Montana coach calls Sac State’s Luke Wood ‘a clown’ ahead of key football game
The biggest game of the season for Sacramento State is this week, a Friday showcase on ESPN2 as the upstart Hornets prepare for the gold standard of the Big Sky Conference.
And Luke Wood got the war of words started last Saturday night when the Sacramento State president ribbed one of the signature programs in the land of FCS college football in the Montana Grizzlies, referring to them as the “Pandas.”
The barb came during last week’s Hornets game against Northern Colorado. In a halftime interview with Jason Ross on ESPN+, Wood commended Montana for its football excellence but teased the school by saying, “We’re looking forward to playing the Montana Pandas. Sorry. Montana Grizzlies. Grizzlies. I think that’s their name, right?”
The dig caught the attention of Bobby Hauck, the longtime Grizzlies coach who is the winningest football coach in the history of the Big Sky Conference. In a media session with Montana reporters Monday, Hauck said of Wood, “The guy’s kind of a clown, right?”
Wood in an interview with The Sacramento Bee on Tuesday said the “clown” remark was “a little silly” but he did not take it personally. He said his banter “is all in good fun.”
The Sacramento State alum added of the Montana Grizzlies and their passionate fanbase that has gone to social media to take shots at Sac State: “The more they get mad, the more it makes it fun. I’m glad they were watching our game. We’re living rent-free in their heads. We’re just having some fun. We’re calling this the Panda Bowl. That’s not me calling it that. It’s our community and people on campus, and we’re rolling with it.”
Wood isn’t afraid to make headlines, including in his quest to elevate the Hornets football program from the FCS to the higher-level FBS, something the Sac State alum said could happen as early as next fall if all the dominoes fall just right.
Wood said being bold and expressive, with barbs thrown in, is an effort to fire up the masses ahead of a big game and to pique national interest. If it has people talking, Wood said, then that is always a good thing.
Last spring, Wood suggested in jest that FCS football is the junior varsity of major college sports. That comment caught the attention of Hauck, who responded to that April comment as if it were more recent and directed at the Grizzlies, saying Monday, “We’re aware their president called us JV. We’re aware. We’ll deal with that as need be on Friday night.”
The fact that Sacramento State is bowing out of the Big Sky following 2025 after 29 seasons, for either an FBS conference or the FCS independent route, adds to the intrigue of Friday’s game — one that Sac State hopes to sell out after 20,022 filled up Hornet Stadium to watch Saturday’s 40-35 victory over Northern Colorado.
A 19-time Big Sky champion, Montana this season is FCS-ranked No. 4 at 7-0. Sacramento State is 4-3 and winner of four of its last five games behind a prolific offense and spirited first-year head coach Brennan Marion. Marion has applauded Wood for his support and for being bold in comments. Wood said if he sensed any concerns from the football program about his comments, he would respond accordingly.
“If our football team had a problem with what I say, I’d stop,” Wood said.
During the halftime interview, Wood added of Montana, “They haven’t played anybody this season. I feel bad for their fans that have to experience a loss (to Sac State this week), but we’ll see.”
Speaking to The Bee on Tuesday, Wood doubled down.
“It’s true. They haven’t played anyone. Let’s be real here. Their first game was against a Division II team. Our first game was against the No. 2 team in the FCS (South Dakota State, a 20-3 Hornets loss). Their second game was against an unranked team, and ours was against an FBS team (in Nevada, which defeated Sac State 20-17). It’s a fair statement. We’re the real test for Montana. We’ve beaten them three out of the last four times.”
Wood added that since 2019, Sacramento State has won the Big Sky three times under coach Troy Taylor and Montana has taken the crown once, in 2023. The Hornets made the FCS playoffs in 2023 under coach Andy Thompson, and the team dipped to 3-9 last season.
Marion was hired in December. He brought in 71 new players through high school recruiting and the transfer portal.
Added security after postgame concert incident
Hauck, the Montana coach, took another shot at Wood and Sacramento State, saying Monday, “If I was president (of Sac State), I’d be more worried about the riot that happened at their stadium after the game than clowning Montana.”
Hauck was referring to a fracas that broke out during the Lil Yachty concert at Hornet Stadium. The skirmishes led to a shortened show.
“There was no riot,” Wood said, adding that extra security will be in place on Friday in anticipation of a sellout. Rapper Quavo is set to perform at Friday’s game.
Wood added that fights at Hornet Stadium over the years have been “extremely rare.”
Hornets coach: ‘I like chaos’
Marion after last week’s game raved about the big crowd, the largest for a homecoming game in the 71-year history of the football program. He called this a “special season” for the Hornets, adding that the best way to back up their talk is to keep on winning games.
Marion spoke glowingly of Montana, deeming the Grizzlies as a “perennial powerhouse.”
“We’re excited for the opportunity, and it’ll be full-speed ahead for Montana.”
As for dealing with pressure-cooker games or seasons, Marion said he was made for this. He invites the hype and expectations, reminding that he is a product of a tough upbringing in Pennsylvania who has used football as fuel to achieve as a player and as a coach.
“I was born on fourth down and found a way to get it to first down,” Marion said in congratulating his team for battling back after an 0-2 start to the season. “I’m used to adversity. I like chaos. I thrive better in that, growing up the way I did in (low-income) Section 8. I’m OK in chaos.”
No. 4 Montana (7-0) at Sacramento State (4-3)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
On air: ESPN2, ESPN1320 Radio
Of note: Sac State kicker Grant Meadors accounted for 16 points against Northern Colorado in earning Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week honors. An Oregon Ducks transfer, Meadors made field goals of, in order, 37, 28, 34, and 42 yards, and he made all four of his extra points....Montana is 6-0 at home this season and won its only road game at Idaho State on Oct. 4, 42-38. The Grizzlies opened the season with a 42-17 win over Division II Central Washington and last week downed Sacred Heart of Connecticut, 43-21, in Missoula. Keali’i Ah Yat has passed for 2,042 yards and 14 touchdowns for Montana, and he will face the Sac State pass rush that is among the best in the FCS.
Against Northern Colorado, Sac State made four interceptions, three in the second half, and the Hornets stopped the Bears on downs at the 3-yard line with a game-winning pass attempt broken up by Malik Tullis. Sac State rushed for 323 yards against Northern Colorado, including 134 from Rodney Hammond Jr. and 103 from freshman Jaquail Smith to become the first Hornet duo to rush for more than 100 yards in consecutive games since 1985.
This story was originally published October 21, 2025 at 12:53 PM.