Let the Celebration Begin: Cat/Griz Satellite Parties Bring in the Fans by Jean Arthur I went to the right school, MSU, and my husband went to that other one," laughs Loretta McClintock, '91 Nurs, still giddy, she says, after the last two years of Cat/Griz football victories -- and looking forward to another celebration. Like dozens of MSU alums that married Grizzlies--for love, not for cheerleading camaraderie--McClintock is now enjoying a run on wins. Unlike most Cat/Griz marriages, the McClintocks both coordinate the annual Cat/Griz satellite party. Theirs is in Rock Springs, Wyo. "Yes, Bob coordinated for the Griz, but they had very dismal attendance last year," she says. She notes that during their first year as soiree sponsors, about 20 Cats fans arrived to witness the drumming of the Griz, the now-famous 10-7 win of 2002, which ended a 16-game drought. As the pre-game warm up begins, petite to hulking figures dressed in blue and gold amble into the bar. A few maroon and silver shirts slink in, and the sideshow begins. "We get very excited about the game, especially since we won the last two years," says McClintock. "Plus, my husband is there and everyone enjoys teasing him about his team losing. The first year, we had two couples that had graduated in the '50s and '60s. They were a hoot. The older gentleman stood up at the end of the game and was leading us all in singing MSU's school song. He remembered all the words." Around the country, more and more Cat fans are beginning to remember the Fight Song lyrics. Sixty-two Cat/Griz parties offer seats in front of satellite-linked big screens. The largest bash, Denver's, rumbles with 600 fans. Longest running affairs--Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland and Denver--attract die-hard fans that live for the annual showdown. And in some faraway places like Anchorage, fans include non-alumni with Montana roots. "We have more than 3,000 people total attending all these out-of-state Cat/Griz parties," says Kerry Hanson, Alumni Association assistant director and 1993 grad. "This year, at 12:05 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20, fans of all colors, glued to big screens all over the country. We of course hope to repeat last year's 2720 win over the Griz, only maybe by a greater margin." She refers to the exciting last quarter. With 12:29 to play in the fourth quarter, the Bobcats were up 27-10. Then the Griz began a desperate hyperphagic stage of pre-hibernation gobbling of yards. They scored two touchdowns before the Bobcats regained momentum to win 27-20. It's in the trenches of the satellite party cheering section that the real game is won. "We all believe that it is the people at the Austin party that made the difference since MSU broke the game loosing streak during our first party two years ago," says Clark Knopik, '93 Acct. "Although my liver dreads the upcoming parties, as I see things, MSU will be victorious -- for the next 13 years. The Cats need to give the Griz what we had to suffer through for so long." The 80 or so Austin fans were delighted by Bobcat John McLellan, '49 PE, who arrived with his letter jacket and fond memories of past wins such as in 1947 when he played football. "We played in Butte," recalls McLellan, left tackle and a Butte native. "It was a big day in Butte of course because so many of the players were from Butte. All the campus rode the train over. We were bitter enemies with the Grizzlies. We played on granite (gravel), not grass, and if I remember right, it was Barney Burger who kicked in the extra point and won the game for us, 13 to 12, a monumental thing." Other Cats, like Greater Cincinnati Cat, Jack Baltzell, '35, bring their memorabilia too. Baltzell showed off his letterman's sweater that he received as a four-sport, four-year athlete in football, basketball, wrestling and track. He was joined by Gloria, '68 Micro, and Charlie Garrison, '68 ChE, Greater Cincinnati Cats coordinators who amused attendees by wearing their freshman beanies. "Most people don't even know that beanies existed," say the Garrisons. "Most students back then burned their beanies as soon as they could. We kept ours and bring them, along with old annuals, alumni directories and other such stuff." "After the 2002 win, MSU satellite parties' numbers shot up," Hanson says. For good reason says Josh Earhart, '86 Zool. He coordinates a party that is more than 2,000 miles from this year's game. "Since I've been in Atlanta, we've averaged 50 to 60 people," says Earhart. "But last year was our largest MSU showing, and at one point, I counted around 100 people. We meet at a bar called Montana's." For a few years, the Atlanta contingent was nomadic, looking for a satellite home because they had to compete with large southern football conferences' events. "The owner of Montana's is not from Montana but bought it from someone who was," says Earhart. "He fires up the grill outside for burgers and dogs, and allows us to decorate. We usually compete with SEC/ACC fans but soon overwhelm them. We even recruit a few (southerners) to pull for the Cats. One MSU fan brought six of his coworkers, all from the south. They became the loudest supporters for the Cats. They showed up wearing MSU gear and even started up the Fight Song." At the Clarkston, Wash./Lewiston, Idaho, festivity, there's a lot at stake, says Mike Holder, '76 Ed. "We had a lot of bets going on the game," says Holder, a financial planner. "Two years ago when the Bobcats knocked off the Griz, our Griz friends had to wear Bobcat sweatshirts. So there were 20 Griz fans wearing blue and gold. Everybody had a good laugh." Most memorable for the Austin crowd, says Knopik, is that "We will finally be able to chant, 'Pooooorrr Grizzlies' instead of the other way around. Finally."