Sports

Disappointing Griz football season comes to an end

Posted: Nov 19, 2012 8:42 AM by Dan Cimmino - MTN Sports

MISSOULA - The University of Montana football season came to a close with a Saturday loss to arch-rival Montana State, and 2012 cannot go into the rearview mirror fast enough for Montana fans.

The final numbers saw the maroon and silver go just 3-5 in the Big Sky Conference with an overall 5-6 mark, making it the first losing season in Missoula since 1985.

Montana State did not dominant by any means, with the only major difference coming in the kicking game. But it will be MSU going to the postseason as Grizzly fans remain in a state of shock with how their year unfolded.

"If you were to tell me my freshman year when I came in ‘09 and we went undefeated and to the national championship that we were going to be 5-and-6 my junior year, and lose our last game to the Cats, I would've told you [that] you were crazy," UM linebacker Jordan Tripp said.

"The thing that I have said since day one is this group never quit. They never backed off, they never even wavered an ounce, not one week the whole season, no matter what happened, and they won't now," coach Mick Delaney told us.

The Griz announced their Team MVP on Sunday, giving this season's honor to captain senior running back Peter Nguyen.