Montana State University is working to raise funds to help the Spirit of the West marching band travel to Nashville, Tennessee, for the FCS national football championship game on January 5, 2026. The university aims to cover costs so that the band can accompany the Bobcats during this major event.
“Throughout the entire season, from the first home game to the playoffs, the MSU Spirit of the West has been there, in the stands and on the field, filling Bobcat Stadium with energy and music,” said MSU President Brock Tessman. “The band never lets us forget what it means to be a Bobcat.”
Terry Leist, vice president for administration and finance at Montana State University (MSU), stated that playoff travel expenses for the band are not included in the university’s budget. He also noted that NCAA does not provide funding for bands’ travel needs.
To ensure all student band members, their equipment and instruments arrive on time, arrangements must include a chartered flight along with lodging, meals and ground transportation. The total cost for these logistics is expected to exceed $300,000.
“To be very clear: The Spirit of the West is going to be in Nashville supporting the Bobcats,” Leist said. “We’ve seen generous support so far from our fans, the community and Bobcat supporters to help the university offset the costs of the band’s travel, but we still have a long way to go toward our goal.”
The Spirit of the West was established in 1983. It currently includes over 200 student members from all colleges within MSU who represent 74 different majors. Each member typically dedicates more than 200 hours per season and collectively they perform at over 50 events annually. The band is present at every MSU home football game as well as other campus and Bozeman community events.
Montana State University competes in 13 NCAA sports and has a rodeo program; its mascot is the Bobcat according to its official website. The institution enrolls more than 17,000 students and offers upwards of 250 undergraduate programs along with 115 graduate programs as described by its official website. Founded in 1893 as Montana’s first land-grant institution (source), MSU emphasizes education, research and community engagement (source). Its main campus is located in Bozeman (source).
For those interested in supporting or donating toward travel costs for Spirit of the West’s trip to Nashville, information can be found at www.msuaf.org/SOTWtoNashville.
