Making the morning rounds. • Best. Transfer. Ever. (Potentially.) Perennial FCS power Montana didn't even get the chance to host its first high-profile quarterback target, former Michigan starter Tate Forcier, who cut his scheduled tour of schools (including Montana) short Wednesday to sign with Miami. But the Grizzlies appear to be very much in the running for another notable Midwestern QB: Notre Dame backup Nate "Yes That Montana" Montana, whose Hall of Fame father, Joe, was in Missoula with his wife Wednesday to meet with head coach Robin Pflugrad – presumably, to discuss Nate's potential for joining the team in the most name-appropriate transfer of all-time.
Nate, a former walk-on at his dad's alma mater, will be on scholarship in South Bend this fall as a fourth-year junior, but will also be planted firmly on the bench as a third-stringer, at best. (Incoming freshman Everett Golson is likely to push Montana even further down the depth chart.) He's never been a regular starter, even in high school or a one-year stint in junior college in 2009, but looks the part at 6-foot-4/215 pounds and has an opening with the graduation of the Grizzlies' 2010 starter, former Oregon transfer Justin Roper. "[Joe Montana] has four kids and we talked about them all," Pflugrad told the student paper, but considering two of the four are daughters and the third, Nick, is in serious competition for the starting job at Washington, only one would be of immediate interest to him. [The Missoulian, The Kaimin]
• He said, he said. And speaking of Tate Forcier, the Miami-bound sophomore told the Detroit Free Press after signing with the 'Canes Wednesday that he really never wanted to leave Michigan, but athletic director Dave Brandon wouldn't give him the time of day after Forcier came up short academically in the fall semester. "Dave Brandon made his mind up. We tried hard (to stay). … The incompletes, I took care of those. Dave Brandon still wouldn’t let me stay. He refused to even meet with us." Brandon's side of the story: He was unavailable when the Forciers tried to meet with him and tried to reschedule, to no avail. [Detroit Free Press]
• This is not what we meant by 'Cavalier Attitude.' Three Virginia players suspended from the team earlier this week have been charged with multiple counts stemming from a fight at James Madison University on Jan. 30. Sophomores Ausar Walcott, Devin Wallace and Mike Price each face three misdemeanor charges of simple assault or battery and one felony charge of entering a house to commit assault and battery, according to court records. The trio was arrested on Tuesday, the same day the suspensions were announced. [Washington Post]
• The first one was good for us, thanks. Rose Bowl winner TCU turned down a rematch with Wisconsin in the 2011 season opener, according to sources on both sides, because the deal called for a single game in Madison, Wis., with no return date in Fort Worth. A "third party" (almost certainly ESPN) tried to broker the game, and received approval from Badger coach Bret Bielema in "about .5 seconds." TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte, though, said no dice. "We do one-off games if they make the most sense. This did not make any sense with a one-off game in their back yard, but we had no return game." Del Conte told the Dallas Morning News. "I have no interest in ever playing a one-off game unless there is a return game in Fort Worth." [Dallas Morning News]
Quickly… Rivals already has its tentative list of the top-250 high school seniors to watch this fall. … The Associated Press rounds up pending anti-agent initiatives from sea to shining sea. … The Wall Street Journal on Stanford's success with the smart set. … The NCAA nixes Michael McAdoo's appeal to return to North Carolina after missing the entire 2010 season. … More predictions that Texas A&M will be in the SEC within five years, or sooner if Texas makes the leap to independence. … Pat Haden on Mitch Mustain's "stupid, stupid move." … No, Tennessee receiver Gerald Jones didn't push Gabe Wright to Auburn. … Lane Kiffin may be feeling the squeeze from the NCAA. … And even though it's "unauthorized," I gather this forthcoming account of Mike Leach's exit from Texas Tech will have the Cap'n's full endorsement.
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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.
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