BOZEMAN – From his family farm in Melstone to the turf at Bobcat Stadium, defensive end and two-time captain Brody Grebe left a legacy to remember with the Montana State football program.

On Saturday, he will celebrate senior day with 22 of his teammates who have become more like family over the years in their latest Brawl of the Wild.

As Grebe reflected on his senior year, he thought back to some of the questions former Montana State coach Jeff Choate often asked the team.

“Are you going to take the program to another level that it hasn’t been to yet? How are you going to leave it better than you found it?” Grebe said his former coach asked for it.

“And I mean, I found it in a pretty good place,” he continued. “And I hope to take this program to a place it hasn’t been in a while, and this group of seniors is pretty special, and I hope we can all do it together.”

Grebe began his career as a Bobcat in 2020 and in 2021 Brent Vigen became the program’s 33rd head coach. Vigen has seen firsthand how Grebe evolved from a redshirt freshman in 2021 still learning from the veterans around him to an All-American who continues to pile up accolades.

“He continued this improvement, this all-down mentality,” Vigen said. “He earned all-conference honors as a sophomore, and last year he took his play to an All-American level, and his leadership grew in the process. I think he appreciated how many guys poured into him as a young player, and he’s going to by doing that – not just this year but last year.”

Now Grebe can watch the younger defensive linemen he mentors shine on Saturdays and make big plays for the team.

‘It’s quite special to see them. I mean, I was here when they got here,” Grebe said. “I try to coach them, do what I can to bring them along, because I know that depth and all that stuff is going to help us move forward.”

Grebe donned the legacy No. 41 this season, which is given to one senior from the Treasure State each year. It is a tribute to Montana’s admission to the 41st state and also to the 1941 Bobcats, who lost thirteen men in service.

“It’s a huge honor,” Grebe said. “The guys that came before me and wore this number are guys that I really look up to, from the moment I got here and before I was here. And being able to be in that group of people who are very elite, both in the world and outside of it, field is something I’ve always dreamed of.”

What motivates him and his teammates most this season is the match they will play on Saturday: the 123rd Brawl of the Wild.

“It’s a game you think about all year,” Grebe said. “Especially after last year, I walk past that spot for the trophy and it’s not there. And that sticks in your mind every day, it makes you work for something every day. And that’s a good thing for this team, And I think it is.” helped us get to where we are.”

For the last time this regular season, Grebe will represent Melstone when he graces the playing field this Saturday – something he is extremely proud of.

“That’s special too,” he said. “I come from a town that’s not very big, and I know there will probably be a lot of people from Melstone at the game, and I know they’ll be cheering me on, and I appreciate all the support they gave. I’ll grow up and stay give me.”

Saturday’s game between No. 9 Montana and No. 2 Montana State kicks off at noon at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman and will be broadcast on CBS affiliates throughout Montana – KBZK in Bozeman, KPAX in Missoula and the Flathead Valley, KTVQ in Billings, KXLF in Butte, KRTV in Great Falls and KXLH in Helena.