It seemed too good to be true, rhetorically speaking, but the rumor has come to pass: Notre Dame quarterback Nate "Yes That Montana" Montana, son of Joe, has indeed transferred to Montana, where he plans to walk on to the football team. From the local Missoulian: University of Montana athletic director Jim O'Day confirmed to the Missoulian on Monday evening that Nate Montana, son of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, plans on enrolling at the University of Montana.
"He's admitted as a student, and he started classes today," O'Day said. "Then I would assume he's a walk-on, because we have no aid as of this semester."
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The 21-year old junior quarterback and his father met with athletic department officials Monday, just six days after Joe Montana and his wife had an informal meeting with Grizzly football head coach Robin Pflugrad.
Nate, initially a walk-on at his dad's alma mater, would have been on scholarship in South Bend this fall as a fourth-year junior, though he would have also been planted firmly on the bench as a third-stringer, at best, behind senior Dayne Crist and sophomore Tommy Rees. (Incoming freshman Everett Golson was expected to push Montana even further down the depth chart.) Montana's never been a regular starter at any stop in his gridiron career, including two Northern California high schools and a stint at Pasadena Community College in 2009, but at least he looks the part at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, and has an opening to play right away with the departure of the Grizzlies' 2010 starter, former Oregon transfer Justin Roper.
The main competition for the job: Sophomore D.J. Zapata, who attempted two passes last year as a redshirt freshman. With the Montana-to-Montana narrative seemingly secure, if Zapata ever comes out for warmups in a giant sombrero, ludicrous mustache and bullet vest as the crowd chants "¡Viva el Tigre!" I will donate a paycheck to the university.
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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.
Tobias Enstrom Jonathan Ericsson Anders Eriksson John Erskine
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