Trey Bender Joins Griz Football Broadcast Team

Meet the Griz is a series where we tell the stories of Montana Grizzlies athletes, coaches and contributors.

Meet the Griz: Scripps TV Broadcaster Trey Bender

Montana Grizzlies football broadcasts will have a new sound to them this fall. Jordan Tripp will hop on the mic for the first time alongside long-time play-by-play broadcaster Trey Bender.

Bender's Play-by-play origins

It's not difficult to understand why you would want to announce sports for a living. It's the most fun you can have while punched in at work, but when it runs in the family, it clears up your destiny.

"It's a circuitous journey," Bender explained on how he became a play-by-play man. "I grew up as a kid, my dad was an announcer. It goes way back to Wisconsin days... My dad was actually the radio voice of the Packers, and I remember going to Lambeau and seeing games as a kid, and following him around."

If Washington-Grizzly Stadium is the Mecca of FCS Football, then Lambeau Field is the Mecca of the NFL. Credit: Dylan Buell (Getty Images)

Meeting OJ Simpson at Lambeau Field

Trey and I talked about plenty of great stuff revolving around Scripps' broadcasts of Grizzly Football this year, and I advise you listen to it below on The Daily Drive With Ace Sauerwein podcast.

But perhaps the most interesting, or at least attention-grabbing story is the time Bender met Orenthal James Simpson.

"I don't know if I should be dating myself, and this is a really strange story but I'll go there. I remember going to a preseason game at Lambeau Field, and I had a chance to go down to the locker room... And my Dad said, 'I got somebody who you may want to meet.' And I said, 'Who's that?' He goes 'OJ Simpson."

Now, you have to remember this was pre - well, you know.

"I was a deer in headlights," laughed Bender. "Look, I'm just a kid. I'm 4 or 5, but I still remember the experience.

"I've been really lucky. My dad being an announcer for a long time. I've met Wilt Chamberlain and Pele, and different people - Bill Russell."

Bender will continue to call LMU Lions Men's Basketball on ESPN+ in Los Angeles after Griz Football.

Welcome to the Griz family, Trey!