by AJ Mazzolini of the Montana Kaimin
Former Notre Dame quarterback Nate Montana has been admitted to The University of Montana and met with athletic department officials Monday. The meeting came a week after his father, NFL great Joe Montana, met with Grizzly head football coach Robin Pflugrad.
"I know that he's been admitted to The University of Montana and the expectations are that he will be seeking a spot on the football team," said UM Athletics Director Jim O'Day.
At Notre Dame, Montana, who is listed at 6-foot-4, was enrolled in the business school.
The quarterback, 21, left the Adams Center Monday afternoon accompanied by Jean Gee, the university's senior associate athletic director in charge of academic services. His mother, Jennifer, and his father, a four-time Super Bowl winner with the San Francisco 49ers, met the pair in the parking lot.
When approached, Gee stated that the junior would not speak on his visit to campus.
Montana played behind junior Dayne Crist and freshman Tommy Rees last season for the 8-5 Irish, appearing in three games and completing nine of 18 pass attempts. The quarterback threw one interception to no touchdowns.
He walked on at Notre Dame as a freshman but saw no playing time in his first season with the team. After transferring to Pasadena Community College in 2009, where he completed 31 of 88 passes for two touchdowns and five interceptions, Montana returned to Notre Dame for his junior season.
Under Irish coach Brian Kelly, Montana would be one of at least six quarterbacks fighting for playing time for the 2011 season.
Montana is a junior and still has two years of eligibility left.