The Bobcat Nation

Driving around Missoula Saturday, my ol' lady who knows very little about football, said" Why is there so much stuff around about the Grizzlies, billboards, signs, etc. etc.. When I looked I noticed also that they have a great show of supprt for the Griz. While driving or walking around Bozeman, not many places have Cat stuff up. Even the waitstaff at thte Montana club all had Briz shirts on. I wish we could get that kind of support going for the Cats. Something more than a little sticker that says Go Cats on a door into a store, bank, etc.. Wishful thinking maybe but, it sure would be nice to change that. She actually made the comment that she was so sick of maroon and silver she could just throw up. But she did have a great time at her first ever Cat/Griz game.

Simply put - this town is insane for griz football.

I think, the town of Bozeman, has, in general, had the attitude that Bobcat Football is a necessary annoyance that they have to put up with in the fall.

Goes back to the Marketing by the university and athletics to start... need to really get after it with the merchandise and communications... Advertising for the Griz starts with the merchandise all over the place .. and lots of it... Cats are just barely getting there and have improved in quality and some in quantity but have a long way to go...

two things: Winning and a Big donor=upgraded stadium will go a long ways to seeing more support. Businesses (and fans for that matter) love to support a good looking winner. If you build it (and win), they will come.

I find it hard to believe that MSU can't find enough big donors to get something incredible done in Bozeman. You need to find someone willing to put in some serious leg time and the ability to sell ice to an eskimo. (Sorry, I live in Billings )

Personally, I would love to see it because it could only help the Griz and the rivalry between the two schools.

We win a playoff game or two in consecutive years, the money will start coming. The Griz had a nice "build it and they will come strategy", and it worked nicely (couple with winning teams). Seems us Cat fans are going to have to hope for the opposite - win and we will build it.

We have to be a consistent playoff contender, and you will see major changes including number of butts in the seats.

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:two things: Winning and a Big donor=upgraded stadium will go a long ways to seeing more support. Businesses (and fans for that matter) love to support a good looking winner. If you build it (and win), they will come.

I find it hard to believe that MSU can't find enough big donors to get something incredible done in Bozeman. You need to find someone willing to put in some serious leg time and the ability to sell ice to an eskimo. (Sorry, I live in Billings )

Personally, I would love to see it because it could only help the Griz and the rivalry between the two schools.

Heck, we already tried by giving Ted Turner an honorary degree. All this MSU grad got out of that deal was some glances at Jane Fonda's all-brown ski unitard at Big Sky. And it was about 10 years after you'd actually want to see her in that outfit.

Simply put: Bill Martel is not Uncle Dennis.

Ted Turner obviously has enough dough to get something done but I doubt he cares enough for MSU and the Bozeman area to do something like that.

However, I wonder if someone in the athletic department has come right out and asked him if he would be interested in doing something like that. As much as Ted is disliked I would think that Cat fans would put up with calling it Turner Stadium if it was and incredible stadium.

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:Ted Turner obviously has enough dough to get something done but I doubt he cares enough for MSU and the Bozeman area to do something like that.

However, I wonder if someone in the athletic department has come right out and asked him if he would be interested in doing something like that. As much as Ted is disliked I would think that Cat fans would put up with calling it Turner Stadium if it was and incredible stadium.

I'd rather see the Cats play at Bozeman High than go to a place called Turner Stadium.

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:Ted Turner obviously has enough dough to get something done but I doubt he cares enough for MSU and the Bozeman area to do something like that.

However, I wonder if someone in the athletic department has come right out and asked him if he would be interested in doing something like that. As much as Ted is disliked I would think that Cat fans would put up with calling it Turner Stadium if it was and incredible stadium.

I would really like to know if this would ever be a possiblity. That would sure help his name in this state.

webdav wrote:

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:Ted Turner obviously has enough dough to get something done but I doubt he cares enough for MSU and the Bozeman area to do something like that.

However, I wonder if someone in the athletic department has come right out and asked him if he would be interested in doing something like that. As much as Ted is disliked I would think that Cat fans would put up with calling it Turner Stadium if it was and incredible stadium.

I'd rather see the Cats play at Bozeman High than go to a place called Turner Stadium.

Really? He could name the place after his dead cat for all I care if he was going to pony up the bucks to build it out properly.

He could name the place after his dead cat for all I care

I hope that's not a bad omen for you guys, at least for the next game.

kmax wrote:

webdav wrote:

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:Ted Turner obviously has enough dough to get something done but I doubt he cares enough for MSU and the Bozeman area to do something like that.

However, I wonder if someone in the athletic department has come right out and asked him if he would be interested in doing something like that. As much as Ted is disliked I would think that Cat fans would put up with calling it Turner Stadium if it was and incredible stadium.

I'd rather see the Cats play at Bozeman High than go to a place called Turner Stadium.

Really? He could name the place after his dead cat for all I care if he was going to pony up the bucks to build it out properly.

OK, as long as we get a practice facility, top-of-the-line weight room, retractable dome and field turf.

When I was in Bozeman in October for Homecoming, it seemed that there was more Cat stuff than 10 years ago...soon enough there'll be more.

I think it's grown. Used to be-most people didn't even wear school colors to the dang game-now most everybody does. Winning is probably the most important factor.

Have you tried to buy MSU stuff outside of the MSU bookstore? Any Penney's or Herbergers in the state is swathed in Maroon and Silver, and has maybe 4 or 5 MSU shirts. I cannot refrain from commenting on it, and they always tell me they have what they know will sell. Well, I don't want the ugly stuff, I just want some MSU sweatshirts for my boys!

And I'm assuming you meant "my lovely wife."

I am with you on the total lack of Bobcat stuff. My daughter worked at Universal for a while and they said that statewide they sold more Bobcat stuff than griz. Makes me happy, but what store are they talking about?

Universal is one of the few stores that carries a decent array of Bobcat gear. You can buy Griz stuff at every Wal Mart and truck stop in the state.

PapaG wrote:

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:two things: Winning and a Big donor=upgraded stadium will go a long ways to seeing more support. Businesses (and fans for that matter) love to support a good looking winner. If you build it (and win), they will come.

I find it hard to believe that MSU can't find enough big donors to get something incredible done in Bozeman. You need to find someone willing to put in some serious leg time and the ability to sell ice to an eskimo. (Sorry, I live in Billings )

Personally, I would love to see it because it could only help the Griz and the rivalry between the two schools.

Heck, we already tried by giving Ted Turner an honorary degree. All this MSU grad got out of that deal was some glances at Jane Fonda's all-brown ski unitard at Big Sky. And it was about 10 years after you'd actually want to see her in that outfit.

Okay, that makes me want to poke my own eyes out...

ChiOCat wrote:Have you tried to buy MSU stuff outside of the MSU bookstore? Any Penney's or Herbergers in the state is swathed in Maroon and Silver, and has maybe 4 or 5 MSU shirts.

You have to stock what sells.