A "Titan-ic" Finish and a Week in Mexico: Another Tuff Harris Interview

An interview between Jay Harris of CrowNews.net and Tuff Harris of the Tennessee Titans from the evening of Friday, January 16th.

Jay: Well, brother, how’s everything going?

Tuff: Hey, things are going good.  Mary and I are getting ready to go to Mexico tomorrow.

Jay: Mexico!  Awesome.  How are you getting down there?

Tuff: We’re flying from Nashville to Atlanta and then from Atlanta down to Puerto Vallarta (struggles with pronunciation).

Jay: Puerto Vallarta (also struggling with pronunciation)?

Tuff: Yeah, like Puerto Rico but Puerto Vallarta.

Jay: Well, I know it must be near the ocean since puerto means port in Spanish.

Tuff: Yeah, it is.  We’re going to be down there for a week – from this Saturday to next Saturday.

Jay: So, this must be your official end of the football season relaxation trip.

Tuff: Yeah, kind of.

Jay: I’m wondering why you chose Mexico.

Tuff: As a wedding gift, Mary and I got a week allotment on a time share in Puerto Vallarta.

Jay: So, was this your only week available or could you have picked any week during the year?

Tuff: We could have went anytime as long as the place was available.

Jay: Oh.  I was wondering if the Mexico trip was a consolation to having lost out when you did.  In other words, if you guys would have beat Baltimore last week you would have missed out on Mexico.

Tuff: Yeah, we would’ve went down in February if we would have kept winning.

Jay: Well, since we’re on topic.  We might as well talk about the Titans’ “titanic” finish, you know, crashing and sinking in the AFC Divisional Playoff.

Tuff: Haha.  Well, it was a tough game to lose.  I’m not sure I’m going to be able to watch the Super Bowl this year – just because we know how close we were to being there ourselves.

Jay: Yeah, I think nine games out of ten the Ravens don’t make those big plays on offense and you guys don’t turn the ball over like you did.  The Titans were a Super Bowl team, and it’s really tough to lose a game like that.  I haven’t felt this way at the end of an NFL season since the 49ers lost to the Giants by two points in the NFC Championship in 1991.  But at least this time I didn’t ball my eyes out.

Tuff: Haha.  You know one of things that really hurt us, in addition to losing our running back Chris Johnson to an injury during the game, was not having our starting center Kevin Mawae. 

Jay: Yeah, I remember hearing one NFL analyst say before the game that losing Mawae could be the difference.

Tuff:  Kevin’s just an important leader and he was always getting the offense pumped and ready to go.  Everybody respected him.

Jay: Yeah, and the Ravens have the type of defense that goes wild once they can focus on pressuring the quarterback and defending the pass.  Well, we got to give credit to them.  They played a great game.  So, altogether, you played in what seven or eight games this season?

Tuff: Yeah, seven games.

Jay: Well, let me say congratulations on a great NFL season.  How secure do you feel as a member of the Titans?

Tuff: Thanks.  It’s hard to say because anybody can be released at any time.  Even top players have to expect the team to make moves that could affect them in order to cut costs.

Jay: What are your immediate plans?

Tuff: Well, I’ll be in Mexico for a week then Mary and I will spend some time in Montana.

Jay: What do you got planned in Montana?

Tuff: Oh, spend some time with friends and family.  Make a few appearances, give a few presentations.

Jay: Cool.  I just gave a presentation earlier today to a group of local native high school students.  It was on leadership, goal-setting, and civic engagement.  Anyway, if you get a chance, call me back when you’re in Mexico.

Tuff: I wonder if my cell phone will work down there?

Jay: I’m note sure.  You might want to get an international calling card or something.  Yeah, just call me while you are laying back on the patio of your bedroom overlooking the ocean sipping a pina colada.  Haha…

Tuff: Yeah, or I could have a waiter deliver a pina colada and a phone on a platter.

Jay: Haha.  What was the name of the place again, Puerto Vallarta (mispronounced)?

Tuff: Yeah, but I think the L’s are silent.

Jay: Okay, if you can call we can look back at the season that was and you can talk about your season highlights.

Tuff: Okay.  I’ll talk to you soon.  And if you don’t hear back from us for over a week, contact the federales.

Jay: Haha, will do.  Adios.

Sports Fans: CrowNews.net Should Be "The Site" for Local Sports News

This winter, high school gymnasiums all across Montana will light up with the sound of pep bands and cheering crowds.  Add the smell of fresh popcorn, some school spirit and the anticipation of a hometown victory, and it is easy to see why high school basketball is such a popular sport. 

Played during the coldest months of the year, high school hoops is an important opportunity for a community to coalesce in support of the local teams.  Of course, high school basketball has always been big on the Crow Reservation.  Hardin, Lodge Grass, and Plenty Coups have all featured state championship teams and many outstanding athletes over the years.

But for those with connections to Crow Country who are out the area due to school, military, or other obligations, a check-up on the only website dedicated exclusively to Crow-related news stories does not produce anything in the way of information concerning local high school athletics.  It's unfortunate, considering the technology available and the intended format of CrowNews.net as a user-fueled news site with an in-depth focus on the news and events of interest to Crow people.

In addition to no recent coverage of high school sports, the Little Big Horn College men’s and women’s basketball teams haven’t been featured in any stories yet.  In fact, there haven’t even been any college scores or standings reported.

