Letter from President Cruzado to employees and community

[BobcatBlood]

Good morning, MSU Community:

Since Saturday night, I have received expressions of disappointment and sadness about our rivalry game. It was a difficult and painful game, for sure. Whether you were following it on tv, radio, or at the stadium, our hopeful fans were surprised by the outcome.

However, I read some time ago to "never start your day with broken pieces of yesterday." Defeat and adversity bring with them hidden lessons. It is at moments like this when we have to choose to believe in ourselves and to become stronger, better and more determined. So, let's turn the page today and let's forge ahead to accomplish extraordinary things.

Even more importantly, we start this week with the anticipation that brings Thanksgiving Day. For the most fortunate of us, the day will bring a dinner around the family table, surrounded by relatives and friends. As we count our blessings, we will remember the many reasons why we are proud to be at Montana State University.

Let us be grateful for the incredible students who have made Montana State their university of choice and who enrich our classrooms every day. Let's remember all our student athletes who represent MSU so valiantly and who give us the best of their talents and their time–game after game, grueling practice after grueling practice.

Let's give thanks for the world-class faculty who believe in the transformative power of education and the pursuit of knowledge, and who call our campus their home. To the MSU staff who help us advance our mission with their dedicated work.

And let's give thanks to our alumni and friends who strongly believe in what we do when we win and who continue to support us, even if we lose.

As we start this week, let us also remember those individuals who are less fortunate and who might not have family and friends with whom to sit around the dinner table. I am grateful for the immense generosity of our community who helped us raise 170,000 pounds of food and $74,636 to win the "Can the Griz" contest–now for 14 out of 15 years! I know we have done our part to help people put food on the table this Thursday and for weeks to come.

So, see, there is no good reason to be crestfallen as we walk around campus today. We are Montana State: a great university with a proud history. We know how to overcome adversities. We have done it before; we will do it again. And we will continue to shine.

We will be there rooting for the Bobcats next Saturday at 2 p.m. when they welcome South Dakota State University for a playoff game. I hope to see you proudly wearing your blue and gold and remembering our fight song with "Go, 'Cats, Go!"

I wish all of you and your families a blessed Thanksgiving Day.

Sincerely,


Waded Cruzado
President

[Cataholic]

Wow. The letter gave me chills. Great statement from a great institution. Great leader.

[LTown Cat]

She's the best thing for MSU and this letter is so spot-on it's not even funny. The only thing that I will add is that while we are all having this great dinner surrounded by family and friends on Thursday, most, if not all of the football team will not have that luxury. They will be in Bozeman working their tails off to win a game on Saturday. Let's support that.

[Sotallytober]

Wow! What an amazing President we have! She brings great perspective.
I've got my playoff ticket and will be loud on Saturday in Bozeman! Go Bobcats!

[[cat_bracket]]

I have a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat. I will add that we have Pres. Cruzado to be thankful for as well.

[WSSMommyCat]

Perfect. Always proud to be a Cat!

[Catfanatic84]

Thank you President Cruzado for your leadership and service to MSU. We have a great university with a bright future...and you've been instrumental in many accomplishments in a very brief time. A tip of the hat to you.

Go Cats!!

[Cat Grad]

If only half of the faculty were to attend our games, what would we have to have for seating capacity?

[91catAlum]

She's the best thing for MSU and this letter is so spot-on it's not even funny. The only thing that I will add is that while we are all having this great dinner surrounded by family and friends on Thursday, most, if not all of the football team will not have that luxury. They will be in Bozeman working their tails off to win a game on Saturday. Let's support that.

Great point Ltown.

[GRZZ]

If only half of the faculty were to attend our games, what would we have to have for seating capacity?

Do you go to their public lectures, plays, concerts, or other events?

[GRZZ]

Also, your President gets PR. Definitely understands being the public face of a University. I am honestly surprised she is still with you, it feels like it can't be long before a bigger institution swoops her up.

[bobcatmaniac]

Great letter from an awesome leader.

[Joe Bobcat]

I don't know about anyone else but as I read that letter it was as if I could hear her unique accented voice in my head. Lead on President Cruzado.

