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Untenable Expectations

By Beacon Staff

Spring football is in full swing and a new lot of hopeful prospects and returning players are working feverously to impress upon the new University of Montana coaching staff that they should play a key role in continuing the 17-year prominence of the most successful program in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Of course, there is the usual speculation about who and how the Grizzlies will replace this player and that particular position and excitement surrounding aspiring youngsters who haven’t even come to campus yet because, while they have signed a national letter of intent, most are not in the fold until fall practice begins.

The recent success – not only leading the FCS in wins the last decade, but continuing a string of Big Sky Conference championships and playoff appearances – has been accompanied by the untenable situation of having unrealistic winning expectations.

Maybe Al Davis, the owner of the Oakland Raiders, was first to say it and did so best: “Just win, baby,” pretty much mandating that success is only about winning at all costs.

While obviously enjoying a win like everyone else, I have always subscribed to another theory, one perhaps first uttered by famous sportswriter Grantland Rice: “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.”

Expectations surrounding Griz football have become so unrealistic that days after completing one of the most successful years in history by once again competing in the national championship game, thoughts not only turned to making reservations at the 2010 game but also to hopes that a new coaching staff could propel the UM to its first title in 10 years.

You’ve got to be kidding me! I’ve now been a part of seven championship games since 1995 and a horde of playoff contests. And I sincerely cherish the opportunity to just be there, let alone have a chance to actually claim the “golden fleece.”

Where there used to be celebration if the Griz beat the Cats, or if the team tied for the league title, or even if they won the championship outright to claim the automatic playoff bid for a single post-season home playoff game, it has now become paramount that the team runs the table and sweeps through the playoffs. Then disappointment and discouragement abounds if, God forbid, the Griz fail in the chipper.

With the program’s success, the fan base has more than tripled in my time around the program and that, I believe, is a double-edged sword.

You would sure rather be around a program where fans care,than be a part of one where the success of your season is measured on whether you beat the Grizzlies. And there are plenty of programs that measure their success that way.

One of the first things Jerry Glanville said when he took the Portland State University head coaching job was he wanted to model the Vikings like the Missoula school’s program and beat them at their own game.

It’s an admirable goal that now will be tackled in Portland by a new coaching staff, since Glanville resigned at the end of the season. And there are numerous other examples, some that go unspoken and others that are overtly predicted.

But while we have a great thing going with Griz football, let’s take a step back and celebrate the successes. But let’s put in perspective how fortunate we are that it exists and realize it won’t always be this way.

The Bobcats will beat the Grizzlies again – there I said it – and will win a Big Sky Conference title and Montana will be home eating turkey on Thanksgiving weekend rather than participating in a playoff game.

Then, and maybe only then, will we appreciate how good we had it and what an awesome job the program has done sustaining success, but realize nothing lasts forever.