A number of Crow athletes have also played or are playing college football and basketball (along with other sports) off reservation.  Brian Vallie is an All-Mountain West track athlete at New Mexico.  Jess Bends is in his second year playing basketball at NJCAA Bismarck State.  Two of the best Rocky Mountain College women’s basketball players are Crow (Tana Stewart and Molly Schenderline).  In the last few years, Tuff Harris, Buddy Windy Boy, Tommy Whiteman, Cory Ladson, and Pat Alden have all had success at the college level.  And in recent years there has been a rise in the number of Crow college football players scattered throughout local NAIA programs.

CrowNews.net should be on the forefront of covering these types of athletes as well as the local high schools featuring Crow athletes.

Ideally, CrowNews.net could have high school and college video highlights, audio and written interviews with coaches and players, photo albums, up-to-date scores and standings, feature stories, and perhaps even live audio play-by-play of high school rivalry games and tournaments (maybe have a “game of the week”).   

Most athletes work very hard to be competitive (particularly at the college level) and deserve acknowledgment of their achievements.  Historically, young Crow athletes were amongst the best in Montana.  Since CrowNews.net is viewable by the entire world, let’s show everyone what our teams and athletes are capable of doing these days.

Fans should take the initiative to provide for expanded media coverage on CrowNews.net by submitting scores, standings, videos, photos, stories, or anything else of newsworthy interest.  CrowNews.net should be "the site" for updated information on Crow teams and athletes and you the fans can team up to easily make that happen.

As is the case for every team at the beginning of a new season, the possibilities are nearly endless.

A Week of Surprises: Another Interview with Tuff Harris of the Titans

An interview between Jay Harris of CrowNews.net and Tuff Harris of the
Tennessee Titans from the afternoon of Friday, November 21st.

Jay: Hello again brother.  I just heard the big news.  Did it come as a surprise to you or were you kind of expecting to get activated for the game this weekend?

Tuff: Well, we’ve got a lot of injuries right now and each week the coaches would tell me to prepare and to be ready.  And today Coach Fisher came into the locker room, which he rarely does, and asked if I had heard anything from another coach.  I hadn’t so Coach Fisher told me that I was being activated and that I would be playing this weekend against the Jets.  He asked if I was excited and I told him I was and that I was ready to play.

Jay: Yeah, a big game this weekend just got even bigger.  What are your thoughts on the Jets game?

Tuff: It’s a great game to officially start my second year as an NFL player.  We’ve got one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history coming into town and since I grew up with the Jets as my favorite team, it’s even more special. 

Jay: Wow.  That’s really awesome.  I’m just happy to be along for the ride.  You guys then have a quick turnaround and play at Detroit for Thanksgiving.  What about that game should keep us from taking a nap after eating our turkey dinner?

Tuff: Haha, well hopefully we can win this weekend and get to 11-0.  Depending on what happens with the Lions, they could be 0-11 coming into our game on Thanksgiving so people might be pulling for the big upset or for us to get to 12-0.  But, yeah, it should be fun to play on Thanksgiving with that eight-legged turkey or whatever it is.

Jay: Yeah, football on Thanksgiving Day is one of our great American traditions and its awesome you’ll have the opportunity to be a part of it.  Getting back to this weekend, it really is a big weekend for football.  Wyoming has its Border War rivalry game with Colorado State, Texas Tech is playing Oklahoma, and then there is the Cat-Griz game.  What are your thoughts?  Do you have a prediction for this year's Cat-Griz game?

Tuff: If the Griz do what they do and the Bobcats do what they do, then…well...haha…but it should be a good game.  There are some injuries with both teams and MSU now has their third-string quarterback playing.

Jay: You played in four Cat-Griz games…how much different was your first from your last?

Tuff: Well, my first Cat-Griz was in Bozeman and it was one of the coldest games I’ve ever been in.  The weather can be tricky but it is always a hard fought game.  Every play means a lot and both teams really step up.  It seems to get more intense every year.  By my senior year, it seemed like there was more pressure surrounding the game.  I remember going into my last Cat-Griz game and for the entire first-half it felt like my legs didn’t work.  I don’t know if it was nerves or what but I never got nervous for games except Cat-Griz.

Jay: What was your record against Montana State?

Tuff: Two wins and two losses.

Jay: You redshirted your first year, so what happened in that fifth and tiebreaking game?  Haha, or should we not go there?

Tuff: Well, that was when the Bobcats ended Montana’s long winning streak in the rivalry.

Jay: I was there, I remember it well.  Junior Adams broke the game open for Montana State with a long touchdown reception and that was the Bobcats’ only touchdown of the day but it was enough for the win.  10 to 7.  So do you plan on watching Cat-Griz this year?

Tuff: Yeah, I actually plan on watching it with Ken Amato, a former Bobcat who now does the long-snapping for the Titans and Coach Fisher, who has a son playing for Montana.  We’re going to a place called the Crow’s Nest to watch the game.  Coach Fisher invited the players to go watch the game with him and I think he rented a corner of the Crow’s Nest.

Jay: So you, a Crow Indian, will be watching the Montana Grizzlies play on TV with Coach Fisher, whose son plays for the Grizzlies, at a place called the Crow’s Nest?  You know, it’s all starting to make sense now…haha.

Tuff: Haha, yeah.  Oh, and I got a good story to tell.

Jay: Yeah... 

