MSU football titles: how do you reckon time?

[TomCat88]

Just mentioned this in another thread but thought it might be a fun topic for everyone to chime in on.

My question is about how you think about MSU football in terms of your experience and knowledge about it. I was born in 1962, so I lived through MSU football from about 1973 on. I first saw a Cat-Griz game when it televised that year. The announcers (Kato Butler) and the other guy (from Billings) were going on and on about how UM had this big lead in the all-time series. I always rooted for the underdog, so I instantly wanted the Cats to win that game, which they did, and I think that endeared me to them. Then a few years later they won the title, and I started school in 1982 at MSU and that was that.

But I often think about the 1956 game and to me that seemed like ancient history back in the 70s and 80s despite being 'just' 20-30 years ago at the time.

Being the age I'm at and the experience I've had, I have always considered MSU to be a good football school, or at least good historically, during the time that I've followed them. I knew about the 22 wins in 30 years, during which time the Bobcats won three national titles. MSU did experience a big drought in the mid-80s to the early 2000s, but even during that they had a couple shots to make the playoffs during a time that the playoffs were much smaller in terms of teams. Since then (24 seasons), the Bobcats have been mostly decent to great with just a couple bad seasons (2015, 2016 with 2007-2009 being average).

Anyway, I consider MSU to have not only a rich football history but a long, rich football history. MSU has been winning conference titles, albeit NAIA, since the 1930s and had a couple very good teams in the 1920s when the RMAC consisted of BYU, Utah, Colorado State, Utah State and Wyoming. I weight that mostly on the last 50 years or so, but I'm mindful of the time before that I didn't experience fully.

[mslacatfan]

Only been a fan since 2000 when I was a freshman at MSU... so dont have the bobcat fan history that some of you Old Timers have, ha.

but to see them go from 0-11 my first year rooting from them..... to national champions 25 years later has been a pretty incredible experience.

go cats!

[TomCat88]

Just mentioned this in another thread but thought it might be a fun topic for everyone to chime in on.

My question is about how you think about MSU football in terms of your experience and knowledge about it. I was born in 1962, so I lived through MSU football from about 1973 on. I first saw a Cat-Griz game when it televised that year. The announcers (Kato Butler) and the other guy (from Billings) were going on and on about how UM had this big lead in the all-time series. I always rooted for the underdog, so I instantly wanted the Cats to win that game, which they did, and I think that endeared me to them. Then a few years later they won the title, and I started school in 1982 at MSU and that was that.

But I often think about the 1956 game and to me that seemed like ancient history back in the 70s and 80s despite being 'just' 20-30 years ago at the time.

Being the age I'm at and the experience I've had, I have always considered MSU to be a good football school, or at least good historically, during the time that I've followed them. I knew about the 22 wins in 30 years, during which time the Bobcats won three national titles. MSU did experience a big drought in the mid-80s to the early 2000s, but even during that they had a couple shots to make the playoffs during a time that the playoffs were much smaller in terms of teams. Since then (24 seasons), the Bobcats have been mostly decent to great with just a couple bad seasons (2015, 2016 with 2007-2009 being average).

Anyway, I consider MSU to have not only a rich football history but a long, rich football history. MSU has been winning conference titles, albeit NAIA, since the 1930s and had a couple very good teams in the 1920s when the RMAC consisted of BYU, Utah, Colorado State, Utah State and Wyoming. I weight that mostly on the last 50 years or so, but I'm mindful of the time before that I didn't experience fully.

Well, maybe not.

Maybe I worded that wrong. Just curious to see how others feel about the 1976 and 1984 titles if they were born in 1990 or later and had no personal experience with those. Or the Griz winning in 95 and 01, if they were born in 2005 or later.

[Bobcat4Ever]

I’ve been privileged to watch the TV broadcasts of all four National Championships.

