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BOZEMAN, Mont. -- The following is by the Montana State Athletic Department. Montana State University Athletics Director Peter Fields announced Thursday an ambitious plan to have lights in Bobcat Stadium in time for the classic football rivalry between MSU and the University of Montana on November 19.

"An incredibly generous anonymous donor has come forward with a leadership donation of $500,000 for stadium lights," Fields said. "Since that development, other benefactors have stepped up to help us reach the goal line."
The lights for the Cat-Griz game will sit on four, 110-foot posts that will stand outside the four corners of the stadium and illuminate the playing field. The four corner lights would be the first of several phases of lighting for the stadium.

"The lights will give Bobcat fans a taste of how spectacular their stadium will look," Fields said. "But this is just the beginning."

The lights from the four posts will allow the Bobcats to practice in real-game conditions as the days grow shorter and the Bobcats play into post season. Beginning Sunday, the end of daylight saving time will considerably shorten the time the team can practice in natural light.

"Lights in the stadium will allow us to practice at our normal time even though it is dark one hour earlier due to daylight saving time. Our student-athletes will now be able to get a consistent amount of preparation time for the crucial late season and playoff games, and we won't have to make any schedule changes that might disrupt or conflict with their daily academic schedule," said MSU Head Football Coach Rob Ash.

While the corner lights will help with practice, it will take three more posts as well as lighting in the spectator and concourse areas in order to complete the project. The overall price tag is nearly $1 million.

The three other posts would stand 140 feet with two shining over the top of the east-side seating and one over the west-side skybox suites. All three would be custom manufactured.

Once done, the complete project would allow Bobcat Stadium to host night games and meet television broadcasting lighting requirements. In order to minimize their affect outside of games, the lights will have three settings: 30 percent power for stadium maintenance; 70 percent power for football practice; and 100 percent for games.

The necessary funds have been raised to take the next step in the evolution of the Bobcat Stadium, said MSU Alumni Foundation President Michael Stevenson.

An order for the lighting equipment was placed with Musco Sports Lighting, of Iowa, this week. They will be installed by Martel Construction and connected by Matzinger Electric, both of Bozeman, Stevenson said.

"We are excited to provide this opportunity for our student athletes," Stevenson said. "Fans can anticipate a lot of activity around the stadium as crews have already begun preparations for the installation of the lights."

Awesome

Isn't the game going to be in the daytime? Or are they changing it to, like, 6PM?

Sounds like if they can get the lights in before the game, they'll play it at night. it would be the first ever night game in Bozeman.

I have to say, the endzone is pretty big-time.. hope there is another one added.. after that a 2nd level on the side that doesn't have boxes.

CatMan wrote:Sounds like if they can get the lights in before the game, they'll play it at night. it would be the first ever night game in Bozeman.

hummm...

Hopefully this will be enough to get ol' Denny to pony up another million for a state-of-the-art lighting system.

I find it funny how it was announced earlier in the week that the GRIZ are going to have lights installed prior to the start of next season and then all of a sudden the cats announce they will have them installed prior to GRIZ- cat this year

wow, lights. Now that is some forward thinking right there.

DJH wrote:wow, lights. Now that is some forward thinking right there.

Outdoor football. You pussies should give it a shot.

Grizalltheway wrote:

DJH wrote:wow, lights. Now that is some forward thinking right there.

Outdoor football. You pussies should give it a shot.

mtgrizzly wrote:I find it funny how it was announced earlier in the week that the GRIZ are going to have lights installed prior to the start of next season and then all of a sudden the cats announce they will have them installed prior to GRIZ- cat this year

Yeah it wasn't in talks at all before you guys said something.

CatBlitz22 wrote:

mtgrizzly wrote:I find it funny how it was announced earlier in the week that the GRIZ are going to have lights installed prior to the start of next season and then all of a sudden the cats announce they will have them installed prior to GRIZ- cat this year

Yeah it wasn't in talks at all before you guys said something.

Just like it hasn't been talked about over here also, the Griz have had the money for the lights for quite a few years now. As it was a anonymous donation specifically donated for lights at WA-GRIZ. I am sure it is all coincidence but its just funny how one of announces it and then a short while later the other does.
I truly believe it is great for both programs and I am happy to see the cats improving their stadium as it was long over due. We all know the 2 best stadiums in the big sky are located in MT.

Grizalltheway wrote:Hopefully this will be enough to get ol' Denny to pony up another million for a state-of-the-art lighting system.

