July 3, 2007
Montana Ortho commits to Orediggers

Montana Orthopedics has expanded its partnership with Oredigger Athletics. The group has contributed $50,000 to Project Dreams, Montana Tech’s $650,000 Arena Renovation. The money will go toward a new gym floor that will provide a safer and more consistent surface for Digger student-athletes. The new surface meets international standards for shock absorbtion, surface friction, ball rebound, and deformation control. This means the floor will provide an excellent playing surface while helping to reduce injuries to Oredigger student-athletes. Montana Orthopedics is an ideal partner in this project; they already provide the orthopedic care that helps Tech student-athletes recover from athletic injuries.

Tech Athletic Director Joe McClafferty believes that relationship is critical to the Diggers’ success, “Montana Orthopedics is our 1st Choice for orthopedic care. As providers and as donors, they are essential to achieving our 1st Choice Vision.” That vision is a comprehensive plan to upgrade scholarships, facilities, recruiting, and operations with the goal of providing an exceptional fan and student-athlete experience.

Montana Tech Chancellor Frank Gilmore believes that Montana Orthopedics plays an essential role in the student-athlete experience. He says, “Tech is pleased to partner with Montana Orthopedics not only in Project Dreams, but also in providing our student-athletes with the best medical care available.”

Oredigger student-athletes are also excited about Project Dreams. Several have been stopping by the gym to check its progress and jump on the new floor. “Even without the finish, we can tell the new court is going to be awesome,” says Becky Roll, a sophomore for Oredigger Women’s Basketball. “We can’t wait to play on it.”

The floor itself should be complete by July 15, and the gym should be ready for games by the end of August.

July 2, 2007
Stadium Project Begins

The myriad of permits, approvals, bids, and contracts are finally in place, and crews have begun the renovation of Montana Tech’s Alumni Coliseum. In just one day, county workers removed the top eleven rows of sections B, C, and D. Those old bleachers will make their way to East Junior High for use in Bulldog Memorial Stadium. Crews will then pour concrete to raise and reshape the rows, allowing the Diggers to install 486 luxury reserved seats. The funds for the project came entirely from donations. To date, the M Club Alumni – a group of former players and others involved in football program, including the Tech Alumni Association – have raised over $75,000 for the construction. Sales of the reserved seats will allow the Orediggers to hire another full-time assistant coach.

Oredigger Football Head Coach Bob Green was excited to see work beginning in the stadium. “When you see equipment and men working on the project, actually getting started, it fires you up,” Green said. “I can’t wait to see those new seats in place. Everyone in Oredigger Football is grateful to those who have made this possible.”

Season tickets will cost $100 per year, plus a one-time $50 licensing fee that guarantees the right to renew the seat for five years. The Diggers will kick off their ticket sales Wednesday, July 18 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. with a barbeque in the North End Zone Gazebo. Anyone interested in purchasing season tickets can contact Cristie Hess at (406) 496-4105.

June 26, 2007
Pepsi commits to Project Dreams

Harrington Pepsi Cola has has committed to Montana Tech’s Project Dreams by contributing funds for a state-of-the-art scoreboard and media center. The new scoreboard will feature an electronic message board capable of displaying live stats, game graphics, and advertising. Tech’s $650,000 arena renovation is a key element of the Digger’s First Choice Vision. Tech Athletic Director Joe McClafferty said Pepsi is a vital ally in the Digger’s vision.

“This scoreboard media center will not just enhance our student-athlete experience,” McClafferty said, “It will ensure that our facility is one of the premier arenas in the NAIA.”

Don Harrington of Harrington Pepsi Cola has been committed to the Butte community for over 60 years. Both Montana Tech and the entire community have long benefited from his generosity. Jim Bennett, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for Harrington Pepsi Cola, says the company is proud to contribute to Project Dreams.

“Harrington Pepsi Cola has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Montana Tech – both on the court and in the classroom,” Bennett said. “As Montana Tech continues to grow, we feel a commitment to contribute to that progress, because when Montana Tech succeeds, so does the community.”

Mike Johnson, Montana Tech’s Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Development says, “Harrington Pepsi Cola is a tremendous corporate citizen for all of Butte. Montana Tech is proud to partner with Pepsi to help reach our Dreams.”

Inside the arena, crews have finished painting the walls and ceiling and begun installing Kelvin Sampson Court. The process began with bolting in a plywood subfloor. Over the next few weeks, workers will finish laying the tongue-and-groove planking and apply the finish. Construction on the floor should be complete by July 15. The new bleachers will arrive the second week of August, and the entire arena should be ready for play by the end of August.