1956: Childhood Championship. I was seven years old. My dad had worked at MSU for ten years after the illness and death of my infant brother brought my parents to Bozeman from Big Timber. Dad was a Bobcat fan by osmosis, working at MSC. He and I rode with a workmate of his, driving a big red and black Buick, through icy Rocky Canyon and over the pass to Livingston. We watched the game on Closed Circuit TV in the lobby of the Murray Hotel, in black and white on a big grainy movie-theater type screen. Vivid Memory: Watching the players sliding for yards and yards in the mud. And the Hershey chocolate bar — thanks, Dad.

1976: Newlywed Championship. Married, graduated from MSU, working four years already and going to grad school part-time at MSU. Watched on a GE 19-inch color TV in our mobile home in Nelson’s Court. Attended home playoff games with my wife and Dad, dressed for the Arctic. Vivid Memory: Going to the airport sometime around midnight to welcome the team and seeing Sonny Holland emerge, wearing his white western hat, holding the trophy high overhead!

1984: The Sort of All Grown Up Championship. Watched on a 27-inch Zenith from our home on Cherry Drive. Dad and I drove the little camper to Alaska for a month that summer. Not expecting much from the team, the excitement started to build mid-season and just kept going. Attended playoff games in Bozeman. Vivid Memory: Just going from bad to first to bad again, but nothing that stands out like the first two.

2025: The Retirement Championship. So many changes this time around. Retired for 15 years and away from Bozeman for the last eight. Watched on a 55-inch Sony TV at our home in the sun-drenched desert of southern Nevada. Really exciting season leading up to it. Different from previous championship years in being able to watch every Bobcat game on home TV. It made this one seem more like a long, difficult trek, instead of just a cluster of 3 or so post-season games. Vivid Memory: Watching Justin Lamson truly dual-threat this dream into reality. The Dowlers. That noisy stadium in Nashville.

A whole lifetime of Bobcats. With a very few exceptions, always players and a program to be proud of. Go ‘Cats!

[tetoncat]

I’ve been privileged to watch the TV broadcasts of all four National Championships.

1956: Childhood Championship. I was seven years old. My dad had worked at MSU for ten years after the illness and death of my infant brother brought my parents to Bozeman from Big Timber. Dad was a Bobcat fan by osmosis, working at MSC. He and I rode with a workmate of his, driving a big red and black Buick, through icy Rocky Canyon and over the pass to Livingston. We watched the game on Closed Circuit TV in the lobby of the Murray Hotel, in black and white on a big grainy movie-theater type screen. Vivid Memory: Watching the players sliding for yards and yards in the mud. And the Hershey chocolate bar — thanks, Dad.

1976: Newlywed Championship. Married, graduated from MSU, working four years already and going to grad school part-time at MSU. Watched on a GE 19-inch color TV in our mobile home in Nelson’s Court. Attended home playoff games with my wife and Dad, dressed for the Arctic. Vivid Memory: Going to the airport sometime around midnight to welcome the team and seeing Sonny Holland emerge, wearing his white western hat, holding the trophy high overhead!

1984: The Sort of All Grown Up Championship. Watched on a 27-inch Zenith from our home on Cherry Drive. Dad and I drove the little camper to Alaska for a month that summer. Not expecting much from the team, the excitement started to build mid-season and just kept going. Attended playoff games in Bozeman. Vivid Memory: Just going from bad to first to bad again, but nothing that stands out like the first two.

2025: The Retirement Championship. So many changes this time around. Retired for 15 years and away from Bozeman for the last eight. Watched on a 55-inch Sony TV at our home in the sun-drenched desert of southern Nevada. Really exciting season leading up to it. Different from previous championship years in being able to watch every Bobcat game on home TV. It made this one seem more like a long, difficult trek, instead of just a cluster of 3 or so post-season games. Vivid Memory: Watching Justin Lamson truly dual-threat this dream into reality. The Dowlers. That noisy stadium in Nashville.

A whole lifetime of Bobcats. With a very few exceptions, always players and a program to be proud of. Go ‘Cats!

This is awesome.

[TomCat88]

I’ve been privileged to watch the TV broadcasts of all four National Championships.

