Seth Bodnar | Don't Blink

For the second consecutive year, Sid and I returned to where I attended college and where I started my professional career. Like we did in October 2021, we visited for a Griz football weekend. And, just like last year, it was a blast.

It was another awesome trip to Missoula for Griz football and other fun.

On Saturday, we hit the road at 5:30 a.m. We made it to Missoula by 10 a.m. and Ubered from our hotel parking lot to the Press Box (aka the most famous bar in town). After a quick round we walked across the footbridge to campus as we admired the most beautiful view of any college campus in the country.

I took this photo as we walked across the footbridge. With the mountains, the M, the Clark Fork River, and the beaming sunshine can you really ask for anything more?!

We scored free Chick-fil-A sandwiches and took them over to the Adams Center where we watched the Griz Walk. Just with many other college football programs, the University of Montana football team marches through a portion of campus lined with supporters before going to their locker room to dress. After we participated in that tradition, we enjoyed the one-of-a-kind tailgating that Griz football boasts. I also had the opportunity to visit with Seth Bodnar, the president of the University of Montana.

The coaches participate in the Griz Walk too. This is head coach Bobby Hauck kissing his wife before entering the Adams Center.

Sid and I entered Washington-Grizzly Stadium in time to watch the entire pregame show. From there we basked in the glorious October sun to watch the Griz battle the University of Idaho Vandals. Unfortunately, UM would come up a little short but we sure enjoyed being part of the crowd and cheering hard for four quarters.

Sidney and I from our seats in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The Griz would ultimately fall to the University of Idaho, 30-23.

After the game we jumped on a shuttle that took us to downtown Missoula. We barhopped as I watched other college football games and Sid tried her luck at the gaming machines. Once that luck ran dry, we hopped an Uber to our hotel.

Sid and I had great seats! This was our view.

Once we checked in, we walked across the street to the Montana Club for dinner. We had the best date as we enjoyed quality food and watched the epic 18-inning marathon between the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros. After we paid the tab we made a quick visit to Dairy Queen and brought back a couple Blizzards to our room. We spent the rest of the night eating ice cream and watching TV.

Our entrees and the TV that we were watching the Mariners game on.

On Sunday morning it was mass at St. Francis Xavier, a parish that turned 130 years old in 2022! Fr. Steve Lantry presided and preached about what God’s justice looks like. It is always a gift to return to the parish that I was a parishioner at back in my early-to-mid-20s.

I snapped this photo outside of St. Francis Xavier in Missoula on Sunday morning before entering for mass.

After mass, it was time for brunch. Sid and I went to the Oxford, a business that is even older than St. Francis Xavier—it was established in 1883. We sat at the kitchen bar that overlooks the grill and watched the chef make meal after meal. Think of it like American hibachi!

A few of the images from our visit to the Oxford. The cook was a complete rock star and my sausage + cheddar cheese omelette was delicious.

We then picked up treats at Mary’s Mountain Cookies. We did the same thing last year too as I think a new tradition is brewing.

Mary’s Mountain Cookies is a fun shop with creative and fun treats.

To cap off the trip, we returned to campus and explored my old stomping grounds. To see all the new buildings mixed in with many of the timeless landmarks was a thrill. When we finished, we drove down the gorgeous university district streets lined with trees in different stages of autumn-colored leaves and then headed for the freeway where we made the drive home to Spokane.

Sidney and I on the University of Montana campus. It was good to be back.

The next time we do this trip, we hope to bring a couple of Griz cubs with us. We think that Sloan and Beau might be ready for a Missoula trip once the 2023 football season comes around. With that said, thanks so much to my mom and dad for watching them this past weekend (we brought them home some of those cookies for their troubles)—Sid and I sure enjoyed ourselves! Don’t Blink.

The first Thursday Rundown of October is here! I would like to use it to first wish my sister-in-law, Stephanie, a very happy birthday. I hope it has been a great day for her so far. Let’s start the rundown…

Heroic Stories – Tears stream down my face when I watch some of these stories about people who performed courageous and selfless acts during the Las Vegas shooting. On Sunday night, that music festival had some incredibly brave men and women in the crowd. I know all of us like to say we would do the same thing but we give ourselves way too much credit. We have no idea how we would react when bullets started flying and people started dropping. All I can say is through my sadness I am also inspired by people who are much better than myself.

A Cougar Cub – So this is now “a thing.” When Sloan was born, her Uncle Glen gave her a Washington State onesie. Sloan has worn this onesie each time the Cougar football team has played this year. The team played its first four games on Saturday and won. Last Friday, the Cougs played a rare Friday night game and Sloan proudly wore her crimson to day care. The team won again. As you can imagine, my dad (a WSU alumnus) and brother are a little obsessive over her wearing a certain onesie on gameday.

Sloan wearing her Washington State University onesie.

New President at University of Montana – After a long and very necessary nationwide search, my alma mater recently hired its 18th president. Seth Bodnar will assume the top job at the University of Montana on January 1. He was labeled the “unconventional” candidate because he had no doctorate degree and little experience in higher education leadership. However, I welcome the skills and talents of the 38-year-old and I hope he does great in Missoula. Believe it or not, the biggest talking point on social media regarding his hiring has nothing to do with his background or his plan for UM. Rather, it is all about his looks. Apparently, he is very handsome. Ladies, what do you think?

President Seth Bodnar has “caught the eye” of the Missoula community.

Back on the Speaking Circuit – I gave two social media presentations this week. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of convening my 2017-18 #CCUSocialMedia Student Advisory Group. It was great to chat with this year’s students about how our social media program at CCU is structured. After I finished with my presentation, they gave me valuable feedback on new trends. Today, I had the opportunity to speak with staff on campus about social media customer service. I provided them with 10 ways they could excel at digital interactions with members of the campus community. My presentation was part of our university’s Customer Service Summit, an event closely tied with our Feel the Teal initiative.

Members of my #CCUSocialMedia Student Advisory Group (photo from @ccuchanticleers Instagram account)

Sloan at 29 Weeks – The folks at day care say “Sloan likes to eat!” They aren’t kidding. I have mentioned before that we were starting to introduce baby food but now at this point in the game she is a professional eater. Sidney “cooks” up a few different dishes for her each night and she goes to town as she feasts away on bananas, green beans, rice, peaches, squash, and more. She is also starting to sit up on her own. Her two favorite toys are a ballerina doll and a circular rattle.