MISSOULA — Montana football coach Bob Stitt is closing the team’s final scrimmage to the media and the public as the Grizzlies prepare to take on top-ranked and four-time defending FCS national champion North Dakota State.
Stitt tells the Missoulian the team will be running sets on Thursday afternoon that he doesn’t want anyone to know about. The first-year coach says one of the team’s advantages is NDSU won’t necessarily know what they’re doing.
Stitt says Thursday’s drills are going to focus on ball control and the running attack.
After Thursday’s drills, the team will hold four more practices — including next Thursday’s game preparation, which also will be closed to the public.
Montana opens against North Dakota State at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 29. The NCAA Division I college football opener will be carried by ESPN, with Brent Musburger calling the game.