Interview with Montana State coach about Damar Hamlin, nature of football

This is maybe my favorite interview I’ve ever done. The conversation I had with Montana State head football coach Brent Vigen about Damar Hamlin’s near-death experience during a football game and the violence of football certainly wasn’t light-hearted, but it was fascinating, illuminating and nuanced.

Q&A: Montana State coach Brent Vigen on witnessing Damar Hamlin’s injury, football’s ‘inherent risk’

“College GameDay” coverage

ESPN’s “College GameDay” came to Bozeman in November for Montana State’s football game against rival Montana. I wrote about why the show visited Montana for the first time, interviewed the famous golfer who served as GameDay’s guest picker and explored GameDay’s economic impact on Bozeman.

Coldest ‘GameDay’ ever: ESPN producers explain why show came to Montana for first time

Q&A: Nick Faldo on ‘College GameDay’ in Bozeman, Bobcat fandom, retiring to Montana

Bozeman got boost from ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’, but full impact is hard to quantify

Coverage of late Montana State legend

Sonny Holland, a Montana State football player and coach who was known as the “Greatest Bobcat,” died in December at the age of 84. I wrote a comprehensive obituary of Holland the day after he died, and I interviewed a couple men who were closely connected to him.

Butte, Montana State football legend Sonny Holland dies at 84

Q&A: Former Montana State QB Paul Dennehy on flag handoff to Tommy Mellott, other Sonny Holland memories

Q&A: Sonny Lubick remembers late Sonny Holland, who shared Butte and Montana State ties

Montana State football transfer coverage

Like many college football programs, Montana State has been affected by the (relatively) new transfer portal. I’ve written so many stories about players transferring to and from MSU, many of which are short news items, but I’ve also been able to interview some of those players and/or people surrounding them. Below are the stories stemming from those conversations.

Q&A: Sean Chambers discusses Montana State commitment, ‘snakebit’ Wyoming career

‘Everything checked out’: Air Force transfer Dru Polidore found good fit at Montana State

Montana State offers opportunities to transfer receiver Ravi Alston

Former Montana State QB Matthew McKay transfers to Elon

Q&A: Casey Bauman reflects on Montana State career after entering transfer portal

Q&A: Montana State lineman TJ Session explains why he entered transfer portal

Former Montana State receiver Charles Brown transfers to Bobcats of Texas State

Former Montana State kicker Luke Pawlak commits to Toledo

Montana State running back Isaiah Ifanse enters transfer portal

Montana State NFL Draft coverage

My coverage of Troy Andersen’s NFL Draft outlook began in December with the first article linked below. It was clear back then that Andersen, one of the best football players in Montana State history, would be drafted in April, so I asked a couple draft analysts about him.

As you can see below, my coverage of his path to the NFL was just getting started. Andersen was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 58th overall pick, the second-highest draft pick in MSU history.

Andersen’s teammate Daniel Hardy was also drafted, in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Rams. He was gracious enough to talk to me shortly after he was selected.

‘He checks boxes’: NFL future for Montana State’s Troy Andersen is not if but where

Montana State’s Troy Andersen accepts Senior Bowl invitation

Montana State’s Troy Andersen caps impressive week with solid Senior Bowl performance

Montana State’s Troy Andersen invited to NFL Scouting Combine

Q&A: Senior Bowl’s Jim Nagy discusses ‘off the charts’ performance from Montana State’s Troy Andersen

Montana State’s Troy Andersen shows off elite speed at NFL combine

Troy Andersen uses Montana State’s Pro Day to once again showcase NFL ability

Montana State’s Troy Andersen selected by Atlanta Falcons in second round of NFL Draft

‘He’s a rare athlete’: Montana State’s Troy Andersen draws praise from Atlanta Falcons coach, GM

Q&A: For Montana State’s Daniel Hardy, being drafted by Los Angeles Rams ‘still doesn’t feel real’

Story on firing of broadcaster

A Montana State play-by-play broadcaster was fired after comparing the Portland State women’s basketball team to anifa and the South Side of Chicago. I was the first reporter to publish a story about the incident and the only one to provide many of the main details and comments from the people/organizations involved. I also clipped videos of the broadcaster’s on-air remarks. My article was cited in several outlets, including The Oregonian in a column by John Canzano.

Montana State broadcaster Mark Martello fired after comments about Chicago, antifa during women’s basketball game