[Cat Grad]

If only half of the faculty were to attend our games, what would we have to have for seating capacity?

Do you go to their public lectures, plays, concerts, or other events?

You raise an extremely valid point. While working in public education, it was unheard of for faculty to not support their student's and colleagues. In fact, it was part of the annual formative evaluation. At institutions where I received my masters and specialist degrees, it was not just encouraged but expected of the faculty to be in attendance. And yes, some of the English Department did balk at these expectations. (They also whined because the math and engineering professors made about twice their salaries and really bitched that the head football coach was the highest paid faculty member, the AD was the second highest paid and the president of the institution was the third highest paid).

[WeedKillinCat]

Great letter-Maybe she can give the pregame speech in the locker room on Saturday

[GRZSLAYER]

While I like everything Cruzado does and has done for the University this letter brings me hope for two reasons. One I appreciate her love for the University and her ability to try and bring the fan base together. It gives me a small sliver of hope that it might trickle down or maybe, just maybe she will take matters into her own hands to help this situation in the future.

Secondly I am happy and sad that she received so many expressions of disappointment towards the performance of the team. While we know people get rather fired up about outcomes and look at everything and everyone to blame it does make me happy that enough people feel this way they try and find ways to try and express themselves to people of higher stature. I think we can all agree that with Ash he is what he is and with Fields he is what he is so people have finally realized they have to go one higher. Now I'm sure Cruzado would do nothing drastic as she is far smarter then that it will be interesting to see going forward whether this trend continues and maybe the QB club and other higher powers express their distaste for how the program is represented from time to time.

For me it's not that we lost. It will happen. For me its a common trend from year to year of how we lose and the lack of accountability thats handed out. I for one really like President Cruzado and commend her for her efforts to rally the faithful for this weekend. I have to say in this case I don't think it will work. Going forward I just hope changes are made. For me it is just depressing because I know nobody will be held accountable for the same issues that happen year in and year out.

[Cat Grad]

While I like everything Cruzado does and has done for the University this letter brings me hope for two reasons. One I appreciate her love for the University and her ability to try and bring the fan base together. It gives me a small sliver of hope that it might trickle down or maybe, just maybe she will take matters into her own hands to help this situation in the future.

Secondly I am happy and sad that she received so many expressions of disappointment towards the performance of the team. While we know people get rather fired up about outcomes and look at everything and everyone to blame it does make me happy that enough people feel this way they try and find ways to try and express themselves to people of higher stature. I think we can all agree that with Ash he is what he is and with Fields he is what he is so people have finally realized they have to go one higher. Now I'm sure Cruzado would do nothing drastic as she is far smarter then that it will be interesting to see going forward whether this trend continues and maybe the QB club and other higher powers express their distaste for how the program is represented from time to time.

For me it's not that we lost. It will happen. For me its a common trend from year to year of how we lose and the lack of accountability thats handed out. I for one really like President Cruzado and commend her for her efforts to rally the faithful for this weekend. I have to say in this case I don't think it will work. Going forward I just hope changes are made. For me it is just depressing because I know nobody will be held accountable for the same issues that happen year in and year out.

I made a comment about how embarrassing our Hospitality Room is after the Central Arkansas game. Suffice it to say, nothing has changed. President Cruzado stated her first year at MSU the football stadium and the football program is the gateway to the University. Bud Purdy took great pride in our facilities and we were the envy of this entire area. But, he presided over facilities everyone wanted to come and watch the product on the court and fields. I'm very proud of the fact I actually got a degree from MSU and a commission via our great ROTC department.

I fully expect there will be a few modifications made relative personnel in our athletic department this year and I hope it doesn't affect our football team or staff as it is the best hope going forward. Hope to see some of you on Kagy Blvd. Saturday. I'll buy you a cup of coffee.

[TIrwin24]

She forgot to add in, "A Seahawk beatdown of the 49ers on Thanksgiving Day" but other than that, it was an outstanding letter!

[gocats]

Whoot whoot. I say Sea you say Hawks. Sea....

[Platinumcat]

Simply remarkable!!