Game Day Kaimin, November 13, 1999 Associated Students of the University of Montana

University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Associated Students of the University of Montana Montana Kaimin, 1898-present (ASUM) 11-13-1999 Game Day Kaimin, November 13, 1999 Associated Students of the University of Montana Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper Recommended Citation Associated Students of the University of Montana, "Game Day Kaimin, November 13, 1999" (1999). Montana Kaimin, 1898-present. 9179. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper/9179 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM) at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Montana Kaimin, 1898-present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Saturday, November 13,1999 The Kaimin is the daily student neivspaper at The University of Montana Kickoff 12:05 PM G D G a m e D a y ~ W J F - A I j f ^ A K j r j k N Battle for the Stein T h e Lit t le B r o w n Ste in h a s b e e n THE VICTOR’S PRIZE IN THE GRIZZLY- VANDAL RIVALRY FOR 6 I YEARS. It ’ s b e e n in M o s c o w s in c e I 9 9 5 . T h e r e ’ s o n ly o n e way t o g e t it BACK ___ By S c o t He is e l Pa g e 2 John Locher/GDK GRIZZLIES vs. Idaho 2 G am eD ay Kaimin, Saturday, Novem ber 13, 1999 The history of the Stein It is a w o o d e n s te in w ith a l o t o f f o o t b a l l b e h in d it . T h e Little B r o w n Ste in has b e e n p a ss e d b e tw ee n Mo ntana a n d Id a h o f o r d e c a d e s . Montana gave it u p w h en t h e Gr iz l o s t in I 9 9 5 , t a r n is h in g t h e n a tio nal championship s e a s o n a s w e l l . By S c o t He is e l ithin the world of football, a single remarkable season has the new era in the rivalry between Montana and Idaho was established the fol power to erase years of mediocrity. Years later, grandfathers lowing season. A young sports publicist by the name o f John T. Campbell relate bold tales to engrossed grandchildren, who listen time A teamed up with Stan Shaw, president of the university Bearpaws, to create a W trophy that would commemorate the annual border war. They dubbed their new cre after time. There is something comforting about the the fact that real men could accomplish such glorious feats. ation the “Little Brown Stein,” thus creating a tangible symbol o f the fierce competi Conversely, a single heartbreaking loss can permanently mar an otherwise suc tion between the two programs. cessful season. Every team suffers such losses. The Stein was introduced to Montana football fans in Missoula during the 1938 While the Montana Grizzlies have seen their share o f success, there are those who clash at Domblaser Field. A few hours later, it was on its way to Moscow after the would argue that they’ve also seen more than their share of frustration. And there Vandals defeated the Grizzlies 19-6. are still others who would say that the majority o f that frustration has come at the The following night, a Sunday, people across the nation prepared for the end of the hands o f the Idaho Vandals. world as Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater actors performed an adaptation of mid the devastation of the Great Depression and the political tensions that H.G. Wells’ War o f the Worlds over the radio waves. A fter losing to the Vandals for the would evolve into W W II, Montana football turned the comer toward success eighth time in nine years, Montana football fans may have been among the few lis in 1935 when Doug Fessenden took over as head coach. During the ten years teners that evening who managed to brush aside the mass hysteria with flippant dis A regard. prior to Fessenden’s arrival, the Grizzlies had compiled a record o f 29-48-5 and had managed just a single winning season, going 5-3 in 1930. rom the day that John Campbell unveiled the Stein, its relevance began to In two years Fessenden guided Montana to one of its greatest season ever. The diminish. W hat began as a rivalry turned into a chronicle o f Vandal domi Grizzlies won their first six games in 1937, including an impressive 13-6 victory at F nance. As the Stein reached its 30th year, it had spent only eight on Montana T h e y d u b b e d t h e ir ne w c r e a t io n t h e ‘ L ittle B r o w n S t e in , ’ t h u s c r e a t in g a t a n g ib l e s y m b o l OF THE FIERCE COMPETITION BETWEEN THE TWO PROGRAMS. 'Texas Tech and a 23-0 drubbing o f Gonzaga. The Montana defense recorded three soil. shutouts in the six games and allowed none of its opponents to score more than seven H al Sherbeck, who played defensive back for the Grizzlies from 1950 to 1951 and points. helped coach the team in the late ’50s, now lives in Poison. Sherbeck still makes Rumors o f a possible bowl bid — either to the Cotton Bowl or to the heralded Rose weekly trips to Missoula for Grizzly games and practices. H e said that he barely Bowl — permeated the Missoula air. Only a final regular season match up against remembers the Stein. the University o f Idaho in Moscow stood in the way. “For some reason it just went away and nobody knew about it,” Sherbeck said. “It The Grizzlies went to Idaho early in November of that year brimming with talent just dropped by the wayside. No one said much about it.” . and confidence. They had defeated the Vandals 16-0 the previous year and were look Sherbeck’s former teammate, Tom Kingsford, spends his summers at Big Fork and ing for a repeat performance. his winters in Phoenix. Both Sherbeck and Kingsford played on the 1950 team that They returned to Missoula feeling the sting of a 6-0 defeat and owning a newfound stunned the Vandals 28-27 in Moscow. Kingsford’s 2,296 career passing yards remain respect for what Montana fans had referred to for years as the dreaded “Vandal jinx.” in the top 10 in school history to this day. A last-minute interception on a muddy field from Vandal great Steve Belko had pre But while he helped pull o ff one of the great G rizzly victories, Kingsford also said served the Idaho win. that the Stein itself was of little importance. An account o f the game in the Kaimin included the decree: “It made for interesting discussion and competition,” Kingsford said. “But I don’t “A muddy field, a soggy ball and the spirit of revenge for last year’s thumping gave remember it being a big deal. I remember what it looked like. Is it still around?” Idaho that impetus which brings victory.” A ll told, Idaho has compiled 54 wins over Montana, along with 23 losses and a The Washington Huskies received an invitation to the Rose Bowl that year. They pair o f ties. Since the two teams last met in 1995, the Stein has rested on the desk of lost 21-0 to the Panthers o f Pittsburgh, who were eventually crowned national cham Vandal head coach Chris Tormey. pions o f 1937. Tormey played for Idaho from 1974 to 1977, but said that he didn’t see the Montana game as much of a rivalry. Co n t in u e d o n p a g e 8 Griz renew rivalry with Idaho Chad Dundas “I think Montana is a better team than Nevada,” well last week. If we don’t, it’s going to be a long GameDay Kaimin Tormey said. “They’re pretty comparable defensively, afternoon.” John Welsh might be the only quarterback the but I think they’re better offensively and on special Running back Yohance Humphery could have the Grizzlies see all year who is playing with more pain teams.” most on the line this week for Montana. Last week than Montana’s own Drew Miller. The Grizzlies, though, aren’t letting the praise go against Cal Poly, Humphery tied Dave Dickenson’s If Welsh starts Saturday against UM, as the Idaho to their heads. single-season touchdown record and became only the coaching staff claims he will, it will be only the third “Idaho is definitely the most complete team we’ve fourth back in Montana history to rush for more than start of the season for the sophomore from Oak had to play to date,” head coach Mick Dennehy said.

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