Hall of Fame wide receiver Joe Douglass

11/25/20 • 60 min

Griz Greats: The Silver Anniversary of the 1995 National Champions

Joe Douglass came to the University of Montana as a transfer after starting his career at Oregon State. In his two seasons with the Griz, he was prolific enough to earn All-American honors both years and earned a spot in the UM Athletics Hall of Fame. Douglass hauled in 145 catches for more than 2,300 yards and 25 touchdowns. As a senior, he set a single-season record with 82 receptions and his 18 touchdowns in 1996 is still the most ever by a Griz. Joe Douglass joins Griz Greats: the Silver Anniversary of the 1995 national champions proudly presented by First Security Bank of Missoula and Blackfoot Communications.

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Eric Simonson

Eric Simonson came to Montana as a skinny, athletic offensive lineman from Plentywood, Montana. He transformed himself into an elite offensive lineman, one that would earn first-team All-American honors at tackle during his senior season in 1995. That year proved to be an unforgettable one as Simonson, who got married while in college and welcomed his son into the world while his football team was in a midst of a run that culminated in the first national title in school history.

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Brian Toone

Brian Toone was a junior on the 1995 National Championship team. He graduated from Butte High where the Bulldogs made a state championship run in his senior season. From there he became a standout on the Grizzly defense, perhaps most memorably combining with fellow Butte alum Randy Riley on a sack-safety of Marshall quarterback Chad Pennington in the National Championship. That play proved to be the final margin of victory in Montana's 22-20 defeat of the Thundering Herd. Most recently, Toone has now taken over the family business - making jewelry - he owns Jewelry Design Center in Spokane Washington.