Annual Cat-Griz game a flashback for two locals
Two local football semi-celebrities are both heavily invested in the annual "Brawl of the Wild" clash between the University of Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State Bobcats, but they're on different sides of the fence.
Bucky May, owner of the Bulldog Saloon in Whitefish, played for the Bobcats in the 1960s and still pals around with many of his former teammates.
"I still talk with Gordy Schlabs and Bob Durado, who live in Kalispell," May said on Friday before the game. "We played together. The recipe for Moose's pizza (in Kalispell) was Bob's dad's recipe. (Durado) spends a lot of time in California now, but we keep in touch."
May said he met this summer with several of his now-famous former teammates, including Jan Stenerud and Dennis Erickson.
"I had them come to Whitefish. We hung out at the Bulldog and had some fun," he said.
Erickson is now head football coach at Arizona State University. He coached both the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks and was an all-Big Sky Conference quarterback with MSU. Stenerud was a kicker for the Bobcats before winning a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs. He is widely known for being the first kicker to utilize a "soccer style" technique to improve accuracy.
On Saturday, the Grizzlies destroyed the Bobcats 35-3 in the 108th meeting between the two schools.
May said the 'Cats' troubles go back to their decision to not hire Sonny Holland as an athletic director.
"(Holland) won a national championship in '76, but when he retired from coaching, he wanted to be the A.D. and they said no," May recalls. "MSU used to recruit from all over Montana, but Missoula started getting all the recruits. It's been lopsided ever since then."
Montana has won 10 of the last 11 match-ups between the cross-state foes.
May said his kids are all Grizzly fans, so he won't watch the game with any of them.
"I'll watch it, but I won't with any Grizzly. I don't even answer the phone during the game," he laughed.
On the other side of the battle is Whitefish resident Doug Betters, who played defensive end for the Miami Dolphins after the University of Montana.
"I make it down to Griz games as much as I can," Betters said. "I've got some friends who are still on the coaching staff. Some of my ex-teammates' kids are playing."
He said he would spend the day with UM athletic director Jim O'Day and watch the whole game.
"It's always pretty nutty," he said.
Betters was an assistant coach at UM from '95-'96 and was part of the famous Dolphins' Killer Bs defense that went to Super Bowls XVII and XIX. He was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 1983.
In 1985, Betters founded the Doug Betters Winter Classic Organization, which provides money for children in need of medical care. The 25th annual Whitefish Winter Classic fundraiser will be held March 5-8 this year.
"We're going to bring back the poker run and have a back-to-school bash," Betters said. "With the economy the way it is, it's as important as ever. We're here to assist families in need. We're still recruiting current NFL players like Jake Scott of the Titans and Corey Procter from the Cowboys."
Betters said anyone who needs medical assistance can apply online or find more information at www.whitefishwinterclassic.com.