Powersports: Biggest game ever

You would think if your alma mater played for the national championship in football, it would be a reason to celebrate, to toss confetti in the air. Well, it was, and it wasn’t.  

First, this is not a reference to either Michigan or Washington, who faced off in the title game of the Football Bowl Series. This is about the Football Championship Subdivision, FCS, the one that really matters if you grew up in the heartland.  

The University of Montana, my alma mater, earned the right to play in Frisco, Texas, for all the glory.  

What’s the problem? The Grizzlies, Griz to real fans, lined up against defending champion South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits happen to be the alma mater of one Patricia Lynn Kramer Powers, my wife. Oh boy. Batten down the hatches. It’s going to be a bumpy ride in front of the television.  

Many of us have been through an awkward situation, watching a huge game with a friend or relative, who is enthusiastically pulling for the “wrong” team. It would not be polite to quietly say “Take it easy,” or “Shhhh,” or “Hit the road,” would it?  

Patty and I lived through it in 1987, glued to the World Series between our beloved Minnesota Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals. In the small apartment, with nowhere to hide or seek refuge, we hosted a couple who were die-hard Cardinals fans. The tension grew as the game went on, and as the Twins sealed the victory, our friends left with hardly a word. “Let’s do it again sometime,” no one said.  

We had discussed briefly flying to Frisco to see the game in person, but I couldn’t get onboard. Spending all that money when one of us was going to be disappointed, or worse, didn’t appear to be a wise use of funds. The risk-reward seemed a bit shakey, although one family member said I was just cheap.   

As we fired up the old Motorola two Sundays ago in the living room shortly before kickoff, each of us dressed in our schools’ garb, I took a silent deep breath. My expectations were simple. After all, SDSU brought a beast of a team, winners of 28 straight.   

If a great Griz victory wasn’t in the cards, my hope was that the University of Montana would impress the nation; the team, the fans and the televised public service announcement that showcases each school.  

Well, no need to spend much time on the details of the game. Although the outcome wasn’t decided until early fourth quarter, it soon became clear that the Jacks were superior. Bigger, faster, stronger, better.   

As for the two key participants in this drama, along with a third person acting as a referee if needed, Patty and I behaved. There was the occasional suppressed cheer, accompanied by an arm jab to the sky from Patty. I raised the specter of a conspiracy several times.  

Why did officials decline to review a close play at the goal line? Why did the television cameras only highlight SDSU fans during the contest? That was my biggest frustration because Griz fans always “show.”   

As the clock wound down on the Jackrabbits 23-3 victory, I tried to take comfort in my wife’s happiness and what was an excellent season for UM, with the university’s first trip to the title game since 2009.   

I was reminded of what Patty said to start the day: no matter what happens, both schools are winners. While I was able to shake disappointment after a couple hours, the likelihood of Missoula and all western Montana staying depressed until the snow melts sometime in April is very real.   

I took it all like an adult. There was a little hug and congratulations to Patty. While we have called New Mexico our beloved home for about half of our lives, the ties to where you grew up never quite go away.    

As the channel was changed to HGTV, a verse from the Montana state song filtered into my head. “Montana, Montana, where skies are always blue. M-O-N-T-A-N-A. Montana I love you!” Go Griz!