Hauck, Tirrell, White to represent Montana at Big Sky Kickoff

Montana head football coach Bobby Hauck, senior linebacker Ryan Tirrell of Missoula, and offensive MVP receiver Keelan White will all represent the Grizzlies at this year's Big Sky Football Kickoff weekend.

The annual Big Sky Kickoff is set for July 20-22 at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Spokane, Washington.

Events surrounding the kickoff include a free youth football clinic on Saturday, July 20, from 2-3:30 p.m. PT at North Central HS in Spokane, instructed by student-athletes from each of the Big Sky's 12 football teams.

Saturday evening will feature the 2024 Big Sky Hall of Fame Gala at 6:30 p.m., with legendary head football coach Don Read to be inducted posthumously in a ceremony honoring all eight inductees from the 2024 class.

Prior to Sunday's annual meetings for head coaches and athletic directors, attendees will learn how to best leverage their Name, Image and Likeness opportunities from Influencer's Joe Maggio, while Treasure State native and former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf will speak to student-athletes and other select groups about his past and what others can learn from his wealth of life experiences.

Monday will be highlighted by over four hours of live coverage from the Northern Quest Resort & Casino beginning at 9:00 a.m. PT on ESPN+. The Big Sky's Meghan Robinson and Scripps Sports' Kyle Hansen will co-host coverage for the day, with interviews with players and coaches from all 12 teams, plus special guests throughout the day.

Scripps Sports will broadcast both the Hall of Fame Gala and Monday's media day, with the shows airing on the below stations and on ESPN+.

Saturday's Hall of Fame Gala
Missoula         MTN                8.2
Kalispell           MTN                18.2
Billings             MTN                2.2
Bozeman         MTN                7.2
Butte               MTN                4.2
Great Falls       MTN                3.2
Helena             MTN                12.2
Salt Lake City   Utah 16           16.1
Boise               Boise 6             6.2
Twin Falls        Twin Falls 6     6.2

Saturday's Hall of Fame Gala & Monday's Media Day
Missoula         KPAX
Billings             KTVQ (Q2)
Bozeman         KBZK
Great Falls       KRTV
Helena             KTVH
Salt Lake          KSTU
Boise               KIVI (Idaho 6)

About the representatives

• Bobby Hauck is the Big Sky Conference's all-time winningest coach with 129 victories in 12 seasons with the Grizzlies. He broke former Northern Arizona coach (and Montana assistant) Jerome Souers' record of 123 wins against Sac State, and his sideline gear and a game ball from that win are now in the College Football Hall of Fame.

He was named the Big Sky Coach of the Year for the 4th time in his career this season, the AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year for the third time in his career, and a Finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award for the second time after winning his eighth Big Sky Championship in November.

• Ryan Tirrell, a 6-2, 230lb senior linebacker from Missoula Loyola High School, is Montana's second-leading returning tackler this year with 62 total stops (24 solo) as a junior in 2023. He also logged one sack and 1.5 TFLs, two quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup in a strong year as a backup.

Pro Football Focus rates him as the No. 2 linebacker in the Big Sky Conference among 2025 draft eligible players with an A grade and a 79.0 defensive score.

• Keelan White, a 6-2, 185lb senior receiver from North Vancouver, B.C., was named Montana's Offensive MVP as the team's leading receiver in 2023 with 798 yards on 54 catches for an average of 14.78 yards per catch and 4 touchdowns.

He was a leader on a receiving corps with three players that caught more than 600 yards of passes each and totaled 2,206 yards. He also set a school record with a 97-yard touchdown catch against Sacramento State.

2024 Big Sky Football Kickoff Weekend Show Schedule
Monday, July 22 // Northern Quest Resort & Casino
Time	School	Name (Pos.)
9:02 a.m.	Big Sky	Tom Wistrcill Interview
9:14 a.m.	Cal Poly	Paul Wulff (HC)
9:22 a.m.	Cal Poly	Giancarlo Woods (WR), Elijah Ponder (DL)
9:30 a.m.	Northern Arizona	Brian Wright (HC)
9:39 a.m.	Northern Arizona	Jonny Bottorff (OL), Daniel Robledo (DL)
9:47 a.m.	INFLCR	Joe Maggio Interview
9:56 a.m.	Portland State	Bruce Barnum (HC)
10:03 a.m.	Portland State	Dante Chachere (QB), Kennedy Freeman (DL)
10:12 a.m.	Montana State	Brent Vigen (HC)
10:20 a.m.	Montana State	Marcus Wehr (OL), Brody Grebe (DL)
10:27 a.m.	Northern Colorado	Ed Lamb (HC)
10:34 a.m.	Northern Colorado	Hunter Green (K/P), Sam Iongi-Amituanai (DL)
10:43 a.m.	TBA	President's Cup Winning Athletic Director
10:50 a.m.	N/A	Special Feature
10:58 a.m.	UC Davis	Tim Plough (HC)
11:05 a.m.	UC Davis	Lan Larison (RB), Rex Connors (DB)
11:14 a.m.	Sacramento State	Andy Thompson (HC)
11:21 a.m.	Sacramento State	Kaiden Bennett (QB), Jackson Slater (OL)
11:29 a.m.	Idaho State	Cody Hawkins (HC)
11:36 a.m.	Idaho State	Christian Fredericksen (WR), Cortland Horton (DL)
11:45 a.m.	N/A	Special Feature
11:53 a.m.	Spokane Sports	Special Interview
12:00 p.m.	Weber State	Mickey Mental (HC)
12:08 p.m.	Weber State	Damon Bankston (RB), Jalon Rock (DB)
12:17 p.m.	Montana	Bobby Hauck (HC)
12:25 p.m.	Montana	Keelan White (WR), Ryan Tirrell (LB)
12:32 p.m.	Northern Quest	Special Interview
12:39 p.m.	Idaho	Jason Eck (HC)
12:47 p.m.	Idaho	Keyshawn James-Newby (DL), Tommy McCormick (DB)
12:54 p.m.	Eastern Washington	Aaron Best (HC)
1:02 p.m.	Eastern Washington	Nolan Ulm (WR), Brock Harrison (DL)

University of Montana Athletics

Hauck, Tirrell, White to represent Montana at Big Sky Kickoff

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