June 12, 2007
Town Pump joins Project Dreams

When Kelvin Sampson announced his donation to Montana Tech’s Project Dreams, he urged others to support a sweeping renovation of the HPER Arena, including a new floor, new bleachers and new scoreboards. “It’s great to be involved,” Sampson said, “but we need people to be committed.” In that spirit, the Town Pump Charitable Foundation has shown its commitment to the community of Butte and Montana Tech by giving $100,000 to Project Dreams. The new court will bear the Town Pump logo alongside Sampson’s signature.

President and Founder, Tom Kenneally Sr., served on the Board of Directors at Montana Tech Foundation from 1990 to 1995. According to Tom Kenneally Sr., “Montana Tech is a cornerstone of Butte in providing excellence in education and building our future leaders.” He continued, “It is important that students have opportunities to excel both in the classroom and in athletics as this is where leadership and team play are also learned.”

Tom Sr. and Mary Ann Kenneally opened the first Town Pump in 1953 right here in Butte. Today, the family owned business has grown to include convenience stores, truck stops, car washes, laundromats, motels and casinos throughout the state.

The Town Pump Charitable Foundation was established in 1999 to provide financial support to Montana charitable and governmental organizations with a priority of supporting basic needs and education for Montana citizens.

Tech Athletic Director Joe McClafferty says Town Pump is an ideal fit for Project Dreams. “Town Pump and Kelvin Sampson are powerful symbols of what we can achieve through hard work and determination,” McClafferty said. “They show us that our dreams are within reach.”

Project Dreams is part of Montana Tech’s First Choice vision, a comprehensive plan to improve facilities, recruiting, and operations to ensure Montana Tech’s place a premier athletic program.

“Our goal is to provide the best student-athlete experience in the nation,” McClafferty said.

Inside the HPER complex, crews have completed demolition and have begun painting. Work on the new floor should begin soon.

June 3, 2007
Red All-Stars rumble over Blue
By Bill Foley of the Montana Standard

Drummond quarterback Brandon O’Dell got a second chance to go out with a win Saturday night at Alumni Coliseum.

He didn’t miss that opportunity.

O’Dell broke a 60-yard momentum-busting touchdown run to put the Red team on top for good midway through the second quarter of an extremely hard-hitting 70-20 win at the Bob Cleverly Eight-Man All-Star Football Game.

The game, in its 24th season, was named after the long-time Ennis coach in a ceremony before the game. Cleverly, the man most responsible for the existence of the Red vs. Blue battle, is battling cancer and watched the game from a sky box.

Full Story

May 28, 2007
8-Man All-Stars come to Butte

Sixty-four of Montana’s best 8-man football players took the field Monday night at Montana Tech. They have come for the Treasure State All-Star Game, a final opportunity for graduating high school athletes to showcase their skills on an 8-Man gridiron. The game is in its 24th year, largely due to the work of Bob Cleverley. According to game organizer Rick Miller, Cleverley’s work “has helped improve the quality of 8-man football throughout the Northwest and improved players’ opportunities to play at the next level, not to mention all the memories his dedication to the game has provided the fans, coaches and players.”

Cleverley, who has been seriously ill, made an unexpected appearance at Monday’s coaches’ meeting. He offered advice to the younger all-star coaches, and he emphasized the importance of making the game a memorable experience for the players. “It’s their game,” Cleverley said. “We want to make sure they have a great time.”

In addition to the game, the week offers the opportunity for longtime adversaries to meet in more amicable circumstances. Centerville tight end Adam Schilling is sharing a room with rival Chester High School’s Matt Wicks. Both will play for Montana Tech in the fall. Schilling says he has been looking forward to this week. “My brother played in this game, and he told me how much fun it was,” Schilling said. “He said it was going to be a blast.”

The fields of Montana Tech are familiar ground for many of this year’s all-stars. The Orediggers host four to six hundred high school athletes each summer for their 8-man football camps, and many players in Saturday’s game have been coming to Tech’s camps since they were freshmen. The camps give the Diggers unprecedented opportunity to evaluate and recruit 8-man players. The 2006 Orediggers kicked off with 19 former 8-Man All-Stars on the roster. Six Oredigger signees will take the field for Saturday’s game: Petey Carillo, T.J. Kerr, Jason Masonovich, Andrew Bishop,Wicks and Schilling.

Montana Tech’s Alumni Coliseum plays host to the game, which kicks off at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 2. Tickets are $6. The Digger Athletic Association will host a barbeque in the north end zone beginning at 4:30. The cost is $6 per person.

