George Ferguson Column: Win or lose in Fargo, the Griz' roller coaster has been a blast

Summer is long, long gone now. But, when it comes to the Montana Grizzlies, few will ever forget Aug. 29, 2015. That's the day the Grizzlies shocked the North Dakota State Bison in the ESPN FCS Kickoff Game at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula.

That day was momentous for several reasons, including the fact the Griz and Bison were playing each other in the first place. No two teams in the FCS have had more success in the last 10 years than those two, and when it comes to popularity and brands, the Bison and Griz are clearly the flagship programs of the FCS.

Now, I have to admit, being in a hot, smoke-filled Washington-Grizzly Stadium that day three months ago, the last thing on my mind as the Griz celebrated their historic upset was a rematch. The game completed a home-and-home contract between the two powerhouses, and honestly, I didn't care if I ever saw the Bison play the Griz again – mainly because NDSU is so good and so powerful, I figured Montana's win was a one-time thing.

And I'll also admit, as I watched the Griz falter against the likes of Cal Poly just one week later, or in overtime at home to Weber State, and when I watched them get shelled by Portland State on Halloween, I didn't see a playoff rematch with the Bison in Montana's future either.

But, here we are. It's December, it's the final 16 of the FCS playoffs and the Griz are indeed headed to the Fargo Dome with a shot to do something incredible – beat the four-time defending national champion Bison twice in one season. What a feat that would be.

Of course, things are going to be a little tougher this time around – or maybe a lot tougher. NDSU rebounded well from its opening-day loss to the Griz, and now, the Bison are back to perhaps playing the best football in the country.

Even without star quarterback Carson Wentz, who is out with a broken wrist, the Bison are rolling. They are running the football downhill behind their NFL-sized offensive line, and freshman QB Easton Stick is the kind of dual-threat that has given the Griz trouble all season. Now the Griz will also likely be without senior linebacker Kendrick Van Ackeren on defense, and, above all else, the stingy Bison defense will be playing in front of 19,000 rabid fans inside the loud and intimidating Fargo Dome.

And, they'll certainly be playing with a chip on their shoulder having lost to the Griz just three months ago.

Yes, the odds are stacked against Montana this time around. Yet, the Griz are rolling too. They have won four straight, and all four were essentially playoff games, because had Montana lost just once in the last three weeks of the regular season, the Griz wouldn't have even got into the FCS field.

The Griz look like a lethal machine on offense, and the defense has only gotten better since the first time they saw the Bison. And still, even after blowouts over Eastern Washington and Montana State, and even after an impressive win over South Dakota State last weekend, the Griz are decided underdogs heading into Saturday's rematch.

That's just fine with me. Because, win or lose Saturday, this Griz' season has been one of the most entertaining ever, and it's certainly been my favorite season since Marc Mariani's magical year of 2009.

No, I'll be fine if the Griz have to bow out at NDSU – after all, everybody else that's tried to win in Fargo in the playoffs has bowed out too over the last five years. No, there would be no shame in a loss Saturday to a team that I still consider the favorite to win this year's national championship.

And while I'm sure many of you who know me are thinking I'm full of something that rhymes with Griz' head coach Bob Stitt's last name, I really mean it. I'll be just fine if the Griz can't pull off upset number two over the Bison, or, as their fans insist on saying, Bizon.

I'll be alright because this has been a blast of a season, and the Griz have been a blast of a team to watch. I am certain now, that Stitt was the right man for the job, and he has done exactly what a head coach is supposed to do, and that's have his team playing his best football at the end of the season.

Yes, some of the losses were maddening this year. It was especially tough to watch the Griz start three different quarterbacks, and it was hard to watch the running game take for seemingly ever to come around. Like every football team, the Griz had flaws this season, and some of them were glaring.

But, on the flip side, it's been a while since I have had this much fun watching the Griz play. I mean, Montana will break its own FCS attendance record this year, and every single game seemed to have some kind of intrigue to it, win or lose. No, this Griz team had all of Griz Nation on the edge of their seats right from the get-go, and now it's December and we're still sitting right on the edge of those seats.

In other words, this has been one exciting season, and from day one, it's felt like a roller coaster I have never been able to get off of.

And that's why, if Saturday is the end, it will be OK with this Griz fan. Yes, I would love nothing more than to see Montana walk out of The Fargo Dome victorious, and I'd love nothing more than to see this crazy season keep going.

But, if it doesn't, If Fargo is where it ends for the Griz, I'll have plenty of memories, and some exciting games on my DVR to hold me over until next year's season-opener.

In recent years, the Griz have had some forgettable seasons, and a whole lot of turmoil to boot. But, not this one. Just like the slogan said, Stitt really did happen, and this is one season I won't forget, no matter how things unfold on Saturday.

Note: The FCS playoff game between Montana and North Dakota State will be broadcast only online at ESPN3.com, with the exception being, DirecTV subscribers can purchase the game through ESPN's College Extra package.