Monday, January 6
Frisco, TX
5 pm MT
Montana State University
vs
North Dakota State
Photo by: Brian Morse
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #16: Sonny Holland 'With Us in Spirit' as Cats Play for National Championship
1/6/2025 4:18:00 PM | Football
MSU faces North Dakota State for national title
FRISCO, Texas – Bringing the life-size statue of Montana State legend Sonny Holland that resides outside of Bobcat Stadium wasn't an option for tonight's FCS championship game in Frisco, Texas, so MSU head coach Brent Vigen did the next best thing.
"We brought Sonny Holland's cowboy boots," Vigen told the nearly 200 former Bobcat players and coaches that gathered for the team's Sunday afternoon practice. "We can't touch the statue (Monday) so we're going to touch those boots on the way in."
Brad Daws, a member of some of Holland's earliest teams as head coach, offered the boots to Vigen for the trip. He received them as a gift from the Holland family after the man known as "The Chief" and "The Greatest Bobcat of them All" passed away. "The Chief is here in spirit," Daws said Sunday. "And he's smiling."
Holland was part of the school's first national championship as a player in 1956, and its second in 1976 as head coach. He was a university administrator in 1984 when the team won its third and most recent title.
Vigen is Montana State's first coach to lead two teams into a national championship game. He received the Eddie Robinson FCS National Coach of the Year Award at Saturday's Stats Perform Awards Banquet.
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MSU's only personnel change of note before Monday's game was that Julius Davis will suit up and could play at running back. Freshman defensive back Carson Williams, who has worn jersey number 8 in recent games, wears 18 tonight.
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Tonight's game between MSU and North Dakota State provides the first matchup between Vigen and Bison coach Tim Polasek as head coaches, but they are plenty familiar with each other. The two coached on Craig Bohl's NDSU staff from 2006 to 2012, and Polasek purchased Vigen's house in 2021 when Polasek joined Bohl's Wyoming staff as Vigen was leaving for MSU.
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Tommy Mellott has the opportunity to reach another statistical milestone tonight. He has 915 rushing yards in 2024, 85 from the 1,000-yard mark.
* * * * *
Affecting opposing quarterbacks is always a priority for the Montana State defense, but stands to be particularly important tonight. The Bobcats pass rush is surging late in the season, with 10 sacks in the three playoff games and 18 in the most recent five contests.
* * * * *
How rare is a game on grass in contemporary college football? Tonight's contest is MSU's second in Brent Vigen's four seasons. The first was the 2021 title tilt, also in Toyota Stadium.
#GoCatsGo
"We brought Sonny Holland's cowboy boots," Vigen told the nearly 200 former Bobcat players and coaches that gathered for the team's Sunday afternoon practice. "We can't touch the statue (Monday) so we're going to touch those boots on the way in."
Brad Daws, a member of some of Holland's earliest teams as head coach, offered the boots to Vigen for the trip. He received them as a gift from the Holland family after the man known as "The Chief" and "The Greatest Bobcat of them All" passed away. "The Chief is here in spirit," Daws said Sunday. "And he's smiling."
Holland was part of the school's first national championship as a player in 1956, and its second in 1976 as head coach. He was a university administrator in 1984 when the team won its third and most recent title.
Vigen is Montana State's first coach to lead two teams into a national championship game. He received the Eddie Robinson FCS National Coach of the Year Award at Saturday's Stats Perform Awards Banquet.
* * * * *
MSU's only personnel change of note before Monday's game was that Julius Davis will suit up and could play at running back. Freshman defensive back Carson Williams, who has worn jersey number 8 in recent games, wears 18 tonight.
* * * * *
Tonight's game between MSU and North Dakota State provides the first matchup between Vigen and Bison coach Tim Polasek as head coaches, but they are plenty familiar with each other. The two coached on Craig Bohl's NDSU staff from 2006 to 2012, and Polasek purchased Vigen's house in 2021 when Polasek joined Bohl's Wyoming staff as Vigen was leaving for MSU.
* * * * *
Tommy Mellott has the opportunity to reach another statistical milestone tonight. He has 915 rushing yards in 2024, 85 from the 1,000-yard mark.
* * * * *
Affecting opposing quarterbacks is always a priority for the Montana State defense, but stands to be particularly important tonight. The Bobcats pass rush is surging late in the season, with 10 sacks in the three playoff games and 18 in the most recent five contests.
* * * * *
How rare is a game on grass in contemporary college football? Tonight's contest is MSU's second in Brent Vigen's four seasons. The first was the 2021 title tilt, also in Toyota Stadium.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
Leon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
