Montana Signing Day

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

We got everyone we wanted and if they didnt sign with us we didnt want them anyway..........................

[mlbowl]

CJ Atkins
WR, 6-2, 210, Jr., JC, Encino, Calif. (College of the Canyons)

CJ was a starter at College of the Canyons last season, where he had 14 catches for 189 yards and a TD, three rushes for 43 yards, and he also returned kickoffs ... originally signed with Washington State, participated in spring drills, but did not play there ... earned four letters in football at Grover Cleveland High School ... earned four letters in football and basketball and one in track and field (high jumper) for the Cavaliers ... his senior year he was team MVP and caught 25 passes for 320 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 112 yards on 21 carries ... prep football coaches were Troy Thomas and Derrick Hill ... as a junior he rushed for 511 yards on 53 carries, for a 9.6 average, with six touchdowns.
Personal: He will major in sociology ... his first name is Cornorris Atkins Jr ... his mom is Theresa Robinson ... birth date: Jan. 27, 1988.

Alex Bienemann (pronounced Bee-in-eh-man)
DT, 6-2, 275, Denver, Colo. (Regis Jesuit HS)

Alex was a four-year letterman in football ... he was first team All-Colorado and all-league following his senior season ... he was team captain his senior year ... also named team MVP and received his team's "Leadership Award" ... he earned two letters in lacrosse ... his prep football coach was mark Noland.
Personal: He plans to major in business ... his parents are Jim and Shere Bienemann of Greenwood Village, Colorado ... birth date: Sept. 14, 1991.

Derek Crittendon
DL, 6-3, 235, Whitefish, Mont. (Whitefish HS)

Derek lettered in football (three), wrestling (two), and track (four) ... he was an all-state pick at linebacker in 2009 ... a two-time all-conference selection at linebacker and fullback for coach Pat Dryden ... team captain in wrestling as a junior ... has a 4.0 GPA and is a member of the national honor society ... one of two candidates for class valedictorian.
Personal: He plans to major in physical therapy ... his parents are Bill and Cyndee Carter of Whitefish ... birth date: April 15, 1992.

Jake Hendrickson
OG, 6-3 ½, 285, Jr., JC, Gilbert, Ariz. (Scottsdale CC)

Jake has accepted a scholarship and is currently enrolled at UM ... he came to Montana from Scottsdale Community College, where he was a two-year starter at guard ... prepped at Seton Catholic High School where he lettered three times in football and twice in baseball ... team captain in football as a senior ... all-conference pick in football ... also named to Academic All-State squad his senior year.
Personal: He plans to major in psychology ... his parents are Karl and Margaret Hendrickson of Gilbert ... birth date: August 4, 1990.

Jordan Johnson
QB, 6-1, 185, Fr., HS, Eugene, Ore. (Sheldon HS)

Jordan was the 6A "Player of the Year" in Oregon as a senior ... he had 11,337 total yards of offense and 134 touchdowns in his prolific career ... as a senior he passed for 3,508 yards and 46 touchdowns and rushed for 1,091 yards and 20 TDs ... career-wise he passed for 8,188 yards and 84 TDs; rushed for 2,903 yards and 46 scores; and had 241 receiving yards for four scores ... his head coach at Sheldon HS was his dad, Marty Johnson ... has a 3.9 GPA.
Personal: His major will be biology (pre-med) ... his parents are Marty and Kelly Johnson of Eugene ... birth date: May 3, 1992.

Sean Haynes
WR, 6-3, 183, Fr., HS, Los Angeles, Calif. (Bishop Alemany HS)

Sean is a big-play receiver, who averaged 20.3 yards per catch as a senior ... senior year he had 30 receptions for 610 yards and five touchdowns ... earned three letters in football and four in track and field ... first team all-league selection at wide receiver following his senior year ... a finalist in the conference 400 meters as a junior with a personal best of 49.75 ... a three-year athlete with a 3.3 GPA ... won Mission League football titles as a junior and senior ... high school football coach was Dean Harrington.
Personal: He will major in business ... his parents are Charles Haynes and Anita Bivens of Los Angeles ... birth date: Sept. 11, 1992.

