Wish football would go year round, but since it doesn't...

[AlwaysAGriz]

I'm interested in learning a little about the teams in fcs and i figured this would be a good way to create some new discussion and kill time while it's the offseason when not a whole lot is going on.

That being said, if you could pick your three favorite players (or best players, your choice) from your team, starting 2000-present, who would they be. Could be any position, skill or not. add any additional information that you feel we would find interesting. And OF COURSE feel free to throw in one or two of your favorite players of all time at the end cause we know the history of most programs didnt start ten years ago.

For mine, i didnt necessarily pick the BEST players at their position of all time, but these were three of my favorites that we've had at Montana.

1. Yohance Humphery RB 1999-2001
-265 net yards and 4 rushing touchdowns against weber state in 2001 (had 1,658yds/303 carries for 5.47yds/carry in 2001)
-4,070 career rushing yards
-43 rushing touchdowns
-1999/2001 Terry Dillon Award (team award for outstanding back or reciever)
-2001 Walter Peyton Finalist
-Yo was the reason I started playing football, runningback to be specific, he is my favorite Griz of all time. Always kept his feet moving, ran hard, and was a key part to our 2001 national title.

2. Cole Bergquist QB 2005-2008
-7,505 yards passing
-58 passing touchdowns (69 total touchdowns)
-59.2% pass completion
-I started attending the University of Montana in 2007 so Cole was the quarterback at the time. Never did I think to myself, come on coach take him out. He made great decisions most of the time with accurate passes or tucking the ball and going for a run and was a great quarterback for the team.

3. Levander Segars WR/KR/PR 2001-2004
-1,500 yards recieving
-143 punt returns for 1,441 yards and 3 touchdowns
-Was always a threat to run back a kick/punt, always electrifying, and rarely if ever did you see him take a knee in the endzone, even if it seemed like he shouldn't have, it showed his confidence/swagger and fearlessness.

[Wildcat Ryan]

RB- Trevyn Smith
QB- Cam Higgins
WR- Tim Toone

The 2008 versions


I also liked watching Nick Chournos( Cant remember how to spell his last name) at running back, he was the Weber's all time leading rusher before Trevyn Smith took it

I also liked watching the Maquistan twins (OL) and Brady Fosmark (DE) Weber also had a linebacker last name was Mcfadden, Cant remember his first name, the guy put a few licks on people.

[SuperHornet]

I know it's just personal bias, but when it comes to Weber, for me it's all about John Fassel.

[tampajag]

My 3 from Southern:
1. Bryant Lee (2005-2009)
Southern's all-time leading passer with 7,962 yards and 69 TDs
62% passer
2008 SWAC player of the year

2. Quincy Richard (2000-2003)
Southern's single season passing record holder (275/390 3,340 yards 33 TDs)
2003 player of the year

3. Juamorris Stewart (2005-2009)
200 career receptions
2662 yards
25 TDs

other names I enjoyed watching:
Micheal Hayes, WR (1999-2002) Southern's all time leading receiver
Eric Randall, QB (1992-1995)
Steve Wofford, RB (1996-1998) Southern's all time leading rusher
Marcus Jacoby, QB (1995-1998) led Southern to two SWAC titles
Thomas Ricks, QB (2001-2004) led Southern to SWAC title game in his only season as a starter (2004)
Lenny Williams, CB (1999-2003)

[kalm]

That's a real tough one because we've had some terrific players like Matt Nichols and Eric Kimble who weren't flashy, but just frickin machines at execution. And of course you could argue that Roos was the greatest player Eastern has ever had given his draft # and NFL career.

But for the pure joy of watching I'd have to go with Jesse Chattman, Eric Meyer, and Taiwan Jones with J.C. Sherrit being a very, very close 4th.

[Shellin]

1. Craig Ochs (2003-2004)
- Dickenson and Edwards won our championships and Drew Miller might have been a better pure passer but I personally don't think that the Griz have ever had a more talented QB than Ochs.
- 69% completion, 3800+ yards, 33 TDs, 8 ints his senior year
- He was much more mobile than a lot of people gave him credit for, not necessarily a weapon with his legs (ala Armanti Edwards) but definitely quick enough to do some damage if things broke down
- He was just plain fun to watch. Ochs made some amazing throws and runs, but even on plays where nothing really happened it was great watching someone that in control of the offense. Only Griz QB i remember who was given that much leeway at the line of scrimmage to audible and change up plays, it was kind of like watching Peyton Manning play in that regard.

2. Willie Walden (2002-2005)
- Didn't ever put up huge stats and most Griz fans thought that Phenecie should have utilized the BIG Tight End more than he was. Regardless of how often he got the ball, he was fun to watch just because he was so big and had pretty good athletic ability for a man of his size (6'7", 270 lbs is the listing that i found for him his senior year at UM).

