MSU-N Game Day Feature: The Lights they are a changing

It's all been a whirlwind for new Montana State University-Northern head football coach Andrew Rolin.

In December, he was in Havre to interview for the Lights' opening vacated by Aaron Christenson. And by Christmas time, Rolin was now the youngest head coach, not only in Northern history, but currently in the Frontier Conference.

From there, Rolin did the thing he loves to do the most, outside of his family, and that's roll up his sleeves and go to work.

He learned that work ethic as a young football player, and certainly by playing for the great Jim Harbaugh as a quarterback at the University of San Diego, as well as coaching stops at USD, the University of Washington and San Jose State.

Yes, even at a young age, Rolin is an admitted football junkie. He loves to watch it, study it, learn it and talk about it. All day, every day.

But most of all, the Lights' new head man loves to coach it.

"I knew this is what I was meant to do pretty early on," Rolin said. "I knew this is what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to be a football coach."

Coaching football is one thing though. Running your own program is something entirely different. It's unique, and it's special. It's stressful and hard, challenging, but also rewarding. It's something not everyone is cut out for.

But, spend five minutes with Andrew Rolin, whether it's in his office, at Dairy Queen or watching him on the practice field, and you'll see it. It's clear as day - Andrew Rolin was meant to be a head football coach.

And now, just seven months after coming to Havre, Rolin is about to coach his first game as a head coach. And while football isn't new to Rolin, no he's coached and played in hundreds of games, and watched countless more, Saturday, when the Lights take the field at Blue Pony Stadium to square off against Mayville State, it will be a whole different ball game for Rolin. It will be his game. The headset will say head coach and Rolin will be in charge.

Yes, Saturday is a day Rolin has dreamed of for a long, long time, and it's one he's ready for. He's spent the last seven months working, hours upon hours, coaching, teaching, recruiting, watching film, mentoring all of the young Lights who are here to play for him, and so much more. Rolin has spent the last seven months rolling up his sleeves and doing what he loves to do, coach football.

Now however, it's almost game day. I sat down with Rolin next week to ask him a few questions about football, life, challenges, and what it means to him to be the head coach of the Lights.

HDN: What's the best thing so far about being Northern's head coach?

Rolin: "These kids. They're why I do what I do. To see them grow, not just as football players, but more importantly, as men, that's when it hits you. That's why I got into this profession. I got into coaching to change lives, more so off the field than on it. And since I've been here, the transformation in these players has been remarkable. This team is full of great young men and they're why I am here. It's not about me, it's about these guys."

HDN: What's been the biggest challenge so far?

Rolin: "Changing the culture. I'm unwavering in my football philosophy, on and off the field, and being unwavering can be exhausting at times. It can be hard to continuously stick to what you believe you should be doing. It's a process, and it can be an exhausting process at times. But, I believe that's how you're going to be successful. So we're going to be unwavering in everything we do, everything we believe.. We have a standard and we're always going to be accountable to that standard."

HDN: Speaking of changing the culture, times have been tough for the Lights in recent years. What's the message been about not looking back, or not dwelling on what's happened in the past?

Rolin: "I think it's just that. Control what you can control. We're turning the page, and not looking back. We talk every single day about handling adversity. Football isn't perfect, just like life isn't perfect. Things are going to go wrong. But it's how you handle those situations. We talk about continuing to fight. To get up when you get knocked down. That's what life is all about, and it's the same in football. It's how you handle adversity, and that's been a big point of emphasis for us, from the first team meeting we had in the winter, and it will continue to be."

HDN: How has life in Havre been so far, outside of football?

Rolin: "Well, since camp started, there hasn't been much life outside of football (laughing). But we love it here. I know it's cliche' for Havre, but it's true, Havre is the people. This community is amazing, people have been so hospitable to us. All the people we've met and gotten to know, in the community in our church, at Northern, everywhere we've gone, the people have just been so great and so welcoming. So we're really grateful to be here. We love Havre and we just are so happy that this happened to us, and we're able to be here as a family, and be a part of this great community."

HDN: On Saturday, you're going to take the field for the first time as a head coach. How is that going to feel?

Rolin: "I really can't put it into words. It's emotional when I think about it. I've always known this is what I wanted to do. I didn't know it would come this soon, but it's something I've been dreaming about. In my career, I've always been excited for gameday, but the anticipation for this one has been brewing in me for a while now. Like I said, it's hard to put it into words. It's going to be an emotional, fun time. But, at the end of the day, it's not about me, it's about us, the program, the kids. I'm excited to take the field with them, all of us, as Northern Lights. It's going to be a special day."