John Kanongata'a (pronounced: Canon-got-uh)
LB, 5-11, 218, Fr., HS, Bellevue, Wash. (Bellevue HS)

John was a two-year team captain on Bellevue High School's back-to-back state championship teams in 2009 (12-2) and 2008 (14-0) ... his sophomore squad was a state semifinalist, going 11-2 ... led his league in tackles as a senior, and also had seven forced fumbles and four interceptions ... won "sportsmanship award" in state championship game his senior year ... lettered four times in football and once in track and field ... a two-time all-state and all-conference selection at linebacker ... named the state's defensive player of the year following his senior campaign.
Personal: A business major ... his parents are Taina and Loka Kanongata'a of Bellevue ... birth date: June 22, 1992.

Brett Kirschner
RB, 5-10, 207, Fr., HS, Bellevue, Wash. (Interlake HS)

Brett was a four-year letterman in football ... also lettered twice in both track and baseball ... had 2,193 yards of total offense and scored 26 touchdowns his senior season ... named all-state by Associated Press, Seattle Times, News Tribune, and Evergreen State Preps ... KingCo (King County) 2A-3A offensive player of the year in 2009 ... first team All KingCo as a senior, and second team as a sophomore and junior ... two-time team MVP in football ... teams won four straight Crossroads Cup titles ... his high school football coach was Sheldon Cross ... was a three-time team captain in football.
Personal: He plans to major in education ... his parents are Jeff and Kimm Klassen of Bellevue ... brith date: July 3, 1991.

Danny Kistler Jr.
OT, 6-8, 335, Fr., HS, Seattle, Wash. (O'Dea HS)

Danny has accepted a scholarship at UM and is currently attending classes at Montana ... earned three letters in football and two in track at O'Dea High School ... voted most improved player in football as a junior for his team that went 13-1 and lost in the state championship game ... an all-league pick as a junior and senior ... preseason all-state choice as a senior (2008), but missed most of the year due to injury ... his prep football coach was Monte Kohler.
Personal: He is undecided on a major ... his parents are Dan and Helen Kistler of Seattle ... birth date: March 30, 1991.

William Poehls (pronounced: pales)
OT, 6-8, 305, Fr., HS, Chandler, Ariz. (Chandler HS)

William earned three letters in both football and wrestling and was a team captain in both sports at Chandler High School ... a 5A first team all-state and all-region as a senior and all-region as a junior ... his high school football coach was Jim Ewan ... had a record of 16-2 in wrestling as a junior.
Personal: He plans to major in education ... his parents are Vern and Christine Poehls of Chandler ... birth date: Nov. 27, 1991.

Trevor Poole
DL, 6-5, 275, Fr., HS, Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS)

Trevor is a second generation Griz football player ... all-state and All-Tacoma News first team pick as a senior ... lettered in football (two) and track (three) ... first team all-league offensive lineman for coach Jim Sharkey ... senior team was state runners-up.
Personal: A business major ... his dad, Scott Poole, was an offensive tackle for the Grizzlies, while his uncle, Shawn Poole played defensive tackle, both from 1982-85 ... birth date: Nov. 25, 1991.

Austin Reifeis (pronounced rye-fise)
TE, 6-3, 230, Fr., HS, Sammamish, Wash. (Eastlake HS)

Austin lettered four times in football at Eastlake High School ... team captain and winner of the "Ironman Award" as a senior ... had 45 receptions and 60 tackles his senior season ... a two-time all-league selection at tight end and defensive end ... "Rookie of the Year" award as a junior ... his high school football coach was Gene Dales.
Personal: Plans on majoring in journalism ... his parents are Michael and Lori Reifeis of Sammamish ... birth date: Sept. 19, 1991.

