George Ferguson Column: A new Cat-Griz perspective

It shouldn’t take tragedies and losses to put things in perspective. But doesn’t it always seem to be the case?

And that’s the case sometimes in sports rivalries, too. Often, we get so consumed, so wrapped up and so short-sighted in our sports and our personal rivalries, that we rarely have any perspective at all.

I admit, I’m certainly guilty of it. Especially when it comes to the football rivalry between Montana and Montana State.

But that rivalry is absolutely meaningless, and football games are nothing compared to what the Bobcat family, and especially the family of former Bobcat safety Eryon Barnett are going through right now, and I admit, I was deeply saddened and stunned to hear of his sudden passing.

Just last fall, Barnett was a rangy, athletic and talented senior safety for the Bobcats. He spent the last three seasons roaming the defensive backfield at MSU after transferring to Bozeman from the University of Texas.

And that right there, the fact that Barnett was recruited to play football for the Longhorns, should tell you all you need to know about how good of an athlete, and how good of a football player he was.

Barnett passed away at the age of 24 earlier this month in a Bozeman hospital. According to a cornorer’s report, Barnett died of complications of pancreatitis, something he had battled early during the 2014 season as well.

Barnett’s death is sad and shocking, because, as I mentioned earlier, he was a young, talented and gifted athlete who, just eight months ago, was playing at a a very high level of collegiate football. And while we all generally don’t need reminders that life is precious and it can be taken from us at any time, and in many different ways, Barnett’s sudden passing should be a stern reminder to this state’s college football fans, that the game really doesn’t have any room and need for hatred and extremes.

I watched Barnett play in three different Cat-Griz games, and to that end, he will always be a part of something that is very dear and special to me. I do not care that he wore a Bobcat uniform, while I’m a Grizzly alum. Barnett is part of something special to me, and to so many in this state, our storied rivalry between our only two NCAA schools.

And that’s how I’m going to try even harder to look at this rivalry from now on. That it’s special, and that I’m lucky to have it and, in my line of work, actually be a part of it. I will probably not always succeed at looking at the Brawl of the Wild that way, but at least I’m going to try.

I mean, think about. Do we really need to actually hate each other to have a great rivalry? I already know for a fact that many players in this great rivalry never, ever hated each other. In fact, the friendship between former UM All-American linebacker Jordan Tripp and MSU’s all-time leading rusher, Cody Kirk, was well-documented. So, if the players who actually suit up and play against each other, the ones who put it all on the line on the field, if they don’t have hatred for one another, why should we? Why should we hate each other as neighbors and fans?

Maybe, just maybe, we can hate the name on the front of the jersey, or the logo, without hating each other and treating each other as poorly as we seem to do as this Cat-Griz rivalry continues to get bigger and bigger. Maybe, this rivalry can be just as good without so much venom and vitriol.

I think that’s a pretty interesting idea, and I actually feel guilty that it took a death of a special young man who had so much life still to live to make me decide to actually type out that thought. After all, as adults, we should all realize that it shouldn’t take a death, tragedy or sadness to keep a perspective on what’s really important.

And right now, what’s not important is the next Cat-Griz football game. What’s not important right now is football. What is important is sending out my deepest condolences to the Barnett family and to the Bobcat Nation.

And while Barnett left us way too soon, I know, for those of us who love Montana State, and or Montana, he won’t ever be forgotten.