Odds and Ends 8-31-09

It seems every week I say that this will be a short post and then it turns out to be quite long. Well this one will be shorter than normal, I guarantee it. I wrote it first and then added this little introduction. I am learning!

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• Most of the talk about Arizona State football on my Blog has been about Kalispell native Brock Osweiler, but another Montana player is making waves on the team, Helena High school product Matt Hustad. It appears Hustad is in line for a starting nod on the offensive line. The Arizona State O-line has been hit hard by the injury bug, and it has almost guaranteed the sophomore will be counted on to hold down the offensive line. When asked recently in a by Alex Espinoza of ASUDevils.com (part of the Rivals.com network) he had the following to say.

“It’s a work in progress,” Hustad said of the offensive line. “People are really going down right and left right now. We just really got to band together and make it through and try to get as familiar with each other as we can.”

Bobcat Football Poll: Who is your choice for QB

This past Friday Bobcat head coach Rob Ash named senior quarterback Mark Iddins as the starting quarterback for the season opener against Big 10 foe Michigan State. While the naming of Iddins as the starter was not a total surprise, as most Bobcat fans knew it would either him of returning letter man Cody Kempt. In the end Ash was quoted as saying that he gave Iddins the start because of lack of turn overs in the preseason scrimmages. It sounds like it was a real close decision.

Kempt won the Quarter back battle in the 2008 preseason and got the start over the first few games. When Kempt went down with a season ending injury Iddins took over the QB spot until he went down for the season. Both played well but neither was dominating. The Bobcats also have a young phenom coming on board in freshman Denarius McGhee, and while he was not in the battle for the starting spot with Iddins and Kempt he did show a great deal of promise this summer, that he might be that dominating quarter back in the near future. Challenging McGhee the third string QB spot is freshman Cody Davies who I believe is a walk-on from Bozeman. It should be interesting to see if Ash chooses to redshirt a QB this fall, with only three scholarship QB’s on the roster.

Griz Football Poll: Who is your choice for QB?

The Griz football team enters their final week of preseason practice and with less than 6 days before the opening game against Western State Bobby Huack and his staff have not chosen his starting quarter back. It is quite clear that among the six players on the roster who are listed as quarterbacks the choice will come down to either returning letter man junior Andrew Selle or Oregon transfer junior Justin Roper. Selle who has been a staple with the Griz for the past few years as Cole Bergquist’s back up. Roper joined the Griz program this summer and has been pushing Selle during summer camp enough that according to the coaches it is a virtual tie as the leading candidate to get the starting nod on September 5th.

The Griz roster also boasts four other quarterback in redshirt freshman Gerald Kemp, junior Jeff Larson, sophomore walk-on Zach McRea, and true freshman DJ Zapata. It sounds like these quarterbacks will battle it out for the third string spot, as well as possibly a switch in position or possible redshirt year.

Today’s poll is who do YOU want to see as the starter, come September fifth. This is not a about who you think the coaches will pick but who YOU want. I am including all 6 players who are listed as QB’s on the roster to be fair.

Thurman Woods will not be a Griz … this year

The Missoulain today is reporting that, Thurman Woods of Dominguez high school in Compton California signed with Montana last November will not be attending the Big Sky school. He was having some problems with the NCAA Clearing House and decided to attend a JC closer to his home town. The NCAA still have not made a final ruling on his case but Woods decided not to risk enrolling at Montana where he could be forced to redshirt if the ruling did not go his way. By going the JC route he will be assured of being able to play this year. Then depending on the result of the final NCAA ruling he maybe eligible for D-1 after only one year at the JC. If the ruling does not go his way worst case is that he would become eligible next year. Tinkle did mention, though, that the Griz may re-recruit Woods.

I saw Woods in some pick up games this summer on the Montana campus, and I really thought he could contribute as a freshman for Montana. He really gave the Griz some aggressiveness and athleticism at the small forward spot. From what I saw he was a strong enough rebounder that I thought he may even give the Griz the options of playing two small forwards with Qvale at the center spot.

Bobcat FB recruit: John Vicente

John Vicente is already a member of my Bobcat recruiting list for 2010. As a matter of fact he was one of the very first members of the list even before I create this Blog. I first hear the Bobcat were looking at close to a year ago, but given how long ago it was and the other schools involved, I really was not sure if it was worth a post on him, but recently the Bobcats were once again mentioned as a school he is currently considering, so here we go.