Stephen Sabin (pronounced: say-bin)
OG, 6-4, 305, Jr., JC, Chandler, Ariz. (Scottsdale CC)

Stephen has accepted a scholarship to play at UM and is attending classes ... is one of two players from Scottsdale Community College on the roster ... a two-year starter at Scottsdale CC ... prepped at Basha High School in Showlow, Arizona ... first team all-state as a senior and four-year letterman in football ... also lettered in basketball and track ... first team all-region in football as a junior and senior.
Personal: He is majoring in business ... his dad is Charles Sliskovic of Chandler ... birth date: Sept. 4, 1990.

Mitch Saylor
WR, 6-5, 210, Fr., HS, Vancouver, Wash. (Union HS in Camas WA)

Mitch has earned 11 letters in Union High School: four in football and basketball, and three in track ... three-time team captain in football ... first team all-region and all-league his senior year ... all-state, conference and all-league pick as a junior when he had 45 catches for 765 yards and 15 touchdowns ... football team MVP as a sophomore and junior ... prep football coach was Cale Piland.
Personal: Will major in business ... his parents are Brent and Shannon Saylor (step mom) and Raemarie Saylor of Vancouver ... birth date: Sept. 16, 1991.

Shay Smithwick-Hann
QB, 6-4, 210, Fr., HS, Kalispell, Mont. (Glacier HS)

Shay is also a second generation UM football player ... passed for 1,900 yards and 10 TDs and rushed for 724 yards and 14 TDs as a senior, when he was named second team all-state quarterback ... his football coach was former (1988-90) Griz starting QB Grady Bennett ... passed for 2,340 yards and 22 scores as a junior ... first team all-state basketball player as a junior and sophomore ... lettered four times in football, and was team captain in that sport twice ... three-time team captain in basketball ... also lettered in track ... in 2007-08-09 he was an academic all-state and member of National Honor Society with a 4.0 GPA.
Personal: Will major in business ... his parents are Jim Hann and Lori Smithwick-Hann of Kalispell ... his dad Jim played tight end for the Grizzlies in 1971-72 ... birth date: July 30, 1991.

Taylor Tuliaupupu (pronounced: tool-ee-aw-poo-poo)
LB, 6-0, 225, Fr., HS, LaVerne, Calif. (Claremont HS)

Taylor had 90 tackles as a senior ... team captain and all-league selection as a senior ... lettered in football (three), track and field (two), and wrestling (one) ... named his team's defensive MVP as a junior and senior ... high school football coach was Mike Collins ... team captain in track where he competes in the shot put and discus.
Personal: Will major in psychology ... his parents are Roketi and Sina Tuliaupupu of LaVerne ... his uncle (on his mom's side of the family) is former San Francisco 49er center Jesse Sapolu ... birth date: April 18, 1992.

Bo Tully (Pronounced Tull-lee)
Safety, 6-2, 185, Fr., HS, Spokane, Wash. (Mead HS)

Bo was named the Greater Spokane League's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior ... first team all-state pick his senior year as well ... first team all-league as a junior and senior ... his senior season he had 55 tackles, eight interceptions, and caught 26 passes for six TDs ... high school football coach was Sean Carty ... lettered in football (three), basketball (three), and baseball (one) ... an honor student with a 4.0 GPA.
Personal: A business major ... his parents are John and Debbie Tully of Spokane ... birth date: Nov. 6, 1991.

Zach Wagenmann
DE, 6-3 ½, 210, Fr., HS, Missoula, Mont. (Sentinel HS)

Zach was a second team all-state selection in football as a senior ... a first team all-conference pick in hoops as a junior ... earned two letters in both football and track and field, and three in basketball ... captain in football and basketball as a senior ... high school football coach was Pete Joseph ... academic all-state in basketball his junior year.
Personal: Will be a pre-pharmacy major ... his mom is Lori Muchmore (Dave) and his dad is Marko Wagenmann, both of Lolo, Montana ... birth date: August 8, 1992.

