2001 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game: A Defensive Showdown

The 2001 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game between the Montana Grizzlies and the Furman Paladins. Played on December 21, 2001, at Finley Stadium, the home field of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the game determined the champion of the 2001 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The participants were the finalists of the 2001 I-AA Playoffs, which began with a 16-team bracket.

Teams and Their Seasons

Montana entered the championship game with an 11-1 record (7-0 in conference play). Their only loss was to Hawaii of Division I-A. Seeded first in the playoffs, the Grizzlies defeated Northwestern State, Sam Houston State, and Northern Iowa to reach the final.

Furman finished their regular season with a 9-2 record (7-1 in conference play). One of their losses was to Wyoming of Division I-A. The Paladins, seeded third, defeated Western Kentucky, Lehigh, and second-seed Georgia Southern to reach the final.

Game Summary: Montana vs. Furman

In a game defined as a defensive slugfest, the Montana Grizzlies emerged victorious, securing a 13-6 win over the Furman Paladins to claim the NCAA Division I-AA national championship. This victory marked the program's second national title under head coach Joe Glenn, the first coming in 1995.

First Half

The Grizzlies drew first blood in the second quarter when running back Yohance Humphrey found the end zone, putting Montana ahead 7-0. Kicker Chris Snyder added to the lead with a 35-yard field goal, sending Montana into halftime with a 10-0 advantage.

Second Half

Snyder extended Montana's lead further with a 30-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter, making the score 13-0. Furman struggled to find an answer against Montana's stifling defense.

Key Performances

Yohance Humphrey was the offensive star for Montana, rushing for 142 yards. Quarterback John Edwards completed 18 of 28 passes for 124 yards, with Etu Molden catching 10 passes for 74 yards.

Defensively, Vince Huntsberger led the Grizzlies with 10 total tackles and one interception. Dave DeCoite also contributed with an interception. Dan Orizotti recorded 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss, while Curt Colter added a sack. Ciche Pitcher, Tim Bush, and Blake Horgan also had tackles for loss.

Statistics

Montana finished with 297 yards of total offense, while Furman had 293. Both teams struggled on third down, converting only 3 of 16 attempts.

Montana's Road to the Championship

The Montana Grizzlies' journey to the 2001 championship was marked by consistent performance and resilience. After a strong regular season, they entered the playoffs as the top seed and navigated a challenging bracket. Their path to the final included victories over Northwestern State, Sam Houston State, and Northern Iowa.

The Significance of the Victory

The 2001 championship was a significant moment for the Montana Grizzlies football program, solidifying their status as a force in Division I-AA football. The victory showcased the team's defensive prowess and ability to perform under pressure.

A Look Back at the 2001 NCAA Division I-A Football Season

The 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first college football season of the 21st century. The Miami Hurricanes, led by first-year head coach Larry Coker, finished the season undefeated and won the national championship in the Rose Bowl against Nebraska. However, the selection of Nebraska, who had not won their conference and had suffered a significant loss to Colorado, was controversial.

Key Storylines

The Rise of Larry Coker and the Miami Hurricanes: Larry Coker, in his first year as head coach after five years as Miami's offensive coordinator under Butch Davis, led the Hurricanes to an undefeated season and a national championship. Coker inherited a star-studded program that Davis had rebuilt after NCAA sanctions.
BCS Controversy: The selection of Nebraska as Miami's opponent in the national championship game was highly controversial. Nebraska had lost their final regular-season game to Colorado by a score of 62-36 and did not even play in the Big 12 Championship Game. However, the BCS computers ranked Nebraska ahead of two-loss Colorado and one-loss Oregon.
Heisman Trophy Race: The 2001 season featured a competitive Heisman Trophy race, with Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch winning by a narrow margin over Florida quarterback Rex Grossman.
Coaching Milestones: Joe Paterno of Penn State became the all-time winningest coach in Division I-A college football, passing Bear Bryant.
Conference Realignment: The Big West Conference stopped sponsoring football after the 2000 season, leading its remaining football-playing members to join other conferences.

Regular Season Drama

The final three weeks of the regular season were filled with drama, as several teams vied for a spot in the national championship game. Nebraska suffered a shocking loss to Colorado, while Oklahoma was upset by Oklahoma State. Florida lost to Tennessee, and Texas fell to Colorado in the Big 12 Championship Game.

The Bowl Games

The 2002 Rose Bowl served as the BCS National Championship Game, with Miami defeating Nebraska. Other notable bowl games included the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl.

Read also: Duke's Championship Run in 2001

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