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http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20120905/SPORTS/309050028/Tripp-makes-successful-return
Tripp makes successful return
Coach Delaney likes looks of rejuvenated junior linebacker
Throughout his assistant coaching career, University of Montana head coach Mick Delaney has coached some prolific running backs.
But that doesn’t mean Delaney is any less appreciative of the Griz unit often charged with stopping running backs – the linebackers.
Delaney said prior to the season that the linebacker corps has consistently been a strong point on great Griz teams of the past, and this year’s unit doesn’t appear have back-tracked, despite losing Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Caleb McSurdy to graduation and the NFL.
Part of that comes from the return of redshirt junior Jordan Tripp. The third-generation Grizzly player out of Missoula Big Sky was lost for the season with a season-ending shoulder injury against Eastern Washington last season.
“As a coach, it’s reassuring when you are there prior to the game and you watch Jordy run around,” Delaney said. “Then the actual game starts and you see the dynamic way he plays, runs and tackles. He’s smart and he gives you confidence out there.”
Tripp had a team-high 10 tackles, including one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss in the Grizzlies’ 35-24 win over the University of South Dakota last Saturday, his first action in nearly a year.
“It felt great to be back there out with all the guys and the coaches and players,” Tripp said. “It was fantastic (after) putting in all that work in the offseason. It was a long time coming, not playing last year, and the most important thing to me is being out there with my teammates, because that’s why we do this.”
Tripp lived up to his surname with his sack on Saturday. It came late in the contest as USD quarterback Josh Vander Maten left the pocket and rolled left toward the UM sideline.
“I thought he was going to pull up and cut through the pocket,” Tripp said. “He bailed and took off and he’s a lot faster than I thought he was. I just got lucky and clipped his ankles. I’m happy to be on that end of it and not being chewed out on Monday.”
The Grizzlies’ team speed impressed Vander Maten.
“They’re fast and they read well,” Vander Maten said. “It’s tough when you have good linebackers like that. We tried everything we could, but they came to play.”
Meanwhile, the man who replaced Tripp in the lineup last season and earned All-Big Sky second-team honors, John Kanongata’a, recorded a key interception Saturday that led to UM reclaiming the lead for good.
Kanongata’a finished with eight tackles, including half a sack, while middle linebacker Josh Stuberg recorded six tackles. Brock Coyle, who also plays middle linebacker, added three tackles and half a sack.
“Those four guys are excellent football players,” Delaney said. “Brock (Coyle) can play both mike (middle) and outside, Jordy can play mike and does play outside. Jordy could probably go play safety or corner because of the type of athlete he is.”
Though Tripp wore No. 44 – the same number worn by his father, Bryan – the younger Tripp was honored this season by graduated defensive end Ryan Fetherston, who bequeathed the coveted No. 37 jersey to Jordan.
“(Tripp) is one of our leaders as a junior on defense,” Delaney said. “He leads more by example than being a guy who talks. He doesn’t say a lot, he just plays hard every play.
“Any time a young man misses an entire season, it’s a hard deal,” Delaney continued. “Jordy missing the whole season made it very difficult.”
Now Tripp is back and appears well on his way to anchoring a unit that looks to live up to the successes of its predecessors.
Tripp makes successful return
Coach Delaney likes looks of rejuvenated junior linebacker
Throughout his assistant coaching career, University of Montana head coach Mick Delaney has coached some prolific running backs.
But that doesn’t mean Delaney is any less appreciative of the Griz unit often charged with stopping running backs – the linebackers.
Delaney said prior to the season that the linebacker corps has consistently been a strong point on great Griz teams of the past, and this year’s unit doesn’t appear have back-tracked, despite losing Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Caleb McSurdy to graduation and the NFL.
Part of that comes from the return of redshirt junior Jordan Tripp. The third-generation Grizzly player out of Missoula Big Sky was lost for the season with a season-ending shoulder injury against Eastern Washington last season.
“As a coach, it’s reassuring when you are there prior to the game and you watch Jordy run around,” Delaney said. “Then the actual game starts and you see the dynamic way he plays, runs and tackles. He’s smart and he gives you confidence out there.”
Tripp had a team-high 10 tackles, including one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss in the Grizzlies’ 35-24 win over the University of South Dakota last Saturday, his first action in nearly a year.
“It felt great to be back there out with all the guys and the coaches and players,” Tripp said. “It was fantastic (after) putting in all that work in the offseason. It was a long time coming, not playing last year, and the most important thing to me is being out there with my teammates, because that’s why we do this.”
Tripp lived up to his surname with his sack on Saturday. It came late in the contest as USD quarterback Josh Vander Maten left the pocket and rolled left toward the UM sideline.
“I thought he was going to pull up and cut through the pocket,” Tripp said. “He bailed and took off and he’s a lot faster than I thought he was. I just got lucky and clipped his ankles. I’m happy to be on that end of it and not being chewed out on Monday.”
The Grizzlies’ team speed impressed Vander Maten.
“They’re fast and they read well,” Vander Maten said. “It’s tough when you have good linebackers like that. We tried everything we could, but they came to play.”
Meanwhile, the man who replaced Tripp in the lineup last season and earned All-Big Sky second-team honors, John Kanongata’a, recorded a key interception Saturday that led to UM reclaiming the lead for good.
Kanongata’a finished with eight tackles, including half a sack, while middle linebacker Josh Stuberg recorded six tackles. Brock Coyle, who also plays middle linebacker, added three tackles and half a sack.
“Those four guys are excellent football players,” Delaney said. “Brock (Coyle) can play both mike (middle) and outside, Jordy can play mike and does play outside. Jordy could probably go play safety or corner because of the type of athlete he is.”
Though Tripp wore No. 44 – the same number worn by his father, Bryan – the younger Tripp was honored this season by graduated defensive end Ryan Fetherston, who bequeathed the coveted No. 37 jersey to Jordan.
“(Tripp) is one of our leaders as a junior on defense,” Delaney said. “He leads more by example than being a guy who talks. He doesn’t say a lot, he just plays hard every play.
“Any time a young man misses an entire season, it’s a hard deal,” Delaney continued. “Jordy missing the whole season made it very difficult.”
Now Tripp is back and appears well on his way to anchoring a unit that looks to live up to the successes of its predecessors.
