George Ferguson Column: A magical 24 hours for MSU-N

Over the years, Montana State University-Northern athletics have given fans plenty to cheer about. But last weekend was one in which Northern fans had more than just a little to cheer about.

No, from last Friday night to Saturday afternoon, fans and students of MSU-N got a dream 24 hours — one that doesn’t come around just every weekend, anywhere.

And that’s what makes college athletics so great. When it isn’t expected, or when the chips might be down for your favorite team, they rise up and give you something special.

That’s exactly what the MSU-Northern volleyball and football teams did last weekend.

It started last Friday night as the Skylights made their home debut against Rocky Mountain College — a team that’s had Northern’s number of late, as well as everybody else’s in the Frontier Conference.

But on that night, in front of a great crowd, Northern flipped the script on the Battlin’ Bears, sweeping them in three straight games. And really, in actuality, dominating the two-time defending league champions from start to finish.

The win in the Armory Gymnasium set off what would become a very memorable weekend for Northern teams, fans and students, and the Havre community, and it was especially great to see the Skylights play so well.

Before the match, Northern senior setter Emily Russell said her team had been looking forward to playing at home for three weeks, and had been excited for the Rocky match for even longer. And it showed, as the Skylights played enthusiastic and excellent volleyball in front of a very enthusiastic and appreciative home crowd.

And, as it turned out, the party was just getting started.

If I were a betting man, and I’m not really, unless I’m in Las Vegas, I would venture to say that most fans, Northern, Carroll College and otherwise, didn’t wake up Saturday morning expecting to see the Lights engage in a battle for the ages against the Fighting Saints later that day at Blue Pony Stadium.

But regardless of any predictions that might have been thrown around prior to last Saturday’s game, the only thing that mattered was, the Lights believed they could win that game. And that’s exactly what they went out and did.

The facts have been reported, the streaks, both in losses and losses against Carroll have been noted, and dismissed, now. It was obvious from early on in that game that something special was happening at Blue Pony Stadium, and the Lights made sure it didn’t just start that way, they made sure it ended that way, too.

And while the win was incredible, and the game was very entertaining to watch, what I liked most about that late afternoon, what I’ll remember most, is the smiles on the faces of the Northern players and their coaches. The smiles on the faces of the Northern fans. That’s what I’m going to remember because the Lights’ football program has been through a lot the last three years — more than most college football teams have gone through in that same time frame I’d bet.

Yes, last Saturday at Blue Pony Stadium was one of those special days, those ones that, if you were there, you’ll remember every minute of it for years to come. Like I said before, when those kinds of days happen, you don’t forget because they don’t come around that often. Even the Alabamas or the Dukes in basketball don’t have those kinds of days every day.

No, the day the Lights had last Saturday, and the weekend that started with the Skylights’ win over Rocky the night before, those days need to be cherished, those days need to be embraced because those are the kinds of days, and weekends when the magic happens. They’re special.

And thanks to the 2016 Skylights’ volleyball team and the Lights’ football team and all the fans who were there for both exciting victories, the weekend of Sept. 16-17 will always be a special one.

When I look back, that will always be a weekend I’ll remember. That will always be a weekend when the magic happened at Northern. There will be many more I’m sure, but last weekend is certainly one I won’t forget, and I don’t think any of you will either.

So thanks, Lights and Skylights. Thanks for giving all of us a pretty awesome Festival Days treat. Thanks for letting us share in your special weekend.