Griz emerge from hibernation, open spring drills Friday

The long winter's hibernation is finally over for the Grizzlies, who will emerge from the den Friday to begin preparation for a 2021 spring and, ultimately, fall schedule that brings purpose, clarity, balance, and perhaps most importantly, a sense of normalcy to the Montana football squad.

Now it's time for the Griz to hunt.

The team's first official practice on Friday kicks off a 36-day, 21-practice spring slate that more closely resembles the traditional college football spring training period that normally culminates with the annual spring scrimmage.

But, in a year that has been anything but normal, Montana will have the unique added bonus of two games – games that matter, with the scoreboard running and stats counting in career totals – to test themselves against another team.

And the results of those tests will give head coach Bobby Hauck and his staff a better-than-ever barometer to measure his squad's performance as the Grizzlies look toward their ultimate goal of hunting for championships in the fall.

After a year with so much uncertainty, the Grizzlies now have a clear vision, and Hauck says the team has responded.

"I think it's comforting to our players to be on a normal schedule, to have something to look forward to, and to know what they're doing next week, next month, this summer, etcetera," Hauck said.

"I really think that people our players' age function best when they've got structure and discipline, and we're able to provide that now, so they're flourishing."

What the Grizzlies have to look forward to this spring are two games, both nonconference contests that will serve the same purpose as traditional spring scrimmages: individual and team development.

Montana will first host Central Washington on April 10, followed by Portland State on April 17 in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Quality games that will test the Grizzlies – CWU, after all, was beating Idaho 17-14 at halftime in the 2019 season opener, and PSU came away with a win last time they visited Missoula in 2018 – while keeping the focus on the fall. A fall schedule that begins with perennial FBS powerhouse Washington in Seattle on Sept. 4.

While other FCS teams opted into the full spring season afforded by the NCAA, Montana was one of five Big Sky teams that decided to play on its own time under its own conditions. And if you were in Missoula during the month of February, you may know why preparing for a full season may not have been productive or even possible.

"I was never really able to make the leap mentally where playing eight or ten games this spring was a good thing. I never thought it would be great for us to try to prepare in the arctic, try to play ten games, then do it again in the fall," said Hauck.

"So, I like where we're at. I'm excited about the two-game schedule, and I know that our players are too."

THE LONG WINTER

With clarity and vision locked in for the calendar year, the Grizzlies got back to doing what they're good at during the cold months of January and February: hitting the weight room.

Montana enters the spring season fresh off a round of max testing in the Washington-Grizzly Champions Center, a measure of strength to see the results of early morning fitness and lifting sessions. So far, the early returns are positive.

'Over the last two months, we've made terrific gains in the weight room, which I think is exciting. For our players, they are enthused about the fact they're throwing some pretty good weight around," said Hauck.

"It's been rewarding to be around them and see the attitude and the work ethic coming through. It's been a prime example of the fact you don't control anything in life, but your attitude and your effort level and the attitude and effort level have been tremendous by our guys."

One of the few offseason staff changes Hauck has had to make since his return to Montana has also come in the weight room, with the addition of Dan Ryan as the team's new strength and conditioning coach. As a Montana alum and former undergraduate assistant, Hauck adds the transition has been seamless.

"Dan is a good guy. He fits in well with the staff, and I think he's assimilated into the team really well. Being a Montana guy and an alum, it wasn't all new to him here," said Hauck.

"We've made kind of a turn in how we're running things down there, and I think it's been positive."

LOOKING AHEAD

On paper, Montana will take the field after what seems to be an eternity this spring with an experienced and deep squad with relatively little turnover during the extended layoff.

The Griz return 15 starters in 2021, eight on offense and seven on defense, with a robust 33 lettermen back in the spring as well.

The star power will be there, with the 2019 Big Sky Newcomer of the Year and UM record-holder Marcus Knight, and two-time all-conference receiver Samuel Akem back to lead the offense.

Defensively, household names like 2020 Big Sky Preseason Defensive MVP Jace Lewis at linebacker and All-America safety Robby Hauck are back to help lead an experienced unit.

But with 12 starters lost from 2019's FCS Quarterfinal squad, including Buchanan Award winner Dante Olson and CFL signees Dalton Sneed and Jerry Louie-McGee, there are still positions where the Griz are unproven.

That is where the beauty of Montana's nontraditional 2020-2021 seasons comes in. Players have been getting bigger, stronger, and more skilled during the layoff. And for Hauck, that's because the locker room is filled with guys who work the hardest when the bright lights are off.

"It's all about development and improvement, and that's the spirit of this group. In football, we only play 11 games a fall plus the playoffs, so you have to enjoy the process and be motivated by the process," Hauck said.

"We just need to keep improving this spring, and since we actually get to play a couple games, we need to go win them."

Montana Spring Practice Schedule
Fri. 3.12 – Practice 1
Sat. 3.13 – Practice 2
Mon. 3.15 – Practice 3
Wed. 3.17 – Practice 4
Fri. 3.19 – Practice 5
Mon. 3.22 – Practice 6
Wed. 3.24 – Practice 7
Fri. 3.26 – Practice 8
Mon. 3.29 – Practice 9
Wed. 3.31 – Practice 10
Fri. 4.2 – Practice 11
Mon. 4.5 – Practice 12
Tues. 4.6 – Practice 13
Wed. 4.7 – Practice 14
Thurs. 4.8 – Practice 15
Fri. 4.9 – Practice 16
Sat. 4.10 – vs. Central Washington
Mon. 4.12 – Practice 17
Tues. 4.13 – Practice 18
Wed. 4.14 – Practice 19
Thurs. 4.15 – Practice 20
Fri. 4.16 – Practice 21
Sat. 4.17 – vs. Portland State

• Schedule subject to change
• Due to health concerns, practice closed to public and media
• Game attendance, ticketing, broadcast, and kick time details will be announced at GoGriz.com when available.

University of Montana Athletics

Griz emerge from hibernation, open spring drills Friday

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