Montana State football to visit White House to celebrate national championship

BOZEMAN - The Montana State University Bobcats football team will be in Washington, D.C., tomorrow to be honored at the White House, capping a championship season that ended with the program's first national title in 41 years.

The Bobcats beat Illinois State 35-34 in overtime Jan. 5 at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, to win the Football Championship Subdivision title. It was MSU's first national title since 1984.

"This is a tremendous honor for our entire university and for the state of Montana," MSU President Brock Tessman said. "Forty-one years is a long time to wait, and our players, coaches and staff earned every bit of this moment through their hard work and determination all season long. We're grateful for the opportunity to be recognized on a national stage once again."

"Teams at every level of competition, in nearly every sport, have for years been invited to the White House to be recognized for their achievements, and we are all extremely proud that the Montana State Bobcats will join in that tradition," said Leon Costello, MSU's director of athletics.

"We also, especially, want to thank the Bobcat donors who supported the trip," Costello added. "Our student-athletes have this opportunity because of their generosity."

Montana State finished the season 14-2, defeating Yale, Stephen F. Austin and the University of Montana in the playoffs before beating Illinois State for the title. It was the program's third championship-game appearance in five seasons.

"Our players will remember this trip for the rest of their lives, and they've earned it," head coach Brent Vigen said. "This group answered a hard championship loss two years ago by fighting their way back to the championship game, competing against a tough opponent and finishing the job in overtime. That says everything about who they are."