A deafening silence broke on Tuesday afternoon when Griz football coach Bobby Hauck decided to end more than a month's worth of stonewalling University of Montana student reporters, essentially putting to rest a story that had catapulted the coach into the national spotlight.

Hauck opened his weekly press conference in the Adams Center by saying: "There are some serious things in life and there are some things in life that are not serious. One of the things that is not serious is who is talking to whom ... and the why of that.

"So I - because I can only speak for myself - will move forward from this date in a positive manner in terms of this press conference and the ones after our games."

Afterward, when asked what spurred this change of opinion, Hauck said it was personal and would not elaborate.

Only a week ago, Hauck pinned his unresponsiveness on the football athletes, saying the players asked him not to talk to the Kaimin, the university student newspaper.

Hauck said it was out of respect for their wishes when he opted to continue his boycott of student reporters at last week's press conference, albeit acting in a more respectful manner than in past weeks - when he belittled the student journalists for asking football-related questions.

Hauck's tight-lipped approach the previous five weeks was in response to a story the Kaimin published about an assault allegedly involving two Griz football players. None of the facts in the story has been disputed, but the football team felt the article was unfair and biased.

When the players, too, decided not to answer the Kaimin's questions, the student journalists chose to focus its free GameDay football publication during Homecoming weekend on a coach for Cal Poly, the opposing team, something that offended many alumni. The following week's GameDay Kaimin focused on the marching band.

News of Hauck's behavior toward the Kaimin spread like wildfire across the Internet after an initial news report, sparking commentary by columnists at ESPN.com and SportsIllustrated.com, among other national news Web sites.

Athletic director Jim O'Day was not surprised by Hauck's decision to end the standoff with the Kaimin. He had heard rumors of the coach's plans, and O'Day said he applauds the decision.

"It's time to move on," O'Day said. "We both agree that it needs to not become a distraction to the team. That's his No. 1 objective."

Kaimin staffers were grateful to hear they'd be included in the news conferences for the remainder of the season.

"We are happy we can now report on football and move on," said Allison Maier, the Kaimin's editor. "I don't know what prompted this, but I'm just glad it's over."

The Kaimin hopes to return to featuring football players in the GameDay edition for the school's final home game against Northern Colorado on Nov. 14.

Hauck did not inform his football athletes of his recent decision before Tuesday's announcement. But he did invite Kaimin sportswriter Tyson Alger to ask the first question.

"So, do you have a football question?" Hauck asked.

"Yes, sir," Alger replied.

"All right," Hauck said. "I like it when you treat your elders like that."

Reporter Chelsi Moy can be reached at 523-5260 or at chelsi.moy@missoulian.com.