MISSOULA — The Grizzlies navigated spring football without all three of their starting linebackers.
As Montana opened fall camp on Tuesday morning at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, the Griz know they will be without at least one of those starters when the team opens the 2017 season against Valparaiso. The punishment for disorderly senior linebacker Connor Strahm has not been officially announced. But UM head coach Bob Stitt certainly expects his starting middle linebacker to miss some time.
Strahm, a starter for 11 games last season and Montana’s second-leading tackler, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on July 15.
Montana head coach Bob Stitt/ by Jason Bacaj
“Connor is a member of our football team but there is definitely going to be consequences,” Stitt said moments before beginning his third fall camp at Montana. “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. Therefore, Strahm will miss at least one game.
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.
RELATED: Griz LB Strahm arrested for DUI
Last season, the native of Eugene, Oregon, 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.”
Montana opens its season on September 2 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium against Valparaiso.