May 21, 2007
Orediggers, Sampson commit to Project Dreams

Faithful Orediggers gathered over the weekend to recall the past and contribute to the future.  Indiana University Head Basketball Coach Kelvin Sampson returned to Butte to help raise funds for “Project Dreams”, a sweeping renovation of the HPER Arena that includes a new floor, new bleachers, two scoreboards, and an electronic message board.  Sampson, who began his head coaching career at Montana Tech 27 years ago, jumpstarted the Orediggers toward their $650,000 goal with his own $50,000 donation. 

“No matter how much I might give,” Sampson said, “it will always be less than Montana Tech gave me.”  He spoke fondly of his hardscrabble years in Butte, recalling long trips on a rickety bus and low-budget hotel rooms.  Sampson led the Orediggers to three conference championships, elevating the program to new highs.  He was quick to point out, however, that those seasons belong to a bygone era.  Sampson spoke of the challenges of recruiting athletes who were born in 1990.  “Kids today want bells and whistles,” he said.  “If Montana Tech wants to be competitive in this league, it has to improve its facilities.”

Athletic Director Joe McClafferty, who played under Sampson, plans to do just that.  His “First Choice Vision” is a comprehensive plan to improve facilities, recruiting, and operations to ensure Montana Tech’s place as a premier athletic program.  Project Dreams is a tremendous step toward that vision.  The remodeled HPER Arena will be the jewel of the league, a showplace for Montana Tech’s teams and events, and an attraction for recruits.  The new court will bear Sampson’s signature, which McClafferty hopes will remind Tech student-athletes and fans that anything is possible.  “It shows that dreams do come true,” McClafferty said.

Crews have already begun demolition on the old bleachers and floor.  “There’s no turning back,” McClafferty said.  Tech has raised nearly half of its $650,000 goal, but needs more donations to ensure that Project Dreams becomes reality.  Sampson hopes more of the Digger faithful will support the project.  “It’s great to be involved, but we need people to be committed,” he said.

If you are interested in committing to the Oredigger’s efforts, please click on the links below or contact Joe McClafferty at (406) 496-4301.

Pledge Card

Donate Now (Click on "Project Dreams - HPER Renovation")

Project Dreams Sketch

Montana Standard Article

May 17, 2007
"Project Dreams" becoming a reality

The Orediggers have begun construction on Project Dreams, a $650,000 renovation of Montana Tech’s HPER Arena.  The facelift will include a new floor, new bleachers, two scoreboards, and an electronic message board.  The arena renovation is part of Athletic Director Joe McClafferty’s First Choice Vision – an overarching plan to ensure the Orediggers’ place as a premier athletic program.

“Our facility improvements will aid in recruiting elite student-athletes to Montana Tech while creating an exciting game atmosphere that will benefit our entire student body and community,” McClafferty said. 

In order to raise the funds for this ambitious project, McClafferty has enlisted the support of Indiana University Head Basketball Coach Kelvin Sampson, who began his career as a head coach at Montana Tech over 25 years ago.

“Oredigger Basketball, Montana Tech, and Butte hold a special place in my heart,” Sampson said.  Sampson also seconded the importance of capital improvements, “It is no secret that great facilities breed great programs.  I share Joe’s mission to transform the arena into the best facility in the Frontier Conference.”

The Orediggers and Coach Sampson will host a fundraising breakfast on Sunday, May 20th at the War Bonnet Inn.  Admission is $20 and includes breakfast.  Due to NCAA rules, no high school students may attend.  Please join the Diggers and help make Project Dreams a reality.

May 10, 2007
Tech Names New Women's Basketball Coach

When Montana Tech’s Brian Holsinger announced he was taking a position at Washington State University, the Orediggers did not have to look far for a new Head Women’s Basketball Coach.  Athletic Director Joe McClafferty did not waste any time in promoting Kerie DePell, who has served two years as Holsinger’s assistant.

“I have had the opportunity to observe Coach DePell as a practice coach, a game coach, and a recruiter, and I am very impressed with her abilities,” McClafferty said.  “Kerie has demonstrated the ability to take over this program and continue on the path to our first choice vision.”

Before coming to Tech, DePell was an NCAA Division II All-American at Seattle Pacific University and played profession basketball in Europe.  She assumes command of a maturing Oredigger team with a bright future.  “I’m walking into a good situation,” DePell said.  Of course, DePell and Holsinger have labored for two years to create that situation.

Holsinger left to assume an assistant coach position for the Washington State University Cougars.  According to McClafferty, the move reflects the good work Holsinger and DePell have done for Tech.  “WSU does not hire people who can’t coach.”