Pac-12 Know the 2012 Non-Conference Opponent Countdown: Northern Colorado Bears

Next up in the countdown of non-conference opponents for Pac-12 opponents is the Bears of Northern Colorado. The Bears will open the season in Salt Lake City against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium on August 30. Last season UNC was 0-11 and 0-8 in the Big Sky Conference.

As a Football Champions Subdivision team they largely played FCS teams but did face Colorado State of the Mountain West Conference in Fort Collins. Despite not winning a game in 2011, they were pretty competitive on the season with three losses by less than a touchdown which was better than our previous team.

The Big Sky Conference has a school your probably familiar with in Montana who’s been historically pretty good winning and playing for national titles at the FCS level. Another team that knocked off Pac-12 (then in the BigXII) member Colorado was Montana State a few years ago.

Leading rusher Quentin Hildreth returns after a sophomore season which he had 388 yards and three TD’s on the ground. Seth Lobato who also was a sophomore in 2011 looks to be the starting QB coming into the season, threw for 2,448 yards with 17 touchdowns and one rushing TD.

Clarence Bumpas is the leading defensive player and another guy who was a sophomore last season. He had 145 tackles, 56 solo and assisted on 89 with 10.5 tackle for losses in addition to one sack. Cameron Friend lead the team with three interceptions as a junior, second with 93 tackles and three quarterback sacks.

2012 Northern Colorado Bears Schedule –

@Utah 8/30
Colorado Mesa 9/8
@Sacramento State 9/15
@Montana State 9/22
Montana 10/6
@Cal Poly 10/13
Idaho State 10/20
Northern Arizona 10/27
@Portland State 11/3
@Weber State 11/10
North Dakota 11/17

Previous Previewed Teams –
July 2 – Nicholls Colonels

Make sure that you like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @Autzen_Zoo and @MikeVmos