Big Sky, Fox Stick Together For ‘97 Football

Fox Sports Northwest will telecast Big Sky Conference football games for the sixth consecutive season this fall, the network and the league have announced.

The schedule highlights University of Montana, the two-time defending league champion and 1996 NCAA Division I-AA runner-up. The Grizzlies will battle Stephen F. Austin in the opening telecast on Sept. 13 and take on Portland State in a live matchup on Nov. 8.

The second game of the season will feature Northern Arizona, ranked No. 1 in The Sporting News preseason Division I-AA poll, at Weber State on Oct. 4.

Former UM coach Don Read is in his second year of providing color and analysis in support of play-by-play from former KREM-TV sports director Tod Pickett.

Other games include Cal State-Northridge at Montana State on Oct. 18, Idaho State at Eastern Washington on Oct. 25 and Idaho State at Weber State on Nov. 22.