"That's a day I'll remember forever," said junior quarterback Bobby Seck, who leads the Pride into Washington-Grizzly Stadium to face the Grizzlies. "It's just an honor to be from this area, where so many brave people gave their lives. You look at what the New York firemen and policemen did that day, and it's still an inspiration to all of us."
Seck was in a psychology class on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, when cell phones started buzzing around him.
"It was a nice September day, but no one was outside," added Seck. "It was weird. It was like the campus was deserted. Everyone was inside."
Like many Hofstra students, Seck's first thought was to call his family, to check and see if any relatives were downtown.
"As it turned out none were, but it wouldn't have been unusual," Seck said.
A total of 26 Hofstra alumni perished at the World Trade Center. Among them were three former football players, including New York Fire Department Lt. Glenn Wilkinson (Class of '78).
All Hofstra athletic teams wear a memorial patch on their uniforms. It includes the Twin Towers, the American flag and the Hofstra flag, to honor the victims of 9-11.
Senior quarterback Craig Ochs' scrambling in Montana's season-opening 27-20 victory over Maine was a source of enjoyment - and anxiety - for Griz fans. Ochs ran 13 times for 57 yards, although three sacks left his net total at 33. He even kept the ball on an option play, picking up 2 yards.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Ochs didn't have much chance to demonstrate his running ability last season, when he was hobbled by ankle and shoulder problems. He suffered several concussions while playing at Colorado before transferring to Montana after the 2002 season.
Given Ochs' fragile history, every dash beyond the line of scrimmage is going to produce some sweaty palms. But until UM's relatively unseasoned offensive line gains more experience and cohesiveness, Ochs may not have much choice. Montana coach Bobby Hauck said the offensive line played better as the game went on against Maine, but, like the rest of the Grizzlies, has plenty of room for improvement.
Asked if he would tell Ochs to not scramble, Hauck gave an emphatic "no."
"It's something he does well, something he brings to the game, and it's hard on the defense," Hauck said. "It's gotta be part of the game plan."
Ochs passed for 217 yards and three touchdowns. The TD passes equaled Montana's total for its final four games of 2003 and matched Ochs' single-game UM high, set in the 43-40 double-overtime loss at Idaho State last year.
Still, Hofstra coach Joe Gardi has noted the extra dimension that Ochs' legs provide.
"I love their quarterback," Gardi said. "He can throw the ball accurately, but he can take off on the run and hurt you too. A double threat like that always scares you."
It can also confuse teammates.
On one scramble, receiver Jefferson Heidelberger noticed Ochs pointing his finger.
"When he's taking off, I'm trying to find spots," Heidelberger said. "I thought he was pointing out a hole in the zone (defense) to pass it. I'm looking and I'm looking, and there's a guy there. And then all of a sudden I realize, he's gonna run this. He wants me to block it. ... Here I'm giving him free shots, because I'm not not figuring out what he wants."
Maine quarterback Ron Whitcomb passed for 234 yards - 84 of them on a late drive - last week against the Griz. By contrast, Seck passed for 217 yards in the first quarter against Albany, and finished with 26 completions in 38 attempts.
Montana, like Hofstra, will often line up with four receivers and a lone running back. But while the Griz would prefer a reasonable balance between the pass and run, Hofstra's first choice is usually a pass.
"They're a different opponent," Hauck said. "Hofstra is going to throw the ball around. It depends on down and distance, but we're going to be tested."
Montana's young secondary could enjoy an especially busy day.
The Griz start converted safety Kevin Edwards, a junior, at one cornerback, and sophomore Tuff Harris at the other corner. True freshman Jimmy Wilson is the top reserve. Sophomores Matt Lebsock and Van Cooper Jr., started last week at the safeties, with the Thomas brothers in reserve. Tyler is a junior, Torrey a true freshman.
The secondary took a hit before the season began, losing cornerback Chris Clark to academic problems. Clark, who will redshirt this fall, started the final six games last season as a true freshman.
"I'm impressed with Edwards," said Gardi, praising the cornerback's two interceptions against Maine. "Their secondary may be young, but they can play."
Montana could go with two linebackers and an extra defensive back, depending on what Hofstra shows.
"We're preparing for anything they might throw at us," Seck said.
Montana senior punt returner Levander Segars added to his growing list of records last week. Segars set a Big Sky Conference mark with his 114th career punt return, breaking the record of 113 he shared with Boise State's Rick Woods (1978-81). Segars holds the league record with 1,245 punt return yards.
Segars' six catches for 59 yards included what may have been the game's key play, a 17-yard reception in the fourth quarter that set up the Grizzlies' go-ahead touchdown. The 5-9 Segars leaped high in the air to haul in the third-down pass from Ochs, putting UM in business at the Maine 12-yard line.
"That was a great catch," Ochs said. "We were trying to attack it horizontally against their defense. They spread out nicely, and there was a nice hole for LV. I just kinda tried to loop it over their corner and, man, he (Segars) showed a nice vertical on that. He made a perfect catch. He made me look real good."
Stats and notes: No. 2 Montana has been ranked in the Top 10 of the Sports Network's Division I-AA poll for 68 of the past 72 weeks. ... Ochs' 151.9 pass efficiency rating leads the Big Sky and ranks 15th in the nation. ... Montana recorded four sacks last week. No other Big Sky team notched more than one. ... Tyson Johnson launched his second season as UM's punter in fine style, averaging a Big Sky-best 43.8 yards per boot. ... Montana set an attendance record for a home opener, drawing 23,228 against Maine. It was the fifth largest crowd in Washington-Grizzly Stadium history. ... Hofstra had two players chosen to the All-Atlantic 10 preseason team. Junior defensive end Dan Garay and junior linebacker Cole Haley were named to the second team. .. More than half of Hofstra's players are from New York and New Jersey. But the roster lists players from 15 other states, including California, Texas, Florida, Kansas, Illinois and Ohio. ... Hofstra's best receiver, Marques Colston, is out for the season because of a shoulder injury. Backup linebacker Brian Trimboli is out with a leg injury.
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