Tuff: Well, yesterday we started practice with the usual warm ups and stretching.  As we were doing that, someone pointed out what looked like a big sail or something like that in the sky and it was coming our way.  Before too long everyone at practice was looking up in the sky as it was coming closer.  It turned out to be someone in a parachute that was coming right towards us.  Sure enough, the guy coming down in the parachute made his landing right in the middle of the practice field, followed by another and another.  Finally, the last one started coming in.  There were two people on the parachute and they were coming down really fast and it was really windy out.  Someone yelled, “Hey, that’s Coach!” and sure enough it was Coach Fisher skydiving into practice.  So they swerved and almost ran smack into the water jugs on the sideline but they curved around and landed.  Everybody was cheering and going wild.  Coach Fisher then landed and jumped up and yelled, “Alright, let’s practice!”

Jay: Great story!  Haha, I guess going 10-0 tends to loosen up a head coach a little bit.

Tuff: Haha, can you imagine any other NFL coach skydiving into practice?

Jay: I don’t think I could picture Bill Parcells doing that.  Well, I better let you go for now.  Real quick, you’re picking the Grizzlies this weekend right?

Tuff: Absolutely!

Note: The Jets and Titans will kick-off Sunday at 11:00am Mountain Time on CBS...The Lions and Titans will kick-off Thanksgiving Day at 10:30am Mountain Time on CBS...Tuff will be wearing #26 and playing on special teams and in the defensive secondary.

Football and Southern Food in Nashville: An Interview with Tuff Harris of the Titans

An interview between Jay Harris of CrowNews.net and Tuff Harris of the Tennessee Titans from the evening of Tuesday, November 11th.

Jay: Hello, this is Jay Harris with CrowNews.net.  I'm also your brother.  Remember me?  Haha.  I think the burning question everyone has is: just how much money are you making down there?  Just kidding.  But, seriously, how about starting off this interview with an update from Nashville? 

Tuff: Well, things are good as ever in football.  We’re 9-0 right now and it’s a really unique feeling to be undefeated, especially at this level.  It feels great. 

Jay: It must feel a little better than being 8-0.

Tuff:  Yeah, and I don’t think I’ve ever been 9-0 in anything.

Jay: And just in case we still have a few Indians living in teepees back home, briefly explain who you are.

Tuff: Haha, well, I am Tuff Harris…born of Melody and Jerry Harris on the Crow Reservation.  I am currently on the practice squad for the Tennessee Titans, last I knew anyway.  I practiced this afternoon.  But, yeah, that’s my job and it pretty much takes up all my time down here in Nashville, in addition to time spent with my wife, Mary.  And we go golfing once in a while.

Jay: Okay, good.  Yeah, I think everyone back home is really pulling for Tennessee this season, or at least they better be, right?  Haha.  So how’s life on the practice squad?

Tuff: Life on the practice squad is fun.  I play a lot of different positions.  I play a little bit of everything.  It’s been really good for my development as a football player.  At this level they throw you in wherever they need you.  If it’s filling up water bottles or taping ankles or running around on defense…anything they need I’ll do.

Jay: So what’s better, being undefeated and the talk of the NFL or being a newlywed?  Haha, you better answer this question correctly.

Tuff:  There’s a lot of excitement in both.  You know, a lot of people are searching for someone special and I’ve been really blessed with success in football, which is also special.  But football will come and go and marriage is forever.

Jay: Yeah, I guess it is not such a good thing to be mistaken for you anymore.  Haha, moving on...we all know that Southerners love buffets, they love bar-b-que, they eat fried everything.  Maybe tell us about some of the great restaurants you’ve discovered around Nashville.

Tuff: There’s actually a cool fast-food chain down here called “Five Guys.”  We don’t have those back home.  It’s really a simple burger joint and all you pay for is the burger and fries…all the sides are free.

Jay: All the sides are free?  What are the sides you can get?

Tuff: Anything you can put on a burger.

Jay: So it’s kind of like Fuddruckers?

Tuff: Yeah, kind of.  Fuddruckers has more menu options…here at Five Guys it’s just burgers and fries.

Jay: So it’s a burger joint with just burgers.

Tuff: And fries.  And they have a sign up in the restaurant that tells you where the potatoes they are using for fries are from.  And there’s also this place called “B.B. King’s.”  It’s like Applebees with a live band playing.

Jay: Yeah, I’ve heard of that chain.  I hear you can order fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches there.

Tuff: I haven’t tried those yet.

Jay: Have you hit the famous Waffle House yet?

Tuff: Yeah, down in Florida I used to.  But I haven’t yet in Tennessee.  But since we’re on the subject of food…when I was down in New Orleans, former MSU quarterback Travis Lulay and I went to a place…I can’t remember the name of the restaurant but it was off Bourbon Street.  Travis ordered the triple gumbo something and I ordered the special of the day, which was crawdads and shrimp and other stuff.  It’s been great being down in the South.  And all of the places I have been able to eat at, I tell you, it’s a whole different world down here.

Jay: How did you like crawdads?

Tuff: Oh, they’re a little messy and you don’t get very much.  But they’re good.

Jay: I understand you and Mary went and checked out the honky-tonks in Nashville…how did that go?

Tuff: Good.  Yeah, every place with a stage has someone playing in it…24/7…there’s thousands of artists trying to make it, trying to get heard.  Mary and I went to a small venue one night and one of her old high school classmates was performing there.  His band’s name was “The Four Kicks,” a pretty cool band.

Jay: Are you going to make a cameo one of these nights down there?  I’m sure they have a lot of karaoke bars.

Tuff: Probably not.  Other guys on the team do once in a while.  There’s a site on Youtube with a lot of the Titans up on stage singing karaoke. 

