Dane Oliver Named Sentinel Head Coach

[BDizzle]

I grew up in Laurel. Played flag in 4th grade. Played little guy tackle football in Billings in 5-6 grade. Then played middle school football vs all the other Eastern A schools and a few Billings schools (?). I know Missoula has little guy tackle football for like 5-6 grade. Really weird to not have middle school football.

But what about concussions?


Its a good thing you quit, it may have affected your decision making abilities later in life................you know like hanging around GRZFTBL etc.

I never had to worry about concussions because they went for my knees instead. Gonna have a titanium one here pretty soon.


I think GRZFTBL was supposed to be my get-a-way driver but he ended up in IHOP. Next time I'm picking a place away from food joints.

What happened at IHOP...........................

I don't know. I went to read. :ugeek:

 

[Grizbeer]

Little Griz football here runs 5th to 8th grade, so they are playing at that age, its just not associated with the schools. The teams "draft" players, rather than assigning kids based on geography.

how do they seperate the kids then? all 5th graders together, all 6th graders together, etc? please tell me that 5th-8th don't compete against one another...

2 divisions, 5th & 6th play together, 7th & 8th play together. Some other fun facts about Little Griz - there is a weight limit - over a set weight (I think 95 pounds for 5th/6th, 115 for 7th/8th) and the kids have to play on the line and can't be a running or quarterback. Well set limit, except it is a plus or minus. Plus or minus what? Depends on how much Bob Hermes star running back weighs. No playoff or championship games, although there is a "jamboree" at WA-Griz where the 7th/8th graders play a few shorter games. All games are played at Playfair park on the baseball fields across the outfield and 2nd base of the infield.

 

[ilovethecats]

Little Griz football here runs 5th to 8th grade, so they are playing at that age, its just not associated with the schools. The teams "draft" players, rather than assigning kids based on geography.

how do they seperate the kids then? all 5th graders together, all 6th graders together, etc? please tell me that 5th-8th don't compete against one another...

2 divisions, 5th & 6th play together, 7th & 8th play together. Some other fun facts about Little Griz - there is a weight limit - over a set weight (I think 95 pounds for 5th/6th, 115 for 7th/8th) and the kids have to play on the line and can't be a running or quarterback. Well set limit, except it is a plus or minus. Plus or minus what? Depends on how much Bob Hermes star running back weighs. No playoff or championship games, although there is a "jamboree" at WA-Griz where the 7th/8th graders play a few shorter games. All games are played at Playfair park on the baseball fields across the outfield and 2nd base of the infield.

wow. this is one of the more depressing posts i've read on here. this truly sucks for kids and all of you parents of kids this age. this is getting more ridiculous by the post. my condolences. arty:

 

[PlayerRep]

ya he ran a pretty tight ship. i'd assume coach holmquist does the same thing. it's why i'm so baffled that i never knew missoula didn't have middle school football. as someone mentioned, at the very least, you'd think they'd organize these teams based on location and try to give thee kids some cort of continuity for high school. it really explains why missoula is typically always so terrible in high school football. from the minute they step into their first high school practice...they are already way behind every other team in the state. yikes.

I don't understand how Missoula doesn't have middle school football. They have little guy tackle football. So they play little guy tackle football, then don't play middle school football, then play high school football??? Just doesn't make sense.

Little Griz football here runs 5th to 8th grade, so they are playing at that age, its just not associated with the schools. The teams "draft" players, rather than assigning kids based on geography.

how do they seperate the kids then? all 5th graders together, all 6th graders together, etc? please tell me that 5th-8th don't compete against one another...

Teams/leagues are 5-6 and 7-8. Teams are fairly large, say 25 or so, so they have a 5th grade "team" and a 6th grade "team" within the team, with some exceptions for the better 5th graders to play some 6th grade. During games, the 5th grade teams play each other and the 6th grade teams play each other. There are set times for the changeovers. Generally, one game each week is set up so that the 5th grade teams play the majority of the time, and the other game each week is set up so that the 6th grade teams play the majority of the time.

