By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN
How long would you last in a job that had you managing an eccentric entertainer who refuses to speak to the media (or anyone else) and demands that his candy dish be filled with only maroon and silver M&Ms at his appearances? For the last 5 years managing the schedule of “Monte” has been just one of Brent Reser’s responsibilities as director of social media for UM Athletics. Dealing with the mercurial bear is only a small part of Reser’s job as he manages pregame activities at Football and mens and women’s basketball games. Reser has been the stadium announcer and music DJ for games for basketball and football games. Reser arranging and oversees all social media promotions and advertising for Griz athletics. Sadly for Griz athletics Reser has accepted a new position as director of Social Media at Coast Carolina University where his responsibilities will include all aspects of the University not just athletics. Good Luck Brent!
In his six seasons as the head coach of the University of Montana women’s tennis team Steve Ascher has taken the program to new heights including last weekend’s runner-up finish at the conference tournament as well as the recent dramatic win over perennial power Sacremento State. Ascher came to UM in 2008 after restarting the Portland State tennis program which had been eliminated for several seasons due to budgetary constraints; his task there was to restart both the mens and women’s programs. A big part of being a coach, especially with a more individual sport as tennis is to be a bit of a psychologist, and Ascher is much more than a “ bit of a Psychologist.” Ascher spent a number years utilizing his PHD in Psychology in the Portland, Oregon public school system.
Heading into this week the Milwaukee Brewers had the best record in baseball at 18-7. The Brewers just need to win 2 of their next 27 games to be ahead of last season’s victory pace. In 2013 the Brewers didn’t earn their 20th win of the season until game 53 on May 31.
If MSU Bobcat basketball fans are looking for a quick turnaround under new coach Brian Fish they may want to look back at Bobcat history. Over the last 40 only one first year head coach has led the Bobcats to a top 4 finish in his first season at the helm. In 1984 Stu Starner’s Bobcats finished third in the Big Sky regular season before losing to UM in the Conference tournament’s semi-finals.
Earl Morall may have been the “greatest back-up quarterback” in NFL history. The former all-pro quarterback passed away at the age of 79 last week. Morall had had moderate success in his first 12 seasons in the NFL with 4 different teams before the Baltimore Colts picked him up in 1968 as a back-up for Johnny Unitas. When Unitas was injured in the final exhibition game of 68′ Morall took the reins and guided the Colts to a 13-1 regular season record and to the NFL title as well as a spot in the Super Bowl. In 1972 Morall was the back-up in Miami and when starter Bob Greise went down Morall took the controls and went 9-0 as a starter until Greise returned to take the Dolphins to a Super Bowl Crown and a perfect season. One note on Morall is that he always referred to his wife as “Lady Jane”.
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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.