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Former
Griz tackle the NFL
Last
season's Nov. 4 NFL game in San Francisco definitely had
a Montana feel to it. First-year head coach Marty Mornhinweg,
a University of Montana quarterback from 1980 to 1984, had
brought his struggling Detroit Lions to town. Facing him
on the 49er sideline were two other former UM standouts:
Scott Gragg, a dominating Griz lineman during 1991-94, and
Jimmy Farris, a wide receiver who wowed fans in Washington-Grizzly
Stadium during 1997-2000.
Mornhinweg's
squad played tough against the playoff-bound 49ers -- leading
at halftime -- but the end result was a 21-13 San Francisco
win. It was an average game with an expected outcome, but
what made it interesting -- at least to Montana minds --
was the unusual conjunction of former Griz talent. It provided
a unique opportunity to catch several of the players who
have vaulted from the I-AA ranks to football's ultimate
stage.
Another
unusual conjunction took place March 1 when Dave Dickenson,
the beloved 1992-95 Griz quarterback who's now a San Diego
Chargers backup, returned to Missoula to be inducted into
the Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame. The ceremony was attended
by Tim "The Hitter" Hauck, a Griz defensive player
during 1987-89 who has ripped up the NFL for the past 12
years.
All
these players cherish their Montana playing days, crediting
UM's strong gridiron tradition with providing a pathway
to careers among football's elite. Following is a cross-section
of UM players who have made the big time.
Jimmy
Farris
It can be argued that Farris, 23, leads a charmed life.
During UM's magical 2000 season, the charismatic redheaded
receiver from Lewiston, Idaho, amassed 1,003 receiving yards
and caught an overtime touchdown pass that propelled the
Griz into the national championship game. After graduation
he signed as a free agent with the 49ers and made the San
Francisco practice squad.
"For
the most part I've really enjoyed the NFL," Farris
said. "I've met some cool people and got to experience
some different parts of the country."
As
a practice-squad member, Farris worked out every day with
the team. He said he didn't earn the league minimum, "but
it's a very comfortable salary." He also didn't suit
up for games, but he sometimes traveled with the 49ers.
Before
the Lions-49ers game kicked off, Farris was down on the
field playing catch with Terrell Owens, one of the NFL's
premier receivers. Farris said he and Owens have become
great friends, hanging out together on and off the field.
After
helping the NFL star warm up, Farris sauntered to the lower
stands where a girl sat wearing a homemade 49ers jersey
with "Farris" written on it. "I wear this
to support Jimmy," Shelby Dobbel gushed. "He's
such a nice guy. I met him during training camp, after they
did a story on him because (49ers quarterback) Jeff Garcia
gave him a pair of shoes."
Always
the media darling, Farris ate up the adoration of his "biggest
fan." He also was a hit during the 49er preseason,
when injuries to starters earned him more playing time.
He developed dead-on imitations of 49ers head coach Steve
Mariucci and other San Francisco notables, which made all
the Bay-area networks. One day the coach walked by to see
Farris surrounded by a swarm of reporters. According to
Farris: "He said, 'How does it work out that a rookie
free agent is getting more air time than I am?' He kind
of laughed about it."
Farris
misses the Rocky Mountain region and the football atmosphere
in Missoula, and he kept in touch with his former Griz teammates
during their 2001 national-title run. But for him a bigger
adventure was on the horizon.
Farris never got any regular-season playing time with the
Niners, but then the New England Patriots called him in
to add depth to the team's receiving corps for the playoffs.
The
Patriots went on to win it all, making Farris the only former
Griz besides coach Mornhinweg to own a Super Bowl ring.
He didn't actually play in the big game, but during Super
Bowl week Farris e-mailed regular reports about his experience
in New Orleans to the Missoulian.
Charmed
life?
"You
have to set your goals high," Farris said. "I
just want to stay around the league and continue doing what
I love as long as a I can. I've really got the fire burning
to go out every day and work hard and do whatever it takes."
