Photo by: Coral Scoles-Coburn/University of Montana
“The real football work begins today” as Griz open fall camp
8/5/2024 7:18:00 PM | Football
The Montana Grizzlies began their march back to a Big Sky championship under unseasonably cool and cloudy Missoula skies on Monday at the traditional home of a Bobby Hauck fall camp – Dornblaser Field.
As you'd expect, spirits were high and the action was fast as Montana worked through its first of 18 official practices leading up to the season opener on Aug. 31 against Missouri State under the lights at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
With that target in their sights, it's officially go-time as the Griz look to claim the program's 20th conference title and return to the FCS championship game.
"It's always exciting to know you're up against the clock in terms of getting the team ready for the first game," said Hauck, who now begins the sixth season of his second stint at Montana, and his 13th overall with the Grizzlies as the winningest coach in Big Sky history.
"I've talked about how we had good work over the summer, but the real football work begins today. I'm always fired up to make sure we're ready for that first one."
The Griz are going to want to make sure they're ready too.
Expectations for Montana have been sky high this summer after the team made a memorable run to the FCS title game. The Grizzlies were picked by both the league's coaches and media to win a second-straight Big Sky title and the national media picked UM third in the Stats Perform FCS preseason top 25 – the highest rated team in the league.
But what none of them have seen is the work behind the scenes over the summer – the early morning lifts and coach-led, unpadded walk-through's that are now a staple of the summer schedule. For Hauck, it all paid off.
"The guys look the part. It looks like we've had a good summer to me. Our numbers were good in the weight room, and I think our veteran players really pushed things along. So it looks to me like we had a good summer," he added.
Gallery: (8-5-2024) FB:: Fall Camp - Practice 1
A GLIMPSE AT THE GRIZ
Montana opened its 127th year of college football with a robust 16 returning starters from last year's championship team (11 offense, five defense) and a crop of new transfers with 20 players on the roster who started their careers in the FBS ranks.
The Griz will face five teams ranked in the preseason top 25 this year, starting at No. 24 North Dakota, followed by a visit to Washington-Grizzly Stadium by No. 20 Western Carolina. The Griz also host No. 22 Weber State on Oct. 5 and No. 18 UC Davis on Nov. 9 before capping the year against No. 4 Montana State in Bozeman. Montana will also travel to Eastern Washington on Sept. 28, which was just outside the top 25 with 14 voting points.
Montana is now the winningest FCS team of the 20th century (2000-2023) with a 226-76 record in that time, passing North Dakota State's record of 225-46 with the semifinal win in Missoula last season.
The Griz are led by head coach Bobby Hauck, the winningest coach of all time in the Big Sky Conference who enters the season with 129 wins at Montana.
As you'd expect, spirits were high and the action was fast as Montana worked through its first of 18 official practices leading up to the season opener on Aug. 31 against Missouri State under the lights at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
With that target in their sights, it's officially go-time as the Griz look to claim the program's 20th conference title and return to the FCS championship game.
"It's always exciting to know you're up against the clock in terms of getting the team ready for the first game," said Hauck, who now begins the sixth season of his second stint at Montana, and his 13th overall with the Grizzlies as the winningest coach in Big Sky history.
"I've talked about how we had good work over the summer, but the real football work begins today. I'm always fired up to make sure we're ready for that first one."
The Griz are going to want to make sure they're ready too.
Expectations for Montana have been sky high this summer after the team made a memorable run to the FCS title game. The Grizzlies were picked by both the league's coaches and media to win a second-straight Big Sky title and the national media picked UM third in the Stats Perform FCS preseason top 25 – the highest rated team in the league.
But what none of them have seen is the work behind the scenes over the summer – the early morning lifts and coach-led, unpadded walk-through's that are now a staple of the summer schedule. For Hauck, it all paid off.
"The guys look the part. It looks like we've had a good summer to me. Our numbers were good in the weight room, and I think our veteran players really pushed things along. So it looks to me like we had a good summer," he added.
A GLIMPSE AT THE GRIZ
Montana opened its 127th year of college football with a robust 16 returning starters from last year's championship team (11 offense, five defense) and a crop of new transfers with 20 players on the roster who started their careers in the FBS ranks.
The Griz will face five teams ranked in the preseason top 25 this year, starting at No. 24 North Dakota, followed by a visit to Washington-Grizzly Stadium by No. 20 Western Carolina. The Griz also host No. 22 Weber State on Oct. 5 and No. 18 UC Davis on Nov. 9 before capping the year against No. 4 Montana State in Bozeman. Montana will also travel to Eastern Washington on Sept. 28, which was just outside the top 25 with 14 voting points.
Montana is now the winningest FCS team of the 20th century (2000-2023) with a 226-76 record in that time, passing North Dakota State's record of 225-46 with the semifinal win in Missoula last season.
The Griz are led by head coach Bobby Hauck, the winningest coach of all time in the Big Sky Conference who enters the season with 129 wins at Montana.
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