The Exponent sits down with Tommy Mellott

Perhaps it isn’t unexpected news that MSU Quarterback Tommy Mellott helped the Bobcats defend their home turf in his final Homecoming game last Saturday. As usual, Mellott exerted his commanding influence over the game, helping the Bobcat offense maintain the physical identity they’ve established so far this season — and it paid off when MSU defeated the University Northern Colorado 55-17.

While football fans nationwide have watched Mellott catalyze the Bobcats’ recent successes, Montanans have witnessed his play since he was just a kid living in Butte, Montana. To learn more about MSU’s local football legend, the Exponent sat down with Mellott to learn about his life, while also discovering how the star is navigating the close of his college football career.

Growing up, Mellott shared that he didn’t have a lot of athletic influence from his parents. His mom ran track in middle and early high school, but that was it. So, how did he get into the game in the first place? Enter his grandfather, Gene Fogarty.

That’s right, Fogarty — Butte’s legendary youth football coach — sparked Mellott’s interest in football. “He would follow college football all the time, so really he was kind of my biggest influence into getting started with football,” Mellott said. Fogarty’s support was well-placed, as Mellott not only enjoyed football — he excelled at it.

MaxPreps.com credits Mellott with over 9,500 yards of total offense and 100 offensive touchdowns for his high school career. That level of production gave him one of the most prolific careers in the program's history. 

As he entered high school, Mellott prioritized his opportunities as a student rather than narrow his focus on a potential NCAA football career. However, Mellott had to eventually consider his future. “I realized that the coming year would be my last, so really I had no idea what kind of opportunities I would have,” he said. After his junior season, he began to entertain the idea of playing football at a collegiate level.

The Butte High School quarterback proceeded to lead his team to an 11-1 record, en route to being selected as Montana’s “Gatorade Player of the Year” as a senior for the 2019-2020 season. Mellott’s success in high school culminated in his commitment to the MSU Bobcats.

When Mellott chose to attend MSU, education was at the forefront of his decision-making process. “Academics were always a big thing for me in high school, and I ultimately knew that once the five years, four-and-a-half, whatever it might be in college are up, the most likely situation would be to go out and find a job,” he said.

As Mellott was making his college decision, he found similarities between MSU’s coaching staff at the time — namely former coaches Jeff Choate and B.J. Roberston — and the coaching at Butte High School. Mellott said that, after meeting the coaches and considering his academic options, he felt like it would be a clean transition from Butte High School to MSU.

However, college life differs from high school in many ways and Mellott dealt with a learning curve upon arriving at MSU. “There’s a lot of give and take, but [football and school] are what my priorities are and that’s what I want to dedicate myself to,” Mellott said. While he initially had some challenges juggling life, school and football, with help from teachers and mentors, he’s found balance between these different priorities.

Those mentors included members of the Bobcat football coaching staff, which has been relatively unchanged since Mellott’s arrival — with the exception of Brent Vigen’s hiring in February of 2021. A strong coaching staff is an important resource for college athletes navigating the student-athlete lifestyle. 

“With football and understanding some things, [having] a coaching staff that’s been here my entire career playing, it’s been nice, because there’s not a constant re-learning curve that some people have to deal with,” Mellott said.

Good coaching — along with his work ethic — helped the quarterback establish himself as the starter during the 2021 playoffs. According to KURL-8, Mellott was coming off of a season where he was at one point on special teams, now being thrust into the role of first-string quarterback. This came after the surprise transfer of starter Matthew McKay, according to montanasports.com. 

Mellott says that the unusual situation expedited his growth as a leader. “You need to melt the iron and put it under a lot of stress before you figure out what it is, so I’d have to imagine that’s kinda what that situation was like,” he said. Regardless of the stress, Mellott hit the ground running as he helped the new-look Bobcats win three straight playoff games and make a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) championship game appearance that season. 

Mellott’s burst onto the scene during the 2021 FCS playoffs led the Bobcat’s charge to the FCS championship game and he has remained a leader on the team ever since. While he was able to focus more on his individual growth before, he now had all of the responsibilities of a team leader.

Mellott also makes an active, concerted effort to be involved with his players. “I’d like to think that it’s a servant leadership sort of thing, where I’m really going out of my way to know everybody, to see how they’re doing and to really be invested in who they are as people, not just as an athlete,” he said.

Mellott makes a point of focusing on the growth of the team and his teammates, rather than just his personal achievement. He uses this leadership style to set an example for his fellow Bobcats and believes his consistency helps him be a better leader. Mellott also credits the Bobcats’ 2021 playoff run, saying that it forged his leadership abilities to some extent. These days, he embraces his leadership role on the team. “You kind of have to fake it till you make it,” he said.

Mellott’s leadership has allowed him to foster close relationships with his teammates and others around him. Those relationships, along with the sacrifice associated with playing team sports, are things he’ll miss the most after he’s gone. 

“The people and the relationships that I’ve built within the team specifically, the guys that I played with four years ago and the guys today I’m playing with — there’s eight different years worth of individuals that have come into my life and that I’ve been able to build relationships with and it’s been pretty special,” he said.

Mellott also cherishes the community support he’s received over the years. “I love the people throughout the state and I appreciate everything that they’ve given to me,” he said. “I’m gonna do everything I can to give everything back and make my last season the most, and give it for Bobcat nation, really.”

As for the fate of the Bobcats this season — with potential championship glory still on the horizon — Mellott kept it simple: “That’s what the plan is — one last ride…”