1956: Childhood Championship. I was seven years old. My dad had worked at MSU for ten years after the illness and death of my infant brother brought my parents to Bozeman from Big Timber. Dad was a Bobcat fan by osmosis, working at MSC. He and I rode with a workmate of his, driving a big red and black Buick, through icy Rocky Canyon and over the pass to Livingston. We watched the game on Closed Circuit TV in the lobby of the Murray Hotel, in black and white on a big grainy movie-theater type screen. Vivid Memory: Watching the players sliding for yards and yards in the mud. And the Hershey chocolate bar — thanks, Dad.

1976: Newlywed Championship. Married, graduated from MSU, working four years already and going to grad school part-time at MSU. Watched on a GE 19-inch color TV in our mobile home in Nelson’s Court. Attended home playoff games with my wife and Dad, dressed for the Arctic. Vivid Memory: Going to the airport sometime around midnight to welcome the team and seeing Sonny Holland emerge, wearing his white western hat, holding the trophy high overhead!

1984: The Sort of All Grown Up Championship. Watched on a 27-inch Zenith from our home on Cherry Drive. Dad and I drove the little camper to Alaska for a month that summer. Not expecting much from the team, the excitement started to build mid-season and just kept going. Attended playoff games in Bozeman. Vivid Memory: Just going from bad to first to bad again, but nothing that stands out like the first two.

2025: The Retirement Championship. So many changes this time around. Retired for 15 years and away from Bozeman for the last eight. Watched on a 55-inch Sony TV at our home in the sun-drenched desert of southern Nevada. Really exciting season leading up to it. Different from previous championship years in being able to watch every Bobcat game on home TV. It made this one seem more like a long, difficult trek, instead of just a cluster of 3 or so post-season games. Vivid Memory: Watching Justin Lamson truly dual-threat this dream into reality. The Dowlers. That noisy stadium in Nashville.

A whole lifetime of Bobcats. With a very few exceptions, always players and a program to be proud of. Go ‘Cats!

This is great! You've seen them all! Were you aware of MSU's success in the RMAC or was the '56 title game the start for you?

[technoCat]

I started paying attention during the Hysell days. Was very aware of the streak. Started school in 2002 and I still kind of think from that mindset.

[Common Cat]

I’ve been privileged to watch the TV broadcasts of all four National Championships.

1956: Childhood Championship. I was seven years old. My dad had worked at MSU for ten years after the illness and death of my infant brother brought my parents to Bozeman from Big Timber. Dad was a Bobcat fan by osmosis, working at MSC. He and I rode with a workmate of his, driving a big red and black Buick, through icy Rocky Canyon and over the pass to Livingston. We watched the game on Closed Circuit TV in the lobby of the Murray Hotel, in black and white on a big grainy movie-theater type screen. Vivid Memory: Watching the players sliding for yards and yards in the mud. And the Hershey chocolate bar — thanks, Dad.

1976: Newlywed Championship. Married, graduated from MSU, working four years already and going to grad school part-time at MSU. Watched on a GE 19-inch color TV in our mobile home in Nelson’s Court. Attended home playoff games with my wife and Dad, dressed for the Arctic. Vivid Memory: Going to the airport sometime around midnight to welcome the team and seeing Sonny Holland emerge, wearing his white western hat, holding the trophy high overhead!

1984: The Sort of All Grown Up Championship. Watched on a 27-inch Zenith from our home on Cherry Drive. Dad and I drove the little camper to Alaska for a month that summer. Not expecting much from the team, the excitement started to build mid-season and just kept going. Attended playoff games in Bozeman. Vivid Memory: Just going from bad to first to bad again, but nothing that stands out like the first two.

2025: The Retirement Championship. So many changes this time around. Retired for 15 years and away from Bozeman for the last eight. Watched on a 55-inch Sony TV at our home in the sun-drenched desert of southern Nevada. Really exciting season leading up to it. Different from previous championship years in being able to watch every Bobcat game on home TV. It made this one seem more like a long, difficult trek, instead of just a cluster of 3 or so post-season games. Vivid Memory: Watching Justin Lamson truly dual-threat this dream into reality. The Dowlers. That noisy stadium in Nashville.

A whole lifetime of Bobcats. With a very few exceptions, always players and a program to be proud of. Go ‘Cats!

