Balogh is one of the 23 seniors who just finished up their football careers for the University of Montana. Until recently, Balogh hasn't had a chance to sound off on the '07 season, which ended with a surprising playoff loss to Wofford.
The Steilacoom, Wash., native, who was an honorable mention all-Big Sky selection this season after being a first-teamer last year, got to clear the air about everything from the FCS playoffs to the illegal chop block in the conference opener; his loveable birthday and the not-so-loveable Cats.
A: Well first, Dan Carpenter, the guy is great. There's nobody else I'd rather have out there kicking for me than him. It's unfortunate how it had to end and heartbreaking how it came down to that end. We had opportunities to make other plays that would have helped us win. We had about 10 plays that would have made a difference and we would probably still be playing today. Looking back on it now, we accomplished everything we set out to do, really. I'm really proud to be a senior and going out now and being able to say we kept the playoff streak alive, and the Big Sky Conference (titles) streak alive. I'm proud to end on that.
Q: Is there a game or a moment this season that stands out more than others to you?
A: Beating the Cats. That's the biggest. Going to Bozeman and beating the Cats. None of us had won in Bozeman, so going down there and having all their fans screaming at you and then putting a whooping on them; it put a smile on my face. We lost two years ago down there and I said back then, ‘Man I'm never going to lose to these guys again.' We didn't. Hopefully we get another streak going.
Q: What did you do last Saturday?
A: I had to watch Eastern Washington play Appalachian State - and wonder how we would have fared. We would have been a good matchup for them... But I had to give my props to the Big Sky. After that I did some Christmas shopping. I didn't want to fill my mind with college football and remember that one last moment, so I went out and did that.
Q: Were you miffed by not making first team all-Big Sky?
A: My biggest goal was to win a Big Sky championship outright and beat the Cats and win a national championship, hopefully, which didn't happen, but I had the honor of being a captain for this Griz team for the entire 2007 season. That is better than any all-conference honors they can say about me.
Q: What happened on that pass play where the illegal chop block occured on Weber State's Derek Johnson?
A: It was a miscommunication in the blocking with me and J.D. (Quinn). Unfortunately that was the result. It wasn't intentional. Unfortunately that's the way football is played - people get hurt. I feel bad about it, but unfortunately that's the way that turned out. It's football.
Q: Have you spoken with Derek Johnson since then?
A: We didn't really talk in the first place. I feel bad about it. I don't think any amount of apologizing will make him feel any better about what happened. I just want to let everybody know it was unintentional, I didn't mean for that to happen, but it did.
Q: There was an editorial cartoon of you in the Ogden Standard-Examiner that next week. Did you see it and what did you think?
A: My glory (laughs). That's what they had to do, to make themselves feel better I guess. It was kind of funny, what it said. The people closest to me know I'm not that kind of person. But I thought it was funny. I didn't take offense to it at all.
Q: You ended with a streak of 41 consecutive starts, that's pretty tough for an O-lineman.
A: I got that opportunity back in 2004 - when we made the national championship - against New Hampshire in the quarters. I got to start due to injury and I started the rest of the year. I earned the spot at right tackle the next spring and I was lucky to not get injured. I took my dings for sure, but luckily I never got too seriously injured. Every year after that, I just made sure I earned that spot and think it's not just given to me.
Q: We've heard from other Grizzly O-linemen that you like to tell opposing defenses when they screwed up. Is that true?
A: (Laughs) Ah, we all take turns at that. The biggest talker has to be J.D. (Quinn), though. Emotions run high in the game, thank God we're not miked up. We take turns. They (the D) do just as much as we do, luckily we always came out with the win in Big Sky play.
Lightning round
Favorite winter sport: Basketball.
What's worse, fruitcake or eggnog: Fruitcake.
Next Griz game you'll see: If I'm still here, the opener next year.
Favorite NFL team: 49ers.
What's the coolest thing about Steilacoom: All my buddies that live there.
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