Brown, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound sophomore from Berkeley, Calif., threw a punch after Eastern Washington’s 30-17 loss at South Dakota on Saturday, Sept. 10

By rule, Brown will be suspended for Eastern Washington’s conference opener on Saturday, Sept. 17 against the University of Montana.

Eastern Washington also suspended Brown for the punch. The suspensions will run concurrent.

“I commend Eastern Washington Athletics Director Bill Chaves and Eagle football coach Beau Baldwin for issuing a suspension,’’ said Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton. “By rule, the league must also issue a suspension.’’

OGDEN, UTAH (Sept. 12, 2011) -

The Big Sky Conference announced its football Players of the Week today for game played on Saturday, Sept. 10.

 University of Montana linebacker Caleb McSurdy is the defensive Player of the Week, while Grizzly return man Jabin Sambrano is the Special Teams Player of the Week.  Montana State running back Cody Kirk is the offensive Player of the Week.

McSurdy, a 6-1, 242-pound senior from Boise, Idaho, tied his career-high with 17 tackles and also had a forced fumble in Montana’s 37-23 victory over Cal Poly. McSurdy registered five solo stops and 12 assisted tackles. Led by McSurdy, Montana’s defense stifled Cal Poly’s offense in the second half, limiting the Mustangs to two field goals. McSurdy is averaging 15 tackles per game through two games, ranking second in the nation. This is McSurdy’s first career Player of the Week honor.

Sambrano, a 5-11, 175-pound senior from Temecula, Calif., returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in Montana’s 37-23 win over Cal Poly. It was the fifth-longest return in school history. Sambrano finished the game with five kick returns for 165 yards, one punt return for 9 yards, and also caught five passes for 70 yards to finish with 244 all-purpose yards. Sambrano hauled in a 58-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter to give UM a 21-20 lead.  He is currently ranked second in the nation in all-purpose yards with 210.0 per game.  This is Sambrano’s first career Player of the Week award.

Kirk, a 5-foot-10, 214-pound sophomore from Frenchtown, rushed 22 times for a career-high 155 yards and scored two touchdowns in Montana State’s 38-14 victory over UC Davis.  Kirk finished the game with 209 all-purpose yards, and averaged 7.0 yards per carry. This is Kirk’s first career Player of the Week award.

Others Nominated for Weekly Awards

OFFENSE – Nicholas Edwards, WR, Eastern Washington; Rodrick Rumble, WR, Idaho State; Jordan Johnson, QB, Montana; Ify Umodu, WR, Northern Arizona; Quintin Hildreth, RB, Northern Colorado; Bryan Hilliard, RB, Sacramento State

DEFENSE – Matt Johnson, S, Eastern Washington; Basim Hudeen, LB, Idaho State;  Darius Jones, CB, Montana State; Isaac Bond, DE, Northern Arizona; Elliott Dorsey, FS, Northern Colorado; Ryan McMahon, LB, Sacramento State; Anthony Morales, LB, Weber State

SPECIAL TEAMS – Jake Miller, P, Eastern Washington; Jamaal Perkins, Ret., Northern Arizona; Josh Kealamakia, P, Weber State

Go to the game Saturday.

Long after you and I walk the Oval here, memories will bend and classes will fade, but the colors of Griz football games on Saturdays, if anything, will grow sharper.

Inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, you’ll see a well-liked and well-respected head coach pace the sidelines for Montana, you’ll witness a young quarterback bud on the gridiron and you’ll note the swiftness of a cornerback wearing No. 2, who is well on his way to a career on Sundays in the National Football League.

You’ll see a plethora of gung-ho coaches and players eager to take the field at home for the first time this year. And you’ll see Missoulians offer a warm embrace while they feed their insatiable appetite for football.

Washington-Grizzly Stadium on gamedays, like all sports venues, offers a place where creeds and skin can come together, where we can put everything else aside for a few hours in the name of color allegiance, as we take part as onlookers of a beautiful juncture.

Football is America, the great American game, a reflection of who we are and what we are, as it remains the most rooted of sports.

Go to the game with respect.

On Griz Saturdays, skydivers swoop down on the 50-yard line, Montana mascot Monte storms onto the field via sports car, motorcycle or whatever that silly bear can find, and the Grizzlies race out of the tunnel. Under the inflatable helmet, the Griz captains will be toting the American flag.

The sense of excitement will be palpable.

