'The Force' helps light up MSU's new scoreboard

BOZEMAN (AP) — A tiny actor traded his Darth Vader costume for a Montana State football uniform, but he still used "The Force" to light up the new scoreboard at Bobcat Stadium.

Montana State University held a dedication ceremony Friday night for the new $10 million stadium expansion, an effort that added 5,200 seats and bowled in the southern end of the stadium.

AP Photo/Montana State University, Kelly Gorham

In this photo provided by Montana State University, Max Page helps introduce a new scoreboard at Bobcat Stadium. Page is the little boy who played Darth Vader in the Super Bowl commercial for Volkswagen. Page joined MSU during a dedication ceremony for the new $10 million stadium expansion, an effort that added 5,200 seats and bowled in the southern end of the stadium.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports that athletic director Peter Fields welcomed the guests and thanked the donors who made the project possible. MSU President Waded Cruzado then introduced a video to show off the new scoreboard.

"But to use the scoreboard, I'll need a little help from one of our smallest Bobcats," she said. "Please welcome the Darth Vader sensation, the one, the only, Max Page."

Out of some smoke rising from stairwell came a small boy wearing a No. 7 Bobcat uniform. Page, who played a tiny Darth Vader in a popular Super Bowl commercial for Volkswagen, stepped up on stage and with his arms outstretched, lit the scoreboard.

On the scoreboard screen appeared a clip from the Volkswagen commercial in which the costumed Darth Vader went around his house seeking to use his powers on household objects, including his parents' new Passat. In the ad, the boy uses "The Force" on the car and is surprised when it starts. The ad then turns to the father in the kitchen, who started the car with a remote.

Page said he was happy to help Cruzado turn on the scoreboard.

"It's really neat and easy," Page said. "I've been doing it for a while."

Page's grandparents, Jim and Connie Alderson of Whitefish, are Bobcat boosters who donated $100,000 to the stadium project.