#11 Montana at North Dakota Official Thread

[Grizalltheway]

vs



Game time: 6:05 PM CDT, Saturday, September 14th, 2013

Location: Aerus Arena, Grand Forks, ND






Series History: Montana leads 11-8-1

TV: Max Media (Montana), Fox College Sports, Midco Sports Network
Video: bigskytv.org (free)

Game notes:

For the second consecutive season, the North Dakota football team will get to play a Big Sky Conference team as part of their tune-up for league play. That will take place on Saturday at the Alerus Center as No. 11/15 Montana visits for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff.

UND defeated Big Sky foe Portland state 45-37 in a non-conference game in 2012, but will face a resurgent Griz team that will be seeking revenge for a 40-34 setback handed to them by the Green and White last October in the same building.

THE BLITZ
• UND’s remaining nine games will all be against Big Sky Conference foes, but this Saturday’s matchup against league foe Montana will be counted as a non-conference contest. This tilt concludes a home-and-home series between the two programs that pre-dated UND’s arrival in the Big Sky.
• Montana took the front end of the home-and-home series with a 27-17 victory in 2010 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
• This game will be the second of a three-year stretch where the Griz will play at the Alerus Center each of those seasons. UND won a 40-34 thriller last season in what was the first meeting between the two programs as conference foes.
• In last year’s wild victory over Montana, UND set a school record with 704 total yards, while quarterback Braden Hanson and wide receiver Greg Hardin both set Big Sky and UND single-game records as well. Hanson threw for 660 yards, while Hardin caught a career-high 12 passes for 333 yards.
• After its late rally fell just short against No. 6/7 South Dakota State, some national voters took notice in the Sports Network poll, casting 24 votes for UND.
• The Griz, who are No. 11 in the Sports Network poll and No. 15 in the FCS coaches’ poll, are the second straight ranked opponent to visit the Alerus Center. UM knocked off No. 6 Appalachian State in its season opener on Aug. 31 before having last Saturday off.
• UND opens the season with four straight home games; the last time that happened was in 1955. Mercer is the only other FCS school that opens with its first four games at home.

http://www.undsports.com/ViewArticle.db ... =209255312" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Gil Dobie]

Tune-up for UND?

[Grizzlies1982]

This should be a good measure if the Grizzlies "are back". They looked solid against App State. Now it is time to see if we can pay back the folks in eastern Minnesota for last year's fiasco.

It appears North Dakota still has a very potent passing attack even with a young QB. I'm hoping the combination of a swarming defensive line and improved secondary keep the Griz rolling. I'm confident about the first part, though still uncertain about the second. It's likely this game will be another with plenty of points. Go Griz.

[Brock Landers]

Yes, they are going to get "tune(d)-up"

[Cap'n Cat]

Hey, any Griz geeks going to this game? May go there if there are "friendlies" from MT gonna be there.

[DMoo531]

You gotta respect the Griz for the OOC schedule they have. Well except for OK Panhandle. But ASU & UND. UND is an unknown. They could be an ISU or they could be a NDSU. Who knew when this game was scheduled? But I'd like to see a Saints or Tech game instead of an OK Pan. If we have to pay someone to come to MT, it might as well be a MT team.

[kalm]

You gotta respect the Griz for the OOC schedule they have. Well except for OK Panhandle. But ASU & UND. UND is an unknown. They could be an ISU or they could be a NDSU. Who knew when this game was scheduled? But I'd like to see a Saints or Tech game instead of an OK Pan. If we have to pay someone to come to MT, it might as well be a MT team.

This post and the one describing ND as "Eastern Minnesota" ...

It's hubris like this that leads to let downs and OOC FCS losses. It was nice knowin' ya Griz.

[Grizalltheway]

Grizzlies brace for dome test: North Dakota sets sights on upset of No. 11 Montana

With a rookie quarterback conundrum and a real problem stopping the run, North Dakota looks ripe for the picking for No. 11 Montana on Saturday.

But not so fast.

The Green and White showed last week they’re capable of playing with just about anyone, putting a scare into No. 6-ranked South Dakota State before dropping a 35-28 home decision. UND played particularly well in the fourth quarter – it scored twice before a turnover at midfield with 1:31 left killed a potential game-tying drive – and will take momentum into its game against the Grizzlies.

http://missoulian.com/sports/college/mo ... 963f4.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[uofmman1122]

I think we'll definitely have our hands full this weekend.

We'll for sure be able to control the ball and the clock, but if they can score at will, it won't make that much difference.

I have faith in our defense, though. I think we win 38-21.

[Grizzlies1982]

You gotta respect the Griz for the OOC schedule they have. Well except for OK Panhandle. But ASU & UND. UND is an unknown. They could be an ISU or they could be a NDSU. Who knew when this game was scheduled? But I'd like to see a Saints or Tech game instead of an OK Pan. If we have to pay someone to come to MT, it might as well be a MT team.

This post and the one describing ND as "Eastern Minnesota" ...

