BOZEMAN, Mont.- It’s the greatest run out in college football, capturing what makes the state of Montana special.
It’s deep roots in rodeo and it’s passion for football.
“The crowd is going to be one of a kind ,” Hailey Burger a sophomore on the Rodeo Team said.
Burger is from Helena, and said growing up doing rodeo she knew about the success of the program and was excited to be a part of it.
“I have carried flags out quite a few games, [but this one] to have full seats and all Montana fans,” Burger said, “just the energy that’s going to be in the stadium will be unmatched.”
Montana State University’s football team and the Rodeo team have both been incredibly successful in recent years. Helping to put the school on the map as a powerhouse.
But many have asked—how do they pick the horses, and how are they trained?
Head Rodeo Coach, Kyle Whitaker, says they tend to pick horses that have a résumé.
“Not every horse is going to handle it,” Whitaker said.
It’s a lot of moving pieces to factor in, the crowd, tv cameras, a massive soundboard—and explosions.
Whitaker explained that they try to get horses that have been to a lot of rodeos, and are comfortable with the commotion, or horses familiar with the same atmosphere.
They also practice so everyone’s comfortable in the environment.
“Since I started coaching here, we started doing a ride through in the morning,” Whitaker said.
Normally during the playoffs, with student scattered across the state and country – the group relies on alumni, not this time, everyone wants to be a part of history.
“I have always wanted to carry a flag that Cat/Griz,” Burger said, “I mean being here last year, I knew I wasn’t going to because I was a freshman -- but getting to do it this year on our home field.. with a hometown crowd, it’s going to be one of a kind.”