Full Count with Fritz Neighbor
Read Fritz Neighbor’s Full Count sports columns offering seasoned analysis of Montana athletics, high school sports, and college rivalries. With decades of experience, Neighbor delivers sharp commentary, storytelling, and context on teams, athletes, and major sports moments across Northwest Montana.
Full Count: Masters class in making a big comeback
Maria Phelps discovered her talent in the 800 meters too late to excel at it in high school — she was already chu…
COLUMN: Gilman has front-row seat to Cats’ run
When Tadan Gilman languished a bit for the Montana State Bobcats football team from 2017-19, he had a solid sounding board: His father, Mark.
Column: Griz keep proving they belong
It is perhaps with maroon-colored glasses that Montana coach Bobby Hauck views his team’s 57-41 win over Eastern Washington in the FCS playoffs last Friday.
COLUMN: Looking toward a more perfect Saturday
I, for one, am not as upset as some Montanans about College GameDay, the long-running, Saturday morning, football-centric show on ESPN not coming in for the Cat-Griz game this week.
COLUMN: Flathead sees rare pair head to Division I
It is once again Signing Day Ceremony Season, and Flathead High had a nice one Wednesday to celebrate two future Division I athletes in swimmer Lily Milner and wrestler Fin Nadeau.
COLUMN: Long May he stay this way
The 47th Northern Rodeo Association Finals begin today at 7 p.m. inside Majestic Valley Arena, with youngsters and veterans alike taking on rough stock for three straight nights.
COLUMN: A spell-check of a name, and we’ll take it
About five minutes into his introductory press conference this week Rich Bisaccia gently corrected a writer on the pronunciation of his name.
COLUMN: DeRue comes up aces — and more aces
The Ryder Cup has ended gloriously, the leaves are falling decorously and that usually means time is running out to get in that last 18 around these parts.
COLUMN: Inspired hires, garden spots, sticker shock
After seeing the bill for Bruce Barnum’s beer garden extravaganza — $14,448, for 2,064 beers — I can only think: Why didn’t Jerry Glanville think of this?
COLUMN: Milestones reached 24 hours apart
Two night games and 200 wins.
COLUMN: Highlighting a not very long ago era
It has been 20 years since the Montana Grizzlies won the Football Championship Subdivision title, and that’s a decent interval even if, at least for me, it has gone by in a blink.
COLUMN: Crosstown foes start football anew
There’s a new coach on one side of town, the dean of AA football coaches on the other, and Alex Cummings and Grady Bennett have something in common: They’re going to be starting a passel of sophomores.