Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Grizzlies vs. Bobcats/Oh, and a Dad update...

'Tis the week! The annual Brawl of the Wild! University of Montana Grizzlies (#2 1-AA in the nation) vs. Montana State Bobcats (#15 1-AA in the nation)! At stake is the Big Sky Conference championship. And playoff implications that extend as far away as the Carolinas and Delaware.

Ah, the playoffs! None of this BCS Championship crap. A TRUE and undisputed national champion. Now, realize that the Griz will be in the playoffs, regardless of what happens. This will be their 14th straight appearance in the playoffs. They are a dynasty among the 1-AA ranks. Go here for a great story about Grizzly football over the past 2 decades.

On the other hand, the Bobcats need this win for even a slim chance of getting an at-large berth. It's all or nothing for the Cats. Which makes this game so unpredictable. The Griz had a 16-year winning streak over the Cats, but the Cats have won 4 of the last 5 (or something like that). Including the last time the Griz won the National Championship!

The Grizzly/Bobcat is the 9th oldest rivalry in college football. It literally divides the state in half. The game will be seen by satellite at alumni parties in every state of the Union. Notre Dame/USC? Pshaw. Yale/Harvard? Ha! Michigan/Ohio State? Thbthbthbthb... The real game--the one of any importance--will be this Saturday in Missoula. Anyone up for a bet (you know who I'm aiming for here...)???
Actually, there's another game starting up their playoffs in town, too. The Carroll College Fighting Saints, the 4-time defending NAIA National Football Champions, start their bid for an unprecedented 5th championship in a row on Saturday against the University of Montana-Northern Lights. The Lights handed the Saints their first loss since late October, 2004. Their coach, and a number of players, are from Helena, so there will be a standing room only crowd of about 7000 (most NAIA school are lucky to get 1000 to their games). Carroll isn't as strong as in years past, but have more playoff experience than anyone else in the NAIA. GO SAINTS!!!
An update on Dad--I got an email from Mom (yes, they still live a whopping 2 blocks away...) telling me that we'll be doing Thanksgiving at S3's house, Mom & Dad will be in Vegas the entire week after that, and then Dad is going in to have his bladder tumor removed. This is the one that they found a few months ago and wouldn't take out. I guess it's grown. I don't know anything more. I'll let you know when I do.
Please see my post above about the 25 Questions. I've only gotten 17 so far. Ask me anything. Serious or silly. Answers go up when I get them all.
HNT will be 18 months old this week. Are you kidding me?!? I'm always looking for MG pics and anonymous HNTs! The earlier you can get them in, the better!!

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