The Grizzlies, 12-2 a year ago, were decisive favorites. They received eight first-place votes in the coaches' poll - Montana coach Bobby Hauck picked Montana State to win the league - and the maximum 64 points. Portland State, under new head coach Jerry Glanville, was picked second by the coaches. MSU was third.
In the media poll, Montana garnered all 33 first-place votes, good for 297 points. Portland State was second at 237, and Northern Arizona edged Montana State 192-190 for third.
“It doesn't affect the team's willingness and readiness to work hard and come out and play,” said UM defensive end Kroy Biermann, one of nine Grizzlies named to the preseason all-conference team, which was also released Monday. “Coaches polls and media polls don't win games. It's nice to be up on top, but you have to be ready to come out and be willing to work in fall camp, and be ready to play each team we come up against.”
Montana returns 18 starters and 54 lettermen from last year's team, which went 8-0 in league play.
Biermann, a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision, was one of four Griz who were unanimously named to the all-conference team. Receiver Eric Allen, place-kicker Dan Carpenter and offensive tackle Cody Balogh were the others.
Also making the team were safeties Torrey Thomas and Colt Anderson, linebacker Tyler Joyce, running back Lex Hilliard and quarterback Cole Bergquist.
Thomas and Anderson were first-team all-conference in 2006, as were Balogh, Allen and Biermann. Perhaps the most surprising pick was Bergquist, a junior who started one game as a sophomore, but who started eight games as a redshirt freshman in 2005.
Hauck has declined to name the 207-pounder out of San Clemente, Calif., his starter.
“Cole is obviously a great guy,” said Biermann. “He's been around the offense for three years, he knows what's going on with it, he's got a great feel for it. I think he's got a good handle on things.”
Fall camp begins for the Grizzlies Aug. 7. They open their season Sept. 1 at home against Southern Utah of the Great West Conference.
Biermann said the Griz are anxious to start, both because they want to pick up where they left off a year ago, when the ended up No. 3 in the nation, and to put the legal troubles of Jimmy Wilson and Qwenton Freeman behind them.
“We definitely haven't lost our focus,” Biermann said, when asked about the troubles of Wilson - suspended after his arrest on murder charges in June - and Freeman, who was dismissed after a downtown disturbance. “The focus isn't lost. I think everybody's just kind of itching to get going.
“It's hard sitting around for an entire year after you've had a successful season. You kind of just want to keep it rolling. I'm really excited to get back into it.”
The Big Sky Conference released a list of games to be televised. KPAX in Missoula is televising all of Montana's games, though the first three nonleague contests will be tape-delayed. Max Media of Montana is carrying seven of Montana State's games, and two of the Bobcats' other games - at Weber State on Sept. 22 and against visiting Idaho State on Sept. 29 - will be carried by Altitude Sports and Entertainment. The 107th Griz-Cat game will be carried live by KPAX.
NOTES: Altitude, found at channel 410 on Dish Network and 644 on DirecTV, is carrying four games, including Northern Colorado at Idaho State on Oct. 6 and Idaho State at Weber State on Nov. 3. Š Fox Sports Northwest is carrying Idaho State's game at Oregon State on Sept. 15. Š Comcast customers can catch the Portland State-San Diego State (Sept. 22) and Eastern Washington-BYU (Oct. 20) games on Mountain West TV, referred to as “The mtn.” Š Calling the 2006 experiment a “disaster,” Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton said that college games will not have a running clock on change of possessions. The rule, which cut an average of 16 plays out of each game, has been scrapped. Š One new rule: When a kicker receives the ball from the official for a kickoff, the 25-second play clock will run. He won't have all day to squeeze the pigskin before teeing it up. Š The Griz have won 12 of the last 14 Big Sky crowns. Š The other unanimous picks to the preseason all-conference team were return man Bryant Eteuati and guard David Hale of Weber State and receiver Alex Watson of Northern Arizona. ... MSU linebackers Epikipo King and Bobby Daly and defensive tackle Aaron Papich were preseason all-league picks.
Big Sky football polls
Coaches' poll
1. Montana (8) 64
2. Portland State 55
3. Montana State (1) 47
4. Northern Arizona 42
5. Eastern Washington 41
6. Weber State 23
7. Sacramento State 22
8. Idaho State 21
9. Northern Colorado 8
Media poll
1. Montana (33) 297
2. Portland State 237
3. Northern Arizona 192
4. Montana State 190
5. Eastern Washington 166
6. Weber State 143
7. Sacramento State 89
8. Idaho State 86
9. Northern Colorado 43
(First-place votes in parentheses)
t Big Sky preseason all-league
OFFENSE
QB Cole Bergquist, 6-2, 207, Jr., Montana
RB Lex Hilliard, 6-0, 228, Sr., Montana
FB Bobby McClintock, 5-10, 230, So., Portland State*
TE Shaun Fitzpatrick, 6-2, 237, Jr. ,Northern Arizona*
OL Cody Balogh, 6-7, 320, Sr., Montana*#
OL David Hale, 6-6, 305, Sr., Weber State*#
OL George Yarno, 6-0, 275, Sr., Idaho State*
OL Matt Alfred, 6-3, 310, Sr., Eastern Washington
OL Brennan Carvalho, 6-1, 310, Sr., Portland State*
WR Alex Watson, 5-10, 180, Sr., Northern Arizona*#
WR Eric Allen, 6-3, 202, Sr., Montana*#
WR Eddie Thompson, 5-11, 185, Jr., Idaho State
PK Dan Carpenter, 6-2, 211, Sr., Montana#
Ret. Bryant Eteuati, 5-7, 180, Jr., Weber State*#
DEFENSE
DE Kroy Biermann, 6-3, 238, Sr., Montana*#
DE Cole Smith, 6-3, 265, Sr., Portland State
DT Aaron Papich, 6-2, 272, Sr., Montana State
DT Dallas Mauga, 6-1, 290, Sr., Sacramento State
LB Cyrus Mulitalo, 6-1, 245, Sr., Sacramento State
LB Epikopo King, 6-0, 214, Sr., Montana State
LB Tyler Joyce, 6-5, 227, Sr., Montana
LB Bobby Daly, 6-1, 215, Jr., Montana State
LB Jordan Senn, 5-10, 225, Sr., Portland State
CB K.J. Gerard, 6-1, 180, Jr., Northern Arizona
CB Ricky Wilson, 5-10, 180, Sr., Northern Arizona
S Torrey Thomas, 6-0, 180, Sr., Montana*
S Colt Anderson, 5-10, 185, Jr., Montana*
P Dan Zeidman, 6-1, 205, Sr., Idaho State
*First team All-Conference in 2006. #Unanimous Selection
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