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Four months ago, a coalition of passionate Montana football fans presented a proposal to university President Royce Engstrom, urging him to appeal what they deemed excessively harsh sanctions by the NCAA.

Engstrom addressed the issue on Monday, indicating he’s exploring all his options.

“I am in the process of talking to a variety of people about the matter that these folks have brought forward,” he said. “I’ve made some phone calls to people that are helping me think it through.

“I’m not ready to say what I’m doing at this point but I am working on it.”

The proposal, which included more than 500 signatures, outlined why Montana should pursue an adjustment in the self-imposed reduction of football scholarships. The group contends the Griz received “unprecedented penalties amid an atmosphere that was anything but fair and objective.”

Supporters of an appeal further cite that with recent news the NCAA is considering changing some of the same rules that UM reportedly broke, “the time has come for action.” The coalition is frustrated by what it views as a lack of progress by UM officials and late last week re-stated its case in an email to media outlets.