Ah, fall is in the air. The roar of screaming crowds at football games. Oh, wait, never mind.

The fates of COVID will have to determine that come September. For now we have to set our sites on a modest consolation prize for our Montana Grizzly football team. If nothing else, we at least have something on the books - an opponent that we would have faced in 2020 had everything not been cancelled.

University of Montana sports information director Eric Taber tells us that as of today (February 5), the Montana Grizzlies have contracted with Central Washington on April 10 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula to open its modified spring season. Montana was scheduled to face Central Washington at the start of the 2020 season and will now face the Wildcats to open its two-game modified spring schedule in 2021.

The game is contingent on approval by the Missoula County Health Department (MCHD) and will follow all NCAA guidelines and best practices for COVID testing. Stadium capacity and ticketing option details for fans inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium are yet to be determined and will be contingent on approval from MCHD. Broadcast details and kickoff time for the game will also be determined at a later date.

UM Director of Athletics Kent Haslam was quoted as saying, "We are excited to get a game on the spring schedule. I appreciate Central Washington being willing to come to Missoula, and we are hopeful we can find one more game. We still do not know what ticket sales or crowd size will look like, but will work with local health officials to develop a plan."  I am just happy our student-athletes will get a chance to compete, and we have more structure to our spring season."

Per the game contract, Montana will guarantee Central Washington $35,000 for its trip to Missoula, with no penalty should the game be canceled. Even if you can't attend, count on us to bring you full coverage - pregame, play-by-play and post game - on the radio!

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