Um’s Dickenson To Stay

The Montana Grizzlies record-smashing quarterback isn’t quite ready to give up the pigskin for medical school.

Nor is Dave Dickenson considering a run at the prestigious Rhodes scholarship, which also would keep him at his desk and off the field.

Contrary to rumors being passed around sports bars and locker rooms, Dickenson wants to finish his fourth season as a Grizzly in 1995.

“I don’t know where they get some of this stuff,” Dickenson told the Great Falls Tribune. “I’ve been hearing a lot of rumors in Missoula, too.”

But, he acknowledges that some of the myths are based on fact. The 5-11, 175 pound C.M. Russell High School graduate currently is studying a pre-medicine curriculum at UM and intends to take the medical school examination in the fall.

The two-time academic All-American has earned a 3.88 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale, but he doesn’t relish the idea of leaving Montana to study for a year in Oxford, England, as a Rhodes scholar.

“It really didn’t interest me,” Dickenson said. “I’m not sure I’m the kind of person who is driven by that academic intellectual level. I’m happy where I am.”

To the question of shoulder, ankle and knee injuries keeping him on the bench next year, Dickenson said he’s working hard to repair his battered body before spring football begins in April.

After suffering through a string of games with a sore shoulder, Dickenson severely sprained his right ankle against Boise State, missed the next two games, and then sprang back to lead UM to a victory over Northern Iowa in the first round of the I-AA playoffs.

But in the second round against McNeese State, he injured the ankle again and damaged his knee as well. That kept him out of the semifinal game at Youngstown State, which the Grizzlies lost.

Despite his injuries, Dickenson still managed to make second-team AllAmerican while leading NCAA Division 1-AA in passing efficiency.

In 22 career starts, Dickenson has thrown for nearly 7,000 yards and 58 touchdowns. He’s also scored 18 TDs while leading the Grizzlies to records of 10-2 and 11-3 the past two seasons.

Florida State All-America defensive end Derrick Alexander, called “one of our greatest players” by coach Bobby Bowden, and Texas offensive tackle Blake Brockermeyer, a second team All-American and Outland Trophy semifinalist, said they will skip their senior seasons and enter the NFL draft.

Alexander is projected as a first-round selection, while Brockermeyer expects to be chosen in the first or second round.