Too Early #37 choice

[putter]

Maybe, but mine says The University of Montana-Missoula. Could be a misprint. But, that’s not really my point, anyway. I’m just not a huge fan of people being excluded because they weren’t conceived/born/raised, or whatever the rule is, in the “right” zip code. If someone gives everything he has to the Griz and excels, it seems a silly rule to say he’s ineligible due to place of origin. Nobody has to agree, but that’s my take.

I definitely agree, but not quite in the same sense. I have no problem with how the tradition started and continued for the first several decades. Nothing wrong with having a player-focused tradition for Montana kids on the team where a guy is given a number that he has to earn and represent over several seasons.

My problem is with what’s happened to it since Carson Bender had it. It’s no longer a fun tradition with a lot of personal meaning. It’s now a huge marketing scheme for UM where a guy isn’t just #37. He’s #44 or #10 or #36 his whole career except his senior year, where he’s now “the guy”. It’s the Montana-Born Defensive Preseason MVP award. The players seem to like that, and it’s ultimately their choice on who to pass it down to, but I thought it was a lot cooler when it went to guys for the majority of their careers, as opposed to a 1-year career achievement award.

Sure seemed like there were a lot less inter-personal politics involved in the choices back then, too. :lol:

Edit: it’s actually kind of funny to go back to old eGriz pre 2008 and only seeing like one #37 thread every few years, where a lot of people knew nothing about it. I think the old blurb in UM’s website even described it as something handed down to “up and coming, promising players from Montana”, which is certainly not the case, anymore.

In your edit, that is one of the hangups with old 37 players. It was meant to go to a younger Montana kid who they felt would represent the Griz for years, not a year. When the gaff with Welnel was going on, a former 37 told me that they talk and it got back to Bobby that they would like to see the tradition go back to the multi-year choice.

 

[TheNorthRemembers]

I would like to see it go back to a Freshman again so it's not just a string of one and done players wearing it. But with the way the portal is now I don't think that's very feasible.

 

[ElrodGrizzly]

I would like to see it go back to a Freshman again so it's not just a string of one and done players wearing it. But with the way the portal is now I don't think that's very feasible.

Might be a great way to keep a young kid committed to the program. Hard to walk away when you are literally building a legacy.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Bergen (1 and done)
Detrick
Nuce
Meyer
Klucewich
Rostad
Lee
Gradney
Leonard

 

[Raider]

I know this will be unpopular, but I'm kind of over the #37 stuff. I've never liked how someone who was born and raised nine hours east of Missoula is allowed to wear it, but someone born and raised 90 minutes west of Missoula isn't, no matter his ability/effort/contribution. I don't like traditions like that, but that's just me.

I’m kinda with you on this. Aside from the #37 tradition, my issue is more so with recruiting and the whole “Montana boy” thing.

I grew up in Billings, but I am more “local” than someone from Spokane or CDA, which is actually much closer? I just don’t get that. Never have.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

I know this will be unpopular, but I'm kind of over the #37 stuff. I've never liked how someone who was born and raised nine hours east of Missoula is allowed to wear it, but someone born and raised 90 minutes west of Missoula isn't, no matter his ability/effort/contribution. I don't like traditions like that, but that's just me.

You seem to forget that this is the University of Montana, not the University of Missoula.

Whereas, your support for UM seems to be DESPITE the fact that the university is located in Missoula, and you’d be just as happy, if not more happy, if the university was located in Ekalaka or Broadus or Anytown, MT. As if place means nothing, as long as there’s a [insert favorite chain motel name here] where you can throw down some coin for the night.

Hey, whatever. It’s a free country. I’m Tim Sheehy and I approved this message.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

I know this will be unpopular, but I'm kind of over the #37 stuff. I've never liked how someone who was born and raised nine hours east of Missoula is allowed to wear it, but someone born and raised 90 minutes west of Missoula isn't, no matter his ability/effort/contribution. I don't like traditions like that, but that's just me.

I’m kinda with you on this. Aside from the #37 tradition, my issue is more so with recruiting and the whole “Montana boy” thing.

I grew up in Billings, but I am more “local” than someone from Spokane or CDA, which is actually much closer? I just don’t get that. Never have.

I think we're on the same page. If they want to do the #37 thing, I don't think it should matter if the kid is from Missoula, Malta, or Miami. If they give their DI football career to the Griz, they are Griz enough for me.