Jay: Getting back to football, rumor has it you were pulled aside in practice by the Titans’ offensive coordinator and he wasn’t exactly getting after you.  Tell us what happened there?

Tuff: Well, in the past few weeks some of the receivers were hurt and that made some of the scout team receivers pull double-duty on the practice squad and the scout team so they needed a fresh pair of legs to play receiver.  They asked me to and so I’ve been playing receiver in practice for the last few weeks.  I was making some nice catches and I guess I was also catching the eyes of some of the players and coaches as well.  Recently, I talked with our offensive coordinator, Coach Heimerdinger, and he asked me if I knew how to run routes.  So I told him, “Just tell me the route you want me to run, and I’ll run it.”  Basically, I told him I was willing to play receiver if he wanted me to.

Jay: Good deal.  What are your thoughts on your old team, the Montana Grizzlies?

Tuff: The Montana Grizzlies are keeping up the tradition.  Finding ways to win, and in recent weeks doing it in impressive fashion.

Jay: Do you still know very many players on the team?

Tuff: Yeah, I know most of the seniors and some of the underclassmen.  And most of the coaches are the same as when I was there.

Jay: How far do you think they’re going to make it in the playoffs this year?

Tuff: Well, this was supposed to be a rebuilding year, but it’s turned out to be another great season.  Montana has the potential of winning it all.  Whatever the case may be, good luck to them.  I'll be watching.

Jay: Howabout the Dolphins?  Do you still cheer for them?

Tuff: Yeah, and I still know a lot of the players down there.  My old roommate in Miami, Courtney Bryan, was recently re-signed as a safety by Miami.  I’m pretty excited about that. 

Jay: Do you guys still keep in touch?

Tuff: Yeah, he just texted me today and said he got re-signed and was heading back to Miami.

Jay: Cool.  So what do you miss most about Montana?

Tuff: What do I miss most?  Probably the people.  I miss a lot of the interactions with my childhood friends and people that would come up to me and give their support.  I also miss having seasons.  Down in the South, the weather doesn’t change too much.  Christmas in Miami kind of came and went without really feeling like Christmas.  Traditional things that you do every year are kind of put on hold because of football.

Jay: Want to give a shout out to anybody back home?  This is CrowNews.net so they might not hear you, but it’s worth a try.

Tuff: Haha…uh, let me see…CrowNews.net.  Well, I can give a shout out to all the schools I was able to speak at during the offseason, as well as all of the churches I spoke at.  I appreciate everyone’s support and prayers.  I look forward to coming back and seeing the faces of the kids I met and the teachers.  Yeah, I look forward to seeing everybody again.

Jay: Anything else to report?

Tuff: Um…let me see.  Other than that, everything’s going pretty good.

Jay: Good enough.  By the way, when is your bed time?

Tuff: About a half hour ago.  Haha…I try to break things down about 9:30 or so.  If I treat my body right it treats me right.

Jay: I’ve taught you well.  Haha.  Alright brother, we’ll do this again sometime soon.

Tuff: Talk to you later.

Harris Makes Titans Practice Squad

Posted August 31st

After being released by the Tennessee Titans on Friday, Tuff Harris signed with the team as a practice squad player earlier today.

"Coach Fisher called me after the cuts and said that they wanted to keep me on and work me into the special teams and on defense as well," Tuff said in an interview with CrowNews.net. 

Tuff played in the Titans' games at Atlanta and Green Bay during the preseason.  Against the Falcons, he recorded one tackle and had one punt return for five yards.  Against the Packers he downed a punt inside the five yard line.

NFL teams were required to trim their rosters to 53 players by August 30th and can keep up to eight players on their practice squad.

Tennessee opens the 2008 season with a September 7th home game against Jacksonville.

Back to Work! Tuff Harris Signs with Tennessee

                      Gameday at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee.

Less than three weeks after being released by the New Orleans Saints, Tuff Harris has been signed by the Tennessee Titans to play defensive back and special teams.

As the newest Titan, Tuff will report immediately to Nashville to begin preparing for Friday night's game at Atlanta.                                                      
                                                      

Details of Tuff's contract were not made immediately available. 

Tuff had worked out for Tennessee on Tuesday the 12th in Nashville.  Before the workout, the Titans coaching staff informed Tuff they were very interested in his versatility as a safety and cornerback -- as well as his ability to play special teams.

"I felt like I had a pretty good workout and I was told me they would have signed me afterwards but they had to make roster room after their second preseason game," Tuff said in an interview with CrowNews.net.

The Titans wrap-up the 2008 training camp on Wednesday, August 20th.  Friday's game at Atlanta will kick-off at 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time and is not scheduled to be televised nationally.

Tennessee is coached by Jeff Fisher, who is the longest tenured coach in the NFL, having been head signal-caller since the 1994 season -- when the team was known as the Houston Oilers.  Coach Fisher's son, Brandon, was a cornerback at the University of Montana during Tuff's junior and senior year.

The Titans finished 2007 at third in the AFC South with a 10-6 record, losing in an AFC Wild-Card playoff to the San Diego Chargers.

Third Team a Charm?: Jets Talking Tuff

Less than one week after being released by the New Orleans Saints, former Montana Grizzly and Miami Dolphin Tuff Harris has received an invitation to work out for the New York Jets.

The Jets will fly Tuff out to their training camp at Hofstra University in New York on Monday for a Tuesday morning workout.  According to Tuff, the Jets have expressed an interest in his skill as a return specialist.

