A massive thank you to the Bobcat community!
Dear MSU Bobcats Fans,
What a game! Our Bobcats delivered an unforgettable victory, winning in the final moments to claim the FCS national championship for the first time in 41 years. Thanks to your generous support, the Spirit of the West Marching Band was there in Nashville to witness it all and help carry our team to victory.
More than 200 band members – representing every college on campus – made the trip because of you, bringing the energy and spirit of Montana State to the national stage. Their countless hours of rehearsal under the direction of Professors Nathan Stark and Stephen Versaevel result in the powerful sound, sharp visuals and electric atmosphere that unifies the crowd and elevates the momentum of the team. Their hard work and Bobcat spirit make them a true point of pride.
The band members and staff are grateful beyond words. Many of these students never imagined they'd have the opportunity to perform at a national championship game, and you made that dream a reality. The roar of "Go, ’Cats, Go!” echoing through Nashville will be a memory they carry for a lifetime.
Thank you for standing up with us and showing what it means to be part of the Bobcat community. Your support exemplifies the Blue and Gold spirit that makes Montana State special.
Brock F. Tessman
President, Montana State University
Dean S. Adams
Dean, College of Arts and Architecture
"The Spirit of the West is an integral part of every Bobcat game day. These students have put in extraordinary time and effort to bring blue and gold energy to Bobcat Stadium for each game this season, and we want to make sure the national championship in Nashville is no different."
- Brock Tessman, MSU President
Donate to support the Spirit of the West
Please consider making an ongoing donation to support the Spirit of the West Marching Band. All donations, regardless of size, make a meaningful difference.
About the band
The Spirit of the West Marching Band has been rallying Bobcat fans at Montana State University for more than 40 years. It’s more than 200 members — made up of students from all of MSU’s colleges — play at games and many other events across campus and around the community. The average SOTW student logs over 200 hours with the band over the course of a football season. Read more about the band in Mountains & Minds magazine.