Griz football has offered me one of my favorite memories: late November 2009, when the Grizzlies squared off with the Mountaineers of Appalachian State in the playoffs, the winner getting a berth in the national championship game.

With a minute to go, the Grizzlies, lead by quarterback Andrew Selle, scrambled to score, to take the lead late, to punch their ticket to the finals.

As the snow swirled across the storied turf, ESPN cameras hovered over the frozen fans. Selle scampered in the pocket to find an open man, before spotting wide receiver Jabin Sambrano, who edged his defender, streaking up the left sideline.

Selle fired the ball perfectly, rising majestically toward the corner of the end zone.

A moment of calm and hush fell across the stadium. As the ball dropped softly into wide receiver Sambrano’s hands, the roars rolled in.

Touchdown. Griz win.

The memory, among others from Griz football, carries me today, as we near the first kickoff of the season inside Washington-Grizzly.

This Saturday’s home opener marks, particularly in a region with harsh winters, not merely the opening of an athletic season, but a benchmark on the calendar for so many Montanans. What precedes is summer. What follows is winter. But at the home opener, even after a previous lackluster season, there is no past — only hope.

Go to the game to be a part of something bigger than yourself.

daniel.mediate@umontana.edu

Montana Kaimin

The most significant number when it comes to the University of Montana football program may have nothing to do

Kaimin photo staff

with national championships or statistics. Perhaps the most meaningful number associated with the Grizzlies is the number on a jersey.

Only one player each year can don this number, and this year, that player is senior defensive end Ryan Fetherston.
Fetherston was chosen to represent No. 37 by Carson Bender, who wore the number from 2008-10.

“For Carson to call me and ask me to wear the number, you can’t really describe it,” Fetherston said. “It’s unbelievable. I’m really honored Carson chose me.”

Originally from East Helena, Mont., Fetherston did not initially set his sights on college football.

The 2007 Helena High graduate was a three-season athlete who, in addition to playing football, wrestled, ran the 100-meter and threw javelin.

“I wasn’t very good at the 100,” Fetherston said. “Really, I was a wrestler. My family is really big into wrestling. I was actually recruited more by wrestling schools. I was about 215 [pounds], they wanted me to wrestle at 184, and I said, ‘No way I want to diet.’”

Fetherston was named Helena High’s 2006 Male Athlete of the Year and was a two-time state champion in wrestling. But the new No. 37 was unaware of his passion for football until after his third year of high school.

“After my junior year, I was like, ‘Man, I really love football,’” the 6-foot-4, 235 pound er said. “I realized I’d rather pursue that more than wrestling.”

As a senior, Fetherston was named “Super State” and was selected All-State at both defensive end and quarterback.

Despite the fact that Fetherston no longer wrestles, the East Helena native says he feels no hard feelings from former teammates and coaches for leaving the sport.

“It’s like a tight-knit family,” he said. “Even though I’m not wrestling, a lot of people I see say they’re cheering me on. I’m someone they can connect to – that wrestler that went on to play football.”

Other than football being a major time commitment, life after wrestling has treated Fetherston well. Since redshirting his freshman year of 2007, the senior has played in every game and has eight sacks, including one on Sept. 3 against Tennessee. Fetherston said playing against the Volunteers, an SEC school, in Neyland stadium will be a life-long memory.

“It was beautiful down there,” Fetherston said. “There weren’t as many people out because of the rain, but 95,000 people is still the largest venue I’ve ever played in front of. I’ll probably tell my kids and grandkids about it one day.”

Outside of collegiate sports, Fetherston enjoys time away from the athletics scene. He hunts and fishes when he has the time.

“It’s something to do to get away from football, school and life,” he said. “I’m all by myself and I get to kind of feel like a kid again.”

Fetherston is pursuing a double major in history and political science with a minor in mathematics.

“I want to be a teacher and a coach when I grow up,” he said. “Probably a government teacher, because you help your students become more self-aware of politics, government, their right to vote and help make them be part of the society.”

Right now, however, Fetherston’s focus is on football.

In addition to playing a sport he loves, the defensive end said he is fulfilling a life-long dream by being awarded the honorable jersey number.

“Ever since I was little, I always heard about number 37,” Fetherston said. “I got a 37 jersey in third grade for Christmas and I was like, ‘man, I want to wear that jersey,’ so it’s kind of a dream come true.”

The tradition began in 1987 when former Grizzly fullback Kraig Paulson handed No. 37 down to Tim Hauck, who wore the number through 1989.

