The Missoulian from Missoula, Montana • 41

Page 1 1 GRIZZLIES HOST CAL-FULLERTON IN 1985 OPENER -4 by Dave Guffey, Director Grizzly Sports information The envelope please Even the Great Carsonl wouldn't want to guess the answer In Saturday's envelope how will the University ot Montana do In its '85 season opener against a talented Cal-State Fullerton Titan team? Will the new established wishbone offensive give the Grizzlies the ball-control offense they need? Will the rejuvenated UM defense turn around its roller coaster season of a year ago? Can Brent Pease fill the shoes of now-graduated Marty Morhinweg at quarterback? Stay tuned. Set your dial to 1:30, Missoula time on the Dornblaser Channel. It's rated good for the entire family. Your "host" Saturday, sixth-year Montana head coach Larry Donovan and his staff have been working hard with their new fall "lineup" including 80 plus stars on this season's roster. Meanwhile, the guys wearing black, Cal-Fullerton, pose quite a test for UM.

The Titans were 11-1 in the regular season last year, and because Nevada-Las Vegas used ineligible players it forfeited all of its games In 1984, giving Fullerton a 12-0 overall and 7-0 league record. The Titans sole loss last year was 26-20 at Vegas. Back from that team are 1 1 starters seven of whom are on offense. Gone is record-setting quarterback Damon Allen (brother of the Raiders' Marcus Allen), who is now at Edmonton In the Canadian Football League. However, back are Allen's four favorite targets and leading rusher of a year ago, Burness Scott.

"The Fullerton program turned the corner two years ago (CSUF was 7-4 in 1983) and continued that surge last year through its coaching staff and players," Donovan said. "Fullerton's team speed will be the best we've faced to date. "When you have four receivers of the calibre they have, and athletes who can protect the passer, I wouldn't expect that much of a dropoff in that phase of their game," Donovan continued. i One thing the Grizzlies won't have to learn about Is the ability of CSUF cornerback Mark Collins, an All-American candidate and school record holder with 15 interceptions. He was a first team all-leaguer last year and second team in '83.

Another top defensive returnee is OLB Sean Foy who was an all-leaguer last season. It hasn't been easy for the Titans to Improve their "Nielsen Ratings." CSUF had not had a winning season since 1973 until Murphy and Co. went 7-4 In 1983 and then 11-1 (12-0) last year. Dornblaser was considered a temporary facility back when "Guns-moke" on television was not a rerun. However, Murphy and his squad would be happy with Dorndump, as it is affectionately called by some.

CSUF has actually not known where it was going to play just a couple of hours before kickoff of game day. Don't feel too sorry for Fullerton, though. CSUF has won national championships six times. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are trying to rebound from a 2-8-1 season, in which they opened with two victories. One of the wrinkles Donovan and his staff have gone with Is the wishbone offense, along with the spread alignment.

"We Installed the "wishbone" to better utilize the clock, establish our rushing game, and also to teach our defense how to play the run tough," Donovan said. "The wishbone is a working offense. You can plug away and plug away and It sort of lulls the fans, and hopefully the defense to sleep. Then, all of a sudden a back breaks loose In the secondary for big yardage." Montana has six or seven backs that might get "screen tests" Saturday. The top three runners from last year return in LeRoy Foster (385 yards), Scott Murray (291 yards) and Kraig Paulson (265 yards In 7 games).

Also figuring to see action are ietterman Mike Ehlers, redshirt freshman John Huestis and exciting first-year man Renard Coleman. Quarterback, the key to the "bone," is critical and Donovan has given that job to Walla Walla JC transfer Brent Pease, a 6-2, 200-pound junior. "Brent seems to become more and more comfortable with the wishbone each day, and at the same time his passing is stronger too," Donovan said. Pease is backed up by JC transfer Scott Werbelow and frosh Shanon Mornhinweg and Tony Arnston. All-conference honorable mention pick Eric Dawald (Foster was also an HM pick) leads the offensive line, which features Larry Clarkson, Darrin Reld or Scott Poole at tackle, Rusty Lohof at the other guard slot, Jack Metcalf at center and Paul Lamb at tight end.

Missoula's Scott Moe (11 catches for 186 yards and a TD) will hopefully fill now graduated Bob McCauley's shoes as the big play man, and senior Terry White is back at flanker. JC transfer Mike Rice and local product John Wilson will also see duty at wide receiver. Rice will also handle the punting duties and return kicks. i Bill Tarrow Outside Linebacker THIS WEEK IN THE BIG SKY Boise State Utah State Idaho Oregon State N. Colorado Idaho State S.