I didn’t want that post to end. One of the best things I’ve read here. Thanks for sharing that!

[Joe Bobcat]

That was a fantastic post Bobcat4Ever !
I only heard about the 1956 Championship from my Dad. Watched the 1976 with him on TV.
Started college in the Fall of 1977 and never missed attending a game while I was there watching an ok team.
Three years after graduating watched the Cats on TV win the national championship again in '84.
Watched the game from the stands in Nashville for the 2025 Championship, heck of an emotional rollercoaster.
When I couldn't find the stairs I went over the wall to get on the field. Hugged hundreds of people, lots of players and coaches.

[AFCAT]

I really wish they would make the 1956 and 1976 national championship games available to watch. Heck, I only have a deteriorated video tape of the 1984 game that I managed to digitize way too late. A better copy of that 1984 game would be cool to see again. I know MSU has game film from the 1956 game in their vault somewhere. I’ve only seen a few highlights of the 1976 game online.

[grizzh8r]

I’ve been privileged to watch the TV broadcasts of all four National Championships.

1956: Childhood Championship. I was seven years old. My dad had worked at MSU for ten years after the illness and death of my infant brother brought my parents to Bozeman from Big Timber. Dad was a Bobcat fan by osmosis, working at MSC. He and I rode with a workmate of his, driving a big red and black Buick, through icy Rocky Canyon and over the pass to Livingston. We watched the game on Closed Circuit TV in the lobby of the Murray Hotel, in black and white on a big grainy movie-theater type screen. Vivid Memory: Watching the players sliding for yards and yards in the mud. And the Hershey chocolate bar — thanks, Dad.

1976: Newlywed Championship. Married, graduated from MSU, working four years already and going to grad school part-time at MSU. Watched on a GE 19-inch color TV in our mobile home in Nelson’s Court. Attended home playoff games with my wife and Dad, dressed for the Arctic. Vivid Memory: Going to the airport sometime around midnight to welcome the team and seeing Sonny Holland emerge, wearing his white western hat, holding the trophy high overhead!

1984: The Sort of All Grown Up Championship. Watched on a 27-inch Zenith from our home on Cherry Drive. Dad and I drove the little camper to Alaska for a month that summer. Not expecting much from the team, the excitement started to build mid-season and just kept going. Attended playoff games in Bozeman. Vivid Memory: Just going from bad to first to bad again, but nothing that stands out like the first two.

2025: The Retirement Championship. So many changes this time around. Retired for 15 years and away from Bozeman for the last eight. Watched on a 55-inch Sony TV at our home in the sun-drenched desert of southern Nevada. Really exciting season leading up to it. Different from previous championship years in being able to watch every Bobcat game on home TV. It made this one seem more like a long, difficult trek, instead of just a cluster of 3 or so post-season games. Vivid Memory: Watching Justin Lamson truly dual-threat this dream into reality. The Dowlers. That noisy stadium in Nashville.

A whole lifetime of Bobcats. With a very few exceptions, always players and a program to be proud of. Go ‘Cats!

Such a cool story!

You are likely one of only a handful of people alive to be able to say you've watched every Bobcats NC win. How many people do you reckon were at The Murray to watch it? Were you the one adolescent there or do you remember?

[Bobcat4Ever]

I’ve been privileged to watch the TV broadcasts of all four National Championships.

1956: Childhood Championship. I was seven years old. My dad had worked at MSU for ten years after the illness and death of my infant brother brought my parents to Bozeman from Big Timber. Dad was a Bobcat fan by osmosis, working at MSC. He and I rode with a workmate of his, driving a big red and black Buick, through icy Rocky Canyon and over the pass to Livingston. We watched the game on Closed Circuit TV in the lobby of the Murray Hotel, in black and white on a big grainy movie-theater type screen. Vivid Memory: Watching the players sliding for yards and yards in the mud. And the Hershey chocolate bar — thanks, Dad.

