Griz football confident despite losing key players

As Montana football coach Bobby Hauck reflected on practice Monday, disappointment lingered in his voice after directing a three-hour session in the soggy August air. 
“You know what, it looked like it was the first day of school, and we looked kind of lethargic to tell you the truth. It wasn’t quite enough today,” he said.
Brutal honesty, yes. But also a sign that amid losing nine defensive starters, two NFL draft picks and an entire kicking game, the expectations for Montana football have gone nowhere.
Even more compelling about fall camp is the progressive breath of fresh air for Hauck and his club after a tumultuous 2007 season. This time last year, there were smoky practice conditions, both physically and emotionally. The program faced heat from start to finish, from an impending murder trial to a shocking playoff loss to Wofford

As Montana football coach Bobby Hauck reflected on practice Monday, disappointment lingered in his voice after directing a three-hour session in the soggy August air. 
“You know what, it looked like it was the first day of school, and we looked kind of lethargic to tell you the truth. It wasn’t quite enough today,” he said.
Brutal honesty, yes. But also a sign that amid losing nine defensive starters, two NFL draft picks and an entire kicking game, the expectations for Montana football have gone nowhere.
Even more compelling about fall camp is the progressive breath of fresh air for Hauck and his club after a tumultuous 2007 season. This time last year, there were smoky practice conditions, both physically and emotionally. The program faced heat from start to finish, from an impending murder trial to a shocking playoff loss to Wofford
Now that the smoke has cleared, and Hauck faces a new season with new challenges – and with the season opener at No. 14 Cal Poly just ten days away, his players are gearing up for the autumn campaign.
“I loved the guys from last year, but the future is always good,” junior tight end Steven Pfahler said. “Sometimes you just have to see what happens and roll with the punches.”
Only three defensive starters return, including safety Colt Anderson and defensive linemen Mike Stadnyk and Craig Mettler. Stadnyk, a Canadian Football League second-round pick in 2007, returned to Montana last year and recorded 43 tackles opposite Kroy Biermann, the Buck Buchanan Award winner and fifth-round NFL pick, while fellow senior Mettler added 44 stops. With experience at a premium, roles of returning seniors Tyler Corwin and Jesse Carlson will also be crucial.
Anderson will undoubtedly be the anchor in a youthful secondary. Two junior college transfers and four freshman corners are vying for starting slots, including true freshman Trumaine Johnson, a 6-foot-3 corner who, along with Mount San Antonio Junior College transfer Andrew Swink, has the early edge on the depth chart. 
While the likes of Biermann and don’t grow on trees, Hauck believes his team has the tools to compensate. Biermann’s replacement is junior Jace Palmer, who was a menace during the first scrimmage last Saturday, returning an interception 70 yards for a touchdown and recording two sacks. Hauck said junior safety Shann Schillinger has had a standout camp, as has sophomore Idaho State transfer Erik Stoll, who also scored a touchdown on defense in the scrimmage.
Palmer, Schillinger, Stoll and junior outside linebacker Shawn Lebsock are prototypical defensive talent for Montana this year, having waited in the shadows the past few years. Now they are mirroring the transitional stage of the unit.
“We have a bunch of guys who are excited to be out there, who have waited for their shot,” Anderson said. “I think our defense is all about everyone doing their one-eleventh, just flying around making plays.”
It’s on offense Montana has veterans. As well as senior quarterback Cole Bergquist, returning after throwing for over 2,600 yards in his junior campaign, the offense returns senior linemen J.D. Quinn Brent Russum and Colin Dow, a preseason All-American candidate at left guard. The returning trees should provide plenty of run support for Montana’s three half backs, Thomas Brooks-Fletcher, Chase Reynolds and Andrew Schmidt, who are in a battle for starting duties.
Wide receiver and tight end positions are among the deepest. Seniors Mike Ferriter and Rob Schulte are slated to start alongside junior Marc Mariani, who will also handle return duties. Bergquist will also have an experienced stable of tight ends at his disposal, with juniors Dan Beaudin and Pfahler as well as 6-foot-6 sophomore Rob Overton in the mix.
“It’s (fall camp) been tough, but everyone’s doing well. We still have work to do,” Pfahler said. “I feel good (about the offense), I really do. I think it’s the best we’ve been.”
Perhaps the most alarming question rests with the kicking game, where freshman Ken Wood will replace all-American punter Tyson Johnson. Brody McKnight, a freshman transfer from Purdue, is competing with true freshman Russell Schey to replace kicker Dan Carpenter, the conference’s all-time leading scorer.
The questions for Montana have come full circle, with the Cal Poly showdown looming next Saturday. Hauck said regardless of the challenges facing his team, the expectations are unconditionally the same. 
“We always have a target on us. We’ve won more games than anyone in the country in the past five years,“ Hauck said. “We can either rise up to challenge or not.”
roman.stubbs@umontana.edu