Grizzlies open 2006 season at Iowa
8/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
SEASON OPENER: The third-ranked (in the The Sports Network??s Division I-AA preseason poll) University of Montana Grizzlies open their 2006 season at nationally ranked (16th by the Associated Press/17th by USA Today) Iowa Hawkeyes Saturday, September 2, in Iowa??s renovated Kinnick Stadium (70,585). Iowa sold out all six home games last season and have a home sellout streak of 17 games in a row.
GRIZ IN SEASON OPENERS: Montana is 64-40-2 in season openers since 1897, and has won 16 of its last 18 season openers, and seven of those games were on the road. The Grizzlies?? last season opener on the road against a Division I-A opponent was in 1996, a 35-14 victory at Oregon State.
THE LAST TIME: The last time Montana and Iowa squared off on the gridiron was in 1954, the final year for Griz head coach Ed Chinske??s at the helm. Montana??s star player was halfback Dick ??The Penguin?? Imer who ended the season ranked sixth in the nation in rushing with 889 yards, despite sitting out most of two games with injuries. Montana was 3-6 that season, while Iowa was 5-4 and coached by Forest Evashevski.
BIG 10 OPPONENTS: This is the first time since 1985, and the second time in school history, that Montana has played a team from the Big Ten Conference. The Griz played at Minnesota in 1985, and the Lou Holtz-coached Gophers defeated the Grizzlies 62-17. UM??s last (and only other) Big 10 foe prior to that contest at Minnesota was the Griz-Haweyes?? match-up in Iowa City in 1954.
GRIZ AGAINST I-A: In the last 25 seasons Montana has played 22 Division I-A games and has a record of 7-15 against them:
1982: at Hawaii 42, Montana 0 :: at Oregon State 30, Montana 10
1983: Long Beach St. 38, at Montana 15
1984: %Army 45, Montana 31
1985: at Montana 31, Cal-Fullerton 30 :: at Minnesota 62, Montana 14
1987: at Cal-Fullerton 43, Montana 26
1989: at Fresno State 52, Montana 37
1990: Montana 22, at Oregon State 15
1991: at Louisiana Tech 21, Montana 11
1992: at Washington State 25, Montana 13 :: at Kansas State 27, Montana 12
1993: at Oregon 35, Montana 30
1994: Montana 21, at North Texas 17
1995: at Washington State 38, Montana 21
1996: Montana 35, at Oregon State 14
1997: at Wyoming 28, Montana 13
2000: Montana 45, at Idaho$ 38
2001: at Hawaii 30, Montana 12 :: at Montana 33, Idaho 27 (2 OTs)
2003: at Montana 41, Idaho 28
2005: at Oregon 47, Montana 14
%Mirage Bowl, Tokyo
$In Pullman, Wash.
GRIZ FINISH 8-4 IN 2005: The ninth-ranked Montana Grizzlies (8-4 overall/5-2 Big Sky) ended their season with a 35-21 loss to the 10th-ranked Cal Poly Mustangs in a first-round NCAA Division I-AA playoff game.
13TH NCAA BERTH IN A ROW!: Montana has now appeared in the Division I-AA playoffs a record 13 years in a row. The old record was 10 in a row, set by Eastern Kentucky from 1986-1995.
EIGHTH LEAGUE TITLE IN A ROW!: Montana has won out-right (or shared) eight consecutive Big Sky Conference titles (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005). The Grizzlies have won or shared the league crown 11 of the past 13 seasons.
20TH STRAIGHT WINNING SEASON: Montana now has 20 consecutive winning season, dating back to 1986.
