What Is 1970 Montana Grizzlies football team

Overview

The 1970 Montana Grizzlies football team represented the University of Montana during the 1970 NCAA College Division football season. Coached by Jack Swarthout in his fifth year, the team played as a member of the Big Sky Conference and competed in Division II, which was then known as the NCAA College Division.

The Grizzlies played their home games at Dornblaser Field, a modest on-campus venue in Missoula, Montana. The 1970 season marked a transitional phase for the program, as it sought to build consistency after several years of fluctuating performance in the conference.

• Record: The team finished the season with a 5–5 overall record, marking one of the more balanced seasons in recent program history at the time.
• Conference play: In Big Sky Conference competition, Montana went 3–2, securing a third-place finish in the five-team league.
• Head coach:Jack Swarthout, in his fifth season, continued to implement a balanced offensive strategy emphasizing both passing and running plays.
• Home stadium: The Grizzlies played at Dornblaser Field, which had a capacity of approximately 8,000 and lacked permanent seating on one side.
• Notable game: A 21–14 victory over rival Montana State in November was a highlight, helping secure their winning conference record.

Season Performance Breakdown

The 1970 campaign featured a mix of competitive wins and narrow losses, reflecting the team’s development under Swarthout’s leadership. The Grizzlies showed improvement in conference play compared to previous years, though they fell short of a championship contention.

• Offensive output: Montana averaged 20.3 points per game across ten contests, demonstrating a moderately effective scoring attack.
• Defensive performance: The defense allowed 19.8 points per game, indicating a near-even balance between scoring and preventing points.
• Key player: Quarterback Pat Provost led the offense with 1,042 passing yards and seven touchdowns on the season.
• Rushing leader: Running back Dave Dunn contributed 587 rushing yards, providing a reliable ground game throughout the season.
• Season opener: The Grizzlies opened with a 24–10 win over Eastern Washington, setting a positive tone for the year.
• Midseason challenge: A 34–14 loss to Cal Poly exposed defensive vulnerabilities against stronger non-conference opponents.

Comparison at a Glance

Montana’s 1970 season can be better understood when compared to previous and subsequent years in program history.

This table illustrates how the 1970 season served as a stabilizing year between less successful campaigns and the eventual rise of the program in the early 1970s. While not a championship year, it laid groundwork for future success under Swarthout’s consistent leadership.

Why It Matters

The 1970 season is a notable chapter in the evolution of the Montana Grizzlies football program, reflecting incremental progress during a formative era.

• Program development: The season demonstrated steady improvement under Jack Swarthout, who would later lead Montana to national prominence.
• Conference competitiveness: A 3–2 conference record showed Montana could compete with top Big Sky teams like Idaho State and Weber State.
• Rivalry success: The win over Montana State preserved a key rivalry victory, maintaining morale and fan support.
• Player development: Quarterback Pat Provost’s performance signaled the emergence of reliable offensive leadership for future seasons.
• Stadium conditions: Playing at Dornblaser Field highlighted the need for modernization, which eventually led to the construction of Washington-Grizzly Stadium in 1986.
• Historical context: The 1970 team helped bridge the gap between early struggles and the Golden Age of Griz football in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Though not remembered for championships or national rankings, the 1970 Montana Grizzlies played a crucial role in building the foundation for one of the most respected FCS programs in college football history.