Utah State Weber State Montana State Portland State Cal-Northridge gs Reno S. Dakota N. Arizona SATURDAY IS BITTERROOT VALLEY DAY 4 sea, i a J) Li The University of Montana's season opener Saturday against Cal-Fullerton not only marks the beginning of a new season, but is also a special day for one of Mis soula's "next door neighbors," as it Is designated as "Bit-terroot Valley Day." It is the beginning of many more special days for several of the communities surrounding Missoula. Saturday's communities In the spotlight Include Hamilton, Stevens- The Grizzly defensive show finished last in the ratings a year ago, but Donovan and staff feel there has been a 100 percent improvement In that category. "Our defensive aggressiveness continues to improve, with players from a year ago having gained valuable experience, plus some new or returning players who give us quality and numbers on defense," Donovan said.

Junior redshirt Shawn Poole Is back at one tackle, while Pat Foster has nailed down the other spot. At noseguard veteran Scott Moore has had a strong fall camp, but Is being pushed for the starting role by freshman John Owens. Tackles Nate Finch and Larry Oliver will also see a lot of action on the D-line. Linebacker also looks strong and deep, with Bill Tarrow and newcomer Pat Hardlman starting outside and Doug Sexe and Rick Dozier going inside. J.C.

Campbell and Tim Gillis add good punch at OLB. In the secondary, sophomores Tony Breland and Nate Odden are at corner, with speedster Ted Ray and steady Terry Shillam at safeties. Donovan and his staff worked their team extremely hard during two-a-days, concentrating on running on the hope UM won't lose games in the final quarter, a problem that plagued them last season. "We have to establish we can play defense, and on the other side of the football, see where we are in our goal of ball control offense in the wishbone and spread offenses," Donovan said. The envelope please GUFF'S GROWLS: All-time Grizzly receiver Brian Salonen pulled oft perhaps one of the biggest coups In the NFL camps by making the Dallas Cowboys squad tor the second straight year.

The unbelievable thing Is that he was moved trom tight end to linebacker a position ha hadn't played since high school Also making the NFL's tlnal cut were otlenslve lineman Guy Bingham and tight end Rocky Klever ol the New York Jets Ex-Qrlz Mickey Sutton (Birmingham) and Mike Hagen (San Antonio) played in the USFL last season According to one media source In Calitornla, 39 Fullerton players were enrolled in summer school to be eligible, Including several starters. One ot those who made It Is cornerback Collins One ot the better known Fullerton alums Includes Tim Wallach, now with the Montreal Expos Looking at the J985 Big Sky conlerence press guide. Marty Mornhinweg tlnished as the league's No. 2 career total oflense leader with 6775 yards and 2nd in career passing with 6083 yards Salonen Is fourth in career receiving with 151 catches In 39 games Karl Stein remains first on the Big Sky Interception list both career (20) and season (11. 1969) ville, Florence, Darby, Corvallis and Victor.

The selected communities are within 150 miles of Missoula. Alumni, Grizzly Athletic Association members and others are invited to attend. Community members are invited to pre-game tailgate parties and a post-game social. The communities and individuals from those towns will be recognized during half-time ceremonies. It is an especially meaningful day to two players on the football team.

Defensive back and return specialist Ted Ray is from Stevensville and Todd Ruark, a halfback, is from Darby. Other Grizzly athletes from the Bltterroot Include Mo Patrick, women's basketball, Darby; Shawn Maus, men's track, Hamilton; Joell Severson, women's track, Stevensville; Val Enebo, women's tennis, Hamilton. Rick Dozier Inside Linebacker Allen, a first team All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association Conference pick, was 178 of 330 for 2469 yards and 20 touchdowns and amazingly threw only three Interceptions. He also rushed for 220 yards and five TDs. The receiving corps of sixth-year mentor Gene Murphy (30-28 at CSUF) are all back and led by Corn Redick (37 receptions for 709 yards and four TDs), Allen Pitts (26 for 430 and 8) and James Pruitt (21 for 360 and a TD).

Also graduated is 6-6, 280-pound offensive tackle Daren Gilbert, the second pick of the New Orleans Saints. However, all the rest of the starters return on the O-line. Murphy, a friend of Donovan for 14 years, Is concerned about the QB spot, as well as inside linebacker, the kicking game and the secondary. "I don't know a lot about our own team, let alone Montana's," said the 1962 graduate of North Dakota. "I know they are unpredicatable both defensively and offensively and I've heard they plan to run the wishbone, but their quarterback is an excellent passer.

"I also know they like to jump around a lot on defense, and that will make It much more difficult for our quarterback (Kevin Jan, 6-2 205, Murphy said. "I think both teams will learn a lot about each other in this game." 'Flath- The next Community Day will be Sept. 28, and is ead Valley Day.".