Speltz: The 'Grrr' is back for resilient Griz football team

[PlayerRep]

"Their heartbeat had become so erratic the past few years, you wondered if the Grizzlies were fading into an era of mediocrity.

Was Montana's reputation for physical football and fourth-quarter character a thing of the past? Replaced by a fancy scoreboard and enhanced fan experience at Washington-Grizzly Stadium?

Nah, the Griz just lost their coach is all. Bobby Hauck is back now and with him the type of hard-nosed, resilient team that for so many years has made Montanans proud.

It wasn't just the winning that made Saturday night special for the Maroon & Silver. It was the way the 24th-ranked Grizzlies started and then held on against the 13th-ranked Northern Iowa Panthers in a 26-23 verdict."

"Perhaps the best part about Saturday's game, other than the outcome, was the way Griz fans embraced their team.

For two straight seasons Montana has failed to reach the playoffs or beat archrival Montana State. You'd never know by the electricity at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday night.

It's only going to get better now."

https://missoulian.com/sports/college/big-sky-conference/university-of-montana/bill-speltz-the-grrr-is-back-for-the-resilient-montana/article_2217550b-98eb-5064-914a-3d269fb13166.html#tracking-source=home-trending

 

[retiredfan]

Grrr may be back, but I'm waiting for the DOLA to come back!!!!!

 

[Fahque]

Sounds like Bill still has a thing for Stitt with all the unnecessary Stitt bashing in that article

 

[goatcreekgriz]

Sounds like Bill still has a thing for Stitt with all the unnecessary Stitt bashing in that article

Speltz was been consistent about Stitt's failure to motivate the team in comparison to Hauck:

https://missoulian.com/sports/college/montana/speltz-nothing-like-a-home-loss-to-the-cats-to/article_5c58f247-097c-5e3a-a5ec-dbaa9350f782.html

He is a columnist, so his thoughts now should not surprise anyone.

 

[Fahque]

Sounds like Bill still has a thing for Stitt with all the unnecessary Stitt bashing in that article

Speltz was been consistent about Stitt's failure to motivate the team in comparison to Hauck:

https://missoulian.com/sports/college/montana/speltz-nothing-like-a-home-loss-to-the-cats-to/article_5c58f247-097c-5e3a-a5ec-dbaa9350f782.html

He is a columnist, so his thoughts now should not surprise anyone.

Still, he’s gone...time to move on.

 

[Grisly Fan]

Sounds like Bill still has a thing for Stitt with all the unnecessary Stitt bashing in that article

Speltz was been consistent about Stitt's failure to motivate the team in comparison to Hauck:

https://missoulian.com/sports/college/montana/speltz-nothing-like-a-home-loss-to-the-cats-to/article_5c58f247-097c-5e3a-a5ec-dbaa9350f782.html

He is a columnist, so his thoughts now should not surprise anyone.

Still, he’s gone...time to move on.

Amen brother! Love him, hate him, whatever, HE'S GONE! Get over it already...

 

[AllWeatherFan]

It’s too early to tell if the “grrr” is back. We will see. Maybe UNI won’t win a game the rest of the season. How do you measure grrrr?

 

[garizzalies]

He’s right. Grrr is like porn, you know it when you see it. The excitement was definitely back. That was the first game in forever where there were people with signs looking for tix on the north-side of the foot bridge. As soon as I got off the shuttle, I had a really good feeling, that I’ve missed for several years.

 

[PlayerRep]

It’s too early to tell if the “grrr” is back. We will see. Maybe UNI won’t win a game the rest of the season. How do you measure grrrr?

In some respects you are right--a season can't be judged by one game. Nevertheless, I feel the same way Speltz felt and believe that the bulk of Griz fans who saw the game at person or otherwise, felt the same way. Dozens of people I know were saying: "Bobby's back", and I think that the same thing as the grrr being back.

 

[IdaGriz01]

It’s too early to tell if the “grrr” is back. We will see. Maybe UNI won’t win a game the rest of the season. How do you measure grrrr?

Not winning another game is always a possibility ... if all the breaks go against them. However, UNI was 8-5, 6-2 in conference last year. Their defense (returning 9 of 11 starters) is solid and the offense will improve ... so they are going to win their share of games. Here’s what their schedule (tough, as usual in the MVFC) looks like:
L = @ UM
L = @ Iowa
W = vs Hampton (6-5, MEAC)
W = @ Indiana State (0-11)
L = vs NDSU (14-1)
W = @ USD (8-5) but only (4-4) in conference
T = vs SDSU (11-3)
T = @ W Illinois (8-4)
W = vs Illinois State (6-5)
W = @ YSU (6-5)
W = vs Missouri State (3-8)

I rate the SDSU game as a toss-up because it’s a home game for the Panthers. I’m uncertain about the WIU game because of their record last year, but I was not impressed by the Leatherneck’s performance at MSU.

If they split the toss-up games, then they’ll end up with a record of 7-4 … and will be in the playoffs again.

 

[4theluvofgriz]

Sounds like Bill still has a thing for Stitt with all the unnecessary Stitt bashing in that article

There is no bashing of Stitt which is unwarranted. He set this program back 5-6 years. Stupid hire, which I called for the moment he rode into town hyping his "never punt on 4th down B.S." That was all I needed to hear.

 

[Fahque]

Sounds like Bill still has a thing for Stitt with all the unnecessary Stitt bashing in that article

There is no bashing of Stitt which is unwarranted. He set this program back 5-6 years. Stupid hire, which I called for the moment he rode into town hyping his "never punt on 4th down B.S." That was all I needed to hear.

Want a cookie?

 

[PlayerRep]

It’s too early to tell if the “grrr” is back. We will see. Maybe UNI won’t win a game the rest of the season. How do you measure grrrr?

Not winning another game is always a possibility ... if all the breaks go against them. However, UNI was 8-5, 6-2 in conference last year. Their defense (returning 9 of 11 starters) is solid and the offense will improve ... so they are going to win their share of games. Here’s what their schedule (tough, as usual in the MVFC) looks like:
L = @ UM
L = @ Iowa
W = vs Hampton (6-5, MEAC)
W = @ Indiana State (0-11)
L = vs NDSU (14-1)
W = @ USD (8-5) but only (4-4) in conference
T = vs SDSU (11-3)
T = @ W Illinois (8-4)
W = vs Illinois State (6-5)
W = @ YSU (6-5)
W = vs Missouri State (3-8)

I rate the SDSU game as a toss-up because it’s a home game for the Panthers. I’m uncertain about the WIU game because of their record last year, but I was not impressed by the Leatherneck’s performance at MSU.

If they split the toss-up games, then they’ll end up with a record of 7-4 … and will be in the playoffs again.

Good analysis. Thanks for doing it.

 

[PlayerRep]

Sounds like Bill still has a thing for Stitt with all the unnecessary Stitt bashing in that article

There is no bashing of Stitt which is unwarranted. He set this program back 5-6 years. Stupid hire, which I called for the moment he rode into town hyping his "never punt on 4th down B.S." That was all I needed to hear.

No you didn't. You supported Stitt. Is my recollection.