Griz to play under lights

GREAT FALLS, Mont. — For the first time since Washington-Grizzly Stadium opened 18 years ago, the Montana Grizzlies are expecting to perform Saturday under lights during a Division I-AA playoff game against New Hampshire.

The stadium has no lights, so portable units are being brought in to accommodate a 2 p.m. kickoff time set by ESPN2 for the national broadcast.

The cable network wants to show the game in prime time on the East Coast.

That means the game probably will end after 5:30 p.m., which means after dark in Missoula.

The NCAA and ESPN made the decision to switch the kickoff time, UM Athletic Director Don Read told the Great Falls Tribune on Sunday.

“It’s a good deal,” Read said. “I was concerned last week, trying to hold off the announcement on television because it might affect walk-up purchasing of tickets. But I’m sure we’ll get over 20,000 this week, and we’ll come out just fine (financially) if that happens.

“It’s a different deal this week,” Read added. “We don’t control ESPN or anything like that. We don’t have lights and I don’t know where they will be coming from, but we’ll find out (Monday),” he told the Tribune.

The Grizzlies assured themselves of a second-round home game by defeating Northwestern State of Louisiana 56-7 Saturday in Missoula.

The game drew 16,289 fans, the best of any of the eight I-AA first-round games.

The Grizzlies typically drew about 23,000 fans for each of their regular-season home games this season.

Read said the lights wouldn’t be required for the start of the game, but surely would be needed for the finish.