1976: Newlywed Championship. Married, graduated from MSU, working four years already and going to grad school part-time at MSU. Watched on a GE 19-inch color TV in our mobile home in Nelson’s Court. Attended home playoff games with my wife and Dad, dressed for the Arctic. Vivid Memory: Going to the airport sometime around midnight to welcome the team and seeing Sonny Holland emerge, wearing his white western hat, holding the trophy high overhead!

1984: The Sort of All Grown Up Championship. Watched on a 27-inch Zenith from our home on Cherry Drive. Dad and I drove the little camper to Alaska for a month that summer. Not expecting much from the team, the excitement started to build mid-season and just kept going. Attended playoff games in Bozeman. Vivid Memory: Just going from bad to first to bad again, but nothing that stands out like the first two.

2025: The Retirement Championship. So many changes this time around. Retired for 15 years and away from Bozeman for the last eight. Watched on a 55-inch Sony TV at our home in the sun-drenched desert of southern Nevada. Really exciting season leading up to it. Different from previous championship years in being able to watch every Bobcat game on home TV. It made this one seem more like a long, difficult trek, instead of just a cluster of 3 or so post-season games. Vivid Memory: Watching Justin Lamson truly dual-threat this dream into reality. The Dowlers. That noisy stadium in Nashville.

A whole lifetime of Bobcats. With a very few exceptions, always players and a program to be proud of. Go ‘Cats!

This is great! You've seen them all! Were you aware of MSU's success in the RMAC or was the '56 title game the start for you?

I was seven in 1956 — couldn’t even spell RMAC. We lived just off-campus and could hear the games. No TV at home but no telecasts either. We always listened to ‘Cat/Griz on the radio.

Several of the football players, including Joe Tiller one year, worked for my dad on summer work crews at MSC. Dad’s friend Jim was interested in going to Livingston to watch “their guys” in the Aluminum (Mud) Bowl and invited us to go along.

I never really knew about conferences or much other than ‘Cat/Griz until 1963, when I was in 9th grade and remember hearing about the creation of the Big Sky Conference. Full awareness/fandom kicked in for the 1967 season when I entered MSU as a freshman engineering student, and football games were the most economically efficient dates ever!

[Bobcat4Ever]

I’ve been privileged to watch the TV broadcasts of all four National Championships.

1956: Childhood Championship. I was seven years old. My dad had worked at MSU for ten years after the illness and death of my infant brother brought my parents to Bozeman from Big Timber. Dad was a Bobcat fan by osmosis, working at MSC. He and I rode with a workmate of his, driving a big red and black Buick, through icy Rocky Canyon and over the pass to Livingston. We watched the game on Closed Circuit TV in the lobby of the Murray Hotel, in black and white on a big grainy movie-theater type screen. Vivid Memory: Watching the players sliding for yards and yards in the mud. And the Hershey chocolate bar — thanks, Dad.

1976: Newlywed Championship. Married, graduated from MSU, working four years already and going to grad school part-time at MSU. Watched on a GE 19-inch color TV in our mobile home in Nelson’s Court. Attended home playoff games with my wife and Dad, dressed for the Arctic. Vivid Memory: Going to the airport sometime around midnight to welcome the team and seeing Sonny Holland emerge, wearing his white western hat, holding the trophy high overhead!

1984: The Sort of All Grown Up Championship. Watched on a 27-inch Zenith from our home on Cherry Drive. Dad and I drove the little camper to Alaska for a month that summer. Not expecting much from the team, the excitement started to build mid-season and just kept going. Attended playoff games in Bozeman. Vivid Memory: Just going from bad to first to bad again, but nothing that stands out like the first two.

2025: The Retirement Championship. So many changes this time around. Retired for 15 years and away from Bozeman for the last eight. Watched on a 55-inch Sony TV at our home in the sun-drenched desert of southern Nevada. Really exciting season leading up to it. Different from previous championship years in being able to watch every Bobcat game on home TV. It made this one seem more like a long, difficult trek, instead of just a cluster of 3 or so post-season games. Vivid Memory: Watching Justin Lamson truly dual-threat this dream into reality. The Dowlers. That noisy stadium in Nashville.

A whole lifetime of Bobcats. With a very few exceptions, always players and a program to be proud of. Go ‘Cats!

