This is one of the weirder stories I’ve covered, as the headline makes pretty obvious.

Northern Colorado coach ‘reprimanded’ for throwing piece of clipboard at Montana State fan

It’s still hard for me to believe that Montana State reached the Football Championship Subdivision title game in my first season covering the team. The Bobcats lost the game by 28 points, but that hardly ruined the experience. The run provided some of the best memories and stories of my sportswriting career.

Below are my favorite articles I wrote leading up to the game, plus the game story from the championship.

Montana State advances to first FCS title game since 1984 with win over South Dakota State

Notebook: Montana State provides window into Tommy Mellott’s rise; injured Bobcats could return in FCS title game

Montana State’s limited FCS title game tickets sell fast

Stepmother’s scary accident puts life into perspective for Montana State’s Brody Grebe

COVID-19 prompts caution for Montana State, North Dakota State as FCS title game nears

Break helping Montana State, North Dakota State get close to full strength for FCS title game

Montana State great Sonny Holland sees similarities between 2021 and 1976 Bobcats

‘All Montanans now’: Led by homegrown stars, Montana State on precipice of national title

Retired sportswriters reflect on Montana State’s 1976, 1984 national title runs

Q&A: Montana State 1984 standout Doug Kimball ready to ‘pass the torch’

Five things to watch: Montana State vs. North Dakota State in FCS championship

Montana State suffers lopsided FCS championship loss to North Dakota State

Last week, I published a story about the preparation for Montana State’s first home football game since 2019 from the school’s and fans’ perspective.

‘It’s right again’: Montana State’s long wait for home football game almost over

Angellica Street, a standout javelin thrower from Montana, alleged some troubling behavior from her coach at Texas A&M. The coach’s weight loss demand caused mental health issues for Street, she said, and led her to transfer to Montana State.

Dispute over weight leads Columbia Falls javelin thrower Angellica Street to transfer from Texas A&M to Montana State

Shortly before Montana State’s 2021-22 sports season began, I wrote about the state of the Bobcats after the pandemic altered (or, when it came to football, canceled) the 2020-21 season. People in the MSU athletic department felt optimistic overall about the coming season, even though the pandemic was far from over.

Montana State athletics ‘feel like we’re back to normal,’ but COVID-19 concerns linger

My first major assignment as a Montana State sports beat writer was attending the Big Sky Football Kickoff in late July. The main story I wrote from the event in Spokane, Washington, was about the Big Sky’s COVID-19 protocols, specifically the conference’s vaccine recommendation, which wasn’t too far away from a mandate.

Big Sky commissioner gives warning to lowly vaccinated football teams

This story dove into why Montana State Billings’ athletic director resigned, and it featured insights from several people she worked with during her long career at the college.

Outgoing MSU Billings athletic director Krista Montague taking time to ‘figure out what comes next’

I’ve written some unique stories in my career, but none quite like this.

Hackers cause Lodge Grass’ state basketball tickets to be sold out early

Below is a chronological list of coronavirus-related sports articles I’ve published at 406mtsports.com. These do not include stories I’ve written that don’t include my byline, and I omitted articles that aren’t directly connected to COVID-19 (basically every article I’ve written since mid-March includes some mention of the disease).

State basketball tournaments will continue as planned amid coronavirus concerns

State A boys: No. 1 Hardin not happy about co-title with No. 2 Butte Central (The Montana state basketball tournaments were canceled after the semifinals because of the state’s first presumptive cases of COVID-19. This story explored how one team reacted to the cancellation, and I broke down some of the decisions and events of a chaotic day.)

Montana High School Association suspends spring sports indefinitely

Scobey, Fairview slowly process State C co-title as coronavirus rapidly changes life

Billings-area golf courses altered, but not shuttered, by spread of COVID-19

Montana schools turn on stadium lights to symbolize hope amid coronavirus pandemic

American Legion cancels 2020 regionals, World Series

Montana spring sports suspension extended through April 24 (This includes lists I put together detailing the status of spring sports in all 50 states. Up-to-date state lists, which I also compiled, can be found here. I didn’t create the map, but I did update it.)

Grass Range’s Jacob Jessen taking nothing for granted as he prepares to run for Dickinson State

Huntley Project thrower Emily Poole hopes to fill ’empty space’ at North Dakota State

Idaho gives Lewistown’s Sam Fulbright ‘something to look forward to’ after lost title chances

Spring sports cancellation provides unwelcome savings to Montana high schools (This story delves into the financial impact of COVID-19)

Never the bride: Shelby girls golfers grapple with erased chance to win state title

Golfers prepare for Men’s State Amateur, Senior Am as Yellowstone County battles COVID-19

Montana High School Association releases fall sports plan (An in-depth look at the fall sports guidelines while Montana continues to report many positive COVID-19 cases)

Lodge Grass, Northern Cheyenne, St. Labre cancel fall sports seasons

No spectators at athletic events, according to Yellowstone County fall sports plan

Yellowstone County health officer explains no spectator rule, other fall sports plan guidelines

Gallatin County will allow limited attendance at team sporting events this fall

‘We want our lives back’: Parents, athletes protest Yellowstone County no-spectator rule

Wibaux assistant football coach tests positive for COVID-19, game against Richey-Lambert canceled

Short-handed Glasgow opens ‘different’ football season with blowout win over Shepherd

COVID-19 pandemic thins already-shrinking pool of Montana high school officials (This story examines the state of Montana referees, who were struggling long before the pandemic)

Billings Central-Glendive football game canceled due to COVID-19 case

Big Timber-Fairfield football game canceled due to COVID-19 concerns

Glendive-Laurel football game postponed because of COVID-19

Grass Range-Winnett shuts down sports until Oct. 19 because of COVID-19 case

Roundup football cancels season finale against Huntley Project due to COVID-19

Billings Central-Havre football game canceled due to COVID-19

Park City cancels games, switches to remote schooling due to COVID-19 cases

Eastern Montana basketball coaches enter 1st week of practice with cautious optimism

Billings Public Schools’ Greg Upham explains why superintendents discussed winter sports postponement

COVID-19 forces Hardin to cancel four boys basketball games

State C tournaments’ move from Bozeman to Lockwood illustrates Montana’s ‘patchwork of regulations’

I enjoyed writing this story about three European foreign exchange students who are thriving for the boys basketball team in small-town eastern Montana.

Globe-trotting Terriers: Trio of Euros have led Terry boys to best season in years