9:20am, Interstate 90 from Deer Lodge to Missoula was two lanes of vehicles heading to Missoula. Vehicles with Bobcat signage as well as Grizzly flags fly through the wind and snow on their way to Missoula.12:05 pm, November 20, 2010, is the beginning of a 110 year old rivalry. The 11th ranked University of Montana Grizzlies played the 8th-ranked Montana State Bobcats. 26,000 plus fans attended the bitterly cold game. Hand and toe warmers littered the stadium.
University of Montana has been called the “Most scenic campus in America”, by the Rolling Stone Magazine. The Museum of the Rockies affiliated with Montana State University houses the largest collection of dinosaur remains in the United States. Both universities boost great achievements. They bring value, education and research to the state of Montana.
Both schools have athletic departments that are involved in their community. Part of athletics is teamwork and through this teamwork the athletes are involved in food drives, blood drives, and fundraising as well as elementary school programs. Young boys and girls look to athletes to be a hero, someone they can emulate. Justin, age 10, says he met several of the football players from Montana State University that have come to his school and assisted in their reading program. Justin wants to be a football player for Green Bay when he grows up, first of all with the Bobcats, of course, he says.
We often are inclined to focus on how talented or gifted an athlete maybe. Sometimes that’s true. Athletics involves hard work, dedication, commitment, and a sense of pride in yourself and your teammates. The long hours an athlete puts in are the building blocks for a successful futu
re not only in athletics, but more importantly in life.Families get together around the MSU – UM football game. Jessie and her brother, Daniel drove over from Bozeman on the day of the game, while their parents Darren and Marie, drove over from Spokane, Washington. “We would not miss this game for anything”, says Jessie. “We take vacation for this game”, says Daniel.
With childhood obesity at an all time high, many people are quick to blame video games. Food intake, eating non-healthy foods and larger portions as well contribute to weight gain. She
lby, age 10, says she used to be bigger than she is now, lost some weight and learned to eat good food. She wants to be a cheerleader when she goes to University of Montana to be a doctor. Shelby says, I don’t want to be a big doctor.” The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (www.fitness.gov) has been around since Dwight D Eisenhower in the 1950’s. The President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) mission is to engage, educate and empower all Americans across the lifespan to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and good nutrition.Half time involves exiting the stadium catching a warm beverage, warming hands and feet as well as young boys and girls throwing the football and sliding in the snow. All the young boys and girls say they want to be football players and cheerleaders when they go to school.
Fans travel from New York as well as California to attend this game. Father and son arrive at the game, 10 years straight. Whether living in Idaho, California or New York this duo has never missed the Cat-Griz rivalry. Painted faces, costumes, bare chest young men and girls with pompoms twirling in the wind and snow are in the stands. Emotions are high, each school wanting this victory. Only one team will win and represent the state of Montana.
University students from each school have been busy the week prior to the game with activities surrounding the greatest game in college football in Montana. Parades, bon fires and pep rallies are just a part of the activities that bring this game to the kick off.
Being an athlete involves being coachable, dedication to practice, competitive, desire to do your best, working on weaknesses and through adversities, as well as characteristics of being a champion.
The cheerleaders and the school mascots bring the crowd to their feet with their spirit and energy. Clarice, age 6, says she is going to be a cheerleader for the Grizzlies and play basketball for the Bobcats. Brent, age 8, says he is going to play football for the Grizzlies. Brent says, “I eat what my mom tells me to eat and I try to go bed when she asks me.”
“Teamwork is part of my family”, says Destiny, age 15. Our parents make us settle our own disputes and take part in chores and duties around the home. “It makes me feel important and a part of a great team”, she says.
Red cheeks, running noses, cold hands and feet, fans excited and fans in tears sum up the end of the game. With the score, MSU 21 – UM 16, the 110th meeting of these two teams comes to an end. Fans exit the stadium quickly looking to find a warm spot. The wind blew through the stadium with snow fluttering around. 17 degrees and a 20 mile an hour wind made for a very chilly day.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------Pamela D Bussi was born and raised in northern Montana along the hi-line. Writing, blogging and photography are her passions. Pamela is predominately a non-fiction writer with topics related to health, wellness and lifestyle. She resides with her husband and son in Bozeman, Montana. She is a graduate from the New York Institute of Photography. She is a contributing author to Montana Healthy Living Magazine as well as the Examiner, Power Women Magazine, Seed and Ezine. Check out more information at: www.pamelabussi.com.
