Great day to be a Griz last Saturday. We stomp a Homecoming opponent, winning our fourth straight game in a rout, on top of which we're now ranked in the Top 60 in the entire country by Sagarin. On top of which, Robby Hauck not only sets the all-time record for tackles, he returns a kick for a TD. The post-game press conference should be a thing of joy, no?
Ah, no. If you'd walked in just awakened from a two-month coma, you might have thought the Griz had lost--and maybe every game so far this year. After Bobby mumbles a few words head down, fidgeting the while with the stat sheet, the first question is to Junior Bergen. Huh? Isn't this Robbie's day? Isn't the first question to him? And isn't there SOME expression of joy on the part of a proud father, maybe even a fist bump?
Nope. It's clear on Bobby's part this is a chore, something that has to be done, something to get through, in as desultory a fashion as his possible. He wears his disdain for the press like a gaudy convention badge.
But since the press is my representative as well, my one direct link to a team I have loved since before Bobby Hauck was born, that attitude leaks through to me as well. I know he's greatly appreciative of the fabulous fan base at Montana, as we are of his efforts to turn this program around and recruit such high caliber kids. And yes, I wish that first question had been to Robby and not to Junior Bergen.
But isn't it possible for Bobby to lighten up a bit, to make these post game pressers something more than the sodden gloomy events they've turned into? Hell, if you can't enjoy the ride, what's the point?
Ah, no. If you'd walked in just awakened from a two-month coma, you might have thought the Griz had lost--and maybe every game so far this year. After Bobby mumbles a few words head down, fidgeting the while with the stat sheet, the first question is to Junior Bergen. Huh? Isn't this Robbie's day? Isn't the first question to him? And isn't there SOME expression of joy on the part of a proud father, maybe even a fist bump?
Nope. It's clear on Bobby's part this is a chore, something that has to be done, something to get through, in as desultory a fashion as his possible. He wears his disdain for the press like a gaudy convention badge.
But since the press is my representative as well, my one direct link to a team I have loved since before Bobby Hauck was born, that attitude leaks through to me as well. I know he's greatly appreciative of the fabulous fan base at Montana, as we are of his efforts to turn this program around and recruit such high caliber kids. And yes, I wish that first question had been to Robby and not to Junior Bergen.
But isn't it possible for Bobby to lighten up a bit, to make these post game pressers something more than the sodden gloomy events they've turned into? Hell, if you can't enjoy the ride, what's the point?