"This is really exciting," Tuff said shortly after getting the call from his agent.  "The Jets were my favorite team growing up.  I feel good for the workout and we'll see what happens.  They may sign me right away or they may give me a call back sometime later this season, it's hard to say."

The Jets finished the 2007 season at 4-12 in the AFC East Division.  They open the 2008 preseason with a Thursday, August 7th night game at Cleveland.

This story was posted August 4th.

Good Sometimes Not Good Enough: Saints Release Harris

Two months after signing former Montana Grizzlies standout defensive back and punt returner Tuff Harris to a three-year contract, the New Orleans Saints released Harris in an unexpected move announced on Wednesday, July 30th.

Tuff signed with the Saints on May 27th after being released by the Miami Dolphins earlier in the spring.  Tuff signed with Miami on Draft Day 2007 after a stellar career in Missoula and was released by the Dolphins at the end of the 2007 preseason but immediately re-signed with Miami to play on the practice squad and later made the regular season roster, eventually suiting out in several games and playing in the season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals.

"Right now I'm just going to wait to clear waivers and see what happens," Tuff said earlier Wednesday.  "I'm going to continue to work out this season and hopefully an opportunity presents itself."

Tuff's agent is Ken Staniger of Missoula.

This story was posted Wednesday, July 30th.

NFL Training Camp Update: Tuff Harris Making Good as a Saint

By Jay Harris

So how is Tuff doing so far as a New Orleans Saint? 

Well, to make a short story long...

During preseason drills last year, as a Miami Dolphin, Tuff intercepted a pass from fellow 2007 rookie John Beck and returned it for a touchdown.  Following the play, then-Miami coach Cam Cameron called practice and brought the team together for instruction.  Coach Cameron told the team that Tuff had made a great play but because the offense was practicing under a scenario where the defense was protecting a lead late in the game, the best thing Tuff could have done would have been to take a knee after intercepting the pass so as to not give possession back to the opposing team.

One year later, Cam Cameron and Tuff Harris are no longer in Miami but
the latter is still returning interceptions for touchdowns in practice and the
latest comes at the expense of a 16-year veteran and three-time pro bowl
quarterback...

Enter the 2008 New Orleans Saints training camp, which began on Wednesday, July 23rd on the campus of Millsaps College, an NCAA Division III school which has served as the location for training camp each of the past two seasons.  Right now, the team is busy practicing twice a day with no scheduled days off until Sunday, August 3rd.

During a scrimmage in last Friday's morning practice, former Packer, Jaguar, and Redskin quarterback Mark Brunell (who is competing for a back-up role with the Saints) was leading the offense in team drills and had a pass intended for tight end Jeremy Shockey picked off by Tuff and returned 50 yards for a touchdown.  The Saints coaching staff called it the "play of the morning."  Hopefully, we can call it a sign of things to come.

Tuff was signed by the Saints to a three-year, non-guaranteed contract on May 27th.  New Orleans is serious about giving Tuff a good look at safety as well as special teams and it appears as though the first Crow NFL player is certainly up to the challenge.

"I feel pretty good about everything," Tuff said in a recent phone conversation with Crownews.net.  "I had a hip stinger in practice but am holding up pretty well.  I have gained about 5-6 pounds since camp started.  The weather is warm but I hear that it hasn't been as hot as in year's past down here, and we did feel the effects of the hurricane that hit the coast of Texas recently.  But overall, I feel good."

Among the interesting tidbits in training camp is the fact that veteran Pro Bowl cornerback Aaron Glenn signed with the Saints from the Jaguars a few weeks before Tuff did this past spring and will be competing for a roster spot along with Tuff.  Glenn was drafted by the New York Jets, Tuff's favorite NFL team as a child, back in 1994 -- a year in which Tuff played for a Clifford Singer-coached Lodge Grass junior high team that once traveled to Lame Deer for a game in which no two Indian players had the same helmet-jersey-pants color combination. 

During the same Friday practice Tuff got the interception, Aaron Glenn
and Tuff worked together to bring down wide receiver Lance Moore after
a short reception.  The Saints coaches have commented that Glenn looks exactly the same as when he did in 1994.  Luckily, the same cannot be said about Tuff.

 

The Saints will travel to Glendale, Arizona to open the 2008 NFL preseason with a August 7th game against the Cardinals.  Kick-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time and will be broadcast live on ESPN.

Keep checking back with Crownews.net for all the latest news and updates on Tuff's run with the Saints.

Jay Harris is Tuff's slightly older, slightly less athletic brother.

Tuff Harris Signs With New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints announced Tuesday that they have signed Tuff Harris. Harris, a member of the Crow Tribe, played for the Miami Dolphins last year. The Dolphins waived him in April . The Saints plan to use Harris as a defensive back and a punt return specialist. The first mini camp for the Saints is scheduled for this weekend in New Orleans. The Saints open their regular season on Sept. 7, with a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Dome in New Orleans. On Sept. 21, the Saints travel to Denver to play the Broncos.

A Look Back at the End of Plenty Coups' Season

Click above to view a slideshow from the Plenty Coups-Rocky Boy State Class C semifinal game in Butte.

By Brandon Gonski
CrowNews.Net

All season, the Plenty Coups Warriors had visions of a state Class C title game. And with only one loss going into the state tournament in Butte last month, it seemed a possibility.

Until the Warriors met the Rocky Boy Stars.

In the Friday night semifinal game featured in the slideshow above, the Warriors fell to the Stars 101-74, losing the chance to advance to Saturday night's championship game.

