Joe Montana's son Nate is transferring to a junior college for the fall semester, but plans to return to Notre Dame in the spring.(WSBT file photo)
Story Created:
Jul 24, 2009 at 4:19 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jul 24, 2009 at 5:27 PM EDT
Notre Dame backup quarterback Nate Montana, the son of former Irish great Joe Montana, has enrolled at Pasadena (Calif.) City College, although he plans to return to Notre Dame for the spring semester.
"I’m going there with the intention of getting playing time and then returning to Notre Dame in the spring to join back up with the team and compete again for the job," Montana said in a phone interview Friday afternoon from California. "Nothing’s ever certain. That’s a long way down the road, and I guess we’ll just have to see where things go."
Montana added that grades are not an issue with him or a reason for his decision to leave.
"I don’t have any academic problems or personal deals," he said. "It’s purely for the experience of getting some time under center."
"This is a short-term stop," Pasadena City College coach James Kuk said Friday afternoon. "I guess you could say he's taking a step back to take two steps forward in this case."
"He's looking for an opportunity, the best opportunity to get on the field and play," Kuk said of the sophomore from Concord, Calif. "He just wants to be on the field, and so wherever that opportunity will present itself, I'm sure that's where he'll entertain."
By transferring to a junior college, Montana is open to being re-recruited by other schools, and Kuk mentioned Arizona State has already expressed an interest in the Irish walk-on. But that doesn’t mean Montana will necessarily entertain the offers.
Kuk stopped short of naming Montana as his starter, saying he has two returning players at the position.
"But he looks like he's very able and capable of being that guy," Kuk said.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Montana did not play as a freshman at ND in 2008 and was ticketed as the fourth-stringer this fall behind junior Jimmy Clausen, sophomore Dayne Crist and fifth-year senior Evan Sharpley.
"I just feel that one of the biggest differences between me and the other quarterbacks there is the amount of game experience that they have over me," said Montana, who was a backup at De LaSalle High School, "so I figured the best chance I have of competing is to gain some ground in that area."
Notre Dame, in the last month, has received commitments from two QBs who will join the 2010 roster -- Andrew Hendrix of Cincinnati and Tommy Rees of suburban Chicago.
Montana played in April's Blue-Gold Game, completing 2 of 2 passes for 51 yards.
Montana's brother, Nick, was recruited by Notre Dame but this summer verbally committed to Washington and will be a freshman there in 2010.
Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis could not be reached for comment.
The Lancers went 7-4 overall last season and played in something called the Tremblay Services Bowl in Santa Barbara, Calif. PCC opens its 2009 season Sept. 5 at Mt. San Antonio College.
"I’m excited," Montana said. "It’s like a mixed feeling. It’s hard to leave a team that you’ve been a part of and that you’ve built camaraderie with, but I’m excited to get playing time, just to get time under center."
