Story Published:
Mar 12, 2010 at 4:59 PM MST
Story Updated:
Mar 12, 2010 at 4:59 PM MST
MISSOULA (3/12/10-dg) - The defending Big Sky Conference champion University of Montana Grizzlies begin 2010 spring drills on Monday, March 15 and culminate spring practice with a scrimmage on Saturday, April 17 in Butte. (A practice schedule is listed below).
Head football coach Robin Pflugrad begins his initial season as the head coach at Montana, although it will be his 28th season of working at the college level. Pflugrad (flew-grad) took over for Bobby Hauck who had a seven-year record of 80-17 at UM, and is now the mentor at UNLV.
This season the Griz return 12 starters (five on offense, five on defense, kicker, punter), and 46 lettermen from a 14-1 team that went 8-0 in the Big Sky Conference en route to their 12th conference championship in a row.
Montana's 2009 season ended at the Football Championship Subdivision championship game for the second year in a row, a 23-21 loss to Villanova in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The Griz were ranked second in the final Sports Network poll of
2009 and added to their on-going record for playoff appearances, with their 17th straight.
Montana was ranked among the FCS's leaders last year in several categories. UM was seventh in the FCS in scoring offense (35.8 ppg), seventh in turnover margin (+1.20), and ninth in total offense (427.4 ypg). The Griz were 19th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing
108.67 yards a game, and 22nd in scoring defense (19.0 ppg). Special teams-wise UM was fifth in both punt returns (15.82 ypg) and kickoff returns (24.64 ypr), and eighth in net punting (37.47 avg.).
UM's five starters back on offense are senior running back Chase Reynolds, senior quarterback Andrew Selle, senior center Alex Verlanic, junior guard Jon Opperud, while wide receivers Sam Gratton and Jabin Sambrano, started seven games apiece.
Selle, who started in 13 games, was fourth in the country in passing efficiency (157.31), as he was 224-of-356-6 for 3,043 yards and
28 touchdowns. Reynolds was ranked 11th in rushing (100.13 ypg), and gained 1,502 yards en route to 22 TDs. Verlanic was a second team all-league selection, while Opperud was an honorable mention pick.
Sambrano, a junior, was fourth (tie) on the team a year ago with
31 catches, and had the second most receiving yards and touchdowns, with
512 and 5, respectively. Gratton, a sophomore, was seventh on the team with 28 receptions.
The Grizzlies five starters back on defense are senior end Severin Campbell, senior tackle Tyler Hobbs, junior linebacker Alex Shaw, junior cornerback Trumaine Johnson, and senior strong safety Erik
Stoll.
Stoll was UM's second leading tackler with 98 stops, while Shaw was fourth with 79 total tackles. Campbell had 60 stops, including a team-high 10.5 tackles for losses, while Hobbs had 39 tackles. Johnson, a first team all-league pick, led UM with five interceptions. Campbell, Hobbs, and Stoll were honorable mention all-conference picks.
Also back are junior kicker Brody McKnight and junior punter Sean Wren, who were both named All-Big Sky honorable mention. Wren tied for 15th in the FCS, averaging 41.19 yards a punt. McKnight converted
15-of-25 field goals tries, with a long of 54 at Northern Arizona last season.
2010 MONTANA GRIZZLY TENTATIVE SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE %
Approximate Practice sessions, 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Riverbowl
Scrimmages will be held at Washington-Grizzly Stadium - Times TBA
Monday, March 15-No Pads Tuesday, April 6 - Team
meeting/Team Conditioning
Tuesday, March 16-No Pads Wednesday, April 7-Pads
Thursday, March 18-Pads Saturday, April 10- Scrimmage
Friday, March 19-Scrimmage Monday, April 12-Pads
Monday, March 22-Pads Tuesday, April 13-Pads
Tuesday, March 23-Pads Thursday, April 15-Pads
Thursday, March 25-No Pads Saturday, April 17-SCRIMMAGE in
Butte, 2:30 p.m.
Friday, March 26- Scrimmage
March 29-April 2 SPRING BREAK
%Practice days may be changed due to poor weather
