Around the Big Sky

Ties between Bobcats, Vandals seem to never end

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BOZEMAN — Idaho’s return to the Big Sky Conference means the renewal of true rivalries with four neighboring football programs.

When the Vandals host Montana on November 10, the old enemies will battle for the Little Brown Stein for the 85th time, but the first time since 2003.

Eastern Washington and Idaho played annually between 1983 and 1999 but have only played twice since 2000.

Idaho State and Idaho are among the eight charter members of the Big Sky, playing every year from the founding of the league in 1963 and Idaho’s move up to the FBS following the 1995 season. UI and ISU played in 1997 and 1998 but not again until 2006. Before Saturday’s 62-28 beat down by the Bengals of the Vandals in Pocatello, the schools had not played since 2008.

While the Grizzlies, the Eagles and the Bengals all have rich history with Idaho, the Vandals might have more direct ties to Montana State than any other program in the league. The Vandals play their second traditional rival in a row Saturday with their first game in Bozeman against Montana State since 1995.

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Choate, Gregorak, Redd interviews courtesy of Brooks Nuanez. Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.

Montana State offensive lineman Zach Redd (59)/by Brooks Nuanez

Montana State head coach Jeff Choate coaching quarterback Tucker Rovig (12)/by Brooks Nuanez

 

About Colter Nuanez

Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.

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