Would the real Brandon Hansen please stand up?

In my last post I joked that Brandon had become a Griz fan during his time in Montana over the last few years. I guess I picked the wrong Montana team.

I always considered Brandon and myself some of the biggest Eastern Washington University fans around. We even have custom jerseys. Please take note of this photo snapped three years ago:

Yes, that's Brandon, Swoop and myself at the Eastern game at Qwest Field. Note how Brandon was so excited to meet Swoop.

Now please look at the photo Brandon posted to facebook tonight:

I saw this and got sick.

Who is this guy? And would the real Brandon Hansen please show up to rip this shirt of this imposter's back.

Montana State motivational poster

Well it's true...

Our Neighbors Weekly Update: JustSoN coverage across the Pacific Northwest

-University of Montana-

The Griz will keep their head football coach for at least another season. Bobby Hauck has agreed to a new one-year contract to coach the UM football team.

It's pretty amazing how his contract is broken down:
Hauck's new contract calls for a base salary of $144,500. In addition, it increases the pool for assistant coaches by $16,500. Also, the pact calls for an additional $40,000 for television and radio coach's show appearances; a country club membership; and $500 per month for a car stipend. Additional income comes in the form of camps and/or clinics, as well as annual performance incentives.

The best part are all the incentives. Look at how random some of the bonuses are:

- $5,000 for achieving a team GPA for the previous three academic years of 2.85 or higher; - $5,000 for maintaining a four-year average academic progress rate score of at least 950; - $5,000 for maintaining season attendance; - $5,000 for attending requested UM Athletics and Grizzly Scholarship Association functions; - $7,500 for being named Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year; - $5,000 for defeating a FCS team during non-conference season that has been a qualifier in the FCS playoffs within the past two years; - $5,000 for finishing the season as Big Sky champs or co-champs, or qualifying for the NCAA football playoffs; - $2,500 for each victory in the FCS playoffs; - $30,000 for winning the FCS championship.

Now if those are incentives to win games, I don't know what is.

-Montana State University-

The MSU ski team will complete in the 2009 NCAA Western Regional this coming weekend. The competition is at the Lake Tahoe region.

The competition is also the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association championship.

-Idaho State University-

The Bengals softball team beat the defending MAC Champions Kent State, 6-4 on the 14th. ISU scored 6 runs in the first two innings and never looked back. The win was their second of the season.

Yet one day later the Bengals fell 10-1 at Arizona State. ASU is the defending National Champions, and they played like it. This season ASU is ranked #3.

-University of Idaho-

The women's basketball team take on Nevada tonight down in Reno. If they win that game, they should be in first place in their league.

Indoor track and field will be hosting the Vandal Classic this weekend.

-University of Alaska Anchorage-

Tomorrow and Saturday, the women's gymnastics team will host Temple for a pair of matches. The Seawolves are still looking for their first win of the season.

On the ice, four members of the hockey team earned the 2008-2009 WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award.
To earn recognition as a WCHA Scholar-Athlete, a student-athlete must have completed at least one year of residency at his or her present institution prior to the current academic year and must also have a GPA of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale for the previous two semesters, or may qualify if their overall GPA is at least 3.50 for all terms at their present institution.

Our Neighbors Weekly Update: JustSoN coverage across the Pacific Northwest

-University of Montana-

Montana’s Anthony Johnson has been selected as the co-Big Sky Conference men’s basketball Player of the Week. He led the Griz to victories over Eastern Washington and Portland State.

Johnson, a 6-2 junior guard from Tacoma, Wash., averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game as Montana moved to 7-3 in conference play and extended its home winning streak to nine games. Johnson scored 15 points with three assists in a 72-65 upset of Portland State on Thursday. Johnson made 4-of-6 shots from the floor, and went 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. Johnson netted a team-high 20 points with a career-high six assists, three rebounds and two steals in a 60-52 win over Eastern Washington on Saturday. Johnson was 6-of-7 from the free-throw line, and 6-of-12 from the field.

