Ok, I'll play this credential game, being that I have always ben mediocre, 2nd string in most things. When I was about 10, in Missoula, Blaine "Butch" Hendricks would play catch with me. He was a MCHS standout and a 4 sport letterman for the Griz about 60-61 in Football, Basketball, Track, and Baseball. A retired full bird colonel, living in Florida, and I am still in touch. He was my idol as a kid....still much respect. I pitched and played 1st base in Little League, and won a city title on the old Timberjack field on South and Higgins against a left handed side arm pitcher who went on to play in the pros. I was probably about 12. That's another story. In high school in Missoula, I was a second stringer in football as a 140lb guard and end. Fourth quarter player, but proud to be on that '64 grand slam team at MCHS. Mediocre again in wrestling for Jug Beck, win some, lose a few. But, when going to U of M (MSU then), I knew I wouldn't be playing football, but for some reason the wrestling coach caught me going for the easy A in PE wrestling class, and asked me to come challenge at 145 lbs., so found myself wrestling for the Griz for a couple of years before doing some Army time. I will credit having Jug Beck as my high school coach to being able to be good enough. As a reminder, college wrestling at the U was a minor sport, one just did it for the love of the sport and 9 minutes! No sense in boring you with more of that, but my sons played football in Great Falls for coach Jack Johnson, 2 starters, and one played in college and now coaching high school AA ball. So, that makes me what I would consider somewhat credentialed, in football, and I certainly stay away from technical subjects put out by some of you with better cred. Finally, I won't even mention my prowess in golf and pickle ball. Thanks!
