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After falling short in playoffs, questions persist for Montana in season of what-ifs

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After falling short in playoffs, questions persist for Montana in season of what-ifs


MISSOULA — The 2022 soccer season is formally within the books for the Montana Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies entered the season because the preseason No. 3 FCS group within the nation, however their season ended this final weekend towards North Dakota State as they completed 8-5 on the 12 months.

It will find yourself a season of what-ifs for the Griz, a group with expectations by way of the roof to open the 12 months, however one which closed with a second-round playoff exit, and 5 losses.

However as head coach Bobby Hauck put it after the season concluded, this Griz group stands alone on the prime by way of his favorites in his profession.

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“Simply who they’re, how a lot they care about Montana, what they’re prepared to do for one another and for Grizzly soccer with out blinking an eye fixed,” Hauck defined throughout his Monday press convention. “They’re simply unbelievable. Purchased in, aggressive, after which if you couple that with the truth that they’re nice dudes. Like good to be round on a regular basis, this can be a particular group. And I have been round some actually particular groups that I really like dearly.”

The season was a quick begin for Montana with a 5-0 mark heading into the bye. However there, issues started to slide with three straight losses to Idaho, Sac State and Weber State, all three of which made the playoffs.

After bouncing again with wins over Large Sky bottom-dwellers in Cal Poly and Japanese Washington, the Grizzlies had been blown out within the Brawl of the Wild by Montana State, however they squeaked into the playoffs the place they topped Southeast Missouri State within the opening spherical in Missoula.

That win would find yourself being Montana’s lone victory over a group with a profitable file this 12 months earlier than the Griz exited the season final Saturday towards NDSU.

On Monday, Hauck talked in regards to the season, and stated he preferred what he noticed from his group towards the perfect within the FCS within the Bison that offers him optimism going ahead.

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“They’re actually good up entrance and we gave up 4 huge runs in that recreation, I watched the movie, cannot do this,” Hauck stated. “However past that, it is not that far aside (between UM and NDSU). Watching the movie, I am inspired watching it, frankly.”

However to get to that stage, the Griz, as they do yearly, will march ahead with out among the program’s stalwarts, like Missoula native and receiver Mitch Roberts.

“I feel the factor that is made it essentially the most particular is attending to be coached by coach Hauck and all of our nice employees and my superior teammates,” Roberts stated after the NDSU loss. “Like (Hauck) stated, this can be a very particular group and possibly my favourite group I’ve ever performed on, and it is actually been an honor to put on the maroon and silver and exit with these guys that I really like and play the sport, and I will miss it lots.”

Similar goes for the Haucks, as Bobby Hauck and Robby Hauck completed their ultimate season collectively because the father-son, coach-player duo.

“It has been a lot enjoyable, and I’ve stated it earlier than, I get to spend on a regular basis with my dad for the previous six years with the COVID 12 months,” Robby Hauck stated. “That is one thing that I will in all probability by no means be capable of do once more and it has been a lot enjoyable. Everybody on this group is wonderful and it has been by far the best factor ever and I will cherish these moments without end.”

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Robby Hauck even had recommendation for NDSU head coach Matt Entz after the sport, as Entz can also be teaching his son in Fargo.

“I had the best expertise ever,” Hauck stated. “There’s only a few individuals that may expertise that and that is what I advised coach (Entz) afterwards. I stated benefit from the subsequent 5 years along with your son and your group as a result of it’s one thing particular to have the ability to be coached by your father and to be actually invested within the success and this system.

“After which trying over there at Mitch, I grew up enjoying AAU basketball with Mitch and his mother coached us and having the ability to reunite with a whole lot of these guys that I’ve identified at a youthful age and meet again up and play soccer is basically particular.”

In all, Montana will bid goodbye to fifteen seniors from this 12 months’s class.

However after falling in need of expectations, it’s going to be an offseason of inquiries to reply for Montana, as Bobby Hauck now formally enters his contract 12 months, together with his present deal set to run out in January of 2024.

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How will the Griz repair the offensive struggles? Will there be any adjustments on the teaching employees or any gamers misplaced to switch? And the way will Montana right particular groups errors and stop huge performs on protection that appeared to doom the Griz in all of their losses?

Quickly these questions will probably be answered, and the offseason formally begins now for Montana.

“I’m all the time enthusiastic about what is going on on right here and as upset as I’m with seeing our senior’s eligibility be up, I am excited in regards to the guys that we’ll recruit and I am excited in regards to the guys now we have coming again,” Hauck stated. “These guys have labored awfully arduous, they’ve gone arduous, actually arduous for the reason that finish of Might. They should get refreshed however our group will probably be excited to get moving into January.”





