Those expectations were dealt a serious blow last August when running back Lex Hilliard, the team's top returning player and an All-America candidate, went down with a season-ending Achilles injury. Yet there the Griz were last weekend, 8-0 in the Big Sky Conference and 10-1 overall, watching as the Division I-AA playoff selection committee awarded them the second seed behind defending national champion Appalachian State.
Montana, which has won or shared nine straight Big Sky titles, takes a 10-game winning streak into Saturday's opening-round game against Southland Conference champ McNeese State.
Few teams at any level of football could lose their best player and still be a championship contender. UM proved not only to be talented, but deep and resilient in marching to the playoffs for the 14th straight year.
Bobby Hauck, UM's fourth-year coach, said the team didn't dwell on the loss of Hilliard or Iowa State transfer Greg Coleman, a solid running back who went down early in the schedule with an injured foot.
“Lex is a great player, probably our best player,” Hauck said. “To lose your best player and still lead the conference in rushing speaks volumes about our offense, and the drive and the competitiveness of those coaches and those players.
“They just overcome. I'm excited for the guys who got the job done.”
Earning the second seed was a big boost for the Griz, who are 20-4 in playoff games in Missoula. Their five national championship appearances - in 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001 and 2004 - were all preceded by having home-field advantage through the semifinals. The Griz won national championships in 1995 and 2001.
“At this time of the year we want it to be pretty relaxed and light-hearted and just go and have some fun,” Hauck said. “We feel good about the fact we're in the playoffs and have a chance to compete for the championship.”
MSU coach Mike Kramer, whose Bobcats lost to the Griz 13-7 last Saturday but still made the playoffs as an at-large team, tipped his cap to Hauck, saying he had a tough act to follow in the wake of Don Read, Mick Dennehy and Joe Glenn.
“Bobby, in and of himself, ascends to the same level as Coach Dennehy and Coach Glenn, those coaches that were able to continue the great tradition started by Coach Read,” Kramer said. “So congratulations to Bobby.”
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