(God’s) Glory Days
Football—the kind involving pigskin rather than soccer moms—is all the rage in America. Regardless of level—professional, college, high school, middle school, Pop Warner—football is a fan favorite, even more so with the state of Montana’s “Brawl of the Wild”—a now 121-year-old rivalry between the University of Montana Griz and the Montana State Bobcats, set to be played Saturday, November 19, at noon (MT).
In the late 1990s, a skinny high school kid from Wyoming named Mike Woodberry came to Bozeman as a hopeful walk-on. During his four years at MSU, Mike had to work harder than most to overcome his smaller size and bouts with multiple injuries, eventually starting at linebacker his junior and senior years and earning a full ride scholarship and accolades most would have not picked him to win. It was during this time that Mike also came to faith in Jesus Christ.
Peaches and I thought it might be fun to talk with Mike about his MSU “glory days,” which he will tell you were all about giving the real glory to God.
About Mike
Mike Woodberry grew up in Glenrock, WY, a tiny town of 2,000 people and one stoplight, where he came to love football. All-State his junior and senior years of high school and recruited by multiple small colleges in the region, Mike had a full ride academic and athletic scholarship at the University of Wyoming, but ended up walking-on at Montana State where he met Christ.
Enduring hazing and harassment his first two years as a walk-on, Mike overcame multiple injuries his final two years to start as linebacker for MSU. He was voted “Defensive Player of the Year” by his coaches and “Most Inspirational” by his teammates at the end of his senior year. His last game was the 2001 Brawl of the Wild.
Mike graduated from Montana State with his B.S. in Computer Science and is now Senior Vice President of Global Product Management and Analytics at a tech firm that helps customers across industry and government assess, predict, and manage risk.
Mike and his wife Shannon have four children and are members of Trinity Church here in Bozeman.
As a Bobcat
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