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Significant snowstorm will affect Montana on Friday and Saturday

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Significant snowstorm will affect Montana on Friday and Saturday


Significant snowstorm to impact Montana Friday and Saturday

WINTER WEATHER ALERTS are in effect for most of Montana for the next couple of days.

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A WINTER STORM WARNING is in effect most of north-central Montana from 5am/11am/5pm Friday until 5am/5pm Saturday.

A WINTER STORM WARNING is in effect for central and southern Phillips County, Garfield County, and Petroleum County from 11am Friday until 5pm Saturday.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY is in effect for the southern Rocky Mountain Front, the high plains, the Bozeman and Helena areas, and the mountains in central Montana from 8pm Thursday/11am Friday until 5am/5pm Saturday.

There is going to be scattered snow around tonight, generally in central Montana, including around Great Falls, Helena, and Lewistown, and light snow accumulations of up to an inch or two are possible. We are also going to have overcast skies tonight with a few areas of fog around. It is also going to be cold tonight in north-central Montana as lows are going to be in the -0s and 0s. Around Helena, lows tonight are going to be in the mid to upper teens and low to mid 20s.

A significant snowstorm is going to impact our area on Friday and Saturday. As we go through Friday, snow will develop from northwest to southeast. Around Helena, snow is likely tomorrow morning, but the snow will taper off from southwest to northeast tomorrow afternoon/evening. In north-central Montana, locations around and west of I-15 and in southern portions of north-central Montana, including around Great Falls and Lewistown, will see snow begin to develop during the morning. This snow will then overspread the rest of north-central Montana during the afternoon and evening, and will arrive in northeastern Montana during the late evening.

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Widespread snow is then likely tomorrow night in north-central Montana, with areas of snow around the Helena area tomorrow night. Some of the snow that falls tomorrow and tomorrow night will be heavy at times. Light to moderate snow will then continue to fall on Saturday, especially in locations east of I-15, but this snow will gradually taper off from west to east as the day goes on.


Check the Montana Department of Transportation website before you hit the road to find out which roads are snow-covered, which ones have ice and/or slush, and if any roads are closed. You can also check MDT cameras from across the state by clicking here.


This snowstorm will drop a significant amount of snow. A widespread 3-12” of snow is expected in central and north-central Montana from this evening through Saturday evening, with most locations receiving 5-10” of snow. In the mountains, 6-18” of snow is expected through Saturday evening. Due to this snow, difficult travel conditions are expected tomorrow and Saturday (especially tomorrow afternoon through Saturday morning), so please use extreme caution when driving and consider delaying your travel if possible. Also, give yourself plenty of extra time to get to where you need to go.

It is also going to continue to be cold tomorrow and Saturday in north-central Montana as highs are going to be in the single digits, teens, and low 20s, with lows in the -0s, 0s, and low 10s. Around Helena, highs tomorrow are going to be in the upper teens and low to mid 20s in most locations and highs on Saturday are going to be in the upper 20s and low to mid 30s in most locations. It is also going to be breezy in some areas east of I-15 on Friday as sustained wind speeds are going to be between 10 and 20 mph. There is also going to be a breeze around on Saturday along the Divide and the Rocky Mountain Front as well as in northeastern Montana as sustained wind speeds are going to be between 10 and 20 mph.

On Sunday, we are going to have mostly cloudy skies with a few snow showers around in north-central Montana and scattered snow around Helena. Snow is then likely around Helena on Monday and there is going to be some scattered snow around on Monday in north-central Montana, generally around and west of I-15 as well as along the MT 200 corridor. We are also going to have a wide range of temperatures on these two days as highs are going to range from the single digits to the mid 30s, with the coldest temperatures along the Hi-Line east of I-15 and the warmest temperatures around Helena.

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We are then going to have partly to mostly sunny skies on Tuesday with a few snow showers around during the morning as a disturbance leaves our area. We are also going to have a wide range of temperatures again on Tuesday as highs are going to range from the mid teens to the mid 30s, with the coldest temperatures in northeastern Montana. It is also going to be a little breezy in some areas on Tuesday as sustained wind speeds are going to be between 5 and 20 mph.

Some isolated rain and snow showers are then possible on Wednesday as another weak disturbance passes through our area. We are also going to have partly to mostly cloudy skies on Wednesday. Partly cloudy skies and mainly dry conditions are then expected on Thursday as high pressure is going to be in control of our weather. Warmer air is also going to return to our area for these two days as highs are going to be in the 30s and low 40s. There is also going to be a breeze around on Wednesday as sustained wind speeds are going to be between 10 and 20 mph.





