But Downing does remember a member of Hauck's staff: Grizzlies' offensive coordinator Rob Phenicie and Downing were at Nebraska in 1984. Phenicie was a freshman tight end and Downing was the freshman coach.
“I was coaching the linebackers at the time,” Downing said. “Rob had a pretty good freshman season and then he moved up to the varsity. After that I was dealing with another group of 90 freshmen. But he had good hands, good moves. He was a really good receiver at tight end.”
Phenicie was at Wyoming from 2000-02 before coming to Montana as part of Hauck's staff.
Downing said he was impressed with the Grizzlies' offense.
“They're a well-coached offense,” he said. “They haven't made some of the huge game-changing plays that they've made in the past, but their offensive scheme is good.”
Montana has thrown seven touchdown passes in six games, and just two in conference play. None of them have gone to a tight end.
Conversely, all five of Northern Colorado's touchdown passes have ended up in the hands of either Ryan Chesla, who has four TDs, or fellow tight end Clint Wright.
Chesla and Montana receiver Eric Allen played on the same Colorado Springs Palmer High School team.
“He's doing real good,” Allen, a senior who came to UM from Oklahoma State, said of Chesla. “I kind of expected that of him, knowing what kind of player he was in high school. They're utilizing him a lot more this year.”
Chesla, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound junior, has 25 catches this season after getting only five receptions in six games a year ago. He also has a 4-3 lead over Allen in the TD category.
“I hadn't realized that,” said Chesla.
Allen said he text messaged with Chesla often last season, but that they hadn't had as much contact this year.
“I gave him a call last night (Wednesday), but he wasn't around,” Allen said. “I'll see him on the field, I guess.”
Meanwhile, count Allen among those who expect a breakout performance by the Griz.
“Our corps hasn't really put up big numbers,” said the 6-3, 200-pound senior. “I think everybody as a whole is ready to get past that stage.
“I am positive about it; we're still winning. I guess it's about when I have the chance, I need to take advantage of all the opportunities I can.”
Downing is hopeful that Washington-Grizzly Stadium won't have an adverse effect on his young team.
“Our kids have played at Hawaii, that was a great atmosphere there,” he said. “Cal Poly was a sold-out place when we were there, and they put us right in front of the student section.
“I don't think it (WGS) will be intimidating, but I think that's an exciting atmosphere, and hopefully when they first see it, with it full of people that are screaming and the band playing during warm-ups, they'll get used to it. Hopefully they'll be comfortable enough that the crowd won't have an intimidating effect.”
Bears' defensive tackle Vinny Pallone had a foot injury in 2005 and didn't make UNC's last trip to Missoula. This time around he'll have some family present.
“I'm excited,” he said. “My brother's married to a Hardin girl. It'll be fun to have a lot of people there and watching us in the big house.”
QUICK KICKS: Northern Colorado's lone football victory over Montana came in 1976, by a 27-19 score. Š Don't forget to check out the Missoulian's Grizzly blog, at www.grizpawblog.com. Š In league games, Montana is best in both red zone offense - scoring on eight of nine drives inside the opponents' 20-yard line - and red zone defense. Foes have scored on just four of eight possessions inside the UM 20. Š Counting Northern Colorado's 0-7 record, UM's opponents are 9-32 this season. Albany is 3-3. Southern Utah fell to 0-6 after a 23-22 loss at Youngstown State last week. Š Montana ranks first in the Big Sky in pass defense efficiency, and UNC is ninth.
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