Despite a disappointing end to the Warriors season head coach Lawrence DeCrane said he was very proud of the boys getting this far and viewed their successes this season as a blessing that they should all appreciate.

The Stars were favored to win the semifinal, but the Warriors and their fans were hoping for the first state title since 1987 when they beat Absarokee 72-66. Plenty Coups made it to the championship game five years ago when they faced Roberts but lost 72-65.

The Warriors trailed the whole game but the fans never gave up hope, cheering the Warriors on until the very end.

The Warriors tried to match the Stars fast break style and made their own run in the third quarter but  simply couldn't keep up.

“Defense wins games,” said Warrior senior Altan Smart Enemy, “We just didn't have it.”

Smart Enemy who led the team in rebounds, points and turnovers (11-22-10) said he was very disappointed with the loss but that the team couldn't blame anyone but themselves. He and many of his teammates had dreamed of winning a state championship since fifth grade, he said, but that the team just couldn't get back on defense and acknowledged that they were overconfident after  after an otherwise great season.

The Warriors finished the regular season 21-3.

The Warriors indeed could not get back on defense allowing four Stars to score in double digits. Rodney Turn Toes led the Stars with 24 points, followed by Jerod Parker with 20. Mike Sangrey Jr. scored 18 while Eric Schildt had 17 points.

The Warriors had two players in double digits. Smart Enemy had 22 points and Rumeal DeCrane had 20 points.

The Warriors were beat to the boards constantly. The Warriors only pulled down 32 rebounds compared to the Stars 49. But neither team was able to hold on to the ball. Rocky Boy had 40 turnovers and Plenty Coups had 35.

With Rocky Boys' fast break and both teams amazing number of turnovers the game was frantic and came down to who could move the ball the fastest but also hold on to it. That team turned out to be Rocky Boy.

Jerod Parker finished the game with an 18-foot jumper in the last 26 seconds putting triple digits onto the Stars side of the scoreboard.

Smart Enemy remained optimistic for Saturday night's game.

“The team hurts bad but we'll just pick our heads up for tomorrow. We're definitely not out yet,” said Smart Enemy.

Big Sandy beat the Warriors 72-64 the following day.

2007-2008 Basketball Season Round Up

Here's a quick look at how the season went for some of the other teams on or near the reservation:

While the Plenty Coups boys finished their season at the state tournament in Butte, the girls team's last game was against Roberts on Feb. 16, when they lost 43-33, according to the Billings Gazette's GazPrepSports.com website. They finished 2-7 in their conference and 4-10 overall.

The Hardin High School boys went 11-7 and finished third in the Eastern A conference.
Their season ended during divisional tournaments. Clint Not Afraid was the Bulldogs' top scorer this year,
averaging 15.5 points per game.

The Lady Bulldogs' ended the season with only one conference win that came in a December home game against the Laurel Locomotives. Their overall record was 5-13, according to Montana High School Statistics website. Charla Takes Enemy and Leisha Shawl were the Bulldog's
top scorers this season, and each averaged roughly 11.5 points per game. For a
closer look at individual statistics on the women's team, click here.

Between St. Labre and Lodge Grass, our two Class B schools, the
Lodge Grass Indians finished with the better standings in their
district. They ended the season ranked second behind Columbus among
District 4 teams and went 8-10 overall while the St. Labre boys went
6-16 and finished fifth in District 3.

The Lodge Grass girls had a tough year, too, with six wins in a
10-game season. And the girls from St. Labre went for 2-15 to finish up
with a very rough season. Looks like it was a rebuilding year in Class
B.   

Zooming in on the Class C State Tournament

The Plenty Coups Warriors and the Rocky Boy Stars prepare to tip off during the Class C Basketball semifinal game in Butte. Click here to view a gallery of photos taken by Casey Kills Pretty Enemy. The images capture moments of the Plenty Coups players, cheerleaders and fans' trip to Butte last month.

LBHC Rams Wrap Up Second Season

Click to Play

Video by Adam Sings In The Timber and Emily Haas | Produced by Adam Sings In The Timber
CrowNews.Net

On Sunday, Feb. 17, the Little Big Horn College Rams lost a home game against the Williston State College Tetons. The final score was 118-84. Coming off a disappointing season, the Rams look forward to next year.

Correction: No Team Montana for 2008 NAIG

On March 2, Crownews.net reported on the 2008 North American Indigenous Games set to take place this
summer on Vancouver Island, British Columbia and encouraged Crow athletes to participate.  However,  it has come to our attention that event organizers have set a December 31, 2007 deadline for team entries and the
deadline passed without successful entry of a Team Montana.

NAIG organizers believe standing firm on pre-established deadlines is important in order to help portray the event as well-organized.  According to various sources associated with the host tribe in Canada, diligent efforts were made by the NAIG planning council to notify all tribes in Montana to elicit interest.

      (Left to Right: Tuff Harris, John Bird In Ground, Team Leader Joey Jayne, Casey Bird In Ground, Jay Harris at the 2006 NAIG in Denver)

The last NAIG was held in 2006 in Denver, Colorado and Team Montana was represented by 14 athletes, including Tuff Harris, who won the gold in the 100 meter dash, long jump, and high jump.  Click here for a 2006 Billings Gazette article on Team Montana's performance.

Some states that were very well represented in 2006, including Team New Mexico which had nearly 400 athletes, are not going to participate in the 2008 Games.  Typically the Canadian provinces field more athletes than their American counterparts in the NAIG and the same is expected this year. Further, the absence of states with relatively high American Indian populations, such as New Mexico and Montana, seems to significantly detract from the validity of the Games as being the premier Native American/First Nations sporting event.

