Junior linebacker Loren Utterback came to the University of Montana as a highly-touted running back, who led Fort Benton on both offense and defense to the state Class B title in his senior year of 2002. He ran for 1,547 yards and 22 touchdowns that season, despite playing most of it with a torn antieror cruciate ligament.
Watching Lex Hilliard hit the ground running at UM helped Utterback decide that linebacker was his place on the Griz. For the effort and heart Utterback puts into practice, weight training and gameday, he was given the coveted jersey No. 37, traditionally worn by a Montana native. The jersey is passed on from one player to the next. (Ciche Pitcher passed on the number to Utterback.)
Q: How is this week different than the others?
A: We have a chance to win the Big Sky outright, so we're excited about that. But there's all the standard commotion and hype that comes with the rivalry game. In the past, people on our team have gotten real riled up. This year our main focus is toward preparing for the opponent and not all the hooting and hollering. You know, the distracting things that can come with a big rivalry game.
Q: What are your memories of Cat-Griz games growing up and who were you rooting for?
A: I was always rooting for the Griz. I saw much of those games growing up on TV and I enjoyed watching the close ones. I can't really remember a specific one that stood out.
Q: Were you recruited very hard by Montana State and if so, why did you chose Montana over MSU?
A: I was recruited by Bozeman. It's a funny story really. They recruited me, but neither Montana or MSU were talking about a scholarship when I got that torn ACL. I came up here on a visit and got offers from both places almost simultaneously for tuition scholarships. I probably should have gone to visit Bozeman, but I was sitting in a hotel up here and I really liked what I saw, so I made my decision right there.
Q: How is Fort Benton divided between Montana and Montana State fans?
A: We have quite a few hard-core fans for each. It's a small place and we've got boosters on both sides. I guess it's more Bozeman fans probably because they played some spring games over there and got a really good turnout.
Q: In high school was there a part of you that wished your state championship games weren't on the same day as Cat-Griz?
A: Its a big deal in Montana, battle of two titans. I think the most effect it's had was that my brother (freshman running back Brandon Utterback) couldn't watch me play in my first two Cat-Griz games because he was playing in championship games for Fort Benton. But I guess unfortunately that's football.
Q: As a whole, what part of the Grizzly defense will shine brightest on Saturday?
A: I think every week the fact of the matter is that you don't know who's going to have the best game. We're a plan-oriented team. We're not just led by one guy. We play within the scheme and that allows us to be successful as a unit. One of the great things is that everyone starting should be a star on another team, but together, we're a strong group.
Q: What do you see as your role this week?
A: Just to be as prepared as I can be and watch as much tape and know my assignments. The better prepared I am and the more familiar I am with what they're going to try to do out there, I'll be more confident and ready for them.
Q: How important is winning the Big Sky Conference title outright to you and your teammates?
A: I think its real important. It's nice to tie for first, but I haven't been a part of an outright champ. If we're co-champions, we're not going to hang heads. But at the top of the goal sheet is winning the conference, with no asterisk for co-champs.
Q: Freshman linebacker Jesse Anderson, who played with you at Fort Benton, is a reserve for MSU. How close are you guys and have you communicated this week?
A: We're pretty good friends. I haven't gotten a hold of him yet, but I plan to before Saturday.
Q: Will you be friendly with the guys on the other sideline that you're familiar with or is going to be all smack talk on Saturday?
A: It'll be old friends on Saturday night, but you never know when you hit the field. There might be some good-natured jabs before, but after it'll be good friends like before.
Q: How has this season compared to your previous ones here?
A: I'm having a lot of fun this year, probably because I'm healthy. It wasn't much of a season for me last year. I got hurt, then came back hobbling. This year, being healthy with a good record rolling into playoffs has been great. This season is probably the most fun I've had as a Griz.
Q: In high school you had tremendous success on both offense and defense. At what point did you realize that you're a linebacker and not a running back?
A: The first time I saw Lex (Hilliard) in a game. I was coming off that knee injury and watching Lex just explode on the scene. I just walked up to the coaches and said, 'Let's find another way for me to help the team.' You know, explore other avenues.
Q: Do you ever get the itch to run the ball again and do you think you could be successful at this level?
A: I'm not going to go and say that I'd be all-conference all the way, but as a runner I think I'd have some pretty decent success.
Q: How was it possible for you to play the final two months of your senior season in high school with a torn ACL?
A: It was pretty tough. I lost confidence on the field. Usually you don't think about the little things, but I was thinking about cuts before I made them. I had a big brace. To get the title game and wanting to win for my teammates and my coach, it was pretty intense going into it with half the confidence and limping through it.
Q: Describe your relationship with (linebackers coach) Ty Gregorak and how has he helped shape your game.
A: He's a great guy. He keeps the meetings light and he has an excellent sense of humor. He's really helped me realize what I can do with my physical ability and mental capabilities. He's helped me to execute more quickly and more fluidly. That's made me as effective as player as I can be. He's done a great job of molding me into the kind of player that I've become.
Q: Is this time of year difficult now that every game becomes the biggest of the year, or do you just get more pumped up for every game that follows?
A: I'd go with more pumped. You have to look at it with goals in mind. This weekend if we don't go out there and win, nothing else matters.
Q: What will it take for you guys to have successful run in the playoffs?
A: It's the old cliche, but it's got to be to play mistake-free football. We've got all the tools, all the work has been done ... everything's in place. It just comes down to going to the grind stone to put ourselves in a position to beat quality teams for the next month.
Q: Which teammate in either high school or college has influenced you the most?
A: Probably having the chance to play with my younger brother. My older brother was one year too far and I never got play with him like I have with younger brothers in high school and now in college. Nothing can compare to the situation we have now. I mean I even get to hit him in practice.
Q: What does wearing No. 37 mean to you?
A: The most important thing to me is that I accomplish all that I'm capable of. The guys before have all been classic guys and players and they've set that bar, both performance-wise and personality-wise, real high. I guess being mindful of the quality of people to wear 37 before motivates me to work hard and get the most of my potential.
Q: Finally, how about a prediction for Saturday's final score?
A: Well, I'll go 21-10 Griz.
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