3. Trey Young (1999-2002)
- We've had our fair share of good defensive players this last decade (Biermann, Colt Anderson, Trumaine Johnson, etc) but I don't think any of them were even close to being as intimidating as Young was at SS.
- 3 time All-American, Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year in 2002.
- Not before or since have the Griz had a player on defense that made me feel like every time the ball was snapped he might just kill someone on the other team. Young was a huge hitter and had incredible instincts, it seemed like he was everywhere. When Breske used to send him in on a blindside blitz it was a thing of beauty.

[Silenoz]

1) Mariani
2) Huntsberger
3) LV

[mlbowl]

1) Mariani
2) Chase Reynolds
3) Kroy Biermann

[Thumper 76]

1) Jimmy Rodgers
2) Danny Batten
3a) JaRon Harris
3b) Kyle Minnet

[bjtheflamesfan]

Dominic Bolden
Chris Summers
Rashad Jennings

[GrizFanStuckInUtah]

1) Mariani
2) Biermann
3a) Chase Reynolds
3b) Colt Anderson

And for the last part, prior greats: Any griz fan that didn't list Dave Dickenson...............Go sit in the corner and read some Griz history.

[Hambone]

The first two are pretty easy for me at UND:

WR Weston Dresslet
LB Digger Anderson

For the third, it could be a tossup from the following:
OG Chris Kuper
QB Danny Freund
RB Ryan Chappelle (too bad academics knocked him out - he would have been special)
WR Brady Trenbeath


As for all time that I actually saw play, by far would be TE Jim Kleinsasser. It was amazing watching him outrun DB's as a 260 lb TE. Honorable mention goes to RB Phillip Moore......

[kalm]

Missed the "all time" part.

As a kid, I watched Bobby Picard and Scott Garske play so they are up there. More recently it would be Greg Belzer and Joey Cwik.

[kalm]

1) Mariani
2) Huntsberger
3) LV

Huntsberger was a beast in secondary.

[i_got_a_fever]

SDSU

1. Josh Ranek HB 97-01
Played when we were still DII, doesn't matter. Would of been a stud at the FCS level.
98 Season 1,804 yards
99 Season 2,055 yards
00 Season (Injury plagued) 1,004 yards
01 Season 1,881 yards

7,946 Career All-purpose Yards
6,744 Career Rushing Yards
69 Carreer TDs
Has 6 of top 10 single game rushing records, all well over 200 yards, with his best being 291 yards in 1999. He also put up 282 yards against NDSU as a freshmen in 1998 in Fargo. I can't find how many total games he had over 200 yards in any of the media guides.
4 time Consensus All-American. He was a Harlon Hill Trophy Finalist. Signed with the Dallas Cowboys, was hurt on the first day of Training Camp. Went on to the CFL, had 3 1,000 yard seasons, and was nicknamed the "Little Ball-O-Hate" by the Canucks.

2. Mitch Erickson OL 03-07
Played during the FCS era. Started every game of his career, hardly ever gave up a sack, if I remember correctly didn't give up a sack during his Junior or Senior years. 2 time All-American now with the Seattle Seahawks.

3. Danny Batten DE 06-09
Played during the FCS era. Won't say too much since he is rather well known in the current FCS community other than he started every game of his career and was drafted in the 6th round last season and is with the Buffalo Bills.

[Appaholic]

1- Armanti Edwards: nuff said...
2- Corey Lynch: always making a big play when needed...
3- Kevin Richardson: grind it out performance to keep the chains (& clock) moving against UMass was just awesome..

[blueballs]

For GSU, I would list the three names that are on the pressbox at Paulson Stadium, two alltime greats and an alltime great coach:

Erk Russell:Led Georgia Southern Football Team to an unprecedented National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-AA record three national championships in the 1980's. Followed back-to-back championships in 1985 and 1986 with a perfect 15-0 title performance in 1989. Arrived in Statesboro in 1981 to restart a football program which had been dormant for 40-years and averaged 10.4 wins a year over the next eight seasons. Headed into first season in 1982 with walk-ons and enjoyed 7-3-1 record. Joined NCAA I-AA in 1984 and won 70 of 84 games in six seasons. Led Eagles to five berths from 1985 to 1989, garnering three championships, one second place finish and one quarterfinal appearance. Won 37 consecutive games at Allen E. Paulson Stadium, including 1989 Championship game. Retired as America's winningest football coach with 83-22-1 (.788) record after the perfect 15-0-0 seaons of 1989.

Tracy Ham: Received the prestigious award of being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2007... Selected for induction to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2010 for his stellar 13-year career in the league ... All-America quarterback who led the Eagles to the first two Division I-AA national championships... One of two football players in GSU history to have his number retired...Still recognized as one of the greatest collegiate quarterbacks to ever play the game... Named to the 1986 Associated Press and Kodak All-America teams and was chosen the ‘College Player of the Year’ for three consecutive years by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (1984-86)... The only player in college history to run for 3,000 yards and pass or 5,000 in a career at the time, and was the first Division I-AA player to both run and pass for 1,000 yards in a season... Will long be remembered for his performance in the 1985 national championship game against Furman University when he rallied the Eagles from a 22-point deficit in the third quarter to beat Furman, 44-42, in one of the greatest comebacks in college football history... Totaled 509 yards of offense that night, completing five touchdowns passes - including the game winner with 10 seconds left in the game... Following his playing days he held four NCAA and over 50 Georgia Southern records...

