Greetings from Montana

MISSOULA, Mont. - I just finished the three-hour drive from Spokane, Wash. to Missoula and the views were absolutely incredible. And that was just from the car.

But then I arrived in Missoula and it was like stepping into college football heaven. As soon as I exited the freeway, I saw Montana fans packing the streets on their way to the game. It reminded me of clips I have seen from an SEC or Big 12 college town hours before kickoff.

From college students to grandparents with their grandchildren, everyone is decked out in Grizzlie colors.

When UCD media relations director Mike Robles walked down one of the campus street on his way to the stadium wearing a UCD shirt, he had a friendly exchange with one older lady who politely told him that he was wearing the wrong shirt and offered to give him a red one for the rest of his walk.

When I finally navigated through the thousands of tailgaters to get to Washington-Grizzly Stadium, I was treated to another incredible view. Montana’s stadium is a 25,000-plus seat masterpiece, surrounded by large hills and will soon to be packed to the gills.

As I write this, four sky divers just landed one by one at the 50-yard line followed by 24 Harley Davidson’s driving in and parking on the field one driven by the Grizzlies' mascot and another by Benny the Bull from Chicago.

There was a flyover during the national anthem (which I couldn’t see from the press box) and it was capped off with a cannon blast.

The Grizzlies even had U.S. Olympian backstroker Aaron Peirsol, who won two gold medals and set two world records at Beijing on the field before the game.

It all adds up to another chapter on the Aggies' introduction to major college football.

In on the field news, running back Joe Trombetta. who broke out for 156 yards and two TDs last week and punter Brett Dickinson are both dressed but will be game-time decisions.

- Chris Saur