I didn’t want that post to end. One of the best things I’ve read here. Thanks for sharing that!

And here I was thinking TL;DR. Thanks! The ‘Cats, including also MBB, WBB, and VB have been a pleasant diversion for 70 years, both on life’s hills and in its valleys.

Mom’s litte red Packard-Bell radio was always tuned to Bobcat football or basketball. She always listened although I don’t think she ever attended a live game after the early 50s when her brother (a basketball, baseball, and track athlete at Eastern in Billings) came to Romney Gym with the Yellowjackets. The program shows him as a 5’9” starter at forward!

I don’t have any idea how many Bobcat football, basketball, volleyball, baseball or track & field contests I’ve listened to on radio, watched on TV, or attended in person but it’s a boatload — a big boat.

It’s all entertainment, but of the best human sort. It’s provided fun, mental health breaks, gloom, and lasting friendships. Go ‘Cats!

[BFcatfan]

I’ve been privileged to watch the TV broadcasts of all four National Championships.

1956: Childhood Championship. I was seven years old. My dad had worked at MSU for ten years after the illness and death of my infant brother brought my parents to Bozeman from Big Timber. Dad was a Bobcat fan by osmosis, working at MSC. He and I rode with a workmate of his, driving a big red and black Buick, through icy Rocky Canyon and over the pass to Livingston. We watched the game on Closed Circuit TV in the lobby of the Murray Hotel, in black and white on a big grainy movie-theater type screen. Vivid Memory: Watching the players sliding for yards and yards in the mud. And the Hershey chocolate bar — thanks, Dad.

1976: Newlywed Championship. Married, graduated from MSU, working four years already and going to grad school part-time at MSU. Watched on a GE 19-inch color TV in our mobile home in Nelson’s Court. Attended home playoff games with my wife and Dad, dressed for the Arctic. Vivid Memory: Going to the airport sometime around midnight to welcome the team and seeing Sonny Holland emerge, wearing his white western hat, holding the trophy high overhead!

1984: The Sort of All Grown Up Championship. Watched on a 27-inch Zenith from our home on Cherry Drive. Dad and I drove the little camper to Alaska for a month that summer. Not expecting much from the team, the excitement started to build mid-season and just kept going. Attended playoff games in Bozeman. Vivid Memory: Just going from bad to first to bad again, but nothing that stands out like the first two.

2025: The Retirement Championship. So many changes this time around. Retired for 15 years and away from Bozeman for the last eight. Watched on a 55-inch Sony TV at our home in the sun-drenched desert of southern Nevada. Really exciting season leading up to it. Different from previous championship years in being able to watch every Bobcat game on home TV. It made this one seem more like a long, difficult trek, instead of just a cluster of 3 or so post-season games. Vivid Memory: Watching Justin Lamson truly dual-threat this dream into reality. The Dowlers. That noisy stadium in Nashville.

A whole lifetime of Bobcats. With a very few exceptions, always players and a program to be proud of. Go ‘Cats!

Wow, thanks for sharing. I was born in 1959 but in Denver CO. My parents graduated Columbia Falls and Kalispell but headed to Denver married at the age of 18. They made it back to Bigfork MT. In 1970. My first recollection of even hearing about the Bobcats was 1974. We didn’t have a TV and they didn’t broadcasts the games anyway. I attended a high school church group every Wednesday, so 1976 we talked a lot about the Cats during that time as the leader of the group was a Cat Alum. I attended MSU the fall of 77 thru fall qtr of 78. Got married December 79 so college was over. I had to listen to every game over the local radio station as the games weren’t broadcast in this neck of the woods back then. Those games during the 16 yr skid were brutal over the radio living in GRiZ country. That 0-11 season Kramer’s first year I believe was necessary to turn the ship around but again living in the Flathead it was brutal and my true hatred of GRiZ fans was born in those years. My nephew was recruited my Earl Salmonson ugggg… and ended up an All American and his senior year was Hysall’s first year. Dark times as a Cat fan. We had 3 small children and attended every home game in Bozeman during his years there. As the kids grew and got into school they all played sports so we took a leave of absence from attending Cat games as our kids came first. I loved those yrs. But once they graduated and moved out of the house and we became empty nesters in 2007 and season ticket holders since that time and don’t miss a game. We have attended games in Missoula, Idaho, Eastern WA many times and lately trying to attend one game at every Big Sky conference school. We’ve hit Weber last game there and UC Davis last year. I’ve seen the You Tube 84 game.. a classic. One of our granddaughters turned 8 yesterday and she wanted a TACO party. She’s in a advanced class and had to come up with a topic the write about and present to a panel of judges.. she picked Taco Dowler and wanted to interview him. My daughter reached out to Taco via IG and explained to him what her daughter wanted to do her paper on and if he was up for it..He said “I would be honored”. She then wanted to interview one of his coaches to see what makes him such a great player so my daughter reached out out to Ty Gregorak. He said “You’re daughter just made my day”. The granddaughter has interviewed both of them via texting. She’s putting her program together and will practice the delivery to grandma and Pappa V “that’s me” before she does it in front of the judges. A huge shout out to all at Bobcat Nation! What a great Nation to be a part of.