For more information on the 2008 NAIG, please visit the official website of the Games' host tribe, the Cowichan people of British Columbia.  Click here for the official Indigenous Games rules and standards.

The next North American Indigenous Games will be held in Wisconsin in 2011.

Plenty Coups Beats Shields Valley, Faces Rocky Boy

CrowNews.Net

The Plenty Coups Warriors beat Shields Valley 64-60 in the first round of the State C tournament Thursday night. Pryor's Rumeal Decrane poured in 24 points, leading the team in scoring.

Tonight's semi-final match between Plenty Coups and Rocky Boy looks to be exciting. Rocky Boy beat Big Sandy 74-65 during the first round of state tournament games. Tip off for tonight's game is at 8:00 p.m. at the Butte Civic Center.

Here are the box scores from Plenty Coups' game against Shields Valley:

Plenty Coups 64, Shields Valley 60

Shields Valley    14    8    13    25    -    60

Plenty Coups    12    20    12    20    -    64

Shields Valley - Danny Laubach 1-6 0-0 2, Josh Scheele 1-2 0-0 2, Ryan Ferguson
8-22 1-2 18, Nyhart Sherwood 5-12 2-6 13, Dalton Evans 1-3 0-0 2, Kody
LaHaye 1-8 2-2 4, Tanner Fremont 2-9 2-2 6, Tyler Stutterheim 6-8 1-2
13. Totals: 25-70 8-14 60. 3-point FG: 2-14 (Laubach 0-1, Ferguson 1-8,
Nyhart 1-3, LaHaye 0-1, Fremont 0-1). Rebounds: 33 (Stutterheim 11).
Assists: 7 (LaHaye 4). Blocks: 1 (Evans). Steals: 6 (Ferguson 3).
Fouls: 20. Turnovers: 22.

Plenty Coups - Avery Bull Shows 1-5
4-4 6, Rumeal Decrane 6-10 10-14 24, JD Blaine 7-11 2-2 17, Alton Smart
Enemy 4-8 0-0 8, Buddy Door 4-11 1-4 9, Sonny Bouyer 0-0 0-0 0, Lenny
Bear Tusk 0-0 0-0 0, Falon Goes Ahead 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 22-46 17-24
64. 3-point FG: 3-8 (Bull Shows 0-1, Decrane 2-4, Blaine 1-2, Goes
Ahead 0-1). Rebounds: 41 (Door 12). Assists: 10 (Bull Shows 3). Blocks:
7 (Smart Enemy 4). Steals: 13 (Bull Shows, Decrane 4). Fouls: 17.
Turnovers: 37.

Any thoughts on tonight's game? The comment boxes await.

Plenty Coups Warriors Win Division

                        
Fans crowd around the Plenty Coups Warriors as player Avery Bull Shows shows off the team's plaque and he and his teammates celebrate capturing the Southern C Crown. Click here to see a slide show of last weekend's Southern C tournament. Photo by Casey Kills Pretty Enemy.

By Leo Hudetz
CrowNews.Net

Billings' Shrine Auditorium
was the place to be on Saturday night for basketball fans. Those lucky enough to
get in saw Pryor's Plenty Coups Warriors beat the Wibaux Longhorns, 77-72.

Plenty Coups fans, hailing from every district on the reservation, filled the gym and some waited as
long as three hours to get a seat. Many children grabbed
court side seats -- on the floor. The game had an electric atmosphere with fans stomping in the bleachers, cheering on their team and rattling not only the auditorium but the Wibaux team, too. When a Wibaux player stepped to the free throw line for a crucial shot late in the fourth quarter, the basketball hoop shook.

The Warriors built a 15 point lead by the
end of the third quarter before delivering a wild finish in the fourth
quarter when Plenty Coups players drew two technical fouls and Wibaux
was able to sink a couple of three pointers. Wibaux tied the game
72-72  with 16 seconds left to play.

The Plenty Coups team, which has a long tradition of winning nail-biters, kept its poise to pull out
the win and earn a trip to the Class C state finals in Butte.

Here are the box scores from Saturday's game:

Plenty Coups 77, Wibaux 72

Wibaux 11 15 15 31 - 72

Plenty Coups 21 15 20 21 - 77

Wibaux -
Jeremiah Garneau 3-8 0-1 7, Collin Harrell 0-0 0-0 0, Travis Bertelsen
10-25 9-13 29, Kai Hoagland 4-14 2-2 12, Justin Qualley 3-3 1-3 7, Jeff
Bakken 4-15 7-10 17, Andrew Barthel 0-0 0-0 0, Miles Davis 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals: 24-65 19-29 72. 3-point goals: 5-26 (Hoagland 2-9, Bakken 2-7,
Garneau 1-4, Bertelsen 0-6). Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Qualley. Rebounds:
34 (Bertelsen 8). Turnovers: 19. Assists: 11 (Garneau 6). Steals: 12
(Hoagland 4).

Plenty Coups - Avery Bull Shows 0-6 1-3 1,
Rumeal DeCrane 4-11 0-1 8, J.D. Blaine 6-8 3-3 19, Alton Smart Enemy
10-16 6-11 26, Buddy Door 3-6 0-0 6, Falon Goes Ahead 3-6 0-0 7, Sonny
Bauyer 3-3 0-0 7, Joe Gutierrez 0-0 1-2 1, Lenny Bear Tusk 1-2 0-0 2.
Totals: 30-58 11-20 77. 3-point goals: 6-14 (Blaine 4-6, Goes Ahead
1-2, Bauyer 1-1, DeCrane 0-4). Fouls: 23. Fouled out: Door, DeCrane.
Rebounds: 45 (Smart Enemy 13). Turnovers: 26. Assists: 13 (Smart Enemy
5). Steals: 5 (DeCrane 3).