Adrian Peterson: Four-time consensus All-America and All-Southern Conference pick at Georgia Southern (1998-2001), setting multiple school, conference, and NCAA Division I-AA marks. Rushed for a collegiate record 100 yards in 36 straight regular season games, 54 overall, and set the NCAA scoring record with 524 career points. His 40 career 100-yard regular season outputs set an NCAA all-division record. College football's all-time leading rusher with 6,543 yards on 996 career attempts in the regular season. First player in conference history to rush for over 1,000 yards in 4 seasons. In 42 regular season games, rushed for 85 TDs and 155.8 yards per game. In 57 overall career contests, carried 1,378 times for 9,145 yards, 111 TDs and 160.4 yards per game. Southern Conference Offensive Player -of- the-Year and finalist for Walter Payton Award, given annually to the top NCAA Division I-AA player, as a senior with 1,795 yards (322 carries) and 21 TDs in 14 total games; team-high 128 points. Started 13 games as a junior, carrying 281 times for 1,694 yards and 17 TDs; team-high 108 points. Recipient of Walter Payton Award as a sophomore, rushing for 2,704 yards (353 carries) and 40 TDs in 15 total games. Also named Atlanta Touchdown Club I-AA Player-of-the-Year and Southern Conference Male Student-Athlete-of-the-Year with 1,807 yards (248 carries) and 28 TDs in 11 regular season contests; added career-high 9 catches for 163 yards and 1 TD. Southern Conference Freshman and Offensive Player-of-the-Year selection in 1998, setting 45 school, conference and NCAA records while starting every game and setting the school's regular season record with career-high 1,932 yards (257 carries) and 25 TDs en route to 2,606 total yards (365 carries) and 34 TDs as a freshman, including playoffs.

[SuperHornet]

Who said football doesn't go year-round? That all depends on perspective. In the "normal" perspective, players are working out, looking at last year's film, and getting ready for spring ball/mini camp (depending on level). Another way of looking at it says that football is just getting ready to start. The CFL, AFL, and the IWFL are all getting ready to tee it up. Sure, they're not the NCAA/NFL games we're used to. But all of them are STILL football.

FYI: My favorite Hornets:

QB/WR/TB Garrett White
QB Paul Carillo
QB/WR Scott Towne
RB Charles Roberts
DBs Tommy and Carlos Williams
DL Damon Perasso

These weren't necessarily the best, mind you. But they're my favorites. Mostly because they were on the team while I was there.

[EWURanger]

Geez, this is a hard one. Can we do an all-time team?

If we've only got 3, then:

Erick Meyer
Jesse Chatman
JC Sherritt

[big_meowski]

Montana State's top three (according to me)

1: travis lulay, QB. if there is one player you could credit for reviving interest in bobcat football, it's gotta be travis. what a playmaker; both with his arm and feet. singlehandedly kept the bobcats in A LOT of games, AND stole some games from the jaws of defeat. could run for mayor of bozeman and win in a landslide.

2: dane fletcher, OLB/DE. missed time as a junior and senior, but when he played he was a total beast. is now a linebacker for the patriots.

3: bobby daly, LB. undersized. unitimidating. underestimated. TOTAL STUD. ALWAYS around the ball, and it seemed his tackles were just a little more violent than usual.


honorable mention: kane ione, ryan johnson, john taylor, demetrius crawford, roger cooper.

since i'm montanan, born and raised, here's my favorite griz players: dave dickenson(duh), marc mariani, and jason crebo. DD because he's from great falls, and well, IS griz football. the other two because they scared the crap out of me every time they were on the field against MSU.

[blueballs]

1) Mariani
2) Huntsberger
3) LV

Huntsberger is the safety that scored the TD on the fake punt in the 2000 title game, right?

If that is the guy I'm thinking about he was an impressive player, a walking intangible, and a winner... the kind of guy you win with.

[93henfan]

Flacco
Devlin
Cuff

[Grizo406]

Sorry, but I've got 4...

Blaine McElmurry
Jefferson Heidelberger
Marc Mariani
TJ Olkers

[AlwaysAGriz]

Who said football doesn't go year-round? That all depends on perspective. In the "normal" perspective, players are working out, looking at last year's film, and getting ready for spring ball/mini camp (depending on level). Another way of looking at it says that football is just getting ready to start. The CFL, AFL, and the IWFL are all getting ready to tee it up. Sure, they're not the NCAA/NFL games we're used to. But all of them are STILL football.

valid point lol. I suppose i should have said College football season....

I dont visit any team forums other than egriz and occasionally bobcat nation, and during the offseason, things just go way downhill (yes, even moreso than normal) on egriz. especially with the tate forcier rumors this year... so i try to steer topics more football oriented than rumor oriented while "football is not going on"