I-A PLAYERS ON GRIZ ROSTER: Montana has eight Division I-A transfers on its 2006 roster who are projected to see action this season. The players and where they are from:
#2-Craig Chambers, Junior, WR, U of Washington (playing status unknown at press time)
#5-Eric Allen, Junior, WR, Oklahoma State
#7-Josh Swogger, Senior, QB, Washington State
#10-Qwenton Freeman, Junior, CB, Arizona
#20-Reggie Bradshaw, Junior, RB, Louisville
#40-Greg Coleman, Junior, RB, Iowa State
#66-Brent Russum, Sophomore, OT, Arizona State
#72-Levi Horn, RS Freshman, OT, Oregon
GRIZ YOUTH MOVEMENT: There are 20 redshirt freshmen and two ??true?? frosh expected to make the trip to Iowa City and could possibly see their first action ever for the Griz: #16-QB Clint Stapp; #24-RB Thomas Brooks-Fletcher; #25-FS Brandon Fisher; #31-SS Tim Anderson; #39-SS Shann Schillinger; #42-LB Jace Palmer; #49-TE/H-back Kevin Klaboe; #51-LB Tyler Pelluer; #54-DE Austin Mullins; #55-DT Dan Carter; #60-OG Ryan Schmidt; #64-OC Dan Girard; #67-OT Kevin Bell; #72-OT Levi Horn; #75-OT Chris Dyk; #77-OG Terran Hillesland; #80-WR Marc Mariani; #81-WR Tyler Palmer; #87-TE Dan Beaudin; and #94 DT Jackson Ledgerwood.
TRUE FROSH IN ACTION: Freshmen tight ends #88-Steven Pfahler (Frenchtown) and #89-Robert Overton (San Leandro, Calif.) are the only ??true?? freshmen making the trip to Iowa.
10 SENIORS: Montana??s ??Class of 2006?? has just 10 seniors: #7-Swogger, QB; #13-Tuff Harris, CB/PR; #21-Dustin Dlouhy, DE; #26-Tyson Johnson, P; 27-Matt Lebsock, FS; #41-Brady Green, RB; #63-Ryan Wells, OC; #73-Jeff Marshall, OC; #90-Mike Murphy, DE; #98-Kerry Mullan, DT. BF=Projected Starter.
GRIZ CAPTAINS: Season-long captains for 2006 (chosen by the team):
7-Josh Swogger, Senior QB, Vienne, Ohio
38-Lex Hilliard, Senior, RB, Kalispell, Montana (injured, OUT FOR SEASON)
41-Brady Green, Senior, RB, Brighton, Utah
90-Mike Murphy, Senior, DE, Great Falls, Montana
HILLIARD OUT FOR SEASON: Senior halfback Lex Hilliard injured his (left) achilles in fall camp and is out for the season. He has 2,884 career rushing yards and is second on UM??s career list. Hilliard, only the fourth player in school history to rush for more than 2,000 career yards, will travel with the team to Iowa.
MONTANA CAREER RUSHING LEADERS
1. Yohance Humphery 4,070 1998-2001
2. Lex Hilliard 2,884 2003-current
TWO ON CAREER SCORING LIST: Hilliard is sixth on Montana??s career scoring list with 216 points, while junior kicker Dan Carpenter is seventh.
MONTANA CAREER SCORING LEADERS
1. Chris Snyder, K...394...2000-03
5. Kris Heppner, K...241...1997-99
6. Lex Hilliard, RB...216...2003-current
7. Dan Carpenter, K...199...2004-current
MURPHY ONE OF 15 PLAYERS ON BUCHANAN LIST: Senior defensive end Mike Murphy was listed as one of 15 candidates by The Sports Network for the Buck Buchanan Award, given anually to Division I-AA??s ??Defensive Player of the Year.?? Murphy begins the 2006 season sixth on UM??s career sacks and tackles for loss lists. Season-long Mike Murphy/Buck Buchanan Award campaign coverage can be found at .
MONTANA CAREER SACKS LEADERS
1. Tim Bush, DE...34.5...2000-03
4. Lance Spencer, DE...23...2002-05
5. Trey Young, SS...22...1999-02
6. Mike Murphy, DE...20.5...2003-current
MONTANA CAREER TACKLES FOR LOSS LEADERS
1. Tim Bush, DE...50...2000-03
5. Adam Boomer, LB...32...1997-2000
6. Mike Murphy, DE...31...2003-current
STADNYK, WASHINGTON OUT FOR THE SEASON: Defensive end Mike Stadnyk, a 6-3, 253-pound junior from Regina, Saskatchewan will miss the 2006 season and redshirt after under-going shoulder surgery prior to fall camp. Senior quarterback Jason Washington will also miss the 2006 season aftter undergoing shoulder surgery this past spring. The 6-2, 200-pounder is from Oakland, Calif.
