Nathaniel Ferguson cannot wait to represent for the Mining City with the Montana Grizzlies.
For years and years, Butte, America produced as many Division I players as any town in the Treasure State. From Swede Dahlberg before the first World War to Milt Popovich in during the Great Depression to Bob O’Billovich in the days of the Skyline Conference, from Tom Hauck in the early days of the Big Sky to Todd Ericson and Josh Paffhausen in the 1990s, from Chris Connors to begin the 21st century and Colt Anderson to cap the first decade of the new millennium, it seems like there has always been a Butte High Bulldog suiting up for the Grizzlies.
The last player to letter for the Griz from Butte High is former safety Jake Dallasera, whose last year at Montana was in 2014. Montana’s current roster does not feature a player from one of Montana’s toughest and most iconic towns. Ferguson is excited to change that.
“It means a lot and it’s about time that Butte has another player in there,” the standout kicker and punter said on Tuesday night shortly after posting his verbal commitment to Montana on his Twitter account. “That’s one of the things the Griz coaches told me was they were really looking to add a Butte presence to the Griz again. It’s pretty awesome to be that guy.”
A total of 96 players from Butte have earned varsity letters with the Griz, a list that includes iconic Montana names like Dahlberg, recently retired Billings Skyview head coach Ron Lebsock, former Griz head coach Mick Dennehy and former Washington State and Miami athletic director Sam Jankovich. Tom Hauck, new UM head coach Bobby Hauck’s uncle, played for the Grizzlies in the early 1960s and Bobby Hauck traces his roots back to the Mining City as well.
Montana State has a heap of Butte connections as well, starting and ending with the greatest Bobcat of them all. Sonny Holland led MSU to the 1956 national championship as a player and to the 1976 national title Montana State’s head coach. His coaching tree included other great Butte natives like Dennehy, Mick Delaney, Sonny Lubick and many more.
Ferguson has grown up a Griz fan for as long as he can remember. He said he has been rooting on Montana since he learned to walk. His family has attended “pretty much every home Griz game since then.” So when Montana State expressed interest in Ferguson’s talents as a special teams specialist, Ferguson joked his dad had a hard time accepting it.
When Ferguson stood on the sidelines for UM’s home games against Savannah State, Eastern Washington and North Dakota, he knew if Montana offered, he would not pass up becoming a Griz. He held offers from Carroll College and Montana Western while also receiving strong interest from Montana Tech but former Montana head coach Bob Stitt never extended an official offer.
A few weeks after Hauck was hired, an offer was extended and Ferguson gave his verbal commitment. He is one of at least 12 total in-state recruits who Hauck will sign between the early signing period last month and National Signing Day on February 7.
“I was sold as soon as I came to the first sideline visit,” Ferguson said. “After that, it’s all I wanted to do.
“My parents are stoked, especially my dad. He’s one of the most diehard Griz fans you’ll ever meet so I think he’s taken a sigh of relief because a little earlier on, I was getting some attention from MSU and he could barely even stand it (laughs).”
Ferguson will follow in the footsteps of both sets of his grandparents and his parents, all UM alums. He wants to pursue a law degree eventually, just like his mother. Ferguson will likely study political science or creative writing for his undergraduate degree. He however will not follow in the footsteps of Butte High’s head football coach Aerie Grey, a former Montana State standout.
“He’s been awesome during this process,” Ferguson said. “He helped me get out there and have people notice me. It’s been awesome because he played at Montana State and he’s a diehard Bobcat fan so I’ve been enjoying rubbing it in his face a little bit (laughs).”
The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder earned Class AA all-state honors as a punter as a junior. He started at wide receiver, defensive end and punter that year and for four games his senior season before tearing his MCL four games into his senior year.
Because of the injury, Ferguson elected to not play basketball, instead joining the swim team. The photo he posted on Twitter to announce his commitment with Montana recruiting coordinator Justin Green, Ferguson’s primary recruiter, came after a swim meet in Missoula earlier this month.
“It’s been a lot of fun, I’ve enjoyed it,” Ferguson said of his transition to the pool. “It’s a way different type of exercise that I was used to but I was surprised. My first meet, I qualified for state in the 50-meter freestyle. Turns out I’m ok at it.”
Ferguson will join the Griz as a preferred walk-on. Hauck told him to anticipate not redshirting in 2018 while pushing for playing time. Montana returns juniors kicker Brandon Purdy, a third-team All-Big Sky selection last season, and punter Eric Williams. Ferguson said he has never met Williams, a Missoula Loyola product, but that he has attended kicking camps with Purdy, a Kalispell Glacier product, over the years.
In Little Guy football in Butte as a kid, Ferguson remembers lining up and seeing who could kick the ball the farthest. He was always the best of the future Bulldogs. He began honing his skills at camps during the summers. Now that talent will culminate in his chance to play for the Griz.
“I’m really excited,” Ferguson said. “I’m excited to play at the highest level in Montana, especially for a team I’ve always wanted to play for since I was a little kid. I really couldn’t be more excited. This is my dream come true.”
Photos contributed by Ferguson. All Rights Reserved.