Hauck went on to have one of the most productive careers in Montana history. He was a two-time All-American and played in the National Football League for 12 seasons.

The string of No. 37′s in cludes Todd Erickson (1990-93), Jason Crebo (1994-97), Andy Petek (1998-2000), CichePitcher (2001-03), Loren Utterback (2004-07), Bender and now Fetherston.

“I’m going to represent the state well,” Fetherston said. “I told Carson that I appreciate him thinking about me and I won’t let him down.”

mark.weston@umontana.edu

Montana Kaimin

LB McSurdy

MISSOULA – The legacy continues.  The University of Montana’s Ryan Fetherston has been chosen to wear the number 37 during the 2011 football season.

Griz head coach Robin Pflugrad made the announcement last night at a team meeting following Thursday’s final practice in Missoula before the team leaves for Knoxville for their season opener against the University of Tennessee, Saturday, Sept. 3.

Fetherston, a 6-4, 235-pound senior defensive end from East Helena, got a call from the former Griz player who wore that number, Carson Bender, yesterday as Coach Pflugrad was talking to his squad in the stands in Washington-Grizzly Stadium after practice.

“Having Carson call during the team meeting meant a lot to all of us, especially Ryan,” Pflugrad said.  “We all feel that it is a deserving honor, and I know for a fact that he has the blessing of the coaching staff and our entire football team to continue the legacy of wearing that number.  It will be great to see number 37 on the field again this fall.”

Bender, who wore number 37 from 2008-10, is now a teacher in Helena.  The 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive tackle from Deer Lodge, had his promising career cut short prior to the 2010 season because of a leg injury.  Bender was chosen to wear number 37 by former Griz linebacker Loren Utterback from Fort Benton, who wore the number from 2004-07.

The tradition began back in the mid-80′s and was started by former player Kraig Paulson, a fullback from Plentywood, who was number 37 from 1983-86.  Paulson handed down the number 37 to Tim Hauck in 1987.

Hauck (1987-89) raised the bar high for those who don the number 37.  The former defensive back from Big Timber was a two-time All-American while at Montana, and then he went on to play in the National Football League for 12 seasons.

Other players who have worn number 37 include linebacker Jason Crebo (1994-97, from Helena), defensive back Todd Ericson (1990-93, from Butte), defensive end Andy Petek (1998-200, from Helena), and defensive end Ciche Pitcher (2001-03, from Anaconda).

McKnight, McSurdy, Opperud named Griz Captains

Kicker/punter Brody McKnight, linebacker Caleb McSurdy, and offensive tackle Jon Opperud have been selected team captains for The University of Montana for the 2011 season, announced Griz head coach Robin Pflugrad.

Pflugrad added that two players, Bobby Alt and Sam Gratton, were chosen as alternate captains.  He also said that there will be on additional captain for each contest, with that honor going to the “player of the game” against the Grizzlies’ most recent opponent.

“The team votes on our team captains, and they did well in choosing these student-athletes to represent the University of Montana and our football team this season,” Pflugrad said.

Last season McKnight, a senior from Vancouver, B.C., made 14-of-18 field goals and was a second team All-Big Sky Conference pick at placekicker.  He was the co-recipient of UM’s annual Steve Carlson Award (MVP).  McKnight also punted for the Grizzlies last season, averaging 38.5 yards per attempt.  He was ranked 16^th (tie) in the FCS with 1.27 field goals per game, and 22^nd in scoring (7.55 ppg).

A returning starter, McSurdy had a team-high 112 tackles last season and was fourth with 7.5 tackles for loss.  He was a second team All-Big Sky selection.  The senior from Boise, Idaho, has been an all-league academic team pick for the third year in a row.

Opperud is starting for the third season in a row.  Last year the senior from Portland, Ore., started in 10 of 11 games at left tackle.  He started at guard as a sophomore.  He is one of the main reasons the Grizzlies have been ranked among the offensive leaders in the FCS the past two seasons.

Alt, a senior from Ontario, Calif., is starting at defensive end for the second year in a row.  He started in nine games last season and was the Grizzlies’ 10^th (tie) leading tackler with 40 stops.  He is also an outstanding student, and was named to the All-District 7 academic team, maintaining a 3.90 grade point average.

A junior wide receiver from Billings, Gratton is also starting for the second season in a row.  He was fifth on the team with 28 receptions and tied for third on the squad with the most touchdown catches (four).  He was named to All-Big Sky’s academic team a year ago.

