2007 Griz gridiron campaign starts today
Spring drills end with a scrimmage in Billings
The run for an unprecedented 15th straight playoff appearance begins today.
We're talking Montana Grizzlies football.
Grizzlies football?
That's right.
The Griz begin spring drills today.
The tentative schedule for spring practices runs through April 12 every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with the final scrimmage in Billings on Saturday, April 14. There will be other scrimmages on Friday, March 23, and Friday, April 6. Both will be in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
The Grizzlies 2007 season opener is Sept. 1 in Missoula against Southern Utah. Other non-conference games include Division II Fort Lewis and the University of Albany. All three non-conference games are at home. The Grizzlies first five games are in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The 107th Bobcat-Grizzly game is Nov. 17 in Bozeman. It is the final regular-season game.
Expectations are high for the team coming off a 12-2 season in which it went a perfect 8-0 in the Big Sky Conference en route to its ninth straight conference championship.
The Griz lost just five starters from last season's semifinal team (center Jeff Marshall, quarterback Josh Swogger, defensive ends Mike Murphy and Dustin
Dlouhy, defensive tackle Kerry Mullan and cornerback/punt returner Tuff Harris).
The team picked up one Division I-A transfer in junior offensive lineman J.D. Quinn from Oklahoma.
The Grizzlies also have junior quarterback Cole Bergquist and senior running back Lex Hilliard slated to return as No. 1 on the depth chart after not starting in 2006.
Montana returns 17 players who were first, second or honorable mention All-Big Sky selections.
In addition to Hilliard, the former Flathead High School star who ruptured his Achilles tendon in fall drills last year after rushing for 2,884 yards and 34 touchdowns in his first three years, the Griz have three other players from The Daily Inter Lake's coverage area on their spring roster: senior Brandon Dwyer, a cornerback from Kalispell; sophomore George Mercer, a defensive end from Libby; and sophomore Cy Murer, an offensive lineman from Bigfork.
Coach Bobby Hauck returns for his fifth year at his alma mater with a 41-13 record, including 24-5 in Big Sky play.