Just a Game? Yeah, Right...

On November 19, a little more than twenty thousand fans packed into Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, shivering due to emotion as well as frigid temperature.  Presumably, the fans were watching every play, cheering for their favored team, and some jeering toward their opponent.  After about three hours, one group of fans left feeling elated, and the other left feeling terribly bitter and unhappy.

It's only a game, right?

It's referred to as the Montana Civil War, the Divide War, the Brawl of the Wild, and Cat/Griz.  It is the annual football showdown between the Montana State University Bobcats and the University of Montana Grizzlies. As an outside observer who has only been living in this state a few short years, I have been told by many that I cannot possibly understand what this extremely heated rivalry is all about.  As an outside observer, I think I can offer insight into the annual phenomenon of Cat/Griz that is less clouded by heated emotion.  The yearly battle, after all, says a lot about the state I now call home.

I could go on with reasoning as to why each team performed as it did and how I personally feel about the outcome of the game, but that is not the point of this post.  Now, many of my readers know where my alliances lie and may purport that I don't want to talk about the outcome of the game because I am unhappy with the results.  Fine.  Anyone who reads this blog is entitled to their opinion.  I welcome anyone who has comments to post them below.  The point of this post, however, is not to whine, or mope.  Similarly, it is not to jeer or gloat.  The point of this post is to simply explore what this game does to the people of Montana.

In a state with no NFL teams within close proximity, the residents here stand fiercely behind the college team of their choice.  Very heated alliances are formed.  I am not joking or exaggerating when I say that families are divided and friends become enemies on the day of the Cat/Griz game. This rivalry is probably the most heated I have ever personally witnessed, and in my experience, is more polarizing than even a national election.

In my opinion, one reason for this is because the residents of this state become extremely emotionally attached to their teams.  When talking about their team, people use the pronoun "we" as if they themselves are players on the team.  "We" are going to (insert aggressive verb here) the (team of your choice) at Cat/Griz this year.  With this, a great "Us and Them" mentality is established, thereby creating an enemy out of everyone who cheers for the opposite team.

The great irony of the Cat/Griz matchup is its ability to be both unifying and divisive.  I challenge any of my readers to find someone who lives in Montana and does not know the outcome of Saturday's game.  Everyone in this state follows the great event.  It is the most highly attended game of the year, whether held in Missoula or Bozeman, and without a doubt has the highest television ratings of the year.

The game may bring people together phsyically, but it drives them apart emotionally as allegiance to preferred teams takes preference over acting with civility.  Fans of each team think the fans of the other team are out to get them or looking unfavorably upon them.  In most instances, this is merely perception, but it only takes a few rowdy jeers from either Blue and Gold or Maroon and Silver clad fans to taint the mindset of anyone.  It can be a downright ugly, brutal atmosphere as some fans leave their inhibitions at home.

Furthermore, it seems impossible for fans of the winning team to celebrate in a positive manner.  It is apparently very difficult to simply be happy for your team if they win, and much more satisfying to instead berate the fans of the losing team, as if they are not already unhappy with the outcome.  Regardless of which team wins, this is always the case.  Neither team thinks their fans are as awful or mean as those of the other.  My observation has told me that fans of both teams can be equally cruel.

This years duel is in the books.  Both teams have made the playoffs and both teams were awarded a share in the Big Sky Championship.  On paper, there shouldn't be too much reason for either team to be too upset with a loss or overly excited about a victory.  But if you ask anyone in this state, this game is like an entire season rolled into one day, with all the emotions and implications that could provide.  It is much, much more than just a game.