Photo by Tim Goessman / Montana Kaimin

Griz position-by-position breakdown

Daniel Mediate

Donning the maroon and silver practice jerseys, players showed flashes of brilliance this fall camp – a comforting sight for a team that finished a dismal 7-5 last year and missed the playoffs for the first time in nearly two decades.

With the 2011 season opener at SEC powerhouse Tennessee in Knoxville looming, the University of Montana football team looks for redemption and to navigate a path back to the top of the Big Sky Conference and FCS. The Grizzlies boast talent on the depth charts, but lack experience with the departure of a lauded senior class last season.

Quarterbacks:

Despite the season opener nearing, the quarterback situation is still murky as a bevy of antsy young signal-callers aim to take the first snap behind center Stephen Sabin.

Sophomore Jordan Johnson looks to have the edge as starter with solid footwork and a smooth throwing motion. Junior Gerald Kemp, who saw time as a running back last season, is also competing for the quarterback spot. Kemp, arguably Montana’s best athlete on offense, presents a dual-threat at QB – an effortless throwing motion and the speed to compliment it – and is possibly the Grizzlies best counter to Montana State’s do-it-all quarterback Denarius McGee this year.

Kemp was moved to running back last season and was UM’s second leading rusher as a running back and QB in the wildcat formation, gaining 224 yards on 45 carries, but he has yet to score a touchdown.

With Johnson and Kemp both showing skill and poise, don’t be surprised to see a two-quarterback system used if one struggles to find a rhythm.

Running backs:

With Montana’s all-time touchdown king Chase Reynolds taking his talents to the St. Louis Rams, the Griz backfield will look quite a bit different this year.

Redshirt freshman Jordan Canada and junior Peter Nguyen will see most of the carries this year. With Canada seeing no playing time last year and Nguyen seeing very little, both will look to make a splash on offense.

Also, look for 5-foot-11, 235-pound beast Dan Moore to see more time on offense as a fullback, plowing through lines in short-yardage situations.

Grizzlies’ head coach Robin Pflugrad said it may take multiple backs to achieve the team’s offensive production this year.

Offensive line:

The offensive line struggled last year with inexperience and had a tough time working as a unit. This year should be different with three honors candidates forming the pocket.

Sabin, a 300-pound senior, will get the nod at center and seniors Charles Burton and Jon Opperud will start at tackle.

William Poehls and Danny Kistler Jr., 320 pounders who saw substantial action as freshmen in 2010, will start as guards.

The offensive line will see fresh faces consistently, however, stemming from UM’s hurry-up offense.

Junior Jeremy Lapan and freshman Trevor Poole should see the field as tackles, sophomore Jordan Hines and Kjelby Oiland at guard, and Logan Hines and Jake Hendrickson will see time at center.

Wide Receivers:

Jabin Sambrano, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior speed demon, will lead this year’s talented receiving corps as arguably Montana’s best unit, rivaling an unprecedented depth at linebacker.

Sambrano, an All-America candidate who caught 39 passes last fall for 584 yards and three touchdowns, will lead the cast with junior Sam Gratton, seniors Antwon Moutra and C.J. Atkins, and junior Bryce Carver.

Moutra, who transferred from UCLA, caught 36 passes for 600 yards and a team-high six TDs last year while Gratton, an honors candidate, had 28 catches and four touchdowns last season.  The two will be mainstays in what could be a potent spread offense this year.

Honors candidates, tight ends Greg Hardy and Kavario Middleton who are both standout talents, might be early favorite targets for either Johnson or Kemp as the typical tight end short post routes should help the young quarterbacks to find offensive cadence in the early-going.

Defensive line:

Last year’s defensive line was built around size with anchors Tyler Hobbs and Severin Campell. This year’s defensive line is full of speed and looks primed to step up.

Led by 265-pound senior Bryan Waldhauser, the D-line will continue to be a benchmark for the Grizzlies. Waldhauser led the team in sacks last season with five.

Bobby Alt and Ryan Fetherston, like Waldhauser, are honors candidates, and will look to forge a violent attack on Big Sky QBs this season.

The defensive line also got a big morale boost with the return of quiet but ferociously talented Josh Harris – much to the delight of Pflugrad.

Harris, a junior from Kalispell, missed last season with an Achilles tendon injury and then fought a sore hamstring in camp, but appears ready to go.

Freshman Zack Wagenmann, a 2010 Sentinel graduate, has looked ready to step in as well.

