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2018 Lights Football: Lights intend on making waves this fall

With a culture change in place, MSU-N football is growing, and growing quickly

The Montana State University-Northern Lights have already been on quite the journey. But as the saying goes, it's only just begun.

Over the course of the last three seasons, the Lights have won just two games, and gone through some difficult and tumultuous times along the way. But, from the day Northern announced the hiring of Andrew Rolin as the program's fourth head coach in its modern history, a new journey started, and, the past started being put to rest.

Now, the Lights are set to begin their first regular season under Rolin, when they host Mayville State Saturday afternoon at Blue Pony Stadium. And, when game time comes, it will be time to put everything the Lights have been doing since December to the test.

And the Lights seem ready for that test.

"The coaches have challenged us and really pushed our limits," Northern starting running back Jett Robertson said. "We have had to battle and compete and get after each other. This fall camp has definitely been one for the books."

Indeed. Rolin has been big on competition since the day he started coaching the Lights. Both in the spring, and during his first fall camp, which came to a close last Sunday, everything, and every position on the roster was up for grabs, starting with quarterback, where Tommy Wilson was named starter for the second-straight season.

"We compete every single day, in everything we do," Rolin said during camp. "Competition makes you better. I've always believed that."

Now Rolin is hoping all of that competition pays off.

The Lights were picked to finish last in the Frontier this season after going 0-10 in 2016, 1-9 in 2017, with a win over Carroll College, and 0-10 in conference play last season. Northern's lone win came against Mayville State in September on the road.

So, bettering last season's win-loss total will certainly be a goal, and a big one. But, it won't be easy, and the Lights know it. Northern's Frontier schedule includes a Sept. 1 visit from nationally ranked Rocky Mountain College, followed by a road trip to UM-Western. The Lights return home to host Carroll Sept. 15 before closing out the month with a trip to Butte to take on Montana Tech.

Northern's bye week comes Sept. 29, followed by an Oct. 6 home game against Eastern Oregon. That game will be under the lights of Blue Pony Stadium. On Oct. 13, the Lights have a rematch with Rocky in Billings, followed by a home rematch with Western Oct. 20. MSU-N ends October with a trip to Carroll Oct. 27, before opening November with the long trip to national powerhouse Southern Oregon. The Lights will then wrap up the season Nov. 10 with their senior day game against up-and-coming College of Idaho at Blue Pony Stadium.

And though Northern's schedule is rigorous, as it is for every team in the Frontier, Rolin isn't letting his team think about the W-L column, or even the next opponent. No, his message from day one has been much more concise and very to the point.

"The goal is to be better than we were the day before," Rolin said. "We practice on Monday, I want to see us be better on Tuesday. We're only going to focus on getting better each and every day. If we do that, if we keep that focus and that mind-set, the wins will take care of themselves. It's all about focus and working hard to improve every single day. That's what we've been talking about since January."

And the Lights certainly have the talent to take those improvements and make them count on Saturdays.

Wilson and backup Bryce Missey are now both experienced quarterbacks, while the Lights are loaded at wide receiver and running back, led by the likes of Robertson and Fotios Jordangolou. Northern will also trot out a veteran and big offensive line, a line that averages close to 280 pounds across the board, and a line anchored by a three-year starter, senior Clint Willis.

Defensively, Northern might have a few more growing pains with star linebacker Alec Wagner being the only senior starter. But, with young talent like Jake Norby and Jaren Maki at linebacker, Justin Pfeifer at defensive tackle, and a secondary anchored by cornerbacks Devarij Criss and Caymus Thomas, the Lights have the makings of a defense that can grow and progress as the season goes on.

Northern also has shown signs of something else its lacked in recent years - depth. Rolin's first recruiting class includes many potential stars, at every position, and, with everything being brand new, all of those young players have gotten a chance to compete and get meaningful reps during fall camp.

"I think this team is very talented," Rolin said. "We've got a lot of guys who can play, we've got a lot of really good athletes, and a lot of smart football players. We've got young guys who are hungry and we've got really good leadership. We know this is going to be a process. We know we have to get better, and we've got growing to do. But, I really believe the pieces are there. I believe in this team, and we as coaches, we've seen them come so far, from winter to spring ball, and now in fall camp. We've seen these guys really go through a transformation, and I'm really proud of them for that."

And the transformation will continue. Rolin's vision is nowhere near complete. In fact, the unveiling of that vision is only just beginning. And while it's early, there's certainly a buzz surrounding the Lights this fall. There's an excitement in the air, not just from Rolin and his coaches, and not just from the 90-plus players on the roster, but, you can feel it around Northern's campus, and you can hear and feel it around town. The Lights are an exciting topic right now, and, as the new season begins, they have every intention of not only keeping it that way, but making that excitement grow.

"I'm excited," Rolin said. "I think people are excited about this season. It's been a really good fall camp, and this team has grow a ton. I think they're ready to go out and take the field. They're excited about game day getting here. Their effort and enthusiasm has been great every day, and now, it's getting time to take that to Saturday, and execute on the field. I know I can't wait, and I know they can't either."

"I think we have taken a step in the right direction," Norby said. "From what I have seen so far from my previous camps, we have hit the ground running. And I am really excited for the season. I wouldn't be surprised if we came out and strung some wins together."

 

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