Conversation With Griz Tight End Evan Shafer

On Friday's edition of The Daily Drive With Ace Sauerwein, Montana Grizzly Tight End Evan Shafer was the guest on the program. Shafer discussed the difference in year two vs year one, the expectations of the 2024 Montana Grizzlies, his summer endeavors and his experience as the announcer for his hometown's swine show.

Year 2 VS year 1

Like me, Shafer is a Midwest guy. We weren't used to the mountains when we moved out here, but after spending a season in Missoula Shafer feels right at home.

"Yeah, it's definitely set in. Every time I fly back home it feels like I'm on a different planet with different oxygen concentration," joked Shafer. "Now that I'm settled in here I definitely love it out here. It's amazing."

Football came easier to Shafer this year too.

"It's definitely not as stressful as last year, because obviously transferring in and immediately starting straight into fall camp and learning the offense was hard. But since we're able to settle in with ouR highly seniorized tight end class."

Shafer is joined by returning Cole Grossman, fellow upperclassmen Erik Barker and Jake Olson (Butte native), Joseph Grezmak, and three other Montanans in Joe Weida (Missoula), Danny Sirmon (Missoula) and Isaac Keim (Kalispell).

"We're a tight-knit group."

I'm going back, back to Connersville

Shafer's trip back to his hometown of Connersville, Indiana led him to a unique experience: announcing a swine show.

"My hometown asked me to announce for their swine open show for our fair which was a lot of fun."

As a guy with little to no experience in the agricultural field, I had to ask Shafer what a swine show was.

"Our county fair has one of the biggest open shows which means anybody can show pigs. They wanted me to come back and announce it because most people know who I am back home. You just have to call up classes, call up names, introduce the judge, maintain, throughout the day, sponsorships. It's almost like being on the radio."

Credit: Pascal Debrunner (unsplash)

It was at that moment I realized Shafer was gunning for my job. I told him he should throw his name into the public address announcing hat after Peter Christian retires.

"Oh goodness... maybe, maybe we'll see."

I have no doubt Shafer could take my job, and I have no doubt I could not take his job.

For Shafer's full interview listen to Friday's podcast of The Daily Drive below.