Linebackers:

This year’s linebacking unit is unprecedented in virtually every category: size, speed, agility and depth.

Senior Alex Shaw and junior Jordan Tripp will roam between the sidelines and senior Caleb “Dirty” McSurdy, a 240-pound Boise, Idaho native, will anchor the linebackers.

McSurdy led the team last year with 112 tackles, while Tripp recorded 99. Shaw struggled with injuries last year but is expected to return to form this year.

Junior Josh Stuberg and sophomores John Kanongata’a and Brock Coyle are expected to contribute this season, too.

Special teams:

Senior kicker Brody McKnight, a second team all-league pick last year, will handle the brunt of the kicking duties for the season. McKnight had a stellar fall camp, capping it off with a 53-yard field goal in the team’s final scrimmage last Thursday.

McKnight made 14 out of 18 attempted field goals last season and also did most of the punting. He ranks seventh in career scoring at UM with 271 points, and shared the 2010 team MVP award with Reynolds.

Senior Sean Wren, who had a fine sophomore campaign but struggled last year, ultimately relinquishing the punting tasks to McKnight, is vying to reclaim the starting spot at punter.

The speedy Nguyen, who has shown flashes of speed and vision the past two seasons in the return game, is back, but Sambrano could also get a chance fielding punts.

Defensive secondary:

Despite featuring Montana’s best player, and arguably the best athlete to ever sport the maroon and silver, Trumaine Johnson, the secondary took serious losses with the graduation of Jimmy Wilson, who is now with the Miami Dolphins, Erik Stoll and Brandon Dodson.

Returning starter and Buck Buchanan Award candidate Johnson will be starting for the fourth season in a row, and is a staple at the corner position.

Johnson, who was named to numerous All-American teams last season, was ninth at UM last year with 44 tackles and second with four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

Fellow senior Houston Roots will get the start at the opposing corner spot, edging fellow senior Donny Lisowski. Three-year letterman Mike McCord will start at strong safety and another senior, Andrew Badger, earned the berth at free safety. Badger played in 10 games a year ago and is a first-year starter.

Expect corner Sean Murray, who had a nice interception in the final fall scrimmage, as well as freshmen Matt Hermanson and Nate Harris, and junior college transfer Kevin Frank to see time in the secondary.

On paper, this year’s Montana Grizzlies look poised to return to pre-2010 form, but their success will hinge on quarterback play and coaching. That being said, the team will be playing with a collective chip on its shoulders after being picked to finish third in the Big Sky race behind Eastern Washington and Montana State.

Defending national champion Eastern Washington is the top ranked team in the preseason poll of Football Championship Subdivision coaches.

The Montana State Bobcats are ranked sixth.

Eastern Washington received 23 first-place votes while Appalachian State received one and was ranked second. Georgia Southern has three first-place votes and is ranked third, followed by William & Mary.

The top-ranked Eagles will get both hungry teams from the Treasure State early this year.

Montana will play host to Eastern Washington in a Big Sky Conference clash on Sept. 17, as the Griz’ league opener, while Montana State travels to Cheney, Wash., to play the Eagles on Sept. 24.

Big Sky teams Sacramento State, Northern Arizona and Weber State also received votes in the poll.

Chase Reynolds (Photo by Greg Lindstrom)

Seattle’s Qwest Field is known for being the loudest venue in all of the National Football League, but Seattle might be hearing cheers all the way from Griz Nation in Missoula this fall, too.

Former Montana running back Chase Reynolds signed a contract with the Seattle Seahawks late Tuesday evening.

Reynolds is the all-time touchdown king for Montana, breaking the record last fall during his senior season.

Reynolds still needs to make the 53-man roster, but he says he’s prepared to work his way on the team. The league minimum $375,000 he is expected to sign is a nice place to start.

Reynolds had a storybook career for the Griz, each facet of his life chronicled during his career in maroon and silver.  The story of him growing up in Drummond, playing eight-man football, with Alex Verlanic blocking for him and the duo both coming to play for the Griz has been written. The story of him marrying his high school sweetheart and being a father of two kids has been written. The story of him breaking all the records has been written.

But his NFL career? Well, that has yet to be written, and knowing Reynolds, he’ll make the most of it.

The 21-year-old was arrested shortly before 4 a.m. Friday. He was released from jail after posting $685 bond.

He transferred in February from Notre Dame to the University of Montana, where he is vying for the starting quarterback spot.

Montana is due in Missoula Justice Court at 2:30 p.m. Friday.