I’m not sure how many people find this kind of story interesting, but I find it pretty fascinating and really enjoyed working on it.

‘No magic formula’: Big Sky teams face many challenges when forming nonconference schedules

This is one of the cooler stories I’ve ever worked on. Thanks to my then-editor, Jeff Welsch, for giving me the idea: why did Craig Kilborn, former Montana State men’s basketball player, walk away from a burgeoning late night TV career?

‘The guy who walked away’: Montana State grad Craig Kilborn enjoying life out of ESPN, late night spotlight

For the second time in my four years on the Montana State football beat, I covered an FCS championship game between MSU and North Dakota State.

My first trip to Frisco, Texas, happened in January 2022. The latest one happened last week.

Below are all of the 2024 FCS title-specific stories I published in the lead-up and in the immediate aftermath of the game.

‘One of the greats’: Well-rounded Brody Grebe prepares for final game of Montana State career

Passing improvement has lifted Tommy Mellott, Montana State Bobcats to upper echelon

Brent Vigen gets sizable raise in new contract as Montana State Bobcats head coach

Notebook: Past losses fueled Montana State Bobcats to FCS title rematch with North Dakota State

Q&A: Ryan Leaf on calling FCS title game, Montana State Bobcats connections

NFL players Daniel Hardy, Ty Okada reveling in Montana State Bobcats’ return to Frisco

Montana State Bobcats’ Tommy Mellott wins 2024 Walter Payton Award

Five things to watch: Montana State Bobcats vs. North Dakota State Bison in FCS title game

Montana State Bobcats’ historic season ends with loss to North Dakota State in FCS title game

If not now, then when for Montana State Bobcats? Maybe soon, but Bison still loom

Whenever Montana State football players enter the transfer portal, speculation runs rampant. Many fan theories are untrue, so I try to provide at least some clarity to the situation. I did that with the story below.

Four former Montana State Bobcats shed light on decisions to transfer to FBS programs

This story wouldn’t have been possible without the cooperation of the two main characters and Montana State’s sports information director, so big thanks to all three of them. It’s probably my favorite story I wrote during MSU’s 2023 football season.

‘A blessing’: Bond between Sean Chambers, Brent Vigen bolstered with Montana State Bobcats

I’m proud of this story from a writing standpoint, but I’m only including it in my portfolio because it’s the first one I’ve written that included gifs I created. I think they significantly added to the piece.

Relentless guard Omar Aigbedion has ascended to top tier in 2nd season at Montana State

Whenever a new Montana State coach inks a contract, I try to obtain a copy of it via public records request. Below are the stories I’ve written about those contracts.

Montana State to pay Matt Logie slightly higher salary than Danny Sprinkle received

Montana State football coaches Brent Vigen, Willie Mack Garza get raises in new contracts

In May 2023, Montana State offensive coordinator Taylor Housewright was cited for aggravated DUI. I obtained the charging documents for that case and broke the the news of another MSU coach’s involvement with Housewright’s alleged crimes.

A couple of Montana State assistant football coaches took new jobs in early 2023. I broke one of the stories — on running backs coach Jimmy Beal — and confirmed the other with anonymous sources — on offensive line coach Brian Armstrong.

As exciting as it can be to break news with sources, I take more pride in good stories featuring on-the-record interviews (transactional news, after all, will come out even if no reporter gets someone to tell them anonymously). Below are the follows I did on Armstrong and Beal featuring exclusive interviews with both of them.

‘Hard to say goodbye’: Brian Armstrong reflects on Montana State coaching career, looks forward to Fresno State

Now at San Diego State, Jimmy Beal reflects on home away from home time at Montana State

I had the pleasure of covering an NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2022, when the 16th-seeded Montana State women’s basketball team played at No. 1-seeded Stanford. Below are the stories I wrote before and after MSU’s first-round game.

• ‘Go in fearless’: Montana State women hope to become second 16 seed to beat Stanford at NCAA tournament
• Stanford overwhelms Montana State women in NCAA tournament first-round game
• Notebook: Montana State women continue ‘year of the Bobcat,’ Tara VanDerveer displays off-court values

I covered another NCAA tourney a year later under much different circumstances. This time, the 14th-seeded MSU men faced third-seeded Kansas State in Greensboro, North Carolina. Below are the stories I published from that trip.

• Kansas State hoping to extend breakout season with win over Montana State in NCAA Tournament
• Q&A: Montana State great Mick Durham enjoying another NCAA Tournament run from Danny Sprinkle-led Bobcats
• Montana State men battle Kansas State but fall short in 2nd straight NCAA Tournament