Justin Whitted (pronounced: wit-ted)
Safety, 6-1, 175, Fr., HS, Los Angeles, Calif. (St. Bernard HS)

Justin is a versatile player, who had 65 tackles, four interceptions and three forced fumbles on defense and caught 25 passes for 570 yards and six touchdowns on offense his senior season ... all-league at receiver and served as team captain as a senior ... chosen his team's "Player of the Year" his senior year ... prep football coach was Greg Dixon ... earned three letters in football and one in track and field.
Personal: He will be a business major ... parents are Rick and Audrey Whitted of Los Angeles ... birth date: March 17, 1992.

[ronbo]

Oregon 6A Offensive Player of the Year
Washington Defensive Player of the Year
Washington 2A-3A Offensive Player of the Year
13 All-State players of 19 recruits
10 Scout or Rivals 2 stars
4 players that chose Montana over FBS offers and multiple offers, Kirschner had offers from Army, Air Force, and UNLV.

This is a nice class and they are big!

[SeattleGriz]

Highlight film of Montana signees.

Note - As of 4:45 PST, the site it slammed and very hard to get the video to load.

http://www.montanagrizzlies.com/pages/n ... =8674&m=18

[BigSkyBears]

Oregon 6A Offensive Player of the Year
Washington Defensive Player of the Year
Washington 2A-3A Offensive Player of the Year
13 All-State players of 19 recruits
10 Scout or Rivals 2 stars
4 players that chose Montana over FBS offers and multiple offers, Kirschner had offers from Army, Air Force, and UNLV.

This is a nice class and they are big!

Are you certain they weren't grey-shirt offers?

[BigSkyBears]

Oregon 6A Offensive Player of the Year
Washington Defensive Player of the Year
Washington 2A-3A Offensive Player of the Year
13 All-State players of 19 recruits
10 Scout or Rivals 2 stars
4 players that chose Montana over FBS offers and multiple offers, Kirschner had offers from Army, Air Force, and UNLV.

This is a nice class and they are big!

That's cool, but we're I think we're ranked higher than you according to Rivals.com. We also have a 2 star d-lineman that will probably fax his LOI tonight. Other wise, great job!

[Savage Paw]

Oregon 6A Offensive Player of the Year
Washington Defensive Player of the Year
Washington 2A-3A Offensive Player of the Year
13 All-State players of 19 recruits
10 Scout or Rivals 2 stars
4 players that chose Montana over FBS offers and multiple offers, Kirschner had offers from Army, Air Force, and UNLV.

This is a nice class and they are big!

That's cool, but we're I think we're ranked higher than you according to Rivals.com. We also have a 2 star d-lineman that will probably fax his LOI tonight. Other wise, great job!

You can critique our recruiting AFTER you get your first win against Montana sometime after the year 2030.

[BigSkyBears]

That's cool, but we're I think we're ranked higher than you according to Rivals.com. We also have a 2 star d-lineman that will probably fax his LOI tonight. Other wise, great job!

You can critique our recruiting AFTER you get your first win against Montana sometime after the year 2010

Yep!

[AZGrizFan]

You can critique our recruiting AFTER you get your first win against Montana sometime after the year 2010

Yep!

Montana will win a 3rd NC before UNC beats Montana.

[Savage Paw]

BigSky Bears can't really believe they are going to beat us.

[BigSkyBears]

BigSky Bears can't really believe they are going to beat us.

Why not? As they say, "Any Given Saturday"

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Yep!

Montana will win 3 more NCs before UNC beats Montana.

Fixed it for you.

[Willie]

Oregon 6A Offensive Player of the Year
Washington Defensive Player of the Year
Washington 2A-3A Offensive Player of the Year
13 All-State players of 19 recruits
10 Scout or Rivals 2 stars
4 players that chose Montana over FBS offers and multiple offers, Kirschner had offers from Army, Air Force, and UNLV.

This is a nice class and they are big!

That's cool, but we're I think we're ranked higher than you according to Rivals.com. We also have a 2 star d-lineman that will probably fax his LOI tonight. Other wise, great job!

I don't usually get sucked in to these types of conversations, but you can't really be serious. UNC will never get the type of recruiting class Montana gets, it's just the way it is.

