So here we are, anxiously awaiting the Football Championship Subdivision national title game between Villanova and Montana. It appears we have come full circle. If you recall, Villanova’s coach Andy Talley and Montana’s coach Bobby Hauck got into a little verbal sparring match in the media during the Grizzlies’ run to the title game last year. Montana lost to Richmond in the championship.
There are enough storylines heading into Friday’s game to keep any fan and sportswriter busy. Montana going for its first undefeated season ever. Hauck claiming that elusive first national title. Villanova rising from the ashes of a once-defunct football program. Marc Mariani. Chase Reynolds. I could keep going.
But since tension between head coaches is always fun, let us revisit last December’s bickering between Talley, Hauck and James Madison’s coach Mickey Matthews. After Villanova lost to James Madison in the quarterfinals, Talley offered a prediction for the semifinal matchup between James Madison and Montana.
“I think it’s a slam dunk for (James Madison) there,” Talley said. “They’ll beat Montana. We would have beat Montana. JMU is an outstanding team. Richmond is an outstanding team.”
Montana went on to beat James Madison 35-27 to advance to the championship. Matthews, JMU’s coach, didn’t exactly come off as a gracious loser.
“This is what I told the kids at half: I can play quarterback and we can move the ball,” Matthews said. “They weren’t going to stop us, and they didn’t stop us.”
Whether the Grizzlies “stopped” the Dukes or not, the fact remains that they beat them. After the victory, Hauck, obviously recalling Talley’s words, hinted that Villanova wouldn’t even have been a worthy opponent.
“We would’ve beaten Villanova by 50,” Hauck said.
All of which brings us to the 2010 Football Championship Subdivision national title. The tone of Hauck and Talley has been decidedly less combative. Talley called Montana “outstanding” and Hauck said his Grizzlies “have a healthy dose of respect for (Villanova,) I’ll tell you that.”
But let’s be honest. Last year’s harsh words haven’t been forgotten.
Even without the coaches going at each other, there has been no shortage of interesting media coverage this week, ranging from newspapers in Pennsylvania – Villanova’s home state – to Tennessee papers to Montana.
The Philadelphia Inquirer called Montana the “Florida of the Football Championship Subdivision” and the Missoulian recounts the history of Villanova football. There are several other good stories too.
Below is a sampling of what the papers are saying. The game is held in Chattanooga, Tenn., and will be aired at 6 p.m. on ESPN2 on Friday, Dec. 18.
“Up Last: Villanova Might be Overdue” – Missoulian
“Villanova’s Final Challenge: Beating Mighty Montana” – Philadelphia Inquirer
“‘Nova, Montana Differ in Recruiting Strategies” – Philadelphia Inquirer
“Griz Pay Respect to Stout Villanova Defense” – Billings Gazette
“Talley: Reynolds is Rough, Tough Guy” – Missoulian
“A Time to Celebrate: Villanova Finally in Title Game” – Chattanooga Times Free Press