Game of the Year: Griz host mighty Bison

Over the last three decades, there have been a lot of big games played inside the University of Montana’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium. But as far as regular season games, and season-opener’s go, there’s never been anything like this.

Under smoke-filled skies on Saturday, an expected crowd of over 27,000 fans are set to watch the No. 13 Grizzlies open their 2015 season against four-time defending FCS champion and top-ranked North Dakota State. Not only will a record crowd fill Wash-Griz, but the game is being broadcast on ESPN as the first official college football game of the fall. And even the announcing team for Saturday’s game, which kicks off at 1:30 p.m. is big time. Hall of Fame broadcaster Brent Musberger and partner Jessie Palmer will have the call for the national telecast.

The game, which is a rematch of last year’s 22-10 NDSU win in Fargo, North Dakota, has been hyped for months, even years, as the contract was signed all the way back in 2012. But the buildup was made even bigger by the hiring of Montana head coach Bob Still, who will make his Grizzly debut against the best team in the FCS over the last six to seven years, a crown Montana used to own.

Still, hype is just that, hype. And though the excitement isn’t lost on the Grizzlies, they aren’t worried about hype, they are worried about performance.

"It's great for the school and it's great for (Grizzly) athletics, but us as players try not to think about that," said wide receiver and senior captain Jamaal Jones. "Whether (Musburger) is calling the game or not, he's not gonna be the reason we win or lose."

Stitt, while focusing on how good the Bison are, isn’t oblivious to just how big his first game as a Grizzly is either.

"It's the reason I got into the profession, to coach in a game like this," he said.

Stitt may have gotten into coaching to be a part of games like Saturday’s, but, in his first game of this magnitude, his team is a decided underdog. Despite graduating 21 seniors, the Bison, who have lost just five times in seven years, were a unanimous FCS Preseason No. 1.

"You don't win four national championships in a row and not be able to reload at some time," Stitt said. "They went through adversity before. They lost their head coach and the new guy comes in and goes 15-1 and wins it."

Indeed, the new guy is second-year head coach Chris Klieman, NDSU’s former defensive coordinator. And while he knows his team is still good, despite losing eight starters on defense, he has a healthy respect for Stitt, the Grizzlies and their proud tradition.

“I think there’s a tremendous amount of respect for what Montana has done in the Big Sky and nationally,” Klieman said. “Montana has great tradition and a great football storied history. Our guys know that. They know they’re going into a great environment against a great program. We’ll just tee it up and see what happens.”

But as much tradition as both teams have, Saturday’s clash will come down to execution, and in particular, which experienced unit can take advantage of the other’s inexperience.

The Grizzlies return a stout defense, led by linebackers Kendrick Van Ackeren and Jeremiah Kose, as well as defensive end Tyrone Holmes and defensive tackle Caleb Kidder. Overall, Montana is experienced on defense with eight senior starters, including corner Nate Harris, safety Justin Whitted and defensive end Derek Crittendon. The Montana defense limited NDSU to just five field goals a year ago, despite giving up nearly 300 yards on the ground.

On the flip side, the NDSU offense has equal talent and experience. Quarterback Carson Wentz (6-6) is a Walter Payton Award candidate. And with talented targets like receivers Zach Vraa and RJ Urzendowski, as well as tight end Andrew Bonnett to throw to, and with the graduation of star running back John Crockett, NDSU’s passing game could be a key Saturday. Still, the Bison love to run the football, and they do so behind an offensive line that many say is as good as any in even FBS football.

But as good as NDSU’s offense and Montana’s defense are, the roles are reversed on the other side. Saturday, UM junior Brady Gustafson (6-7) will make his Grizzly debut as a starting quarterback. Gustafson has a host of talented receivers, led by Jones and Ellis Henderson, but as a unit, the UM offense is inexperienced. The offensive line is down a starter in center Ben Weyer, and John Nyguen and Lorenzo Logwood have moved up from third and fourth string, to starting running backs this season. Then, there’s Stitt’s offense. The inventor of the fly sweep has only had a spring and a fall camp to install it, and the first test drive in a game is against arguably the greatest defensive program in the history of FCS/Division 1-AA football.

That defense however, coached by Klieman, is untested as well. Linebacker Nick DeLuca and corner Jordan Champion are the lone full-time starters back. However, that doesn’t mean NDSU will be weak on defense, to the contrary, the Bison will just be untested.

“I’m as interested as everybody else is to see how some of these young guys who have not had those snaps in those critical, big games respond. I’m hoping our senior leadership can calm those guys down in an unbelievable environment to just go out and play and that’s probably easier said than done. I’m with you. I’m trying to figure out how some of our guys will respond.”

And who plays better is the key. Turnovers, touchdowns and third-down stops will be the difference. But more importantly, who is better prepared. That advantage may go to the Griz, who know exactly what to expect from the Bison, while Klieman and Co., have been watching tape sof Stitt’s old team, Colorado School of Mines, to get a handle on how the Grizzlies will look Saturday.

But, no matter how each team prepared, the time has come to play one of the biggest games in Grizzly and NDSU history. And, at least on the Montana side, the Grizzlies are more than ready to welcome the Bison back to Wash-Griz for the first time since 2003 when NDSU was transitioning from DII football.

The Griz are hungry and, since the day fall camp broke, have been wanting nothing more than a piece of the best FCS team in all the land.

"Sick of it. Done with it. Ready to play somebody else," Ackeren said. "I love these guys, but I'm ready to hit somebody else.

"You're anxious and you're excited,” Stitt said. “I talked to the team about it and you're not gonna be nervous when you're prepared. People that are nervous are unsure. We're ready to go and we're prepared.”

The showdown between Montana and North Dakota State is slated for 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Missoula. The sold-out game can be seen live nationally on ESPN. The Grizzlies will also be at home next Saturday for a night game against Cal Poly, while the Bison have a bye next week before hosting Weber State Sept. 12.