UofMGrizFan
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http://billingsgazette.com/sports/c...cle_13e813a7-7a8a-5e3b-a994-24195766fcbd.html
Modern-day mountain man finds his niche
MISSOULA — Colin Dow used to have a blast devouring 3-pound burgers with his buddies at the Mo Club.
The former Montana Grizzly lineman weighed about 300 pounds as a senior in 2008. He had an intimidating aura, scowling for player photos and pancaking defenders with pleasure.
It seems so far away now. Like the 8,000 miles he traveled this summer for an enlightening visit to an Ethiopian village. It was a mission trip in name, but don’t call it that in front of Colin.
In his mind, he’s as rich for the experience as the children who benefited from his helping hand.
“Down there you’re feeding these kids one meal a day, which is maybe two cups of rice and a pancake, essentially,” he said. “They’re fully aware that might be all they have that day.
“But they’re not used to taking more than what they need and they end up giving to the kids that want their leftovers. It’s such a life-giving thing for me. It shakes my perspective on life over here. I’m addicted to it.”
It shows in Colin’s appearance and the way he carries himself. Back in his hometown of Billings he’s winning over others with his words, promoting wellness as an outreach liaison for St. Vincent Health Care. Physically he’s a shell of his former self.
“I’ve gone from being a true Missoula Grizzly to a true Missoulian,” he joked, alluding to Zootown’s abundance of thin running types. “My buddies laugh when I say the Colin Dow from four years ago would have kicked my own ass.
“If you saw what I was eating and the way I was working out before and then the things I cut out of my diet ... I used to make fun of my cousin Kenny, who used to work at the UM athletic department, for ordering salads every time we went out. I’d say, ‘A Dow doesn’t eat salads. A Dow gets a hamburger.’ Well a Dow also gets a heart attack at 50-something years old and we don’t want that either.”
While Dow has left behind his football frame, the lessons he learned in a maroon jersey endure. Anyone who ever tells you football is a waste of funds, time and brain cells, talk to Dow.
“There’s so much about where I’m at now that can be attributed to what I went through as a player at the University,” he said. “On paper my degree is in political science but everything I learned that’s gotten me where I am was through the athletic department.”
Even his informal Griz training with the media is coming in handy.
“The best lesson I learned is you just have to be real,” he said. “The more you try to come up with fancy words and try to elaborate on what you’re saying, the more your message gets lost in translation. People want to interview a real person, not just someone who is speaking through a box.”
Dow no longer eats like a Grizzly – he was overheard ordering tofu and kale salad for lunch recently – but he still bleeds maroon and silver. Nothing can change that.
“I’m just real bummed that a few people made questionable decisions and that has shaken the faith in Griz Nation and the fans that surround it,” he said of Montana’s rough stretch leading up to the 2012 season.
“Every once in a while a program has to remember what losing feels like. If you win all the time fans get spoiled and fickle.”
Colin calls the Grizzlies’ up-and-down 2012 campaign a way to “purification.”
“Those that really love us, that love football and what we know we stand for, are going to stick around,” he offered. “Those that went to games because we kept putting up W’s, maybe they’ll follow bowling or something from now on.”
Dow’s diverse experiences would make for great dinner conversation. But let’s hold off on the kale and meet at the Mo Club – just for old times’ sake.
Modern-day mountain man finds his niche
MISSOULA — Colin Dow used to have a blast devouring 3-pound burgers with his buddies at the Mo Club.
The former Montana Grizzly lineman weighed about 300 pounds as a senior in 2008. He had an intimidating aura, scowling for player photos and pancaking defenders with pleasure.
It seems so far away now. Like the 8,000 miles he traveled this summer for an enlightening visit to an Ethiopian village. It was a mission trip in name, but don’t call it that in front of Colin.
In his mind, he’s as rich for the experience as the children who benefited from his helping hand.
“Down there you’re feeding these kids one meal a day, which is maybe two cups of rice and a pancake, essentially,” he said. “They’re fully aware that might be all they have that day.
“But they’re not used to taking more than what they need and they end up giving to the kids that want their leftovers. It’s such a life-giving thing for me. It shakes my perspective on life over here. I’m addicted to it.”
It shows in Colin’s appearance and the way he carries himself. Back in his hometown of Billings he’s winning over others with his words, promoting wellness as an outreach liaison for St. Vincent Health Care. Physically he’s a shell of his former self.
“I’ve gone from being a true Missoula Grizzly to a true Missoulian,” he joked, alluding to Zootown’s abundance of thin running types. “My buddies laugh when I say the Colin Dow from four years ago would have kicked my own ass.
“If you saw what I was eating and the way I was working out before and then the things I cut out of my diet ... I used to make fun of my cousin Kenny, who used to work at the UM athletic department, for ordering salads every time we went out. I’d say, ‘A Dow doesn’t eat salads. A Dow gets a hamburger.’ Well a Dow also gets a heart attack at 50-something years old and we don’t want that either.”
While Dow has left behind his football frame, the lessons he learned in a maroon jersey endure. Anyone who ever tells you football is a waste of funds, time and brain cells, talk to Dow.
“There’s so much about where I’m at now that can be attributed to what I went through as a player at the University,” he said. “On paper my degree is in political science but everything I learned that’s gotten me where I am was through the athletic department.”
Even his informal Griz training with the media is coming in handy.
“The best lesson I learned is you just have to be real,” he said. “The more you try to come up with fancy words and try to elaborate on what you’re saying, the more your message gets lost in translation. People want to interview a real person, not just someone who is speaking through a box.”
Dow no longer eats like a Grizzly – he was overheard ordering tofu and kale salad for lunch recently – but he still bleeds maroon and silver. Nothing can change that.
“I’m just real bummed that a few people made questionable decisions and that has shaken the faith in Griz Nation and the fans that surround it,” he said of Montana’s rough stretch leading up to the 2012 season.
“Every once in a while a program has to remember what losing feels like. If you win all the time fans get spoiled and fickle.”
Colin calls the Grizzlies’ up-and-down 2012 campaign a way to “purification.”
“Those that really love us, that love football and what we know we stand for, are going to stick around,” he offered. “Those that went to games because we kept putting up W’s, maybe they’ll follow bowling or something from now on.”
Dow’s diverse experiences would make for great dinner conversation. But let’s hold off on the kale and meet at the Mo Club – just for old times’ sake.
