Brent Musburger: Montanan

With a single tweet, Griz football head coach Bob Stitt put the Montana/NDSU game hype machine into overdrive this summer after getting of the phone with legendary sportscaster and Montana native Brent Musburger.

In the tweet, Coach Stitt confirmed that Musburger, who grew up in Billings and spends his summers in the picturesque Bitterroot Valley, would travel north on Highway 93 to Missoula on August 29^th to provide the play by play for arguably the biggest sporting event in Montana history.

And Griz nation went wild.

Just got off the phone with Brent Musburger and he confirmed that he'll be calling our NDSU game along with @JessePalmerABC! #varsity
— Bob Stitt (@CoachBobStitt) August 3, 2015

Musburger, who has called some of the biggest games in all of sports, will call the Montana/NDSU game for ESPN as part of the network's "FCS Kickoff" game coverage.

He took time out of preparing for the college football season to talk to gogriz.com.

Saturday's game won't be Musburger's first foray with the Griz. It will be reunion of sorts, stemming from a childhood surrounded by Montana athletics.

"My father got involved with promoting the University of Montana/Wyoming football game, which was played for a time in Billings," he recounted from his home in Hamilton. "There was also a time that Wyoming, because of the energy money, was able to field an extremely competitive team, and it was difficult for the Griz."

Wyoming still holds an edge over Montana, but what has changed since then is the support and dedication of Griz fans, and their passion for football. That passion is one of the primary reasons Musburger and ESPN will be coming to Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

"The one thing I found about Griz fans… and it goes without saying... is the loyalty of the fan base. People here, around Missoula, and around the state, they remain passionate – and I do mean passionate – Griz fans."

With the four-time national champion Bison coming to Missoula, and the Griz revitalized under Coach Stitt, The Montana/NDSU game is creating a "perfect storm" of college football story lines.

The opportunity to call such a unique event in his home state was one Musburger couldn't pass up when ESPN approached him. His only caveat? He want's to make it look good (ESPN's "SEC Game of the Week" crew will broadcast the game), and he want's his family to be part of it.

"I always think it's a great setting when you bring a favorite on the road, to a place with another quality team and a great fan base in Montana… To me it was a natural. Once they (ESPN) agreed to send my SEC guys in here and give me some tickets for the family, I'm all in. I've been looking forward to it since the day I said I'd do it."

Of course, Griz nation's reputation for being one of the loudest crowds in the country helped make that decision easy for ESPN and Musburger as well.

"They know that coming into Missoula, that it is one of the noisiest environments anyplace in college football. That includes places where I do games like Alabama, Auburn, and Florida, and Georgia.

"I've talked with assistant coaches who have come in here and moved on, and they say there is no stadium, no stadium in the country that's any more difficult for a visitor than Missoula and the University of Montana."

Ever the football analyst, Musburger took the opportunity to examine the X's and O's that make this game such an intriguing matchup.

"Once he (Coach Stitt) gets that explosive offense in place, it's going to be really exciting around here. I guess the question would be, are they ready to 'matriculate down the field' as my old friend Hank Stram would say, or are they going to take a bit of time. It's the unknown of this opening game that intrigues me with this new system coming in for the Griz."

You can listen to the entire interview with Musburger below. Tune in to ESPN on Saturday to hear his call of the game.

University of Montana Athletics

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