Number 37

The most significant number when it comes to the University of Montana football program may have nothing to do with national championships or statistics. Perhaps the most meaningful number associated with the Grizzlies is the number on a jersey.

Only one player each year can don this number, and this year, that player is senior defensive end Ryan Fetherston.

Fetherston was chosen to represent No. 37 by Carson Bender, who wore the number from 2008-10.

"For Carson to call me and ask me to wear the number, you can't really describe it," Fetherston said. "It's unbelievable. I'm really honored Carson chose me."

Originally from East Helena, Mont., Fetherston did not initially set his sights on college football.

The 2007 Helena High graduate was a three-season athlete who, in addition to playing football, wrestled, ran the 100-meter and threw javelin.

"I wasn't very good at the 100," Fetherston said. "Really, I was a wrestler. My family is really big into wrestling. I was actually recruited more by wrestling schools. I was about 215 [pounds], they wanted me to wrestle at 184, and I said, ‘No way I want to diet.'"

Fetherston was named Helena High's 2006 Male Athlete of the Year and was a two-time state champion in wrestling. But the new No. 37 was unaware of his passion for football until after his third year of high school.

"After my junior year, I was like, ‘Man, I really love football,'" the 6-foot-4, 235 pound er said. "I realized I'd rather pursue that more than wrestling."

As a senior, Fetherston was named "Super State" and was selected All-State at both defensive end and quarterback.

Despite the fact that Fetherston no longer wrestles, the East Helena native says he feels no hard feelings from former teammates and coaches for leaving the sport.

"It's like a tight-knit family," he said. "Even though I'm not wrestling, a lot of people I see say they're cheering me on. I'm someone they can connect to – that wrestler that went on to play football."

Other than football being a major time commitment, life after wrestling has treated Fetherston well. Since redshirting his freshman year of 2007, the senior has played in every game and has eight sacks, including one on Sept. 3 against Tennessee. Fetherston said playing against the Volunteers, an SEC school, in Neyland stadium will be a life-long memory.

"It was beautiful down there," Fetherston said. "There weren't as many people out because of the rain, but 95,000 people is still the largest venue I've ever played in front of. I'll probably tell my kids and grandkids about it one day."

Outside of collegiate sports, Fetherston enjoys time away from the athletics scene. He hunts and fishes when he has the time.

"It's something to do to get away from football, school and life," he said. "I'm all by myself and I get to kind of feel like a kid again."

Fetherston is pursuing a double major in history and political science with a minor in mathematics.

"I want to be a teacher and a coach when I grow up," he said. "Probably a government teacher, because you help your students become more self-aware of politics, government, their right to vote and help make them be part of the society."

Right now, however, Fetherston's focus is on football.

In addition to playing a sport he loves, the defensive end said he is fulfilling a life-long dream by being awarded the honorable jersey number.

"Ever since I was little, I always heard about number 37," Fetherston said. "I got a 37 jersey in third grade for Christmas and I was like, ‘man, I want to wear that jersey,' so it's kind of a dream come true."

The tradition began in 1987 when former Grizzly fullback Kraig Paulson handed No. 37 down to Tim Hauck, who wore the number through 1989.

Hauck went on to have one of the most productive careers in Montana history. He was a two-time All-American and played in the National Football League for 12 seasons.

The string of No. 37's in cludes Todd Erickson (1990-93), Jason Crebo (1994-97), Andy Petek (1998-2000), Ciche Pitcher (2001-03), Loren Utterback (2004-07), Bender and now Fetherston.