Griz senior linebacker Connor Strahm will be suspended for the first two games of Montana’s 2017 season, the UM athletic department announced in a press release on Friday morning.
Strahm, a starter for all 11 games last season and Montana’s second-leading tackler, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol the morning of July 15. The middle linebacker blew a .214 when a breathalyzer test was administered. He also had an open beer can in the center console of his car.
The athletic department release stated: “Connor Strahm has received a two-game suspension for violating the student-athlete code of conduct.”
Montana linebacker Connor Strahm/ by Jason Bacaj
Strahm, a senior from Eugene, Oregon, will miss the first two games of the season. Montana opens its 2017 schedule at home against Valparaiso on September 2. The following week, the Griz play at Pac 12 champion Washington in Seattle. Strahm will be eligible to play in the September 16 game against Savannah State in Missoula.
“Connor is a member of our football team but there is definitely going to be consequences,” Montana head coach Bob Stitt said moments before beginning his third fall camp at UM 10 days ago. “That was the first adversity we’ve faced on the year. We weren’t planning on that. We don’t expect any more. But we are going to rally around him. He’s going to have some consequences and the team is really going to support him.”
According to the Montana Athletics student athlete code of conduct, a misdemeanor DUI charge is a category II violation. The penalty for a first offense results in the minimum suspension of 10 percent of Montana’s contests this fall. Strahm’s punishment amounts to twice the required punishment.
The offense is Strahm’s first, meaning the charge is a misdemeanor. A first-time DUI conviction in Montana comes with 24 hours to six months in jail and a fine of $600 to $1,000. According to court documents obtained by Skyline Sports, Strahm registered a blood alcohol content reading of .214, more than 2.5 times the legal limit of 0.08 to operate a motor vehicle in Montana.
Montana sophomore Vika Fa’atuiese in Monday’s scrimmage/by Jason Bacaj
Last season, the Sheldon High product, notched 70 tackles, second on Montana. The 22-year-old had eight tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in his first year as a full-time starter. The 6-foot, 240-pounder is expected to be one of the top middle linebackers in the Big Sky next season.
During spring practices, 2016 starting linebackers Strahm, junior outside linebacker Josh Buss and senior outside linebacker James Banks all sat out because of minor off-season surgeries. At Mike linebacker, sophomore Vika Fa’atuiese, junior Shayne Cochran and redshirt freshman Trase Le Texier all had standout spring sessions.
Fa’atuiese played in 10 games last season, making 14 tackles and serving as a serviceable pass rusher in certain third down packages in defensive coordinator Jason Semore’s multiple scheme. Cochran played in eight games, notching eight tackles and a sack.
“We have some guys who we can count on and those guys will be in there early,” Stitt said. “I’m glad the did get some work with the 1s in the spring because of the incident.”
Photos by Jason Bacaj. All Rights Reserved.
