BOZEMAN -- The Montana State football team returns to action on Saturday after the bye week to take on North Dakota in Grand Forks. And even though the Fighting Hawks are no longer in the Big Sky, this game is unique.
“It’s a conference game for us and I pointed that out to our players on Sunday to make sure they understand the significance of this game for us. And I also pointed out that there has been a couple of teams that have rolled out there to North Dakota and maybe not understood the importance of that and paid the price,” said MSU head coach Jeff Choate.
And not having played a game in two weeks, the Cats have the jitters to get back out there.
“I kind of almost have that fall camp vibe where we are all just hitting each other every single day, where we just want to hit somebody new," said Bobcat quarterback Tucker Rovig. "I think a lot of guys are just really excited because it’s kind of like, I wouldn’t say rebirth, but a new start to the season.”
And Choate said this UND team is a much different animal at home, having not lost Alerus Center this season.
“We’re going to have our hands full, it’s a tough environment to play in. You have that student section right behind you," Choate said. "That was one thing I definitely remember from our last trip there, is that they have done their homework and you better have some earplugs in. I got called some new names, and I’ve been called a lot of names, and so it was interesting.”
Choate said he expects the same thing this year with tailgates starting at six in the morning on Saturday for 11:00 a.m. (MST) kickoff.