John Vicente is a 6-1 255 pound line man from Prescott high school in Prescott Arizona. While he plays on both sides of the ball he is primarily being recruited as an offensive center. His stats are Maximum Bench of 305, Max. Squat 415, 5.46 40 time and 26” vertical.

Bobcat FB recruit: Andrew Mendoza

I have heard that the Rob Ash’s Bobcat football staff is recruiting Andrew Mendoza from Merced high school in California. Mendoza is a 6-0 185 prospect who has mainly been getting looks as a safety but recently started to get some looks as a tailback.

Last season as defensive back and Safety he accumulated 26 tackles and 29 assists. On the offensive side of the ball he accumulated a pretty non-impressive 32 total yards rushing in a back up role to an experienced running back corp. He also returned 5 kick off returns for an average 32 yards per return.

Bobcat /Griz FB recruit: Michael Lahey

I have heard that both the Bobcat and grizzly football staffs are recruiting Michael Lahey of Christian Brother’s high school in Sacramento, California. Lahey is a 6-1 200 pound quarterback who also played a little on the defensive side of the ball last year. Lahey is primarily a drop back quarterback who completed 79 passes on 125 attempts and accumulated 1012 yard passing for 12 touch downs. He also carried the ball 21 times for a total of 53 yards and 2 touch downs. On defense he was credited with 20 tackles.

His physical stats are: he runs a 4.68 40 yard dash, Max bench 285, Max squat 405 and a 31 inch vertical. He caries a 3.6 GPA and has scored qualifying marks on the SAT and ACT

Where are they now: Ryan Orton

The Anchorage Daily News is reporting that former Montana State basketball assistant coach Ryan Orton has taken an assistant coaching job with Alaska Anchorage University. Orton was one of the original assistants that Coach Huse hired when he got the MSU job, and was an excellent recruiter for the Bobcats. He is the guy who spotted and started recruiting a guy by the name of Divaldo Mbunga.

Orton got into some little legal problems that are outlined below his last year at MSU and by the summer of 2008 I am told felt he needed to move on from Bozeman and it was reported that he left his assistant spot at MSU to take a similar spot at New Mexico Highland a D-2. Apparently, though he never coached at New Mexico Highland, which I would assume is a story all in itself.

I met Orton on a couple occasions and I really liked him, and just about everyone I knew in Bozeman told me he was a great guy. Still, though, when it comes to domestic violence I know that even the seemly nicest guy’s can do some really stupid things. I do not know the whole story hear but I wish Ryan the best of luck in getting his career back o track.

Bobcat 2011 recruit: Stevie Taylor

I have heard that the Bobcat basketball staff have offered 2011 point guard recruit Stevie Taylor of Lincoln high school in Gahanna, Ohio. Taylor is a point guard who I have seen listed between 5-7 to 5-9. Taylor averaged 20 points and 4 assists for Lincoln high school and was named All-Ohio Central District boys basketball District 1, first team.

This is a post where I will let other describe his talents

From Rivals.com:

Stevie Taylor (2011 Ohio Basketball Club 16-U) has offers from James Madison, Ohio and Akron to go along with interest from Virginia Tech, West Virginia, St. Joe’s and Butler. Although he is only 5-foot-10, 140-pounds, what makes Taylor attractive is that he is a clutch shot maker who is quick with the basketball.

Josh Huestis gets an ESPN rating

Great Fall’s CMR high school basketball star Josh Huestis has gotten some upgrade love from the a couple national recruiting sites. The major one was from ESPN’s basketball recruiting site. They recently have ranked Josh as the # 39th power forward in the country, and have given him an overall rating of 90. Here is what the ESPN rankings mean.

90-100: Immediate Impact Prospect – Player demonstrates rare abilities and has the potential to start as a freshman for a national, top-25 program.

80-89: High Major Prospect -Player has the potential to start or significantly contribute as a freshman for most top national Division I programs.

70-79: Major/Mid-Major Prospect – Player either can earn a scholarship to a top national Division I program or contribute significantly as a freshman at the mid-major level.

60-69: Low Division I/Mid-Major Prospect – Player has the ability to earn a scholarship to a mid-major or low Division I program.

50-59: Prospect – Player has some redeeming qualities but is not projected to contribute at the Division I level.

45: Pending Prospect w/ film – Scouts Inc. has received film of the prospect and an evaluation is pending.

40: Pending Prospect – Player evaluation is pending receipt of film.