Montana, Montana State legends talk memories, importance of Cat-Griz rivalry

BOZEMAN — We all know concerning the tangible, concrete issues which can be at stake for the 121st Brawl of the Wild.

The Nice Divide Trohpy, playoff positioning for each groups and a possible Large Sky title for Montana State.

However to the gamers, the intangible issues are simply as essential. Pleasure, bragging rights and an entire lot of emotion make Cat-Griz one of many extra intriguing rivalries within the nation.

However you don’t need to take our phrase for it. Over the previous week, we’ve spoken to a couple Cats and Griz legends who’ve left indelible marks on their respective groups and Cat-Griz historical past. We requested them simply what made this rivalry extra than simply one other sport.

DENNIS ERICKSON, FORMER MONTANA STATE QUARTERBACK (1966-68)

Dennis Erickson is a Faculty Soccer Corridor of Famer. Over a 50 12 months profession, he coached two NFL groups, 11 faculty groups and led the Miami Hurricanes to 2 NCAA Nationwide Championships. He’s been round a number of massive time rivalries.

However the former Montana State quarterback says all of them pale compared to the brawl of the Wild.

“Montana-Montana State to me was the most effective I’ve ever been concerned in,” Erickson mentioned. “It’s not a Energy 5 factor, it’s not something like that. It’s about two faculties in the identical state, which can be in the identical convention and also you’re both a Bobcat or a Griz for that day.”

Erickson noticed quite a lot of success throughout his Bobcat taking part in days. He shared the sphere with All-Individuals like Don Hass and Paul Schafer and helped paved the way to 3 convention titles.

Even after all of the accolades and wins he racked up at increased ranges, Erickson nonetheless considers himself a Bobcat at coronary heart.

“If it wasn’t for Montana State giving me a scholarship who is aware of the place I’d be,” he mentioned. “That’s the place I performed and coached and obtained my begin. I owe them a heck of so much.”

However he has ties to each packages. When Erickson performed at Montana State his dad was an assistant at Montana. And now his son Bryce Erickson is the Grizzlies tight ends coach. Regardless of that, Erickson remains to be concerned within the MSU program, most lately serving on the search committee that ended with the hiring of Bobcat coach Brent Vigen.

Erickson mentioned he’s going watch Saturday’s sport on TV and maintain his mouth shut.

“It’s onerous. It’s like my mother once I performed in opposition to my dad she all the time rooted for her son,” Erickson mentioned. “My spouse (Marilyn) is identical manner. However this sport is particular. I can’t lose on it, in any respect really.”

MARC MARIANI, FORMER MONTANA WIDE RECEIVER (2006-09)

Marc Mariani electrified Grizzly followers for 4 years as a large receiver and return man, earlier than a Professional Bowl profession within the NFL.

Rising up in Havre, Mariani was a die-hard Griz fan. And although he’s a decade faraway from his faculty days however the thrill of Cat/Griz burns simply as robust.

”For a Montana boy, it’s why you go to the varsity. It’s a giant deal. It deeply means so much to lots of people,” Mariani mentioned. “And to me, it hits quite a lot of chords. It fires me up, it makes me offended. It makes me need to throw a helmet and a few pads again on.”

Mariani had some unbelievable Cat-Griz moments together with the 2008 sport when he caught a landing and returned a punt for a rating.

However his most memorable second sport in 2007.

“My first official begin of my profession was in opposition to the Cats. I did not have an enormous position, however we had a pair accidents and it was down to 2 sophomores sharing that obligation between me and Ty Palmer,” Mariani mentioned. “So we go to Bozeman and for higher or for worse, they needed to throw a thin little sophomore on the market to attempt to get some snaps that day.”

Mariani has the excellence of by no means shedding to the Cats. And he makes certain everybody is aware of it.

“Once you see a Griz of a Cat, everybody needs to get their jabs in,” Mariani mentioned. “And I simply say I’m sorry, I by no means misplaced I don’t know the way it feels.”

JUNIOR ADAMS, FORMER MONTANA STATE WIDE RECEIVER (2001-02)

When Junior Adams arrived in Bozeman as a a switch broad receiver from Oregon State, the Bobcats had misplaced 15 straight video games to the Grizzlies. And he shortly felt the burden that laid heavy on this system.

“After they beat us in 2001 they run on the sphere they usually take their pads off. And so they had these T-shirts on,” Adams mentioned. “And I feel the streak was at 15 or 16 on the time and the T-shirts had 15 on it or 16 on it. And after that time that is when it resonated to me how massive it actually, really was.”

However he left his mark on the rivalry. In 2002, he caught a cross from true freshman quarterback Travis Lulay and scored Montana State’s solely landing of the sport in a 10-7, snapping the shedding streak and beginning a brand new period of aggressive video games. Every crew has received six video games since.

Adams is now the co-offensive coordinator for the Oregon Geese, who’re at present ranked No. 12 within the nation and within the hunt for a Pac-12 title. He’s made stops at Washington and Boise State. However his first teaching job was at Montana State following commencement.

“And to today, I have been in quite a lot of video games since then, and I’m going to inform you, it is nonetheless onerous to compete in opposition to that Cat-Griz sport,” Adams mentioned. “Some rivalry video games are simply massive. Cat-Griz is on an entire different stage. It’s the Tremendous Bowl. Each groups may very well be undefeated or 0-11 and that’s the one sport that issues.”

DAVE DICKENSON, MONTANA QUARTERBACK (1993-95)

Dave Dickenson is taken into account the best Grizzly to ever placed on the maroon and silver — or, in his period, the copper and gold. He had a popularity for being cool, calm and picked up and confirmed it when he led Montana to the 1995 NCAA nationwide championship. So it could be stunning that he felt quite a lot of stress to succeed when he arrived on campus in Missoula.

“I felt quite a lot of stress as a result of being a neighborhood Montana man and we had had this lengthy streak that it began effectively earlier than me,” Dickenson mentioned. “And by the point my years have been coming alongside, we have been hitting double digits and I did not need to be often known as a man that was the quarterback whent the streak ended.”

Dickenson solely began two video games in opposition to Montana State and each (1993 and 1995) have been in Bozeman. He was injured dor the 1994 sport in Missoula. However, Dickenson received each of his begins in Bozeman, and he’s by no means been again since.

“The 1995 sport is the final time I have been in that metropolis, and I by no means actually felt they needed me again,” he laughed.

After all Dickenson likes it when the Griz win, however he’s glad there’s parity between the groups.

“To have a time period rivalry, you should have forwards and backwards. We clearly had our manner for what, 16 years, 17 years. After which the Cats have received 4 in a row,” Dickenson mentioned. “And also you need forwards and backwards as a result of that is what a rivalry means to me. So it is again – an enormous win for the Griz final 12 months, however the Cats will likely be favored and possibly rightfully so. It would nonetheless be an incredible sport.”