New Bulldogs' Coach hopes to win numbers game

Newly appointed Mission High School coach Tyler Murray knows being a head football coach is all about numbers.

As the Mission High School Bulldogs prepare to enter the 2017 season in a new class and new game, Murray looks to be on the positive side of the numbers crunch as they move down from Class-B, 11-man to Class-C, 8-man football.

Last season, the Bulldogs started the season with a 27-kid roster, which is considered a large Class-C, 8-man team.

“Our coaching staff is really excited about our numbers, and, obviously, our numbers don’t win you games but it certainly helps to have as many players that could potentially come out,” Murray said.

Murray, who took five Bulldogs’ football players to Montana Tech’s camp, got to witness the cream of Class-C and one of his team’s new conference opponents: Charlo.

“They had 14 or 15 kids and we brought five,” Murray said. “That is part of the transition of coaching and lack of time to spread the word on who is going to camp.”

Despite being conference opponents, Murray expressed that he has gotten help from Vikings’ coach Mike Krahn in addition to other Mission Valley coaches.

Murray, who went to school in Stevensville before transferring to play football in Hamilton, became a walk-on player at Montana Western before earning a scholarship, said he is ready for the competitive landscape of Western Montana football.

“Western Montana football is just unreal,” Murray said. “You have to bring your “A” game, you have to compete every single week, and not have any games off. That will make you a better team overall.”

Murray, a May graduate of Montana Western, admits he is still learning the 8-man game.

“My experience in 8-man is very limited and the most experience I got was this weekend,” Murray said. “I tried to learn everything that I could and at the end of the day, football is still about blocking, tackling, and taking care of the ball. We still have to block and tackle. The fundamentals are even more important in 8-man because there are only eight guys on the field. If you miss one tackle, a player is up the sidelines.”

Murray credited all of his Montana Western coaches for helping mold and develop his football intellect, specifically coach Brian Norris.

“He always told me (to) get the right players on the field,” Murray said. “They don’t have to be the most talented players, they just have to do their job, get in the right spot and do the right things. At the end of the day, we have to make football fun for the kids and it’s tough to think about the fun aspect when you think about your philosophy. Football is a game and that is why we play it. Kids come out because it’s fun. At the end of the day, it’s harder for coaches to have a good time but I want to go out there and have a good time and make it fun for them.”