406football
Well-known member
As we enter 2026, University of Montana football stands at a crossroads. While Bobby Hauck’s overall win-loss record remains the highest in Big Sky history, the 2025 season underscored a painful reality: the program has reached a plateau that no longer meets the expectations of Griz Nation.
After another heartbreaking end to a promising season, it is time for the administration to consider why extending Coach Hauck’s contract—which currently runs through January 2027—may not be in the best interest of the program.
1. The Rivalry Record: A "New Record" for Losses
The most damning case against an extension is the performance in the "Brawl of the Wild." Following a 48-23 semifinal loss to Montana State in December 2025, Hauck now holds a 2-7 record against the Bobcats in his second tenure. He has officially recorded the most losses to the Bobcats of any coach in Montana history. In a rivalry that defines Grizzly football, being "Little Brother" for a decade is unacceptable.
2. Tactical Stagnation and "Empty Calories"
Critics frequently point to the "empty calories" of recent seasons—historic offensive stats and 13-win years that vanish when facing elite competition.
Big Game Struggles: In 2025, despite an 11-0 start, the Griz dropped two games to their rival and fell one game short of the national title.
Defensive Rigidity: Fans and analysts have grown frustrated with a "gimmick defense" and a perceived refusal to adapt to modern schemes used by top-tier FCS programs like South Dakota State.
3. The Recruiting Gap
Recruiting has shifted from a position of dominance to a liability. Montana State currently outpaces the Griz in securing the state’s best home-grown talent, with roughly double the number of in-state players on their two-deep roster compared to Montana. Relying on the Grizzly "brand" is no longer enough to win the recruiting wars in the modern era.
The 2025 season proved that while Bobby Hauck can build a winning team, the current leadership may be incapable of winning the right games. To reclaim its spot at the pinnacle of the FCS and end the "Bozeman hex," Montana needs fresh tactical ideas and a modernized approach to recruiting that looks forward, not backward. It is time to let the current contract expire and find a leader who can deliver more than just "empty" records.
After another heartbreaking end to a promising season, it is time for the administration to consider why extending Coach Hauck’s contract—which currently runs through January 2027—may not be in the best interest of the program.
1. The Rivalry Record: A "New Record" for Losses
The most damning case against an extension is the performance in the "Brawl of the Wild." Following a 48-23 semifinal loss to Montana State in December 2025, Hauck now holds a 2-7 record against the Bobcats in his second tenure. He has officially recorded the most losses to the Bobcats of any coach in Montana history. In a rivalry that defines Grizzly football, being "Little Brother" for a decade is unacceptable.
2. Tactical Stagnation and "Empty Calories"
Critics frequently point to the "empty calories" of recent seasons—historic offensive stats and 13-win years that vanish when facing elite competition.
Big Game Struggles: In 2025, despite an 11-0 start, the Griz dropped two games to their rival and fell one game short of the national title.
Defensive Rigidity: Fans and analysts have grown frustrated with a "gimmick defense" and a perceived refusal to adapt to modern schemes used by top-tier FCS programs like South Dakota State.
3. The Recruiting Gap
Recruiting has shifted from a position of dominance to a liability. Montana State currently outpaces the Griz in securing the state’s best home-grown talent, with roughly double the number of in-state players on their two-deep roster compared to Montana. Relying on the Grizzly "brand" is no longer enough to win the recruiting wars in the modern era.
The 2025 season proved that while Bobby Hauck can build a winning team, the current leadership may be incapable of winning the right games. To reclaim its spot at the pinnacle of the FCS and end the "Bozeman hex," Montana needs fresh tactical ideas and a modernized approach to recruiting that looks forward, not backward. It is time to let the current contract expire and find a leader who can deliver more than just "empty" records.
does MSU have on its roster ? 
and with maybe the exception of Eastern, no one in The Big Sky or MVFC for that matter uses those offenses. I know Coach Hauck is loyal to his old boss retired San Diego State HC Rocky Long and the 3-3-5 and SDSU and UM have won a lot of games playing it, but SDSU didn't win a FBS NC using it and I don't think we will win a FCS NC either plus I think the 3-3-5 results in more injuries to our secondary as some of our smallest defenders are required repeatedly to tackle some of our opponent's bigger, stronger, faster offensive skill guys and the result--more injuries to our secondary. 
and staff have been and will be hitting the Montana highways soon for the '27 class, and he and his peers, including Bobby, know their way around Billings and that's great because with 4 public high schools ( Senior, West, Skyview, Lockwood), two private, Billings Central ( Catholic ) and Billings Christian 
( Evangelical Protestant), there is a little talent down here in Montana's biggest city of about 125,000 souls as evidenced recently by Gabe Sulser, Trevyn Gradney and Junior Bergen, and currently by Cade Boyd and Clay Oven, both of Central, and incoming Merek Fisher of Skyview and William Snell, also of Central.