 

[Raider]

I’m kinda with you on this. Aside from the #37 tradition, my issue is more so with recruiting and the whole “Montana boy” thing.

I grew up in Billings, but I am more “local” than someone from Spokane or CDA, which is actually much closer? I just don’t get that. Never have.

I think we're on the same page. If they want to do the #37 thing, I don't think it should matter if the kid is from Missoula, Malta, or Miami. If they give their DI football career to the Griz, they are Griz enough for me.

I could not agree more. The first time I was ever in Missoula was for a game against Sentinel when I was 17. The first time I ever stepped foot on campus was for a recruiting visit the next morning. Prior to that, my family and I had ZERO connection to UM.

So, if I ended up playing here and becoming a defensive star, I had more “claim” to that number than a guy like Tim Bush. He grew up in Pinehurst, played in Kellogg (two hours from Missoula) and went from a walk on to an All-American. Guy was the epitome of what that number represents.

This is an archaic and outdated tradition.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

I think we're on the same page. If they want to do the #37 thing, I don't think it should matter if the kid is from Missoula, Malta, or Miami. If they give their DI football career to the Griz, they are Griz enough for me.

I could not agree more. The first time I was ever in Missoula was for a game against Sentinel when I was 17. The first time I ever stepped foot on campus was for a recruiting visit the next morning. Prior to that, my family and I had ZERO connection to UM.

So, if I ended up playing here and becoming a defensive star, I had more “claim” to that number than a guy like Tim Bush. He grew up in Pinehurst, played in Kellogg (two hours from Missoula) and went from a walk on to an All-American. Guy was the epitome of what that number represents.

This is an archaic and outdated tradition.

Well, stop traffic, because that is exactly the name I think of when I think of someone who was worthy of #37, but was ineligible due to where he was from.

 

[AZGrizFan]

I could not agree more. The first time I was ever in Missoula was for a game against Sentinel when I was 17. The first time I ever stepped foot on campus was for a recruiting visit the next morning. Prior to that, my family and I had ZERO connection to UM.

So, if I ended up playing here and becoming a defensive star, I had more “claim” to that number than a guy like Tim Bush. He grew up in Pinehurst, played in Kellogg (two hours from Missoula) and went from a walk on to an All-American. Guy was the epitome of what that number represents.

This is an archaic and outdated tradition.

Well, stop traffic, because that is exactly the name I think of when I think of someone who was worthy of #37, but was ineligible due to where he was from.

Ha. He’s so “Montana” I always thought he was FROM here! :lol:

 

[CDAGRIZ]

Well, stop traffic, because that is exactly the name I think of when I think of someone who was worthy of #37, but was ineligible due to where he was from.

Ha. He’s so “Montana” I always thought he was FROM here! :lol:

Well, when we could basically ride our bikes to MT, he kind of was. The skinny part of Idaho is an odd place with no real state identity. I miss him.

 

[garizzalies]

This is an archaic and outdated tradition.

 

[WaGriz4life]

Junior Bergen is the only option. People will eventually stop caring if the players reason is “keep it with the LB’s” or “Keep it on Defense”. Some of the former selections, even recent, haven’t exactly represented well. Junior certainly would.

 

[WaGriz4life]

Ha. He’s so “Montana” I always thought he was FROM here! :lol:

Well, when we could basically ride our bikes to MT, he kind of was. The skinny part of Idaho is an odd place with no real state identity. I miss him.

I’m constantly told that Senator Steve Daines isn’t “from here.” He went to kindergarten through college in Bozeman

 

[retiredfan]

I was thinking about Trevin Gradney and Jaxson Lee either one would be a great pick Moho!

 

[hubcap]

Junior Bergen is the only option. People will eventually stop caring if the players reason is “keep it with the LB’s” or “Keep it on Defense”. Some of the former selections, even recent, haven’t exactly represented well. Junior certainly would.

Who hasn't represented well?

 

[AZGrizFan]

Junior Bergen is the only option. People will eventually stop caring if the players reason is “keep it with the LB’s” or “Keep it on Defense”. Some of the former selections, even recent, haven’t exactly represented well. Junior certainly would.

Who hasn't represented well?

I saw that post yesterday and was gonna ask the same question...but I'm not sure I want to know his opinion on it.

There hasn't been a 37 in my lifetime that hasn't represented the program and the university well.