Scott
Gragg
Gragg, 29, is arguably UM's most successful contribution
to the NFL. A monstrously huge human being -- 6 feet 8 inches
tall, 325 pounds -- he was selected in the second round
of the NFL draft, making him the highest selection ever
for a Griz football player.
An
offensive tackle, he blocked for the likes of Dave Dickenson
at UM before playing five years for the New York Giants
and two years for the 49ers. Now he gets dressed in a locker
room where the jerseys of guys named "Joe Montana,"
"Steve Young" and "Ronnie Lott" are
enshrined behind glass.
Though
he looks like a Viking killing machine on the field, the
Silverton, Ore.-native's fearsome exterior hides a gentle
heart - someone who majored in math at UM. It seems ironic
that a guy with such a nice, gentle personality makes his
living at such a violent sport.
"When
I get introduced as Scott Gragg, University of Montana,
it makes me proud to be from Montana and know I'm representing
them," he said. "It's a special thing. I think
I was able to succeed because we run a pro offensive at
Montana, and I was blocking against great defensive ends
in the Big Sky, and that led me to success everywhere else."
After
the Nov. 4 game, Gragg lumbered into the locker room with
a basketball-sized ice pack strapped to his knee. When asked
about the injury, he dismissed it saying, "Oh, I just
banged it up a little bit. Just a typical NFL thing. It
happened in the first quarter."
Gragg
said he has no regrets about playing in Missoula, and he
uses the Internet to keep track of his former college team.
"I
loved everything there," he said. "We had such
great fan support, and we had a blast playing. There were
a lot of positive coaches and a lot of influences that make
me look back and feel glad I didn't go to a Division I-A
school. It was a great experience for me. I'm an outdoor
guy, so the mountain biking, community and everything was
great."
Gragg
said his favorite experiences as a Griz include his 1994
senior year, when Montana made it to the semifinals before
losing to Youngstown State, and the 1993 Idaho game, when
the Griz handed the Vandals a 54-34 loss on their home turf.
As
to why he has been so successful in the NFL, starting for
two teams, Gragg said, "It's just hard work. You've
got to know it's an eat or get eaten type of job -- that
someone's always chomping at your heels to get your job.
I think some people have been blessed with more talent and
don't have to work as hard, and I feel I've been blessed
with some talent, but I've got to work hard every day to
keep it."
Tim
Hauck
Hauck, 35, is living proof that dynamite comes in small
packages. At 5 feet 11 inches tall and 185 pounds he isn't
the biggest guy in the NFL, but he's now a 12-year veteran
who has played for six teams: New England, Green Bay, Denver,
Seattle, Indianapolis and Philadelphia. The Philadelphia
Eagles advanced to the NFC Championship game this season,
and if they had defeated St. Louis, Hauck would have faced
a New England team with Farris, putting two former Griz
in the Super Bowl.
A
Big Timber native, Hauck played defensive corner back, strong
safety and free safety during his three years at UM. As
a Griz he earned his nickname, "The Hitter," for
his ability to flatten opposing players. He even talks like
a defensive headhunter:
"I'm
not the biggest guy on the field, and I've got to find a
way to make an impact. I throw my body around and have the
knack of being able to hit people and knock them around
a little bit. I've always found a way to impress people."
Hauck
said he idolized the Grizzlies growing up and always wanted
to play for UM. "When I came in, it was when Don Reed
started, and I think we helped get something going here
that's continued ever since. I think a great tradition started."
He
said his best UM memories come from beating the Montana
State University Bobcats. Hauck even blocked a punt his
junior year during a close game in Bozeman, allowing UM
to put the game out of reach. "That was kind of the
start of the run," he said.
After
college Hauck went to New England as a free agent and made
an impression -- literally -- that allowed him to make the
team. "The way a free agent makes the team is by showing
they are going to do something over and beyond to help that
football team," he said.
"It's
kind of carried over my years in the league. Nothing's been
easy, and I think the uphill battle has kind of made me
a better player because I've had to work for it."