The team of the owner/organizer of the Little Griz Football seems to get to pick a majority of the bigger name kids in town, so his team is stacked and almost always is the best team. Then, in important games, he also refs to help ensure that the right team wins.

 

[BDizzle]

Little Griz football here runs 5th to 8th grade, so they are playing at that age, its just not associated with the schools. The teams "draft" players, rather than assigning kids based on geography.

how do they seperate the kids then? all 5th graders together, all 6th graders together, etc? please tell me that 5th-8th don't compete against one another...

2 divisions, 5th & 6th play together, 7th & 8th play together. Some other fun facts about Little Griz - there is a weight limit - over a set weight (I think 95 pounds for 5th/6th, 115 for 7th/8th) and the kids have to play on the line and can't be a running or quarterback. Well set limit, except it is a plus or minus. Plus or minus what? Depends on how much Bob Hermes star running back weighs. No playoff or championship games, although there is a "jamboree" at WA-Griz where the 7th/8th graders play a few shorter games. All games are played at Playfair park on the baseball fields across the outfield and 2nd base of the infield.

Is that by the YMCA? I just remember my cousin played there. It was tackle football. He was a big ol boy and got stuck playing line. Hated it cause he wanted to actually touch the ball so he quit.

 

[ilovethecats]

wow. someone needs to do something about this. first of all...it's stupid. second, it sounds like some shady things are allowed to happen. and third...kids are getting screwed. :?

 

[PlayerRep]

wow. someone needs to do something about this. first of all...it's stupid. second, it sounds like some shady things are allowed to happen. and third...kids are getting screwed. :?

Should we get the Missoulian on this?

To answer another question, yes, the practice/playing fields are by the Y. They are generally little league fields.

 

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Teams/leagues are 5-6 and 7-8. Teams are fairly large, say 25 or so, so they have a 5th grade "team" and a 6th grade "team" within the team, with some exceptions for the better 5th graders to play some 6th grade. During games, the 5th grade teams play each other and the 6th grade teams play each other. There are set times for the changeovers. Generally, one game each week is set up so that the 5th grade teams play the majority of the time, and the other game each week is set up so that the 6th grade teams play the majority of the time.

The team of the owner/organizer of the Little Griz Football seems to get to pick a majority of the bigger name kids in town, so his team is stacked and almost always is the best team. Then, in important games, he also refs to help ensure that the right team wins.

Fu*k its cold outside because Playa.RaPe actually made a post with factual information and I.......agree with him.

 

[PlayerRep]

Teams/leagues are 5-6 and 7-8. Teams are fairly large, say 25 or so, so they have a 5th grade "team" and a 6th grade "team" within the team, with some exceptions for the better 5th graders to play some 6th grade. During games, the 5th grade teams play each other and the 6th grade teams play each other. There are set times for the changeovers. Generally, one game each week is set up so that the 5th grade teams play the majority of the time, and the other game each week is set up so that the 6th grade teams play the majority of the time.

The team of the owner/organizer of the Little Griz Football seems to get to pick a majority of the bigger name kids in town, so his team is stacked and almost always is the best team. Then, in important games, he also refs to help ensure that the right team wins.

Fu*k its cold outside because Playa.RaPe actually made a post with factual information and I.......agree with him.

Yes, continuing my 12-year streak of posting correct facts and analysis, and never making a mistake or being wrong.

 

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Teams/leagues are 5-6 and 7-8. Teams are fairly large, say 25 or so, so they have a 5th grade "team" and a 6th grade "team" within the team, with some exceptions for the better 5th graders to play some 6th grade. During games, the 5th grade teams play each other and the 6th grade teams play each other. There are set times for the changeovers. Generally, one game each week is set up so that the 5th grade teams play the majority of the time, and the other game each week is set up so that the 6th grade teams play the majority of the time.

The team of the owner/organizer of the Little Griz Football seems to get to pick a majority of the bigger name kids in town, so his team is stacked and almost always is the best team. Then, in important games, he also refs to help ensure that the right team wins.