GRIZ IN SEASON OPENERS: Montana is 64-40-2 in season openers since 1897, and has won 16 of its last 18 season openers, and seven of those games were on the road. The Grizzlies?? last season opener on the road against a Division I-A opponent was in 1996, a 35-14 victory at Oregon State.
THE LAST TIME: The last time Montana and Iowa squared off on the gridiron was in 1954, the final year for Griz head coach Ed Chinske??s at the helm. Montana??s star player was halfback Dick ??The Penguin?? Imer who ended the season ranked sixth in the nation in rushing with 889 yards, despite sitting out most of two games with injuries. Montana was 3-6 that season, while Iowa was 5-4 and coached by Forest Evashevski.
BIG 10 OPPONENTS: This is the first time since 1985, and the second time in school history, that Montana has played a team from the Big Ten Conference. The Griz played at Minnesota in 1985, and the Lou Holtz-coached Gophers defeated the Grizzlies 62-17. UM??s last (and only other) Big 10 foe prior to that contest at Minnesota was the Griz-Haweyes?? match-up in Iowa City in 1954.
GRIZ AGAINST I-A: In the last 25 seasons Montana has played 22 Division I-A games and has a record of 7-15 against them:
1982: at Hawaii 42, Montana 0 :: at Oregon State 30, Montana 10
1983: Long Beach St. 38, at Montana 15
1984: %Army 45, Montana 31
1985: at Montana 31, Cal-Fullerton 30 :: at Minnesota 62, Montana 14
1987: at Cal-Fullerton 43, Montana 26
1989: at Fresno State 52, Montana 37
1990: Montana 22, at Oregon State 15
1991: at Louisiana Tech 21, Montana 11
1992: at Washington State 25, Montana 13 :: at Kansas State 27, Montana 12
1993: at Oregon 35, Montana 30
1994: Montana 21, at North Texas 17
1995: at Washington State 38, Montana 21
1996: Montana 35, at Oregon State 14
1997: at Wyoming 28, Montana 13
2000: Montana 45, at Idaho$ 38
2001: at Hawaii 30, Montana 12 :: at Montana 33, Idaho 27 (2 OTs)
2003: at Montana 41, Idaho 28
2005: at Oregon 47, Montana 14
%Mirage Bowl, Tokyo
$In Pullman, Wash.
GRIZ FINISH 8-4 IN 2005: The ninth-ranked Montana Grizzlies (8-4 overall/5-2 Big Sky) ended their season with a 35-21 loss to the 10th-ranked Cal Poly Mustangs in a first-round NCAA Division I-AA playoff game.
13TH NCAA BERTH IN A ROW!: Montana has now appeared in the Division I-AA playoffs a record 13 years in a row. The old record was 10 in a row, set by Eastern Kentucky from 1986-1995.
EIGHTH LEAGUE TITLE IN A ROW!: Montana has won out-right (or shared) eight consecutive Big Sky Conference titles (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005). The Grizzlies have won or shared the league crown 11 of the past 13 seasons.
20TH STRAIGHT WINNING SEASON: Montana now has 20 consecutive winning season, dating back to 1986.
