Thoughts With OSU And My U Of M Connection

Today was the second plane crash tragedy involving basketball personnel with Oklahoma State University, this one taking the life of the women's team's head coach, one of his assistants and 2 other people. Some of you know I'm the PA (courtside) announcer for Griz and Lady Griz basketball games. Without question, the loudest game I've ever worked was the opening round NCAA women's tourney game hosted by Montana in 2004. We were a #12 seed and had to face the #5 seed Louisiana Tech. It was a tight game and the sellout crowd was just over the top, to where at times I could not even hear me on the speakers. We eventually lost that game by a few points, but I'll never forget the energy in that arena! I also remember how complimentary Louisiana Tech's head coach was about the Lady Griz and the fans and how great the atmosphere was. A very classy gentleman, who the next year moved on to coach the women's team at Oklahoma State. My sympathies with the family of  Kurt Budke, who was 50 and leaves behind a wife and 3 children. DB