BOZEMAN, Mont. — Tony Boddie said his decision to play for Montana State shaped far more than his football career as he reflected on his path from Bremerton High School in Washington to the 2026 Montana Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Boddie, a Washington native and former All-American at Bremerton High School, said Montana State gave him an opportunity when other Division I A schools did not show interest.

“When Sonny Lubick, who was coach at the time, gave me the opportunity to play, first of all, it was first time being away from home. And so I was a young, young man growing up. And that was a great experience. Secondly, I learned about the outdoors, about snow hunting and everything that Montanans do. And that was fun,” said Boddie. That was something that I enjoyed. And thirdly, I met new friends, lifetime friends that I have to this date. And and then the last thing was that I got to play a game that I loved, and that was football,” Boddie added.

In Bozeman, Boddie built a standout career with the Bobcats. Boddie finished with more than 2,400 rushing yards and ended his time at Montana State as the program’s sixth-leading career rusher.

That success helped launch professional opportunities in both the USFL and NFL.

“It was the inaugural USFL game. And it’s when the press played the new Jersey generals, and Herschel Walker was the star player for the new Jersey generals. And Herschel was a stud. I mean, he was in college Heisman Trophy winner, and I mean, like six two, 235 pounds could just run super fast. One heck of a player and I went out and I outperformed Herschel. And so that kind of I think opened a lot of people’s eyes that, you know what this kid can play. And that was probably the moment that all I will always remember, outside of the fact that, there’s one more and I can’t take this one away,” Boddie said. “Is that playing in a Super Bowl? Being with Denver and playing in Super Bowl 22 and winning the honors, being, the special teams captain and walking out for the coin toss, that is something that I will always remember as well.”