-Montana State University-

Montana State’s Divaldo Mbunga was the other co-Big Sky Conference men’s basketball Player of the Week.

He also led his team to wins over Eastern Washington and Portland State.

Mbunga recorded his third double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 69-65 victory over Eastern Washington on Thursday. He made 7-of-10 from the field, and also registered three blocks and an assist. Mbunga tallied 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and pulled down eight rebounds with three assists and two blocks of an 85-82 upset of Portland State on Sunday.

-Idaho State University-

In women's tennis the team lost it's first road match of the season 0-7 to Weber State. The loss dropped the Bengals to 0-2 on the season.

On the indoor track both the men's and women's did good against the Montana's at the Montana State Duals on Jan. 30 at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman, Montana.

On the men's side, Sam Pierson, who went to the NCAA National Outdoor Championships in 2008, finished second in the pole vault. Despite this he still holds the conference's top mark in that event this season at 16-6.5 feet.

-University of Idaho-

Signing day wasn't just big for football, but the Vandals soccer team signed 11 new athletes with nine letters-of-intent and two invited walk ons.

Idaho’s 2009 recruiting class features four athletes from the state of California, four from Washington and three from Canada. The class features six midfielders, two defenders, two forwards and one goalkeeper. With 11 newcomers, it is also the largest group the fifth-year coach has brought in to Moscow.

The Vandals track team also added a star sprinter from Washington this week.

Sprinter Kelly Jacka has signed a letter of intent to run for the University of Idaho women’s track and field team, co-head coach Yogi Teevens announced on Wednesday.

Jacka, a star athlete at Bellermine Prep in Federal Way, Washington comes to Moscow with some records to be proud of.

Jacka holds individual school records in the 100m, 200m and 400m at Bellarmine Prep, and also ran on the school-record 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m relays. She holds personal bests of 11.91 in the 100m, 24.36 in the 200m and 56.58 in the 400m, as well as indoor personal bests of 7.81 in the 60m and 24.95 in the 200m.

-University of Alaska Anchorage-

The women's basketball team is making a name for themselves this year.

The nationally top-ranked Alaska Anchorage women’s basketball team retained its No. 1 West Region ranking in the latest NCAA Div. II regional polls, released Wednesday.

The Seawolves (20-1, 7-0 GNAC) aren't the only Washington team in the top ranking though. They are joined by Seattle Pacific at Number 3, Western Washington at Number 4, and Northwest Nazarene is Number 8.

On the ice freshman Curits Leinweber was selected as the WCHA Rookie of the Week for February 3-9. Leinweber scored the game-winning goal in overtime to upset the then number 7 Denver team.

Our Neighbors Weekly Update: JustSoN coverage across the Pacific Northwest

-University of Montana-

Tonight the Lady Griz take on Portland State, at PSU, for claim of the top of the Big Sky. Both teams are 6-0 in conference games. With Montana being 17-3 overall, and Portland State is 13-6. It's a winner take all game at a big time in the season. The game starts 7 p.m. Pacific and can be watched online at www.bigskytv.org.

On the men's side PSU is visiting Montana tonight. The Griz currently sit in 3rd in the Big Sky, having beat Northern Colorado 68-59 on 1/25. The men Vikings also are in 1st place, and the Griz could really use a home win.

Indoor track will be in Bozeman on Friday for the Montana State Dual Invitational. Montana will be going against MSU and Idaho State.

-Montana State University-

The men's team has slid to 6th in the Big Sky after back-to-back losses. At the hands of Northern Colorado the Bears had their way with the Bobcats, 55-65. After that, MSU traveled down to Southern Mississippi, only to loose 60-68. Tonight they host Eastern Washington. The Eagles currently sit in 7th in the Conference and are looking to get their season back on track. A win tonight for the Bobcats would be huge.

