Sarjubhai "Sarj" Patel Interview, Novemeber 18, 2024

Sarjubhai Patel discusses his experiences with Griz sports over a period of more than twenty years. As an Englishman living in America, “Sarj” recounts his first exposure to American football as a graduate student at the University of Montana and his ensuing love of the sport and all things Griz. He also describes the tailgating environment in Missoula and how it contributes to a sense of community and belonging among Montanans. Sarj also briefly expounds on the Grizzly-Bobcat rivalry and offers some stories revolving around Bozeman sports. He reminisces about his first tailgate at U of M and how the social atmosphere at the games impressed him and always kept him coming back for home games. Patel then describes some of his professional work as a head trauma scientist and how his research findings have impacted the local Missoula community as well as the world of sports. Circling back to Griz football, Patel adds that his brother-in-law is the former Griz center Matt Thuesen and expands on his personal connections to U of M football and the stadium experience. Interviewer Jacob Shropshire was a graduate student working on the Griz Nation Oral History Project as part of the Griz130 History Initiative.