It's hubris like this that leads to let downs and OOC FCS losses. It was nice knowin' ya Griz.

OK, I can admit when I'm wrong. They are not in eastern Minnesota, they are actually Western Minnesota.

The real state of North Dakota begins west of Bismarck.
As to hubris... I expect a challenging game. The Griz secondary is still unproven as far as I'm concerned.

[Brock Landers]

You gotta respect the Griz for the OOC schedule they have. Well except for OK Panhandle. But ASU & UND. UND is an unknown. They could be an ISU or they could be a NDSU. Who knew when this game was scheduled? But I'd like to see a Saints or Tech game instead of an OK Pan. If we have to pay someone to come to MT, it might as well be a MT team.

This post and the one describing ND as "Eastern Minnesota" ...

It's hubris like this that leads to let downs and OOC FCS losses. It was nice knowin' ya Griz.

Our team is going to lose because of the "hubris" of a Montana State fan on the internet?

[Grizalltheway]

This post and the one describing ND as "Eastern Minnesota" ...

It's hubris like this that leads to let downs and OOC FCS losses. It was nice knowin' ya Griz.

Our team is going to lose because of the "hubris" of a Montana State fan on the internet?

He's a directional school grad; you can't assume he even knows what that word means.

[kalm]

Our team is going to lose because of the "hubris" of a Montana State fan on the internet?

He's a directional school grad; you can't assume he even knows what that word means.

Yes.

[Grizalltheway]

Electric No. 84 to test Griz at North Dakota

In an effort to contain North Dakota’s dangerous senior receiver, Greg Hardin, Montana coach Mick Delaney is mulling a new approach for Saturday.

“I think we better back up another four or five yards so he doesn’t run right by us,” joked the coach.

“He had more yards in our game last year than most guys have in a career. And that’s not just the University of Montana. He’s done that to most every team he’s played.”

Hardin, a preseason All-American whose team plays host to the Grizzlies in the Alerus Center, is going to have a hard time topping last year’s monster performance in a 40-34 win over the Griz. He piled up a Big Sky Conference single-game record 333 receiving yards on 12 catches, three of which went for touchdowns.

If you think Montana has forgotten, think again.

http://missoulian.com/sports/college/mo ... f887a.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Grizalltheway]

GROUND GRIZZLIES

Montana hits restart, ready to test UND’s run defense

Bye weeks can be a mixed blessing for college football teams.

On one hand, they offer a terrific opportunity to rest bruised and battered troops. On the other, they can kill momentum for a sky-high squad like 11th-ranked Montana, who ripped through Appalachian State on Aug. 31 but hasn’t played since.

Saturday’s tilt at North Dakota may feel a little like starting over again for the Grizzlies. Will they be rusty out of the gate against an upset-minded foe that played last week? Will they be so fresh that dinged-up NoDak is out of it by halftime?

We’ll soon find out.

http://missoulian.com/sports/college/mo ... 963f4.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Grizalltheway]

Helmets for the game:



No word on unis just yet.

[EWURanger]

Helmets for the game:



No word on unis just yet.

Nice improvement over the maroon helmets. Those were a little OTT.


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[Grizzlies1982]

Helmets for the game:



No word on unis just yet.

Nice improvement over the maroon helmets. Those were a little OTT.

Says the guy with the blood red field from hell.

[Mvemjsunpx]

[EWURanger]

Nice improvement over the maroon helmets. Those were a little OTT.

Says the guy with the blood red field from hell.

Well, I was expecting someone to say that...but, all smack aside, those helmets were hideous. I think they'd look ok with a road (white) jersey, but with the all-maroon they just looked shitty. My opinion.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Grizalltheway]

Griz ready for shot at redemption in Grand Forks



(sums up last year's game perfectly.)

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The last thing any football team wants is to be featured in a record book for futility.

That’s the ball and chain North Dakota wrapped around Montana’s ankle last October with a Big Sky Conference-record 660 passing yards in a 40-34 win at the Alerus Center. The Griz are back at the scene of the crime and they’ll be out for revenge Saturday at 5 p.m. Mountain in a nonconference tussle.

Count NoDak coach Chris Mussman among those concerned with the Grizzlies’ intentions.

“Montana is a very good-looking football team,” he said. “They look to me like an FBS team.

“They’re different from last year. The quarterback is a big difference-maker for them. They’ve got a new running back and receiver. I mean they’re huge up front. Defensively they return pretty much most of the guys from last year. I think this is a much better football team than even what we played last week, across the board. It’s scary to watch these guys.”

[uofmman1122]

Griz ready for shot at redemption in Grand Forks



(sums up last year's game perfectly.)

Sums up last season perfectly.

[Grizalltheway]

Sweet Jesus, SSH is starting!!

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Sweet Jesus, SSH is starting!!

JJ stick it in someone else? Hey, at least it's not SH starting for you guys.

[Grizalltheway]

Sweet Jesus, SSH is starting!!

JJ stick it in someone else? Hey, at least it's not SH starting for you guys.

Twas only a joke. I might not even watch if he were starting.