Go Cats! Montana State Bobcats, that is.

[montana_cat]

MSU leading reigning national champs Sam Houston State in the FCS quarterfinals, 28-6, at the half. At Sam Houston’s house. Against a team undefeated in the past two years. Against a Sam Houston coach who is 30-0 in playoff games there and at Delaware.
Almost as exciting as when our Wildcats knocked Notre Dame to kick off the 1995 season and begin the Run to the Roses.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

I’m all for you Bozemanites until you run into the Missouri Valley, aka, next week

 

[montana_cat]

Could be interesting. Won’t get ahead of ourselves since Sam Houston State has come from behind before this season.

 

[montana_cat]

P.S. I’m not really a Bozemanite. I moved back to Billings two years ago due to the crazy gentrification there (median house price approaching $1 million) plus the snobbishness and arrogance I encountered in some circles there.
Back in the day (through about 1995), Bozeman was a delightful, fun cowboy college town of about 20,000 people. That era is long gone. Fair warning if you’re considering a move there. Billings is a much better city.

 

[ubercat]

I spent a few weeks in Bozeman during the summer of '74. Loved my time there, but it was not yet gentrified. Got to attend the NCAA rodeo finals while I was there.

 

[montana_cat]

Correction: Sam Houston coach 30-0 in home playoff games.

Ubercat, spot on. An MSU president in the late ‘90s drove the National Finals College Rodeo out of town. School needed to be more urbane; can’t have all those damned cowboys and cowgirls strolling around town. That decision removed an event that pumped millions into the Bozeman economy annually.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Bozeman has a lot more natural beauty. The Gallatin valley makes simply driving to the grocery store an experience in drinking in natural splendor. But Billings is a nice town too.

 

[NU Houston]

Could be interesting. Won’t get ahead of ourselves since Sam Houston State has come from behind before this season.

The Cats beat the Kats. Congrats.

 

[ubercat]

Bozeman reminds me of the transformation of Jackson, Wyoming that evolved during the last 50 years. (Except that Jackson is not a college town) An in-law that lives in eastern Wyoming said that the billionaires are driving out the millionaires.

 

[montana_cat]

Exactly. During my college days, I had a job for two summers as a tour bus driver in Yellowstone National Park. Now and then, I drove loads of tourists into and through Jackson. It was a fun, seemingly affordable Western town then (1973, 1974). All that delightful ambiance has disappeared. Jackson regularly tops the list of most expensive places in the U.S.

To add insult to injury, soon after I moved to the Bozeman area in 2009 (to keep my job, not because I was pining to live there), I began seeing a regular feature in one of the local supermarket freebie publications. It focused on outdoor recreation, and the topic was a comparison with other mountain towns, e.g. Bend, Oregon and Jackson. And the clear implication was Bozeman ought to strive to attain the same elite status as Jackson et. al. I knew then that the cause of keeping Bozeman a fine town that regular people could afford was lost.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Wasn’t there a “Keep Bozeman Weird” campaign that supported locals with housing subsidies?

 

[AdamOnFirst]

If you want weird, go to Missoula.

 

[Frabjous_rivals]

Went to the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. Best. Dinosaur. Collection. Ever! And go to the Livingston Bar and Grill in nearby Livingston and get the walleye sandwich. You’re welcome…

 

[NU Houston]

Exactly. During my college days, I had a job for two summers as a tour bus driver in Yellowstone National Park. Now and then, I drove loads of tourists into and through Jackson. It was a fun, seemingly affordable Western town then (1973, 1974). All that delightful ambiance has disappeared. Jackson regularly tops the list of most expensive places in the U.S.

To add insult to injury, soon after I moved to the Bozeman area in 2009 (to keep my job, not because I was pining to live there), I began seeing a regular feature in one of the local supermarket freebie publications. It focused on outdoor recreation, and the topic was a comparison with other mountain towns, e.g. Bend, Oregon and Jackson. And the clear implication was Bozeman ought to strive to attain the same elite status as Jackson et. al. I knew then that the cause of keeping Bozeman a fine town that regular people could afford was lost.

I visited Montana for the first time this past summer. Missoula, Helena, Great Falls. Beautiful place. Didn't make it to Bozeman or Billings (or Butte).

 

[Medill '03]

I visited Montana for the first time this past summer. Missoula, Helena, Great Falls. Beautiful place. Didn't make it to Bozeman or Billings (or Butte).

Go Jacks! (South Dakota State)

 

[montana_cat]

If you want weird, go to Missoula.

Yes. A town with lots of aging hippies locked in the 1960s and ‘70s. Who will nod off in stoned bliss starting Jan. 1 when legal recreational marijuana is available in the state. Oh, joy. Not. I had my fill of skunk weed back in the day.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Yes. A town with lots of aging hippies locked in the 1960s and ‘70s. Who will nod off in stoned bliss starting Jan. 1 when legal recreational marijuana is available in the state. Oh, joy. Not. I had my fill of skunk weed back in the day.

Oh, I said “weird”

 

[1830 Sherman]

Watched MSU beat So Dak St today. Fun spectacle--packed house in the cold. MSU has a true freshman QB who's rawhide tough, and looks like he's 12 years old. And an LB who's a joy to watch--great instincts, quick to the ball, sure tackler.

Sigh.

 

[montana_cat]

Watched MSU beat So Dak St today. Fun spectacle--packed house in the cold. MSU has a true freshman QB who's rawhide tough, and looks like he's 12 years old. And an LB who's a joy to watch--great instincts, quick to the ball, sure tackler.

Sigh.

Streamed the game while we were driving across southern Utah this afternoon. Great win by the Bobcatsm, and yes you’re right about the quarterback. His nickname is Tommy Touchdown. He’s from Butte, America, not Montana, home of the late Evel Knievel. A lot more fun watching MSU this fall than our sadsack Wildcats.

 

[NUCat320]

Being that Big Sky country dominates the FCS, it would be great if the championship game were played in that part of the world. Early January in Minnesota (at the Twins stadium) or Soldier field seems much preferable to the DFW Metroplex (Frisco, Tex.)

I’m assuming the Portland Timbers MLS squad has an outdoor venue that’d be available.

(Actually, it’s an awesome venue. Look at this gem:

https://www.stadiumguide.com/jeldwenfield/

 

[techtim72]

Being that Big Sky country dominates the FCS, it would be great if the championship game were played in that part of the world. Early January in Minnesota (at the Twins stadium) or Soldier field seems much preferable to the DFW Metroplex (Frisco, Tex.)

I’m assuming the Portland Timbers MLS squad has an outdoor venue that’d be available.

(Actually, it’s an awesome venue. Look at this gem:

https://www.stadiumguide.com/jeldwenfield/

MLS has built a lot of great venues. They favor the enclosed stadium with 25k seats or less. I think their take on stadiums would be great for NU although seating would likely have to be expanded.