Okay, fed up that nobody here ever offers reports on scrimmages, like they would football, I decided to investigate myself, by spending two half-days earlier this week in Missoula. Both auxiliary gyms empty. To the BB office, but the cordial lady there had no idea. Even over to the old gym, where curious old ladies doing karate wanted to know what the hell I was doing there. Finally just gave up. I was beginning to think the whole idea of a basketball program at Montana was a myth, until I caught the boys basketball camp one morning and visually determined that we did in fact have players at least, and a coach. Saw DeCuire lead one drill, then exit complaining about the stress on his knees, while Jack Lopez, Ahmaad Rorie, Martin Breunig, Bobby Moorehead and Fabian Krslovic (there may have been others) led the drills. The kids were asked their favorite coach, and Lopez won, but primarily because his foot was in a boot and they felt sorry for him. These were young kids, not high schoolers, and it was pretty evident that the best players all wore Warriors jerseys. So I can confirm we do have a basketball program, and an instructive high-energy camp for boys. Somebody said it was rated one of the best, and I can see why. I wish I'd had that kind of instruction when I was a kid.
As for the campus--wow! And wow again! Was I ever impressed. The Montana campus has always looked great in summer, but in the decade since I was last there, the construction that has gone on is incredible. Where I remembered an open field where the marching band practiced across from the Health Center, now there was a sleek new building. The J School now has its own fancy structure. But my fave was the School of Indian Affairs. I spent a good half hour sitting alone in the Ceremonial Congregation Lobby, just soaking in the wonderful magical vibes that suffused the place on a glorious sunny morning. Throughout the campus, the landscaping, the flags, the buildings--all seemed in harmonious glory with each other. Why, even old Craig Hall looked brand new.
Not to mention a tour of the Hall of Champions. Talk about a milestone of mortality! Here's a museum dedicated to the history of Montana athletics, and it was frightening how much of it I remembered.
Years ago, the journalist Tom Wolfe wrote a wonderful book, the Kandy Kolored Tangerine Flake Streamline Baby, referring to the custom cars young kids were building in North Carolina. His theory was that the incredible American post-war economic boom had for the first time in human history pumped tons of money into all levels of society. And where before only a Louis the IX or the very wealthy could build monuments to their style, now all levels of society, from kids building custom cars, to the Mafia building Las Vegas, could also build monuments to their style, on the strength of all the money coursing through all levels of American society.
And as I roamed the campus, I could see that much of that post-War money was now flowing to colleges like the University of Montana. Gifts, donations, contributions and institutional largesse were on display everywhere, many memorialized through naming rights, wall plaques in buildings, or even signs along the outside pathways.
Alas, when I pointed this out to a lady standing outside the Health Center, she agreed, but pointed out to me that while she hoped it was a case of "build it and they will come," enrollment is down at Montana, as more and more kids are put off by the high costs, and perhaps seeking cheaper alternatives on-line. Is it possible the internet will do to our brick-and-mortar campus what it has done to brick-and-mortar retail? Could Amazon be poised to get into the educational business? (Just kidding.(?)) Let's hope not. Lets hope kids everywhere continue to experience the beauty and wisdom that goes with a degree from the University of Montana.
As for the campus--wow! And wow again! Was I ever impressed. The Montana campus has always looked great in summer, but in the decade since I was last there, the construction that has gone on is incredible. Where I remembered an open field where the marching band practiced across from the Health Center, now there was a sleek new building. The J School now has its own fancy structure. But my fave was the School of Indian Affairs. I spent a good half hour sitting alone in the Ceremonial Congregation Lobby, just soaking in the wonderful magical vibes that suffused the place on a glorious sunny morning. Throughout the campus, the landscaping, the flags, the buildings--all seemed in harmonious glory with each other. Why, even old Craig Hall looked brand new.
Not to mention a tour of the Hall of Champions. Talk about a milestone of mortality! Here's a museum dedicated to the history of Montana athletics, and it was frightening how much of it I remembered.
Years ago, the journalist Tom Wolfe wrote a wonderful book, the Kandy Kolored Tangerine Flake Streamline Baby, referring to the custom cars young kids were building in North Carolina. His theory was that the incredible American post-war economic boom had for the first time in human history pumped tons of money into all levels of society. And where before only a Louis the IX or the very wealthy could build monuments to their style, now all levels of society, from kids building custom cars, to the Mafia building Las Vegas, could also build monuments to their style, on the strength of all the money coursing through all levels of American society.
And as I roamed the campus, I could see that much of that post-War money was now flowing to colleges like the University of Montana. Gifts, donations, contributions and institutional largesse were on display everywhere, many memorialized through naming rights, wall plaques in buildings, or even signs along the outside pathways.
Alas, when I pointed this out to a lady standing outside the Health Center, she agreed, but pointed out to me that while she hoped it was a case of "build it and they will come," enrollment is down at Montana, as more and more kids are put off by the high costs, and perhaps seeking cheaper alternatives on-line. Is it possible the internet will do to our brick-and-mortar campus what it has done to brick-and-mortar retail? Could Amazon be poised to get into the educational business? (Just kidding.(?)) Let's hope not. Lets hope kids everywhere continue to experience the beauty and wisdom that goes with a degree from the University of Montana.
