George Ferguson Column: Upset of Bison ranks right up there

MISSOULA — There have been a lot of special days inside, and lately, nights inside the University of Montana’s famed Washington-Grizzly Stadium, but it would be tough for anyone to rank many games above last Saturday’s epic thriller between Montana and North Dakota State.

Sometimes, diehard fans, we get older, get stuck in the past and get stubborn — like we also get when we’re older — that’s why Montana’s thrilling win over the four-time defending FCS champion Bison, probably won’t ascend to the top of the all-time greatest games in Washington-Grizzly Stadium history.

Even I don’t know if I could actually bring myself to put the game ahead of the likes of 2009 FCS semifinal game against Appalachian State, or miracle finishes like the ones against South Dakota State in 1993 and 2009, or McNeese State in 1994 or App. State in 2000.

But, as great as those games were, as emotional and as intense as they turned out to be, you can make a case that Saturday’s game could top them, and here are the biggest reasons why.

1. Montana is still trying to emerge from its darkest time in modern program history. The last five years have been more rough than smooth for the Griz, and let’s not forget, Saturday’s win over the Bison was by a team that is still on NCAA probation and is under a scholarship reduction.

2. The Grizzlies were debuting a brand new offense, a brand new starting quarterback, and a brand new head coach. One of the hardest things about Montana’s ability to sustain its success over nearly three decades, has been coaching changes. Don Read retired after winning a national title, Mick Dennehy, Joe Glenn and Bobby Hauck all bolted for, what turned out to be, not so good FBS jobs, and Robin Pflugrad was fired. What do all those guys have in common? They all took the Griz to the FCS semifinals or better in at least one of their seasons.

So in comes Bob Stitt, the Griz’ fourth new head coach in the last 12 years. Not only is he new, but he brings a completely different offense, and coaching philosophy, as we all saw Saturday when he went for it on fourth down six times. And not only is he new, but he was handed a brand new starter at QB in Brady Gustafson, a scholarship reduction, and his FCS head coaching debut against who? Yes, a team whose seniors had only lost two games, compared to four national championships, prior to Saturday. So, under those circumstances, how could Saturday’s win not be the greatest in stadium history?

3. Of course, there’s the Bison themselves. Say what you want — the loss of 22 seniors, eight starters on defense, injuries in the secondary, blah, blah, blah — NDSU was still NDSU, the top-ranked team in the country, beginning their march toward a fifth national title. You don’t get that good by not having depth, and the Bison’s new starters are talented, big, tough and good. Yes, in my mind, I didn’t see anything that would suggest to me that, even with the loss Saturday, NDSU isn’t still the favorite to win the FCS title come January. In fact, as great as the Griz played, if I was a betting man, I’d put money on NDSU winning it all again this season.

4. And lastly, how about the atmosphere and conditions for Saturday’s game. I’ve been to all the blizzard games, the snowy nights under the lights and games played in sub-zero temps. I’ve been to all the games in Missoula played on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. And I’m still not sure there was a more electric and bizarre day in Wash-Griz than Saturday’s. ESPN in town, the only college game of the day, Brent Musberger and Jessie Palmer and, of course, the horrific smoke hanging over the stadium and the city — it was a strange day to play a football game in front of a national television audience indeed.

And all those reasons above are why no one could really argue that the game was the greatest in Wash-Griz history, of course, that, and the final outcome, Joey Counts’ 1-yard TD plunge with two seconds left, lifting Montana to what was an improbable win. Yes Griz fans, admit, you didn’t think, when you were tailgating Saturday morning, the Griz were actually going to win, and you didn’t think you were going to see such a magical and memorable game. It’s OK.

While Saturday’s game didn’t just live up to the hype — at least for Griz fans, and for ESPN, it far surpassed it — there’s really no reason to bother ranking it. It was a huge victory, and one of the most exciting football games Montana fans have ever seen.

The really cool thing about the Griz and that stadium is there are too many magical moments and great games to choose from anyway. And while Montana might not always be the best, days like Saturday just keep coming around.

And, from what I’ve seen, games like the Griz and Bison just played Saturday, will come around again.