Not to be a rumor-poster...but supposedly there is money in an account for lights at Wa-Griz. Just waiting until the expansion shit is done. I don't believe it but...then again....

expandspanos wrote:I have to say, the endzone is pretty big-time.. hope there is another one added.. after that a 2nd level on the side that doesn't have boxes.

That new Endzone is really impressive. I snuck away and attended a game this year and got to see it in person, they did a fantastic job. I can't wait to see what it looks like all lit up.

Coming soon to Montana, night football and color TV.

DJH wrote:Coming soon to Montana, night football and color TV.

Don't get too ahead of yourself. Montana just got internet and a couple of paved roads. Small steps.

CatMan wrote:Sounds like if they can get the lights in before the game, they'll play it at night. it would be the first ever night game in Bozeman.

Reading this release & bobcatnation, it doesn't sound like there will be enough lights for a night game this year. It seems a little odd that MSU would put out a sudden press release just to announce practice lighting for Griz/Cat, but that actually appears to be what this is.

Mvemjsunpx wrote:

CatMan wrote:Sounds like if they can get the lights in before the game, they'll play it at night. it would be the first ever night game in Bozeman.

Reading this release & bobcatnation, it doesn't sound like there will be enough lights for a night game this year. It seems a little odd that MSU would put out a sudden press release just to announce practice lighting for Griz/Cat, but that actually appears to be what this is.

We need them for playoff practices this December, It gets dark early later in the month

grizzaholic wrote:

DJH wrote:Coming soon to Montana, night football and color TV.

Don't get too ahead of yourself. Montana just got internet and a couple of paved roads. Small steps.

I thought Man-Bear-Pig (AKA Al Gore) was in Montana a long time ago.......

cats2506 wrote: We need them for playoff practices this December, It gets dark early later in the month

I got that. It's just the fanfare seems a little overblown… almost like they're teasing us with the possibility of a night Griz/Cat game when they can't actually provide one.

Mvemjsunpx wrote:

cats2506 wrote: We need them for playoff practices this December, It gets dark early later in the month

I got that. It's just the fanfare seems a little overblown… almost like they're teasing us with the possibility of a night Griz/Cat game when they can't actually provide one.

This...plus adding to the hype that already is Cat-Griz, and the fact they can say they have some lights up. Not that anyone ever bitched about practicing during the daytime prior to playoffs anyways.

Mvemjsunpx wrote:

cats2506 wrote: We need them for playoff practices this December, It gets dark early later in the month

I got that. It's just the fanfare seems a little overblown… almost like they're teasing us with the possibility of a night Griz/Cat game when they can't actually provide one.

fanfare?

MSU just received a half a million to finish the project, the conduits were laid last summer with the rest of the stadium project this part was delayed. The press release was nothing more than confirmation of what we had expected by now anyway.

The fanfare was in um's announcement a week or so ago that they would have lights by next season, doesn't even sound like they have finalized the project yet over west but they tried to one up the Cats and now just look dUMb

grizzaholic wrote:

Mvemjsunpx wrote:
I got that. It's just the fanfare seems a little overblown… almost like they're teasing us with the possibility of a night Griz/Cat game when they can't actually provide one.

This...plus adding to the hype that already is Cat-Griz, and the fact they can say they have some lights up. Not that anyone ever bitched about practicing during the daytime prior to playoffs anyways.

Not so much about bitching about practicing during the day as it is about having to change the practice schedule mid semester and mid season. When you change the schedule some players have class conflicts, this should avoid those conflicts.

Its really not that hard to figure out

cats2506 wrote:

Mvemjsunpx wrote:
Reading this release & bobcatnation, it doesn't sound like there will be enough lights for a night game this year. It seems a little odd that MSU would put out a sudden press release just to announce practice lighting for Griz/Cat, but that actually appears to be what this is.

We need them for playoff practices this December, It gets dark early later in the month

Well, that's assured when you have a home seeded ga..... OH WAIT


Anyways. Nice. Still need to scavenge some tickets for the game so... *fingers crossed*

cats2506 wrote:fanfare?

MSU just received a half a million to finish the project, the conduits were laid last summer with the rest of the stadium project this part was delayed. The press release was nothing more than confirmation of what we had expected by now anyway.

The fanfare was in um's announcement a week or so ago that they would have lights by next season, doesn't even sound like they have finalized the project yet over west but they tried to one up the Cats and now just look dUMb

Again, I got that. And, again, this has nothing to do with my point.


The press release is specifically titled, "Bobcat Athletics to have lights in place for annual Cat-Griz game, Nov. 19." Yet, it doesn't sound like the lights will actually be used for said game.

I feel disillusioned & betrayed.