On the Courts: Prep Tournaments and 2 LBHC Losses

CrowNews.Net

The Little Big Horn College Rams lost a high scoring game in Crow Agency to Salish Kootenai College Bison Tuesday. The final score was 105-104.

The Rams had a balanced scoring attack with Frank Hugs leading the way with 16 points.

Crow tribal member Pius Takes Horse, who's from Wyola, poured in 19 points for SKC.

On Sunday, the Rams also lost at home in a game against the Williston State College Tetons. The final score was 118-84.

Tim Pease takes a practice shot before the Rams play the Williston State College Tetons. Crow News Photo/Adam Sings In The Timber

Players' Scores

Individual scoring in the game against SKC was as follows:

SKC - Delbert Trombley
14, Pius Takes Horse 19, Ryan Running Crane 19, John Young 26, Ryan Chartraw
27.

LBHC - Shann Hill 13, Frank Hugs 16, Levi Black
Eagle 12, Anthony Lopez 3, Justin Hugs 8, Bobby Takes Enemy 7, Tim Pease 7, John
Hugs 10, Shane Rides the Bear 6, Roberts Hugs 2, Wacey Real Bird 8, Lloyd Hogan
12.

Halftime - S.-Kootenai 51, L. Big Horn 51.

Rams player Frank Yellow Tail shoots over Tetons player Randell Moore at the Crow Agency Multi-Purpose Building Sunday. Crow News Photo/Adam Sings In The Timber

High School Basketball

In Billings this weekend there will be plenty of state  high school tournament action with both Plenty Coups and Hardin playing. Plenty Coups has advanced to the second round of the tournament and will face Plevna at 12:30 on Thursday at the Shrine Auditorium.

Hardin hopes to put it all together in a wide open field where any one could win. The boys will open up against Miles City on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the MetraPark Arena. The Hardin girls play earlier on Thursday against Sidney at 2 p.m. at the Metra.

St. Labre advanced to the second round of the Class B tournament and will play a tough Columbus team in Colstrip at 1 p.m. Thursday.

Lady Rams player Char Old Bull drives to the basket against the Lady Tetons Sunday at the Crow Agency Multi-Purpose Building. Crow News Photo/Adam Sings In The Timber

LBHC Sets School Record; Plenty Coups 18-0

CrowNews.Net

It happened. The Little Big Horn College Rams captured their fifth win for the season Tuesday when they won 85-83 in a home game against Sheridan College, a school that beat the Rams 127-77 just five days earlier.

Here are results from the Rams' recent conference games:

• January 9: Casper College 79 LBHC 49


• January 19: Miles City 109 LBHC 42


• January 22: Casper College 96 LBHC 49


• January 30: Sheridan College 104 LBHC 58.

In other basketball news, the Plenty Coups Warriors have wrapped up
the regular season with a stellar, 18-0 record. They enter the first
round of tournament games this weekend as the top-ranked team in
Montana Class C when they play Belfry today at the Shrine Auditorium in
Billings. State finals begin March 6 at Butte's Civic Center. 

Waiting on a Win

Story by Mary Hudetz|Slideshow by Mary Hudetz, Elena Russell and Leona Hugs
CrowNews.Net

When the Little Bighorn College Rams step onto their home court Thursday for a game against Dawson Community College of Glendive, they will have claimed four victories so far this season. They'll also have more than two months of their roughly four-month-long schedule behind them.

Claiming that fifth win -- no matter how the team's wins and losses compare come late February --  would prove significant for LBHC, which got its basketball program started just last year under the direction of head coach Gordon Real Bird.

The fifth win, should it happen, would tip the team's victory tally
to a new school record. Last year's mens team won four games. This
year's team has six scheduled conference games left between now and when their National Junior College Athletic Association season ends Feb. 26.

The Rams will enter their game against Glendive coming off a pair of losses
at home against Salish Kootenai College and Bismarck State, a team that
edged the Rams by just three points to win 133-130 in double overtime.

The list of remaining NJCAA opponents includes some tough teams and
bigger schools like Sheridan College, which beat the Rams in November.
But team members, like second-year player Isaiah Stewart are holding
out hope.

"It was a fun experience last year, even though we only had four
wins," Stewart said. "It was a new program and the elders were telling
me, 'It's OK you guys are just learning.' Hopefully this year we'll get
more wins then we got last year.

Click here or on the image above to hear Stewart talk about
his path to joining the Rams, and his hopes for the team.

Mid-Season Woes for Rams

By Leo Hudetz
CrowNews.Net

The Little Big Horn College Rams traveled to the eastern part of the state to face Miles City Community College on December 19 and fell, losing 107-79.

“We were not playing as a team against Miles City," said Gordon Real Bird, the team's head coach. "We have a lot of talent, we just need to decide that we are a team and play together.”

At the halfway point of the season the Rams have a record of 4-12. The next games will be at home at the  Apsaalooke Center, or Crow Agency's Multi-Purpose building, on Jan. 2 against Bismark State of  North Dakota.

“We are going into conference play now," Real Bird said. "I think this team is capable of winning  and having a better record than last year’s team.”