[Catfanatic84]

Great stories. I watched the 84 championship at the Western bar in Billings. What a great day that was. Since then I’ve had the privilege of attending the last 3 natties in person. The last was glorious!

[HelenaCat]

Born in 1955, so only heard about the 1956 championship from my Dad. I started going to almost all Bobcat home games when I was about 6 years old and still remember seeing lots of Bobcat greats. I was a senior at MSU when we won the 1976 championship and watched on TV with my family in Helena. I certainly went to all home games while at MSU from 1973-1978 and we beat the griz all the time then.

I was living in Boise ID in 1984...early in my career with a young family. I had no time or money to go to that championship, so I watched from home. I remember thinking "well, it won't be that long until we get another national championship and I will certainly make it in person when that happens".

So maybe about 15-20 years ago, I really wondered if I would ever see MSU get another national championship before I died. It did not look good for me then and for several more years. And then we came so close in 2021 and 2024. Those losses, especially last year, were very hard on me. At the beginning of this year, I thought a record of 8-4 or 9-3 would be very good and did not expect to go much further than the quarterfinals in a "rebuilding year". For me, this whole year was total enjoyment and finally just sheer joy in Nashville. I am still on a big high and wear my national championship gear at least 5 days a week.

Now I am hopeful that I see a few more of these before I die!

[AFCAT]

I do remember 1976 because of Delmar Jones. Huge fan of Delmar in high school.

I attended almost all the 1984 home games, including the semi final. My mom took me to all the games we could get to, including Cat-gris in Missoula. Last time I’ve bothered to go there for a game because they vandalized our car and threw stuff at us in the stands. Anyway, my mom is a big Bobcat fan and attended her first Bobcat game in the 1950s. I vividly remember that Jesse Jones catch and run against Boise because he was coming right at me in the East grandstands and Joe Roberts magical TD as well. I begged my mother to take us to Charleston for the championship game, but she refused. Something about it costing too much money….single parent.…blah….blah….blah. Thanks! Ended up watching the game on TV. Enjoy the crummy retirement home I end up picking out for you, Mom!

Anyway, I got to take her to the past two championship games instead. She missed the first Frisco game because she was sick. She had a blast in Nashville. Dream fulfilled, now about that retirement home.

[allcat]

56. Just born, didn't care
76 on campus, would go to games, sat behind the band, so proud of myself for sneaking bots bag of Boones farm into games. Cato Butler called Cst /gris. Actually meant more to me than the championship.
84 worked in Zortman, barely had tv.
25. In Nashville t, the games are actually more important to me now.

[Bobcat4Ever]

Born in 1955, so only heard about the 1956 championship from my Dad. I started going to almost all Bobcat home games when I was about 6 years old and still remember seeing lots of Bobcat greats. I was a senior at MSU when we won the 1976 championship and watched on TV with my family in Helena. I certainly went to all home games while at MSU from 1973-1978 and we beat the griz all the time then.

