Coach Choate’s outlook on the 2018 football season

As spring semester comes to a close, most MSU students are looking forward to a bit of a break over the summer. But for one team on campus, the hard work is just beginning: the MSU football team will be working hard throughout summer to get into shape for yet another Bobcat season. Three weeks before fall classes start, the football team will begin their practices leading up to the home-opening game on Aug. 30. This is the first time in Head Coach Jeff Choate’s time at MSU that the first game of the season is at home.

The Cats will take on the Western Illinois squad, who finished strong at 12th in the nation in the FCS coaches poll at the end of last season. The annual Gold Rush game, the season opener, will take place on a Thursday this year, only a few days into the fall semester. When asked about scheduling the first game on a Thursday, Choate answered by saying, “it gives you two extra days to prepare for your next opponent. It kind of gives you a mini [bye-week], so to speak.”

The Bobcats’ next game will take place at South Dakota State on September 8, another top-25 opponent. “Those two games in particular will be very, very competitive,” Choate said. “We will find out a lot about ourselves early in the season.” There’s no doubt that the Cats will have their work cut out for them before conference play starts.

MSU’s conference schedule is no cake-walk either, consisting of opponents like Eastern Washington and Weber State, both of which Choate said would be big games. He also added, “When you get into Big Sky play every week is big, so you really can’t overlook anybody.”

Of course, Bobcat fans and players have the Brawl of the Wild to look forward to against cross-state rival University of Montana, which recently hired Bobby Hauck back as head coach. “I think it’s going to be really good for football in Montana. I think he’s a really good football coach who I have respect for, and those are the guys that you want to compete against.” Choate said. “It will just add a little bit more juice to an already tremendous rivalry.”

Looking at the big picture next season, Choate stated, “I think our number one goal is to make sure we have an opportunity for postseason play, that’s something that has kind of eluded us,” adding, “We have the potential to compete for a Big Sky Conference Championship.”

With some quality recruits and veteran leadership on both the offensive and defensive line, the Cats’ play style should be a little different this year.“You’re going to see an exciting brand of football. A little more explosiveness on offense and a more aggressive style of defense,” Choate said. “I think it will be a hard-hitting physical outfit that plays with a lot of passion and energy.”

“We have an unbelievable fanbase here and the campus community is greatly supportive of football,” Choate affirmed. “Game days in Bozeman are an event, not just a game. We are really humbled and grateful for the support that we have, and we appreciate it.”