Fu*k its cold outside because Playa.RaPe actually made a post with factual information and I.......agree with him.

Yes, continuing my 12-year streak of posting correct facts and analysis, and never making a mistake or being wrong.

I counted one post in a row...................and you have already snapped that season long streak.

 

[jagur1]

I grew up in Laurel. Played flag in 4th grade. Played little guy tackle football in Billings in 5-6 grade. Then played middle school football vs all the other Eastern A schools and a few Billings schools (?). I know Missoula has little guy tackle football for like 5-6 grade. Really weird to not have middle school football.

ya that's pretty much how it goes here in bozeman too. once you hit 7th grade you play the other middle school teams in town and they used to play the belgrade teams too. the high school coaches had a good idea and added some input to these teams for when the kids reached 9th grade.

basketball back in the day was even more organized. coach cole pretty much had his hand in all of middle school hoops even down to discipline in extreme cases. basically, if you were an idiot in 8th grade, it's possible you ruined your shot at high school hoops before even entering high school! but on the flip side, kids were coming into 9th grade with a pretty good idea of the offenses run, including out of bounds plays that made for some competitive tryouts! not sure if this is still the case since cole has left.

Basketball in Laurel was also very organized. We had two traveling teams starting in like 5th grade. Had the same traveling teams until high school. Then players got cut and it went down to one team. But we ran the same offense and the Varsity coach (his son was on my team) was always at practices and had a say in everything. We traveled all over the Western US to play in tournaments. Unfortunately we always screwed the pooch at state when I was playing.

Yes Laurels organization and team building is a pain in the ass. Such is the reason we enjoy blowing the doors off Laurel teams at any oppertunity or level. Love Billings Central.

 

[hokeyfine]

i believe that the decision to get rid of middle school sports was purely budgetary........i think.

 

[BDizzle]

I grew up in Laurel. Played flag in 4th grade. Played little guy tackle football in Billings in 5-6 grade. Then played middle school football vs all the other Eastern A schools and a few Billings schools (?). I know Missoula has little guy tackle football for like 5-6 grade. Really weird to not have middle school football.

ya that's pretty much how it goes here in bozeman too. once you hit 7th grade you play the other middle school teams in town and they used to play the belgrade teams too. the high school coaches had a good idea and added some input to these teams for when the kids reached 9th grade.

basketball back in the day was even more organized. coach cole pretty much had his hand in all of middle school hoops even down to discipline in extreme cases. basically, if you were an idiot in 8th grade, it's possible you ruined your shot at high school hoops before even entering high school! but on the flip side, kids were coming into 9th grade with a pretty good idea of the offenses run, including out of bounds plays that made for some competitive tryouts! not sure if this is still the case since cole has left.

Basketball in Laurel was also very organized. We had two traveling teams starting in like 5th grade. Had the same traveling teams until high school. Then players got cut and it went down to one team. But we ran the same offense and the Varsity coach (his son was on my team) was always at practices and had a say in everything. We traveled all over the Western US to play in tournaments. Unfortunately we always screwed the pooch at state when I was playing.

Yes Laurels organization and team building is a pain in the ass. Such is the reason we enjoy blowing the doors off Laurel teams at any oppertunity or level. Love Billings Central.

Too bad that doesn't happen very often. Especially when I was in high school. We dominated you.

 

[Geddes]

I have been coaching little griz (5th/6th) for about seven years now, and I must agree that it is severly outdated. They have slowly "modernized" the 7th/8th grade level, by allowing a couple of different formations, motion, live punts, 4-3 D (rather than 6-3-2), etc. However, I find it to be a major negative that the kids are not specifically playing with those that will be their teamates in high school. The 5th/6th still run out of the T, and I have had other coaches complain to me that I am not supposed to stunt/blitz with my D, or run trap and pull blocking schemes, but I still do. I guess I can kind of understand having confines on the younger kids, as fundamentals should be taught before they learn different schemes. The weight limit is 108lb for the 5th/6th, and I think 125lb for 7th/8th. I find this to be somewhat frustrating. It goes with the kumbaya culture I find in Missoula. Regarding the stacking of teams..that is definitely a reality.

