Question....

[DuckDuckGriz]

Why the anti-Montana sentiment all over the board? I had a chance to go through some of your old posts and they were just brutal. Someone made the claim that fans were "throwing whiskey bottles on the field and yelling racial slurs" when UNI visited Missoula in 2001. I was at the game, and that's the first I've heard of such incidents.

Anyway, your board is very nice and I look forward to dispelling some myths.

Good luck to the Panthers this year, it was weird not having you in the playoffs.

[Matt Trump]

Good to see you made it over to here from AGS DuckDuckGriz. I have followed Captain Cat's interaction with the Montana fans and have obtained a new prospective about their fans.

The reason for the angst is due to the beatdown dealt by your Griz to our Panthers in '01. It was a horrible way to end a historic season for UNI.

It started with the film-flap: Montana coach Joe Glenn called UNI coach Mark Farley and asked him for tape the week before we were to meet the Griz in Missoula. Farley respectfully declined being that the game wouldn't be for another week and we had to get ready for Maine. Next thing you know, its all over The Missoulian (because they live and die for their Griz) and The Sportsnetwork. Panther fans had no idea of the magnitude of the situation either.

Then the game happened: First of all, we got our a$$es handed to us as we were not prepared for what was to occur. There's nothing like 25,000 people on top of you drunk out of their mind swearing and screaming at you. The entire game we were being harassed on the sideline with nonstop swearing and heckling. One of our guys even got a videotape thrown at him on the sidelines. Then Soliday had to punch a guy in the nuts and Ken Harris got ejected also. While Ken Harris was being escorted out by police, I heard nothing but swearing and racial epithets. Both sides ran afoul. Player parents were also being treated like $h!t in the stands throughout the entire game.


Until that game, UNI had a magical season. From winning our first Gateway title in 5 years on a last minute field goal, to getting hosed by having to go to Eastern Illinois in the first round, to absolutely destroying Maine in a Dome that was rockin, we had a pretty special year. We went from that high to making a complete 180 and having some of the worst experiences a fan and player could imagine all occur in 1 game. Some people still have hard feelings towards that experience. Personally, I have moved on from the game and hold no contempt towards the Griz and their fans.

[DuckDuckGriz]

Thanks for the great reply Reed.

It's unfortunate that Panther fans and players had a less than desirable experience during that game. I think the whole tape fiasco really got the fans in a tizzy -- and there was alot of smack running from both teams during the game.

Many UNI fans I saw and talked to, before and after the game, were less than delighted by the outcome but said they had a great time with the atmosphere, and were treated very well in the stadium and the tailgate area. I found most of the UNI fans I visited with very classy people, and I like to think they thought the same of the Montana fans.

Griz fans were pretty hungry considering we had barely lost the NC the year before as well. Those factors and the nut-punch, water bottle squirt, etc made things a little crazy. It was a passionate pissing match. Of course those that were intoxicated didn't help matters much. Griz fans may have given flack about the nut-punch but we know that it doesn't represent the demeanor of UNI and the Panthers. Just like Kerry Mullan (known here as Griz #98) in the national title game hitting Justin Rascatti in the mouth. We were just as shocked and you should have seen some of the unkind words on EGriz after that incident. Griz fans, players, and coaches don't like to play dirty and we were all ashamed of that incident. It was very uncommon.

It's unfortunate that the fans are still so turned off after that one experience. I know it's easier said than done to forgive and forget, but I hope you guys realize that, from what I've seen and heard, your experience is pretty unique.

I hope the Panthers make it out to Washington-Grizzly Stadium when the game is a little less........passionate. There are rotten fans for any team, no matter whose side you are on. Griz Nation is one of the best fanbases in America, but no fanbase is perfect. The more fans you have the more jerks there are.

[GoCats05]

Well said Winder! Would love to see Montana in the Dome for the playoffs. They can see just how loud our fans can be, too, and experience a little "DOME MAGIC!"

[igo4uni]

Having Montana come to the Dome would be awesome!!

I think Montana is one of the best programs in I-AA.

peace

igo4uni

[igo4uni]

Good to see you made it over to here from AGS DuckDuckGriz. I have followed Captain Cat's interaction with the Montana fans and have obtained a new prospective about their fans.

Agree with you Reed. Nice to see you on our board DDG.

peace

igo4uni

[DuckDuckGriz]

I would love to see the Griz play in the UNIDome. I watched MSU play out there in the playoffs in 2003 and was impressed with the facility and fan noise.

I think UM has played in the Dome before, in the late 80s early 90s, they eeked out a win. How are the Panthers looking this season?

[01PantherFan]

They look to have a very talented team and the expectations are very high for the season. Just hope keep injuries down. It should be a very fun year to be a Panther fan !!!

[panther2317]

I think it goes farther back than that. I think it goes back to a UNI play-off loss in the 90's where we had at least one TD called back on a sketchy call. Does anyone else remember what I'm talking about? A UNI touchdown occurred, the UNI player threw the ball at the goal post, got a penalty and somehow the TD was taken away. Am I imagining this?

[oldcat]

You are very correct.............2317. We had a "real iffy" penalty on Andre Allen late in the game when the Griz were trying to run down the clock.

[Chitown Panther]

I believe Tony Taylor caught the pass but was running his route out of bounds before he caught the ball....and like you said, spiked it at the goal posts....