By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN
It is the week prior before Bobcat week and “all through the Grizzly football offices they were focused on Weber State…” Over the last 27 seasons, the Griz have rarely lost their focus the week before the Bobcat game. The Griz are 23-4 the week before the Bobcat game since 1986. The last time the Griz lost the week before they played MSU was in 2002 when Montana lost at Eastern Washington and then lost for the first time in 17 years to the Bobcats the following week.
The Weber State Wildcats haven’t won at Washington Grizzly Stadium since October of 1987 (when a very “shaky” penalty caused a Griz TD to be nullified). The Griz 2011 win over Weber was vacated, meaning it counts as a win for neither team.
The Wildcats are at the very bottom of most statistical categories, but there are two rather important stats that the Wildcats rank above the Grizzlies–in denying opposing offenses third and fourth down conversions.
Over the last 5 seasons the Griz have played 21 games decided by 7 points or less and have shown to be able to come through in the clutch. Since 2009, Montana is 14-7 in games decided by 7 points or less.
Unlike Weber State, Southern Utah is among the stats leaders in several categories in the Big Sky. The Thunderbirds opened this season with a win over division 1 and Sun Belt member South Alabama. The JAGS of USA proceeded to beat likely bowl-bound Tulane and Western Kentucky.
Speaking of Western Kentucky Hilltoppers coach Bobby Petrino fell into a bit of luck with the schedule. Western Kentucky’s final two games this season are against Texas State and Arkansas State earlier this season both beat the Idaho Vandals who’s head coach is Paul Petrino, younger brother WKU coach Bobby.
Thursday night the Grizzly men hoopsters will be facing the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State in Brookings. Both the Griz and the Jackrabbits have won 71 games over the past 3 seasons and have reached the NCAA tournament. The Griz last played in Brookings in November of 2007 when South Dakota native Matt Martin led the Griz to a win.
Monday night the Lady Griz will try to give head Coach Robin Selvig has 800th career win. With all 7 previous century marks Selvig’s teams have gotten the milestone win in their first try. Win number 700 came not at Dahlberg Arena but in a tournament in Mexico where Illinois was the opponent for the big win. Win number 600 came in March of 2004 as the Lady Griz routed Portland State to cap off a Perfect Big Sky regular season.
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Chris Walterskirchen has been an observer of Montana sports for nearly half a century. A Kalispell native, Chris has worked in various capacities for professional and college sports organization of at various times: ranging from announcing and statistical work to the concessions and even a stint as a costumed mascot.
Chris has academic degrees in communications and elementary education. His style of sports trivia involves more than just who won and who lost, but also focuses on the obscure or human side of sports. In this blog you will learn things like the Grizzly football team has won 210 games over the 19 seasons since they have had Monte as their mascot or that UNLV is the only school that both the Griz and Lady Griz have both faced in the NCAA basketball tournament
When not following sports Chris enjoys taking care of animals of all kinds (a peacock rescue?) and reading to pre-schoolers.