Missoula will never compete with the other AA's, if we don't have middle school teams, or at least put teams together based on geography, and then implement the offenses and defenses of the corresponding highshools, based on that geographical breakdown.

On a side-note, St. Joseph Elementary now has a middle school team. I believe that started last year.

 

[Grizbeer]

I guess an advantage of going to school in a small district is playing jr high football. I loved jr high football. It was fun, and competitive, to play against kids from Libby, Plains, Mission, Hot Springs, Eureka, Troy, etc.

By the way, we did not have to play with any of those dumb useless rules of Lil Griz football. I got to admit though, being a smaller player, trying to tackle a moose was quite an experience. That kind of experience either motivated a kid to get bigger, and do better, or give it up. Fortunately, the pride of the smaller school kids, few quit.

I have been away from Missoula for about 5 years now. What are the nearest schools/districts playing jr high football? Can a family, if able to do so, enroll their children in those schools, until high school?

Loyola/St. Joseph's just started football this last fall. I believe Bonner also has middle school football. not sure what others.

 

[AZGrizFan]

This thread explains why an abnormally LARGE percentage of the Griz greats have come from smaller schools like Havre, Colstrip, Hardin, etc. They apparently are smart enough there to do things the way they do in Texas.

There's a reason so many kids come out of Texas in football. They're running their high school's offense in the 4th grade there.

 

[jagur1]

ya that's pretty much how it goes here in bozeman too. once you hit 7th grade you play the other middle school teams in town and they used to play the belgrade teams too. the high school coaches had a good idea and added some input to these teams for when the kids reached 9th grade.

basketball back in the day was even more organized. coach cole pretty much had his hand in all of middle school hoops even down to discipline in extreme cases. basically, if you were an idiot in 8th grade, it's possible you ruined your shot at high school hoops before even entering high school! but on the flip side, kids were coming into 9th grade with a pretty good idea of the offenses run, including out of bounds plays that made for some competitive tryouts! not sure if this is still the case since cole has left.

Basketball in Laurel was also very organized. We had two traveling teams starting in like 5th grade. Had the same traveling teams until high school. Then players got cut and it went down to one team. But we ran the same offense and the Varsity coach (his son was on my team) was always at practices and had a say in everything. We traveled all over the Western US to play in tournaments. Unfortunately we always screwed the pooch at state when I was playing.

Yes Laurels organization and team building is a pain in the ass. Such is the reason we enjoy blowing the doors off Laurel teams at any oppertunity or level. Love Billings Central.

Too bad that doesn't happen very often. Especially when I was in high school. We dominated you.

Haven’t been paying attention who’s competing for all the state titles as of late? It’s a good rivalry and it start early due to organization of the schools. I do envy Laurels set up for the younger kids in all sports. I didn’t notice a lot of Laurel kids in the Round table nominees, not sure if they can nominated?

 

[grizpack]

This thread explains why an abnormally LARGE percentage of the Griz greats have come from smaller schools like Havre, Colstrip, Hardin, etc. They apparently are smart enough there to do things the way they do in Texas.

There's a reason so many kids come out of Texas in football. They're running their high school's offense in the 4th grade there.

From what I understand, they do in Helena, Great Falls, Bozeman, Kalispell and Billings also.

 

[Grizbeer]

This thread explains why an abnormally LARGE percentage of the Griz greats have come from smaller schools like Havre, Colstrip, Hardin, etc. They apparently are smart enough there to do things the way they do in Texas.

There's a reason so many kids come out of Texas in football. They're running their high school's offense in the 4th grade there.

Little Griz was good enough for John Elway, Jim McElwain and Timm Rosenbach to learn how to play.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

And which Montana town has the most kids on the Griz roster?

You guessed it. Missoula. (Twice as many as Billings, who is next.)

So suck on that.