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Montana Sues Park Service Over Yellowstone National Park Bison Plan

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Montana Sues Park Service Over Yellowstone National Park Bison Plan


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Montana state officials have already made a New Year’s resolution: Sue the federal government. In a lawsuit filed on Dec. 31, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte accused the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) of violating established agreements for managing bison.

Federal wildlife officials have ignored Montana’s concerns about increased numbers of bison, the lawsuit said, and also avoided vaccinating the animals against brucellosis, a disease that worries the state’s cattle-ranching industry.

It’s the latest escalation in a decades-long conflict between state and federal officials over management of bison herds in Yellowstone National Park. The core issue is about how to manage the animals when they leave park borders and roam into Montana. According to the lawsuit, the NPS changed the rules regarding bison numbers and vaccination in a 2024 environmental impact statement without consulting state officials.

The lawsuit was filed in district court by Gianforte’s office, the Montana Department of Livestock, and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. The NPS didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday.

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“The new Bison Management Plan is another example of Yellowstone National Park’s tendency to do what it wants, leaving Montana to collect the pieces,” the lawsuit said.

Yellowstone bison in the winter snow; (photo/Shutterstock)

Is Livestock Disease the Issue?

The latest dispute began in 2000 when Yellowstone National Park implemented the Interagency Bison Management Plan. This long-term plan allowed for brucellosis-positive bison to live in Yellowstone. That concerned Montana officials because brucellosis can cause fetal abortion and sterility in livestock, and Yellowstone bison frequently roam outside of park boundaries.

State officials hoped the issue would be addressed when the NPS updated the management plan in July 2024. But that’s not what happened, according to the lawsuit. Instead, the updated plan violates previous agreements to keep bison Yellowstone bison herds under 3,000 animals, and avoids vaccinating them against brucellosis, Gov. Gianforte said in a July 2024 letter to federal officials.

“The condescending and disingenuous methods of NPS, and other agencies, is forcing a new day in the West,” Gianforte wrote.

While brucellosis has been found among Yellowstone bison, it’s more likely to infect livestock via elk herds, according to 2016 research from the U.S. Geological Survey.

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“Any attempt to control the rate of spread in wildlife must be evaluated at the ecosystem scale and include an effective strategy to address infection in elk across the greater Yellowstone area. Focus on bison alone, as was suggested in the past, will not meet the disease eradication objective and conserve wildlife,” said the National Park Service’s Rick Wallen, lead wildlife biologist for the bison program in Yellowstone National Park and co-author of the 2016 study.

Watching,Bison,From,Car,WindowWatching,Bison,From,Car,Window
Bison are one of the most popular attractions for visitors to Yellowstone National Park; (photo/Shutterstock)

Too Many Bison?

But by 2023, the Yellowstone bison population had swelled to 6,000, or double the intended herd limit from the 2000 plan. That led to Montana hunters killing many of the animals at point-blank range as they wandered outside park borders, according to conservation groups Roam Free Nation and Alliance for the Wild Rockies.

“The so-called ‘hunt’ is just another tool to achieve what livestock interests want — to keep wild bison out of Montana,” the organizations said jointly in a press release.

Regardless, the Montana lawsuit requests a temporary pause of the 2024 bison plan while the court reviews the state’s claims.





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Bobcat Insider: Texas connections help drive Montana State run to title game in Frisco

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Bobcat Insider: Texas connections help drive Montana State run to title game in Frisco


BOZEMAN — Montana State is one win from capping a dream season by winning the FCS national championship, which would be the program’s first title in 40 long years.

It’s the Bobcats second trip to the championship game since 2021, and they’ll again face North Dakota State. Helping drive MSU’s run to Frisco, Texas, is a group of Lone Star natives that has given the Bobcats a big boost in forging a 15-0 record and a shot at the crown.

Among them is safety Dru Polidore, a native of Katy, Texas. Polidore is a guest on this week’s edition of the Bobcat Insider show with hosts Grace Lawrence of MTN Sports and Keaton Gillogly, the MSU play-by-play voice.

Polidore discusses the Bobcats’ Texas connection and the opportunity to win a title in his home state. Head coach Brent Vigen also joins this week’s show to look back at the semifinal victory over South Dakota, ahead to the North Dakota State matchup, as well as his connection with NDSU head coach Tim Polasek.

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Montana State and North Dakota State kick off the FCS national championship game Monday at 5 p.m. Mountain time at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.





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