Fair Catch

Montana Football at its best

Sun, 20 May 2007 07:00:00 GMT

I just want to leave a quick thought, the morning after the game against the Blaze. Even though we came out on the short end of this contest, the game itself was something else. I hope the fans that attended came away with as sated a feeling as I had, purely from a fan perspective. There was only one score, albeit a 52-yard jaunt from the far from fleet-of-foot Buckie Brawley on what we later found out was a broken play, but last night was not about offense. It turned into one of the most fierce defensive duels I have ever witnessed in person, and would surely dispute anyone who claims it was boring or a showcase of sub-par offenses. Despite what claims have been made about Justin Nixon and the Blaze rush game, both teams identities are securely rooted in the athleticism and cohesion of their defenses. Again, that is not a slam against either team's offense, but what I saw last night were two teams who wouldn't give an inch. Not for themselves or the man beside him. Not even for the man 3rd in line at his position who wanted so desperately to have one series or even one play to show that he wasn't giving an inch either. It was an exceptional display of true team defense.

So after a good night's sleep, as good as one can get after a defeat, I truly believe that, win or loss, that game made us better as players, as coaches, and most assuredly as a team. I can only hope we had the same effect on them. Sure, we get a rematch in Washington-Grizzly Stadium in two weeks, hopefully with a different outcome, but I'm excited that we are making each other better because we can beat each other up all we want, but it's the Championship that matter. And as the "Southerners", from the other states in this league, have made abundantly clear, we Montana teams need to make a strong showing against teams from Idaho and Utah to be taken seriously. I think both the Phoenix and the Blaze took another step towards that end last night.

I wish the Blaze good health in their game next week against the Knights. (I feel it's in bad taste to wish luck to the Blaze against a winless team that plays as hard and unified as the Glacier Knights, who I'll be rooting for to get a win this season since I don't want them to beat us in the regular season finale. No slight or animosity towards the Blaze, I assure.) If both teams are as prepared and ready as we both were last night, the rematch will be an epic. (Not to mention a possible Championship Game matchup.)

Monson

Here Comes Opening Day

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 07:00:00 GMT

This is the start of what we've been waiting for. We have our opponent, we have our venue, we have our focus. No more pacing the tempo and instructing. We have laid that foundation and are now on to setting the bricks; building upwards.

Part of the draw to this game, for me at least, is the ritual. Knowing what I can expect at particular time so that I can add to the momentum, without compromising the rhythm and syncronicity. It's a dynamic challenge, one I desire, though sometimes it can be particularly baffling when dealing with the limited amount of time we have with all the players. It just makes depth that much more crucial.

It is a long week, but it will be a short week. It never seems like it can be here when we need it. It's the right combination of patience and anticipation that will leave you ready to go at your highest level at the moment you need to.. It is simply, focus and discipline. Seeing the task, preparing for the task, anticipating the task, and performing the task. That's the hard part. The fun part is that each week is a new task and it's a constant struggle for perfection down to the slightest detail. And the kicker, not literally "the kicker", but figuratively, you can always get better. Sometimes it's very clear what needs to be done better, and sometimes you have to search to find what to do better. Which would mean you have to think better. I imagine someone once said this: you can think too much, but you can't know too much. It's too straight forward to be Yogi Berra, since you don't have to think about it for a second, so it must be someone else.

So the point is, that it is the first week of our season and I'm dialing in like I hoped and I'm expected everyone to be doing the same. Once you get into the Stadium and it's time for kickoff, time will abandon all it's normal principles and shift gears up and back until it's almost agony. Faster. Slower. Faster. Now slower. Much Slower. Wait, go back. I missed it. Oh! C'mon stupid timeout.

May you see everything that you wish to see. I wish you all a Happy Opening Day.

Jason Monson

The most fun you can have on snow covered tundra.

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 12:00:00 GMT

At 17^oyou might imagine a multitute of things that lie outside living in this region. Strangely enough I uttered one of the more common ones; "Huh. Not too bad." It was so because this was the first day of practice. Outdoors. What a great day to be a football coach. It became abundantly clear to me as I stepped out of my car at the practice field that it was a great day to be a football player too. These guys were energized and chomping at the bit. It reminded me of Denver, oddly enough I know, when I saw bright orange adorned players and someone was using the snow shovel to clear lines and an endzone on our practice field. Not a one complained about the cold, no matter what else you here. Unless it was on the offense. I'd believe that.

I confess that even with the Phoenix gear I possess, what with the hat, t-shirt, and hoodie, it was just too cool for me to outwardly express my enthusiasm for our own team. I needed my Denver Broncos jacket to fully insulate myself. Apparently I missed the memo that said "freeze your ass for you can't wear NFL gear". This is a further reason that I think our attitude is in line with NFL. I should really shut up before they fine me and make me pay for lunch at the next coaches meeting. I'm just glad we don't have a Red Lobster.

To be quite honest, I was too excited about practicing outside that I didn't really keep hypercritical. Foremost on my mind was "Dear God don't let me cause the first injury of the season." I don't believe I did, but you never know what happens the day after.

I was waiting for the first day I could play quarterback, and that was today. Only on the playground would they let me be QB, but you must remember that was in the days of "all-time quarterback." I always got to throw. It was good to have recess. When I was young, and somewhat still to this day, I hated to run. It killed me. Possibly as close to asthma as you can come was were I was. Luckily I did well in school and learned what and how I needed to learn. Anywho, I've got to be getting along now, I have to watch the #1 team in "America's Game" It's the Dolphins, but this show is amazing.

Until next time.

Monson

A Season Anew

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 06:47:00 GMT

There are so many places to identify change with this "team." I use the term loosely, because I am referring to the group of individuals who have been a part of this common goal of football here in Missoula. I mean it not as the "Raptors" or "Phoenix" or "Missoula..." anything, but the faces and names and actions of the people I have come to love and respect as my surrogate family. We have learned a lot in the previous two years, myself more than most seeing as I've had the most to learn and the least amount of experience coming into this whole deal. Last year I was a rookie ST Coordinator who learned on the go, so this year I'm a year more experienced while adding Asst. Linebacker coach to my title. Another year, another unfamiliar territory. I'm very excited to tackle this task though as the corps of linebackers we've accrewed this season brings a healthy dose of optimism. To me, attitude is as important as physical attributes if not more, and still they both take a back seat to football intelligence. Once we implement our full Defensive scheme I'm convinced the attitude and heart of our linebackers will be rivaled by their knowledge and preparation for gameday. So to recap, I'm excited and sometimes I like to use big words not normally found in the sports section.

I've tried to get to know all of the new coaches, and that's no easy task this year. I feel as though I'm the weak link, a position I'm familiar and comfortable with. All of the new coaches bring in unique experience and a refreshing new attitude to some of the veterans who had become familiar and a little complacent with the old routine. It's just enough of a shakeup to recharge the desire without being alienating or forcible. I look forward to being a part of this staff and contributing to the best of my ability.

While some may be excited about the new logo (as I am), uniforms, colors, yada yada, yada, I find myself the most eager to troll the sidelines of Washington Grizzly Stadium with the rest of the Phoenix. Even as much as one game would get me charged up. The atmosphere in that place, regardless of the matchup or attendance is electric. It's quite an opportunity for a kid who played one year of Jr. High Football in small-town Montana.

I'll be jotting down more throughout the season in my own brand of humor, so I hope you enjoy. I know I'll be enjoying the hell out of this season from a coaching standpoint so I hope you enjoy it from whatever vantage point you have chosen.

Monson