MSU Bobcats' coaching staff to invade Polson

The Montana State Bobcats’ football coaches will visit Polson for a Shadow Boat ride at the KwaTaqNuk Resort Friday night followed by an 18-hole golf outing Saturday at Polson Bay Golf Course.

The boat ride will last from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday night at the the KwaTaqNuk Resort. The golf outing will begin Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Polson Bay Golf Course.

Shad Hupka, the branch manager of First Interstate Bank and a member of the Bobcat Club, said the outing is a great opportunity to raise money to support Bobcat athletics.

“Everyone is looking forward to it and the Bobcats do different fund raising around the state,” Hupka said. “This will be the 9th year they’ve done a golf outing. They’ve been doing it before I got here and the Bobcats have great supporters.”

The event will feature three current members of the MSU coaching staff including head coach Jeff Choate, defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak and quarterback coach and former Bobcat player DeNarius McGhee.

McGhee is considered to be one of the most decorated athletes in Bobcat history, and in 2012 led the Bobcats to a Big Sky conference title to advance his team to the quarterfinals of the NCAA FCS playoffs for the second consecutive season. This earned him NCAA All-American honors by the American Football Coaches Association. McGhee’s accolades allowed him the opportunity to play professional football with the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2014 to 2016.

In addition to these accolades, McGhee also was considered an NFL draft prospect and during his sophomore season was in the running to recieve the Walter Payton Award, one of the most prestigious awards that can be won in college football. McGhee joined the Bobcats’ staff as the quarterback’s coach this season as he begins his career into coaching NCAA Division I collegiate athletics and returns to Bozman, where he starred for four seasons.

Hupka said there are several people that come from all over the region to meet and greet the Bobcats’ staff.

“There are a lot of non-golfers that come from parts of Kalispell, Eastern Washington, Thompson Falls, Plains and people that drive over just to ride on the boat to meet the coaching staff,” Hupka said.

There are 28 four-person golf teams currently registered and Hupka said the course can handle 36 teams. Several of the teams will be mixed with University of Montana and Montana State University alums, one of the most historic rivalries in college football.

The price of the golf outing is currently $500 for a four-person team.

“Some of the U of M alums will ride a Grizzly cart around and carry Grizzly golf bags,” Hupka said. “It is just fun and it’s part of the rivalry. We love to see everyone having a good time.”

Registration deadline for the event has past but there maybe still slots open. For more info contact Hupka at 406-883-8803.