University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Associated Students of the University of Montana Montana Kaimin, 1898-present (ASUM) 9-19-2009 Game Day Kaimin, September 19, 2009 Students of The niU versity of Montana, Missoula Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper Recommended Citation Students of The nivU ersity of Montana, Missoula, "Game Day Kaimin, September 19, 2009" (2009). Montana Kaimin, 1898-present. 5233. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/studentnewspaper/5233 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]. September 19, 2009 The Kaimin is the student newspaper at the University of Montana Kickoff 1:05 p.m. Foot of gold California boy Sean Wren continues family legacy by punting for Montana By Matt McLeod 2 Wren makes an impression Matt McLeod Montana Kaimin Sean Wren can’t help standing out. It’s simply something he’s always done. Whether it’s standing out in a crowd, or on the football field and volleyball court (he was all- conference in both sports in Growing up, Sean and his high school), the 6-foot-6 Wren brother, Thomas, who plays has made a habit of making an offensive tackle for UNLV, would impression, including in his show up at the field and follow Jim first season as Montana’s around. punter. The three forged a strong relationship After winning a na- grounded in their mutual love of all-things pigskin, tional championship which deepened when Sean and Thomas went out for foot- on his school volley- ball at Esperanza High. Sean wanted to be a receiver, but Jim ball team, Wren and encouraged him to learn punting as a skill set that he could fall a teammate decided back on if he needed to, and Sean eventually made all-conference as to head to Long Beach receiver and punter. State in 2007 to play on Jim said the advice was something he’d picked up along the way. scholarship together. “I was a position guy that had some injury problems myself, and I Wren spent a semester just told him that punting really kept me in the game,” he said. “He was manning the nets as middle pretty healthy through high school, but he had the build for it and a good blocker for the 49ers but soon re- strong leg, so it seemed like a good idea.” alized the hardwood wasn’t where At Fullerton, Wren grew into his own, booting punts with an aver- he was wanted to be. He said he’d age of 42.4 yards – his longest was a 64-yarder – en route to a season always enjoyed volleyball, but that that saw him selected as an All-American and unanimous first team he’d left his heart on the field. all-league selection. “Volleyball was fine but I just kind But it wasn’t just his success that made the decision to learn a fall- of realized that I had gotten talked into back position turn out to be a particularly good one for Wren. doing something that I wasn’t necessarily in love During a game last year, Wren injured his right knee playing for with,” Wren said. “I got a little sidetracked and I was the Titans. Though the injury was to his kicking leg, it didn’t keep always ready to jump back into football.” him off the field in Fullerton for long. For Wren, that meant a stop at Fullerton Community Col- Still, when Montana came calling, Sean was fresh off the injury lege, near his hometown of Yorba Linda, Calif. There he got and anxious to settle his football future. the chance to not only punt but also suit up as wide receiver, Last year’s punter at UM, Ken Wood, had decided to head to Texas something he said had been his “passion and focus for a long, A&M, and potential transfer Josh Slider had opted to go to West Vir- long time.” ginia. Coach Bobby Hauck was in a pinch, needing to fill his spot Coming home wasn’t about getting back to Orange County – quickly. Long Beach State is only 12 miles farther down the road – it was For Sean it was now or never to take the punting plunge, and Jim about getting back on the football field, where felt he belonged. thought now sounded just fine. He missed the challenge of practice and the atmosphere of the “With the knee situation at that time it felt right,” Jim Wren games, an adrenaline addiction he’s been able to feed since he got said. “And we talked about how it would accomplish his three to Missoula. goals, which were getting a football scholarship, having a great “Nothing compares to game days in football, especially up football experience and having the chance to win. He was like here,” Wren said. “You put so much work into it that when it’s ‘Check, check, check. I’m in.’” time to play the game, it’s just so much more intense and satis- Though Wren is reluctant to discuss the specifics of the injury, he fying than any sport. It’s crazy, it’s a once in a lifetime feeling will say that it hasn’t affected his ability to kick and that he doesn’t stepping out on the field.” expect future problems. Sean’s uncle, Jim Wren, who was also a former receiver, punt- “I had a really good surgeon who did a really good job,” he said. “I’m ed at USC in 1996 and 1997, after his own pit stop at Fullerton. feeling good, and I’m ready to do my part to help the team win games.” [email protected] Taka Osaka/Montana Kaimin UM punter Sean Wren kicks during practice in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Wren prefers to kick in the stadium, as opposed to the practice fields. “The grass is way different, and there is no wind in the stadium,” he said. Kaimin Editor Allison Maier Sports Editor Roman Stubbs Photo Editor Eric Oravsky Design Editor Ashley Klein Business Manager Aaron Fauth Copy Editors Ben Coulter Alexa Dobson Sarah Robertson Alyssa Small Jesseca Whalen Reporters Tyson Alger Taka Osaka/Montana Kaimin Matt McLeod Sean Wren (94) is a sophomore transfer from Fullerton Junior College Troy Warzocha in California. 3 Portland brings mix of youth, experience Portland state quarterback Drew Hubel fires a pass against Oregon State two weeks ago. The Vikings lost 34-7. Photo courtesy of Portland State University Troy Warzocha down passes of 90-plus yards. The “I think last year we did not ex- deal to him,” Hubel said. “Wheth- tions (44), yards (623), and touch- Montana Kaimin first was a 96-yard screen pass to ecute. We got to control what we er you got a great teammate or not, downs (9) in a game. Woods, the second a 91-yard deep can do,” Hubel said. “We got to you got to trust in him and believe In his young career, Hubel Jerry Glanville was having re- ball to senior Levonte Kirven. control our end of the deal.” in him.” ranks in the top 10 all-time in occurring visions this week, most “Both series, we’re in trouble. Hubel was recruited by Port- Hubel, an Oregon native, led touchdown passes, yards, and notably of his first trip to Missoula We’re fortunate to come out with a land State before Glanville was his high school team to an Or- completions for Portland State. as Portland State University’s head big play there,” Glanville said. hired and when Glanville saw him egon 5A State Championship in In order for the Vikings to win football coach two years ago. It Even though the two strikes for the first time, he “went into 2006. Winning the champion- in Missoula, Hubel is going to was in that game that his freshman were the longest passes Hubel has shock because he [Hubel] was so ship is one of Hubel’s greatest need to bring his game against the quarterback Drew Hubel brought ever thrown, he was quick to give small and thin.” Glanville esti- football achievements. Another Grizzlies this Saturday. Based on back the ghost of Billy Tolliver, credit to his receivers. mated that Hubel weighed about was winning his first collegiate last year’s game, Hubel knows a the cannon-armed quarterback he “We got some pretty special re- 160 pounds in his freshman year. game against Northern Colorado tall task lies ahead. coached while with the Atlanta ceivers here. It helps,” Hubel said. “With that frail look, he is still in 2007. “Every time we play Montana, Falcons in the early ‘90s. “Once it gets in their hands, they a tough guy,” Glanville said. A little over two years into his we meet a team that’s ready to play. “Billy could throw a ball make the big plays.” Hubel threw for 2,912 yards and college career, Hubel is already It’s not going to be an easy game at through a car wash and not get it In 2008, the Vikings led the 18 touchdowns in 2008 and admits one of Portland State’s most ac- all,” Hubel said. “A chance to play wet,” Glanville said.