The lights are still bright at the Northern Quest Casino in Spokane, but the second year in a new setting leeches away novelty and this year found the Big Sky Kickoff and its neon-soaked host settling into routine – the corridors not quite as confounding, the cigarette smoke on the gaming floor not quite as overpowering and, incidentally, order restored at the top of the conference as well…even if it’s an order that felt long buried in the past.
After more than a decade away from the throne, Bobby Hauck and the Montana Grizzlies are the kings of the Big Sky again, stamped this time not just by the polls but by their magnificent 2023 season, when they won 10 straight games and their first Big Sky title since 2009.
Buoyed by the home-field advantage of Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Montana decimated Delaware and then survived challenges from Furman and North Dakota State in a rollicking playoff run that ended in the national title game, when the Griz were finally outclassed by South Dakota State.
In the off-season, Hauck and the Griz fended off transfer interest in several stars, notably scintillating receiver/returner Junior Bergen, and used the portal themselves to bolster all three levels of the defense, plus the offensive line, running backs and quarterbacks. Montana returns three offensive linemen, plus three experienced receivers, Jerry Rice Award-winning running back Eli Gillman and his backup Nick Ostmo, and All-Big Sky defenders at linebacker (Riley Wilson) and cornerback (Trevin Gradney). Heck, former All-American tight end Cole Grossman is back in the fold too, fully healthy after the explosive seam-runner missed all of last season.
Time – and probably a trip to North Dakota in the second game of the season – will tell if the Griz have one capable quarterback between their three options – youngsters Keali’i Ah Yat and Kaden Huot and Fresno State transfer Logan Fife. Even with that uncertainty, the consensus is clear that the road to the Big Sky title runs through Missoula. The Griz received 10 of 12 first-place votes in the coaches poll and 29 of 38 from the media.
That affirmation – and probably more likely his own private evaluation of his team’s quality – had Hauck backslapping and handshaking his way around Northern Quest, ready as ever to start another season.
“For me personally, it’s not uncharted territory, but it’s always good,” Hauck said. “I think one of the reasons why we recruit well is because guys know we’ve got a chance to always win a championship at our place. When they walk in the door, they know they’ve got a chance and then whether we do it or not, we’ll see.
“Last year was a lot of fun. We’ve had a chance to enjoy that. But don’t be confused with the fact that we haven’t been working trying to get the next one and we’ve got as good a chance as anybody to do that this year.”
Across the conference landscape, Hauck’s primary rivals are treading on less firm ground.
Jason Eck and the Idaho Vandals, at least, will never lack for confidence. They were the spotlight center of the event once again, with linebacker Tommy McCormick and defensive lineman Keyshawn James-Newby strutting around in fitted tuxedos a year after receivers Hayden Hatten and Jermaine Jackson made the evening wear a tradition for the Vandals.
Hatten and Jackson are now in the NFL, while four other stars – quarterback Gevani McCoy (Oregon State), running back Anthony Woods (Utah), linebacker Xe’ree Alexander (UCF) and cornerback Marcus Harris (Cal) – transferred to the FBS.
That’s raised questions about Idaho’s roster, but hasn’t dimmed their swagger. An offensive line that started only underclassmen should steady the offense and a defense that is a year older under the direction of new coordinator Dan Jackson has a chance to take a step forward.
In particular, James-Newby, the puffy-afroed defensive end originally from Helena, ably matched Hatten’s brash bravado, if not quite his suave comfort in the suit.
“Just be prepared for the Vandals,” James-Newby said after Idaho was picked third in both polls. “We’re coming out tough. We’re coming out strong. Don’t sleep on us. We’re right there.”
East of Missoula, Brent Vigen’s Montana State Bobcats will feel similarly, despite a year that raised an equal amount of questions. The ‘Cats went 8-4, failed to win a playoff game for the first time in Vigen’s three years and finished the season outside the top five for the first time in his tenure as well.
But those four losses – 20-16 at No. 1 South Dakota State, 24-21 at No. 6 Idaho, 37-7 at No. 2 Montana and 35-34 at home to No. 8 North Dakota State in the playoffs – came against a murderer’s row of the top of the subdivision, and only the carnage in Missoula defied explanation.
With the Brawl of the Wild in Bozeman this year, Montana State, which was picked second in the polls, has a chance to spoil its eternal rival’s dreams, but only if the Bobcats can escape the psychological scarring from last year’s beat-down – and the ensuing much closer but equally as brutal overtime loss to the Bison in the playoffs.
Tommy Mellott, voted preseason all-conference at quarterback, won’t be splitting time this year, meaning the best offensive line in the Big Sky has to keep him healthy. Vigen also has to keep him healthy and, well, the courageous, fearless Mellott also has to keep himself healthy.
Center Justus Perkins and tackle Marcus Wehr joined Mellott on the all-conference team, as did fullback Rohan Jones, defensive lineman Brody Grebe (who also picked up defensive MVP), linebacker Danny Uluilakepa, safety Rylan Ortt, punter Brendan Hall and long snapper Tommy Sullivan, giving the Bobcats the most selections in the league.
“We need to be able to, in the most critical moments, find a way to get things done,” Vigen said. “And there’s trust involved in that, underlying everything. We spent a lot of this off-season just building upon that trust, you know, being solution-focused in our mindsets. There’s been a lot of time spent, obviously, in the weight room, but we’ve spent a lot of time just working on the mental side, our approach, and you hope that in the most critical moments that pays dividends. That remains to be seen, but I like the progress we’ve made at this point.”
There are plenty of stories further down the polls demanding attention as well. Andy Thompson, in his second year at Sacramento State, and Tim Plough, going into his first year at UC Davis (where he was previously the offensive coordinator), are young, self-assured coaches on a collision course that might have playoff implications in the season-ending Causeway Classic. The Aggies, who return preseason offensive MVP Lan Larison and former all-conference QB Miles Hastings, and the Hornets, with NFL prospect O-lineman Jackson Slater, were picked fourth and fifth, respectively, in both polls.
Aaron Best at Eastern Washington and Mickey Mental at Weber State are trying to return to contention after a few down years by the standards of recently successful programs. Former Montana State offensive coordinator Brian Wright replaces Chris Ball at Northern Arizona, while Cody Hawkins is trying to revive the Throwin’ Idahoans and make his mark in his second season leading at Idaho State.
Vigen and Montana State get the first word on the season when the Bobcats visit New Mexico in a Week 0 game on August 24.
But leaving Spokane, it only felt appropriate to let Hauck have the last word on the Kickoff.
“At this point in the year, everybody who follows college football is starting to get excited for what’s about to start,” Hauck said. “We’ve all enjoyed a few days off and we’ve been ready for the start of the season since the end of June. Our first 15 practices are carded, scripted. All the preseason studies are done, we’re ready to go. And then we come here and it’s zeroing in on time to start. And I think if you’re not excited about that, you probably ought to be doing something else.”
