The Lake County Leader talks with the voice of the Griz about

the biggest football game in the state of Montana

Polson resident Mick Holien brings you the action from every Griz game on Saturdays and is a 10-time winner of Montana's Sports Broadcaster of the Year from the National Sportswriters and Broadcaster Association. Let's hear what he has to say about the Griz-Cat game this Saturday.

Being the man behind the mic, whats the best part about being the voice of the Griz?

Never having to pay for a ticket to a game and usually having the best seat in the house for every game. Seriously being surrounding by a new group of student athletes every year changes your life perspective and keeps you eternally young and creatively challenged.

What have you thought about the Griz's season so far with the new coaching staff?

This has been a work in progress season for sure but winning ugly and still winning seven games to this point considering the injuries and lack of depth has been gratifying.

The Big Sky has been crazy this year with the number of good teams and wild games, how would you compare this season to previous years?

I have written and said before that the Big Sky parity also may mean there aren't any league teams that are that good, but that may be true on the national level as well. I guess time will tell.

How do you feel about this year's Cat-Griz game with what is on the line? Who do you feel it's more important to?

There has never been a Cat-Griz game but if you mean GRIZ-Cat, the Bobcats are a top-level team who will be favored. I can't remember a better MSU team coming to Missoula but it's kind of nice to have the pressure on someone else to perform. The Grizzlies have seen it all before, but not this staff and not this team. The pressure is on Montana State and no matter how the season progressed after Sat's game unless they were to win it all, a loss to Montana will ruin their dream season.

With all the traveling you do, how much time do you get to stay in Polson during the season?

The biggest travel challenge is when basketball and football run at the same time, but I still enjoy the travel and love prepping a game as much as I do broadcasting one. But living here is worth it every minute, day, night or middle of the night in some cases you crest Ravalli Hill.

What do you think about Montana's choice to remain in the Big Sky?

I still believe there will be a league shakeup that could bring the demise of the WAC with their top-level teams ending up in the Mountain West. The Big Sky is at the top of the ladder for FCS competition but I'm sure not looking forward to a yearly winter trip to University of North Dakota for hoops. UM must address infrastructure since several league teams have made significant upgrades and the Griz have not. If this doesn't receive immediate attention, they will lose their competitive edge because other schools will use the lack of facilities in negative recruiting. It probably already is a factor.

It feels like three teams will make the playoffs, who would you like to see Montana play in the first round (I know this probably isn't possible with how they bracket things, but what about an EWU rematch)?

League teams can't meet each other until the second round when I'm sure as long as there are two BSC teams alive they would face each other. I believe, win or lose on Saturday, Montana secured a bid by reputation alone with the UND victory. Obviously, I love the Eastern Washington rivalry.

What keeps you coming back to Polson?

I didn't really find Polson until I retired from the Missoulian about five years ago. Being from Spokane and growing up on the Columbia River, I've always lived close to the water but it's the people, not just the scenery, that caused me to move here. Additionally, I believe in paying it forward and I see Polson as the kind of town where I can lend participation and expertise to the area's non-profits and community boards.