[BigSkyBears]

That's cool, but we're I think we're ranked higher than you according to Rivals.com. We also have a 2 star d-lineman that will probably fax his LOI tonight. Other wise, great job!

I don't usually get sucked in to these types of conversations, but you can't really be serious. UNC will never get the type of recruiting class Montana gets, it's just the way it is.

Alright, see for yourself. Check the rankings for rivals. I could be wrong, but I didn't see UM ahead of UNC. Sac St actually is a few spots ahead.

[putter]

No reason to get into a pissing match. Funny thing is, some of the best players in Montana HISTORY have been walk-ons....

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I don't usually get sucked in to these types of conversations, but you can't really be serious. UNC will never get the type of recruiting class Montana gets, it's just the way it is.

Alright, see for yourself. Check the rankings for rivals. I could be wrong, but I didn't see UM ahead of UNC. Sac St actually is a few spots ahead.

Well you should go back and look and see if Montana has EVER had a good recruiting class according to the rankings and see how that has compared to what is done on the field.

It's something for everybody to talk about and one of these days maybe one of these "great" recruiting classes will turn out to be something.

[mlbowl]

Alright, see for yourself. Check the rankings for rivals. I could be wrong, but I didn't see UM ahead of UNC. Sac St actually is a few spots ahead.

Yeah....means a lot All these teams are listed ahead of us.....PLEASE!

Northwestern St.
Western Carolina
North Dakota State
Sacramento St.
Chattanooga
Illinois St.
North Dakota
South Dakota
Presbyterian
North Carolina Central
Lafayette
Rhode Island
Fordham

[kemajic]

One type of recruit goes where there are 2500 butts in the seats; another goes where there are 25,000. We prefer the latter. It's working out pretty well.

[BigSkyBears]

One type of recruit goes where there are 2500 butts in the seats; another goes where there are 25,000. We prefer the latter. It's working out pretty well.

Must be nice being the only ticket in town. We've got to compete against 3 FBS teams two of them within 1 hour driving distance and one of which is a BCS school, plus a professional franchise. Keep up the good work!

[Willie]

One type of recruit goes where there are 2500 butts in the seats; another goes where there are 25,000. We prefer the latter. It's working out pretty well.

Must be nice being the only ticket in town. We've got to compete against 3 FBS teams two of them within 1 hour driving distance and one of which is a BCS school, plus a professional franchise. Keep up the good work!

You guys drew more fans when you were D-II. So why don't you get better attendance now?

And the being the "only ticket in town" crap is bogus. People travel all across the state to come to Missoula to watch games. We have 2 FCS schools in MT and MSU doesn't draw nearly as many. Montana just has a better fan base.

I know SEVERAL D3 teams that draw more for games than UNC. My college averaged nearly 7000 this year. And our conference foe averaged 9200, with 12,000 at the game when we played them.

[mlbowl]

One type of recruit goes where there are 2500 butts in the seats; another goes where there are 25,000. We prefer the latter. It's working out pretty well.

Must be nice being the only ticket in town. We've got to compete against 3 FBS teams two of them within 1 hour driving distance and one of which is a BCS school, plus a professional franchise. Keep up the good work!

Population Greeley, Co. - 98596
Population Missoula, Mt. - 62900........ Um....Lucy..


btw, pretty sure the Broncos play on Sundays!

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

One type of recruit goes where there are 2500 butts in the seats; another goes where there are 25,000. We prefer the latter. It's working out pretty well.

Must be nice being the only ticket in town. We've got to compete against 3 FBS teams two of them within 1 hour driving distance and one of which is a BCS school, plus a professional franchise. Keep up the good work!

I love that argument. Don't pay any attention to your population base there in Clolorado.

CSU Stadium-34,400
Colorado-60,000 (on a good day)

Denver Bronco's (rarely play on Saturday's but I'll throw it in for you anyway) 34,000

128,800 Total stadium attendace for those not named UNC Bears.

Population of Colorado-5,000,000

4,871,200 left out in the wind that could attend a UNC game.