-Idaho State University-

Tonight ISU will be trying to "white out" their arena as the Weber Wildcats come into town. The Bengals have a slight hold on the 4 spot in the Conference, but Northern Colorado is nipping at their heels. But Weber State won't be overlooked. The Wildcats are currently tied with PSU for first in the Big Sky. ISU needs a win tonight at home to keep pace with the Bears.

-University of Idaho-

While ISU is trying to white out their gym, U of I is trying to "black out" theirs. Tonight the Vandals take on Boise State. The Vandals are flying high after winning the rematch with New Mexico State 67-57. UI currently sit in 4th in the WAC, one spot behind the visiting Boise State. A win tonight would help close the gap between the two. Idaho is 3-3 in conference, while Boise State is 5-2.

The indoor track teams will be heading to Pullman on Friday and Saturday for the Washington State Cougar Invitational.

-University of Alaska Anchorage-

The gymnasitics team heads to Colorado this week. The 0-4 squad is searching for their first win of the season. 1/31 will see them in Denver, 2/1 the squad goes Colorado Springs to take on Air Force.

In men's basketball, the Seawolves lost at Billings, MT to Montana State - Billings 60-69. Seniors Jeremiah Trueman and Kenny Barker combined for 37 points. But a late 2nd half push by the Yellowjackets proved to much for UAA.

Best and Worst of Big Sky Helmets

I found this site while cruising around the Internet tonight. It showed all of the football helmets used in the Big Sky Confrence. But the coolest part was that it showed the past helmets as well.

For the link CLICK HERE.

But let me tell you about some of my favorites.

First off, I think the BEST helmet would go to the Idaho State Bengals of 1962.

I love the way the helmet logo is the state shape, and then it says STATE. I think that is crisp, clean and very original.

The SECOND BEST helmet would go to the Portland State Vikings of 1999-2001.

The white and green really flow together and the viking is futuristic and badass.

The THIRD BEST helmet has to go to (I can't believe I am going to write this) but the Montana Grizzlies of 1988-1995.Now stay with me for a moment. The graphic doesn't do the colors justice. The real colors of the helmet were gold paint, with a copper logo and a silver facemask. Here's why:

The University of Montana's official colors have for many years been silver, copper, and gold (in recognition of the state's mining industry), but a set of "spirit colors" which are used by the school's athletic teams was adopted in about 1996; these are maroon, silver, and gold.

Any school that uses copper in its scheme can't be that bad right? Right? Ok, I like their helmet, still not their school.

The U of M actually brought back the uniforms this season for their home game against Montana State. The uniforms are terribly ugly, but the helmets are cool.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love stuff from random schools. I own many random college t-shirts, sweatshirts and hats simply because they look original. That is why the Griz make the list. Based on appearance alone.

HONORABLE MENTION: The Eastern Washington Eagles of 2000-present.

The red is great, the logo is great, but just misses the top 3.


Which leads me to the top 3 WORST helmets in the history of the Big Sky teams.

The WORST helmet goes to the Idaho State Bengals of 1992-1996.

Yes, Idaho State had the coolest and the ugliest helmets over the years. They also have had 22 helmets since 1960. PICK ONE ALREADY!!!

But I don't like this helmet because they stole the University of Miami "U" and tried to jam it in there with the "IS". WAY too much going on.

The SECOND worst helmet goes to the Sacramento State Hornets of 2001.

Yeah. The helmet says SAC on it. Nice.

And finally, the THIRD worst helmet goes to the Montana State Bobcats of 1961.

Look closely at this helmet. It looks like a knock off of the University of Michigan. I see that the front lines make an "M", for Montana. But seriously? Who thought that was a good design?

Honorable mention: The Weber State Wildcats of 1980-1996.

Purple and white. Bad. Giant "W" with an arrow pointing forward. Bad. Used it for 16 years. Bad.

And that is my top 3 best and worst of football helmets of the teams in the Big Sky history.