I-A PLAYERS ON GRIZ ROSTER: Montana has eight Division I-A transfers on its 2006 roster who are projected to see action this season. The players and where they are from:
#2-Craig Chambers, Junior, WR, U of Washington (playing status unknown at press time)
#5-Eric Allen, Junior, WR, Oklahoma State
#7-Josh Swogger, Senior, QB, Washington State
#10-Qwenton Freeman, Junior, CB, Arizona
#20-Reggie Bradshaw, Junior, RB, Louisville
#40-Greg Coleman, Junior, RB, Iowa State
#66-Brent Russum, Sophomore, OT, Arizona State
#72-Levi Horn, RS Freshman, OT, Oregon
GRIZ YOUTH MOVEMENT: There are 20 redshirt freshmen and two ??true?? frosh expected to make the trip to Iowa City and could possibly see their first action ever for the Griz: #16-QB Clint Stapp; #24-RB Thomas Brooks-Fletcher; #25-FS Brandon Fisher; #31-SS Tim Anderson; #39-SS Shann Schillinger; #42-LB Jace Palmer; #49-TE/H-back Kevin Klaboe; #51-LB Tyler Pelluer; #54-DE Austin Mullins; #55-DT Dan Carter; #60-OG Ryan Schmidt; #64-OC Dan Girard; #67-OT Kevin Bell; #72-OT Levi Horn; #75-OT Chris Dyk; #77-OG Terran Hillesland; #80-WR Marc Mariani; #81-WR Tyler Palmer; #87-TE Dan Beaudin; and #94 DT Jackson Ledgerwood.
TRUE FROSH IN ACTION: Freshmen tight ends #88-Steven Pfahler (Frenchtown) and #89-Robert Overton (San Leandro, Calif.) are the only ??true?? freshmen making the trip to Iowa.
10 SENIORS: Montana??s ??Class of 2006?? has just 10 seniors: #7-Swogger, QB; #13-Tuff Harris, CB/PR; #21-Dustin Dlouhy, DE; #26-Tyson Johnson, P; 27-Matt Lebsock, FS; #41-Brady Green, RB; #63-Ryan Wells, OC; #73-Jeff Marshall, OC; #90-Mike Murphy, DE; #98-Kerry Mullan, DT. BF=Projected Starter.
GRIZ CAPTAINS: Season-long captains for 2006 (chosen by the team):
7-Josh Swogger, Senior QB, Vienne, Ohio
38-Lex Hilliard, Senior, RB, Kalispell, Montana (injured, OUT FOR SEASON)
41-Brady Green, Senior, RB, Brighton, Utah
90-Mike Murphy, Senior, DE, Great Falls, Montana
HILLIARD OUT FOR SEASON: Senior halfback Lex Hilliard injured his (left) achilles in fall camp and is out for the season. He has 2,884 career rushing yards and is second on UM??s career list. Hilliard, only the fourth player in school history to rush for more than 2,000 career yards, will travel with the team to Iowa.
MONTANA CAREER RUSHING LEADERS
1. Yohance Humphery 4,070 1998-2001
2. Lex Hilliard 2,884 2003-current
TWO ON CAREER SCORING LIST: Hilliard is sixth on Montana??s career scoring list with 216 points, while junior kicker Dan Carpenter is seventh.
MONTANA CAREER SCORING LEADERS
1. Chris Snyder, K...394...2000-03
5. Kris Heppner, K...241...1997-99
6. Lex Hilliard, RB...216...2003-current
7. Dan Carpenter, K...199...2004-current
MURPHY ONE OF 15 PLAYERS ON BUCHANAN LIST: Senior defensive end Mike Murphy was listed as one of 15 candidates by The Sports Network for the Buck Buchanan Award, given anually to Division I-AA??s ??Defensive Player of the Year.?? Murphy begins the 2006 season sixth on UM??s career sacks and tackles for loss lists. Season-long Mike Murphy/Buck Buchanan Award campaign coverage can be found at .
MONTANA CAREER SACKS LEADERS
1. Tim Bush, DE...34.5...2000-03
4. Lance Spencer, DE...23...2002-05
5. Trey Young, SS...22...1999-02
6. Mike Murphy, DE...20.5...2003-current
MONTANA CAREER TACKLES FOR LOSS LEADERS
1. Tim Bush, DE...50...2000-03
5. Adam Boomer, LB...32...1997-2000
6. Mike Murphy, DE...31...2003-current
STADNYK, WASHINGTON OUT FOR THE SEASON: Defensive end Mike Stadnyk, a 6-3, 253-pound junior from Regina, Saskatchewan will miss the 2006 season and redshirt after under-going shoulder surgery prior to fall camp. Senior quarterback Jason Washington will also miss the 2006 season aftter undergoing shoulder surgery this past spring. The 6-2, 200-pounder is from Oakland, Calif.
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