Hauck
plays strong or free safety in the NFL, and he's started
on defenses in Indianapolis and Philadelphia. He also plays
a lot of special teams, which was his primary role this
year.
Hauck admits his fondest NFL memories are the massive hits
he's delivered over the years.
"The
biggest one that comes to mind right now was my play this
year against the Chicago Bears," he said. "I forced
a fumble on a kickoff, and it fortunately put us up by 9
points and put the game out of reach at that point in the
second round of the playoffs. It's probably the biggest
play I've made in years."
Despite
his success, 12 years in the NFL leave their mark. Hauck
now has a small patch of white hair behind his right ear.
Did that come from The Hitter taking a hit?
"I
assume so," he said with a smile.
Dave
Dickenson
Though he's only 29, Dickenson returned to UM in March to
be inducted into the Grizzly Hall of Fame. The quarterback
said it felt a little odd getting inducted at his age while
still in the middle of his professional playing career.
Although
he's boy-next-door friendly and kind of resembles Richie
Cunningham -- a buff Opie -- Dickenson's indomitable playing
style has become Montana legend. After winning two high
school state championships in Great Falls, he came to Missoula
and captained the crew that brought home UM's first I-AA
football championship in 1995. He shattered most UM passing
records while throwing for 11,080 yards. Then he soared
north to the Canadian Football League, where he played three
seasons for the Calgary Stampeders. In an injury-plagued
1999 season, he still threw for more than 3,000 yards and
led his team to the Grey Cup championship game. Then his
2000 season was unreal: He threw for 4,636 yards with 36
touchdowns and only six interceptions.
Playing
at the peak of his game, Dickenson decided to try the NFL.
He wound up as a backup quarterback in San Diego behind
veteran Doug Flutie and rookie Drew Brees.
Dickenson
saw some playing time in the 2001 preseason -- leading the
Chargers to a come-from-behind win over the 49ers on Aug.
12 -- but he never played during the Charger's 5-11 regular
season. Now his role with the team is in flux with new head
coach Marty Shottenheimer coming in with a new coaching
staff.
When
asked about Dickenson's NFL situation, his former UM coach
Don Reed said, "He hasn't received a chance; he needs
a chance. I know he's capable. I just hope things hit right
for him. He's got everything you need to win."
The
former Chargers coaching staff had a real Montana connection,
with Dickenson's brother, Craig, and Reed's son, Bruce,
in the group. But Dickenson said, "I have a good chance
still. Life moves on, and I should have a pretty good opportunity
this year."
Dickenson
amassed so many good memories at Montana that it's hard
for him to pick favorites. What he misses most about playing
in Missoula is "the people" and "that special
University feel." He said the 1995 championship game
is special - though he doesn't think he played that well
- but his favorite game was the 1993 road win over the Idaho
Vandals. He also fondly remembers the 1993 35-30 road loss
to Oregon, when he nearly led the Griz to an upset over
the I-A power.
Dickenson
said his NFL experience has lived up to his expectations
"even though I didn't really get to play last year.
I enjoyed meeting the people and seeing the country, and
I also enjoyed the atmosphere. And I knew it was going to
be tough. I've never just walked into being the starter
anywhere I've been. I always just kind of learn and get
comfortable and go from there. I think I'm pretty much on
schedule, but I'd like to accelerate things a little."
At
his induction ceremony, Dickenson had his picture taken
with John Edwards, UM's other national champion QB. Dickenson
said he didn't get to watch the 2001 championship because
he had to catch a flight to Kansas City with the Chargers,
but an interested fan kept him informed about what was happening
with the game.
During
his induction ceremony, Dickenson thanked Montana fans for
the honor of being chosen for the hall of fame. He told
Reed, "You taught me how to be a winner, and that's
important stuff." He also had to hammer on the rival
MSU Bobcats a bit because "once a Griz, always a Griz."
Editor's
Note: Another former Griz, Dallas Neil, is on the practice
squad for the Atlanta Falcons.
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