You get 2500-3000 fans out of a leftover population that is nearly 5 times as big as our entire state as far as population goes?

Is it possible that people are not interested in seeing your team play because they are just not interesting to watch? Seriously, if you could notch up the amount of people that wanted to watch a game in your stadium to say---.00266874692 of those 4.8 million leftovers then you wouldn't have to try to make excuses that are so fucking stupid.

.000615864674 % just isn't cutting it even though you are not the "top dog".

Hometown of Greeley-77,000

Hometown of Missoula-57,000

excuses for being pathetic aside I find it tough to buy into your story.


God damn it! I should have been quicker on the post as I had the same basic argument as above. Clear thinking in Montana...obviously.

[mlbowl]

I love that argument. Don't pay any attention to your population base there in Clolorado.

CSU Stadium-34,400
Colorado-60,000 (on a good day)

Denver Bronco's (rarely play on Saturday's but I'll throw it in for you anyway) 34,000

128,800 Total stadium attendace for those not named UNC Bears.

Population of Colorado-5,000,000

4,871,200 left out in the wind that could attend a UNC game.

You get 2500-3000 fans out of a leftover population that is nearly 5 times as big as our entire state as far as population goes?

Is it possible that people are not interested in seeing your team play because they are just not interesting to watch? Seriously, if you could notch up the amount of people that wanted to watch a game in your stadium to say---.00266874692 of those 4.8 million leftovers then you wouldn't have to try to make excuses that are so **** stupid.

.000615864674 % just isn't cutting it even though you are not the "top dog".

Hometown of Greeley-77,000

Hometown of Missoula-57,000

excuses for being pathetic aside I find it tough to buy into your story.


God damn it! I should have been quicker on the post as I had the same basic argument as above. Clear thinking in Montana...obviously.

I like where your heads at

[Jibjab]

Must be nice being the only ticket in town. We've got to compete against 3 FBS teams two of them within 1 hour driving distance and one of which is a BCS school, plus a professional franchise. Keep up the good work!

I love that argument. Don't pay any attention to your population base there in Clolorado.

CSU Stadium-34,400
Colorado-60,000 (on a good day)

Denver Bronco's (rarely play on Saturday's but I'll throw it in for you anyway) 34,000

128,800 Total stadium attendace for those not named UNC Bears.

Population of Colorado-5,000,000

4,871,200 left out in the wind that could attend a UNC game.

You get 2500-3000 fans out of a leftover population that is nearly 5 times as big as our entire state as far as population goes?

Is it possible that people are not interested in seeing your team play because they are just not interesting to watch? Seriously, if you could notch up the amount of people that wanted to watch a game in your stadium to say---.00266874692 of those 4.8 million leftovers then you wouldn't have to try to make excuses that are so **** stupid.

.000615864674 % just isn't cutting it even though you are not the "top dog".

Hometown of Greeley-77,000

Hometown of Missoula-57,000

excuses for being pathetic aside I find it tough to buy into your story.


God damn it! I should have been quicker on the post as I had the same basic argument as above. Clear thinking in Montana...obviously.

You left out all the d2 schools, which I'm counting, 6? You could probably throw WYO in the mix, and I almost forgot Air Force.

So by your calculations there are 4,871,200 left in state to attend a UNC game? Well last time I checked there I don't think there was 4,871,200 with in driving distance, about 1 hour, it would get kinda congested with all those people living in one spot close to UNC. Who knew 4,871,200 would have nothing else to do, because ever single one of those 4,871,200 revolves around football.

Like the person posted earlier people travel across Montana to see a UM game because, for one they're good and two that's the only thing going on in the state of Montana. My guess is no one is going to travel more than 2 hours to see a UNC game when they have other options. YOu know? I don't think it would matter how good they were either

[BigSkyBears]

In 2005, or 2004 we averaged over 7,000. Not bad, but not great. We didn't even have a winning season that year. We will get there win the winning starts up again. The community is ready to support a winning team. Just ask our basketball team.