The University of Montana Grizzlies football team would like to continue its dominance of the Big Sky Conference during the 2001 season.

In 2000, the Grizzlies won 13 straight games en route to an appearance to the Div. I-AA championship game.

Last season marked the sixth time in eight seasons that the Grizzlies finished atop of the conference. This year?s team returns a total of 15 starters, eight on offense and seven on the defensive side of the ball.While things have stayed the same with Montana, there have been changes made throughout the conference.

Gone are record breakers Charles Roberts, a former Sacramento State running back, Charles Dunn, Jimmy Blanchard, Drew Miller and Marcus Brady. With them are a total of 15 Big Sky records, and 14 NCAA records.

Also gone is California State University, Northridge, which finished 2-6 in league play last season and has since broken ties with the conference to play independently.

In terms of continuity, the Eastern Washington University Eagles return the most All-Big Sky performers, led by wide receivers Shaylon Reed and Joe Levens, center Chris Polinder, running back Jessie Chatman, linebacker Anthony Griffin, safety Alvin Tolliver and kicker Troy Griggs.

The Eagles this year will look to improve on last season?s 6-5 record.

Other teams that figure prominently into this divisional race include Portland State University, Weber State University and Sac State.

Rounding out the conference are Northern Arizona University and Montana State University. Montana State was the only team to not win a conference game last year, finishing 0-11 overall.

Both Sac State and Weber State will have to learn to adapt to massive facelifts done to their rosters since graduation.

Sac State lost quarterback Ricky Ray and Charles Roberts from last year?s team. Roberts was the NCAA?s all-time leading rusher, while Ray gave the Hornets steady play from the quarterback position.

Weber State lost two all-conference starting players with Ryan Prince and Jon Jefferson, who combined to make up more than half of the Wildcats? passing offense. In all, the Wildcats return a total of seven starters.

The regular season kicks off this weekend, as Sac State faces Portland State University in Portland on Saturday.