I was living in Boise ID in 1984...early in my career with a young family. I had no time or money to go to that championship, so I watched from home. I remember thinking "well, it won't be that long until we get another national championship and I will certainly make it in person when that happens".

So maybe about 15-20 years ago, I really wondered if I would ever see MSU get another national championship before I died. It did not look good for me then and for several more years. And then we came so close in 2021 and 2024. Those losses, especially last year, were very hard on me. At the beginning of this year, I thought a record of 8-4 or 9-3 would be very good and did not expect to go much further than the quarterfinals in a "rebuilding year". For me, this whole year was total enjoyment and finally just sheer joy in Nashville. I am still on a big high and wear my national championship gear at least 5 days a week.

Now I am hopeful that I see a few more of these before I die!

Nice read. Thanks! I heartily concur with that last sentence.

[Bobcat4Ever]

I’ve been privileged to watch the TV broadcasts of all four National Championships.

1956: Childhood Championship. I was seven years old. My dad had worked at MSU for ten years after the illness and death of my infant brother brought my parents to Bozeman from Big Timber. Dad was a Bobcat fan by osmosis, working at MSC. He and I rode with a workmate of his, driving a big red and black Buick, through icy Rocky Canyon and over the pass to Livingston. We watched the game on Closed Circuit TV in the lobby of the Murray Hotel, in black and white on a big grainy movie-theater type screen. Vivid Memory: Watching the players sliding for yards and yards in the mud. And the Hershey chocolate bar — thanks, Dad.

1976: Newlywed Championship. Married, graduated from MSU, working four years already and going to grad school part-time at MSU. Watched on a GE 19-inch color TV in our mobile home in Nelson’s Court. Attended home playoff games with my wife and Dad, dressed for the Arctic. Vivid Memory: Going to the airport sometime around midnight to welcome the team and seeing Sonny Holland emerge, wearing his white western hat, holding the trophy high overhead!

1984: The Sort of All Grown Up Championship. Watched on a 27-inch Zenith from our home on Cherry Drive. Dad and I drove the little camper to Alaska for a month that summer. Not expecting much from the team, the excitement started to build mid-season and just kept going. Attended playoff games in Bozeman. Vivid Memory: Just going from bad to first to bad again, but nothing that stands out like the first two.

2025: The Retirement Championship. So many changes this time around. Retired for 15 years and away from Bozeman for the last eight. Watched on a 55-inch Sony TV at our home in the sun-drenched desert of southern Nevada. Really exciting season leading up to it. Different from previous championship years in being able to watch every Bobcat game on home TV. It made this one seem more like a long, difficult trek, instead of just a cluster of 3 or so post-season games. Vivid Memory: Watching Justin Lamson truly dual-threat this dream into reality. The Dowlers. That noisy stadium in Nashville.

A whole lifetime of Bobcats. With a very few exceptions, always players and a program to be proud of. Go ‘Cats!

Such a cool story!

You are likely one of only a handful of people alive to be able to say you've watched every Bobcats NC win. How many people do you reckon were at The Murray to watch it? Were you the one adolescent there or do you remember?

Thank you, @grizzh8r. One would realistically have to be my age (76) or older to remember watching at the Murray (or any CC venue). I’d have no idea as to the head count, but I remember there were people everywhere. Standing, sitting, wherever. The Murray used to host closed circuit TV for boxing matches, so the football game setup would not have been new. I vaguely remember being perched on the back of a big lobby chair or something that got me high enough to see. My father would have made sure of that.

I don’t have specific memories of other people, but my remaining impression is almost all men, and probably some kids as well. I’m a boomer from 1949, post-war kids would have been 11 or under, and there were a lot of us! It was an era where Dad took me along on every adventure, so I’m quite sure there would have been more kids with their fathers. The cost (guessing $5 and less for me) had to be moderate, or we wouldn’t have been there. It was just a big congenial group, pulling 100% for MSC. Probably would have been some player’s parents as well. Game ended 0-0 in pouring rain and sloshing mud. The ‘Cats were the higher ranked team, so took home the trophy.

I have a very sweet keepsake of that game, a laminated photo of the program cover, thanks to @AFCAT!