

LOL. That ship sailed quite some time ago. I assume you don't actually believe that. One would think if a team can be considered the class of the conference, they'd actually WIN the conference once in awhile. :roll:

Not really....recognition and tradition go a long ways. We could win just one game each year and nationally fans would still associate college football at our level with the Griz. I travel extensively, and have worked in PA, WV, KS, CO, OK and currently Texas. Everywhere it's the Griz, not the Cats, nor the Eagles not even Northern Colorado in Springs. The week of the Baylor/TCU game a group of Baylor fans wanted to know if our "bears" had won too. It's not living in the past which confuses many; but a tradition that has been 25 years in the making. It will take decades to erode that.

Exactly right. Great post.

 

[Jerry Punch]

Colter, like idioteagle above, is a cat and is playing to his base.

Griz are a lock at 8-4. And Colter's smart enough to know it.

You also laid out a scenario detailing how the Big Sky could be full of one loss teams, which included the Griz losing only to EWU down the stretch. A few hours later, your scenario seemed to be less than accurate after the Griz lost to Cal Poly. So, why would your prediction that the Griz are a lock at 8-4 be any more believable?

 

[granitegriz]

Nguyen is starting at fullback? Guy knows about as much as ironeagle. Wow!

 

[AZGrizFan]

Colter, like idioteagle above, is a cat and is playing to his base.

Griz are a lock at 8-4. And Colter's smart enough to know it.

You also laid out a scenario detailing how the Big Sky could be full of one loss teams, which included the Griz losing only to EWU down the stretch. A few hours later, your scenario seemed to be less than accurate after the Griz lost to Cal Poly. So, why would your prediction that the Griz are a lock at 8-4 be any more believable?

Because an 8-4 Griz team will have beaten either MSU or EWU and have gone 6-2 in the league. THAT team, from ANY of the power 4 conferences, is going to the playoffs.

 

[bigkid]

Until Montana does something on the field to quiet some people this kind of garbage will continue. If we shut down sac state people will say we didn't play a team with a winning schedule yet they are one of the top offenses in the league. The fact is the conference play is only 50% finished. A lot of stuff is going to happen in the next 4 weeks. Upsets, some what the necks, and the next thing you know the league leaders are sitting with 2 losses. I have yet to see a team who is the odds on favorite in the bigsky. It will probably be determined the last week of play. Until then just enjoy football.

 

[ordigger]

Colter, like idioteagle above, is a cat and is playing to his base.

Griz are a lock at 8-4. And Colter's smart enough to know it.

You also laid out a scenario detailing how the Big Sky could be full of one loss teams, which included the Griz losing only to EWU down the stretch. A few hours later, your scenario seemed to be less than accurate after the Griz lost to Cal Poly. So, why would your prediction that the Griz are a lock at 8-4 be any more believable?

Because an 8-4 Griz team will have beaten either MSU or EWU and have gone 6-2 in the league. THAT team, from ANY of the power 4 conferences, is going to the playoffs.

Unless of course the Cats lose to ISU, CP and us also....a win against them would be a nothing win. I think ISU and UM beat them, not so sure about CP.

 

[poorgriz]

Until Montana does something on the field to quiet some people this kind of garbage will continue. If we shut down sac state people will say we didn't play a team with a winning schedule yet they are one of the top offenses in the league. The fact is the conference play is only 50% finished. A lot of stuff is going to happen in the next 4 weeks. Upsets, some what the necks, and the next thing you know the league leaders are sitting with 2 losses. I have yet to see a team who is the odds on favorite in the bigsky. It will probably be determined the last week of play. Until then just enjoy football.

No. Not all the leaders are going to end up with two losses. Bank on that. The Big Sky Champion(s) this year will have either zero losses or one loss.

 

[poorgriz]

Colter, like idioteagle above, is a cat and is playing to his base.

Griz are a lock at 8-4. And Colter's smart enough to know it.

You also laid out a scenario detailing how the Big Sky could be full of one loss teams, which included the Griz losing only to EWU down the stretch. A few hours later, your scenario seemed to be less than accurate after the Griz lost to Cal Poly. So, why would your prediction that the Griz are a lock at 8-4 be any more believable?

Because an 8-4 Griz team will have beaten either MSU or EWU and have gone 6-2 in the league. THAT team, from ANY of the power 4 conferences, is going to the playoffs.

Unless of course the Cats lose to ISU, CP and us also....a win against them would be a nothing win. I think ISU and UM beat them, not so sure about CP.

No. CP is quite a bit better than ISU and UM. Predicting that we're going to lose to both ISU and UM, especially if we beat CP this weekend, is silly - but knock yourself out.

 

[Htowngriz]

You also laid out a scenario detailing how the Big Sky could be full of one loss teams, which included the Griz losing only to EWU down the stretch. A few hours later, your scenario seemed to be less than accurate after the Griz lost to Cal Poly. So, why would your prediction that the Griz are a lock at 8-4 be any more believable?

Because an 8-4 Griz team will have beaten either MSU or EWU and have gone 6-2 in the league. THAT team, from ANY of the power 4 conferences, is going to the playoffs.

Unless of course the Cats lose to ISU, CP and us also....a win against them would be a nothing win. I think ISU and UM beat them, not so sure about CP.

No. CP is quite a bit better than ISU and UM. Predicting that we're going to lose to both ISU and UM, especially if we beat CP this weekend, is silly - but knock yourself out.

Predicting you to lose to either of those teams is silly, considering you squeaked by Weber at home? :?

 

[poorgriz]

Because an 8-4 Griz team will have beaten either MSU or EWU and have gone 6-2 in the league. THAT team, from ANY of the power 4 conferences, is going to the playoffs.

Unless of course the Cats lose to ISU, CP and us also....a win against them would be a nothing win. I think ISU and UM beat them, not so sure about CP.

No. CP is quite a bit better than ISU and UM. Predicting that we're going to lose to both ISU and UM, especially if we beat CP this weekend, is silly - but knock yourself out.

Predicting you to lose to either of those teams is silly, considering you squeaked by Weber at home? :?

You predicted we'd lose to both. Yes - I think that is a silly prediction. I wouldn't consider the Weber game a squeaker. We had a bad game offensively but thankfully our D showed up to play as we knew they could. Still beat them by 10, and from being there, it was one of those games where there was no doubt who was going to win. Lastly, Weber is a much better game than their record indicates, but as we all know, that's the way Cat fans see it and griz fans will see the opposite.

 

[grizpack]

Colter does a great job of "covering" the Cats, as he lives in Bozeman. However, he is a UM grad. I wish we had someone who did the same for the Griz. Instead, we get a Missoulian article when there is a game.

It is actually OK for someone to say "not glowing" things about the Griz, without being a Cat/Eagle/Bison fan. It really is folks. It really is. I promise. Honesty isn't always bad. :roll: