Griz fan and Jacks fan meet again after big game

SDSU Marketing and Communications

BROOKINGS — University of Montana alumnus and Griz football fan Evan Wilson never imagined his first viral Facebook post would be one in which he sang the praises of a South Dakota State University graduate.

On the SDSU Jackrabbit Fans Nations page, Wilson, a stage IV cancer patient, shared his story of the exceptional care he received from Marnie Chambless, a 1991 SDSU alumna from Tripp, South Dakota. Chambless was Wilson’s pre-/post-op nurse in Colorado last month.

Wilson’s post, which resonated with Jackrabbits fans, received thousands of likes and dozens of comments and shares. In it, he discussed his experience with Chambless during his talk.

Wilson said, “I wanted to share a recent encounter I had with a University of South Dakota alumna that I think speaks volumes about your fan base. Her name is Marnie C. and she’s a long-time registered nurse here in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Marnie isn’t just any Jackrabbits fan—she’s the type who wears a team lanyard every day in the surgical unit and spends January partying in Frisco, Texas.”

The SDSU Jackrabbits defeated the University of Montana Grizzlies in the 2023 NCAA FCS Championship in Frisco, Texas, last January. Chambless and Wilson were both in Texas cheering on their respective teams, though they didn’t cross paths until five months later.

Chambless, who is not on Facebook, received a screenshot of the post from her college roommate and SDSU nursing graduate Brenda Jaton Hieb ’91.

“I was shocked,” Chambless said. “I was in tears and I thought, ‘This is a great thing to do. He’s had to deal with everything he’s had to deal with in his own life and he took the time to write such a beautiful message.”

Montana through and through

Wilson, who graduated from the University of Montana in 2008 and 2009 with degrees in political science and public administration, is a member of the Griz generation. His father, who played football for the University of Montana, met his mother on campus after a class she took with Wilson’s grandfather, a professor for 40 years and the founder of the University of Montana’s physical therapy department. Evan’s middle name is literally Montana.

He grew up in eastern Montana and met his wife in Missoula, where the Wilsons began raising their two children. Today, his family lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where he works as a vice president for a polling and political communications firm.

In June 2023, Wilson was diagnosed with colon cancer and has been undergoing treatment ever since. In June 2024, he underwent surgery that lasted over five hours, which is where he ran into Chambless.

Wilson, 39, underwent more than 600 hours of chemotherapy and consulted hundreds of health professionals.

It is widely recommended to have a colonoscopy before age 45. However, Wilson decided to have the test earlier, which revealed colorectal cancer.

Wilson was wearing his Montana gear when Chambless entered his room wearing a Jackrabbits cord to prepare him for surgery this spring.

It was Wilson’s wife who first pointed this out to him. “She said, ‘Honey, I don’t know if you’re going to want me to tell you this, but you see that nurse in front of you? She went to South Dakota State University.'”

Chambless said she had no intention of discussing the rivalry. “I didn’t have the heart to say anything because he had major cancer surgery.”

Wilson then asked, “Do you know anything about your football team?”

Chambless replied, “Yes, I was at the game,” and the conversation continued from there.

A lasting impression

Chambless was the first nurse Wilson saw when he arrived at the hospital and the first person he saw when he left the successful operation.

Wilson cites a superstition about being “Montana tough” or “Montana until I die” as a mantra for his health care battles.

“Wearing my team gear like I did when I pulled on the brown and silver Grizzlies makes me feel stronger, and I needed to be strong that day,” he said.

He remembers Chambless telling him, “You know, you Griz are pretty tough,” as he came out of anesthesia.

“Marnie was just amazing and funny,” he said. “She’s the kind of person you want to have by your side before you have a five-hour liver operation.”

Chambless went out of her way to make Wilson feel comfortable and confident. Not only did she help him, she was also there for his wife and mother throughout the procedure.

“Here in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, you never think you’re going to meet your football rival on the most important day of your life, health-wise,” he said.

Wilson joked that of the hospital’s 25 surgical beds and dozens of nurses, he would of course choose the one wearing an SDSU lanyard. But he’s glad he did.

“Marnie Chambless is the kind of person you want to see in that fourth quarter,” Wilson said. “Just like Mark Gronowski can inspire the next generation of quarterbacks, Marnie Chambless can inspire the next generation of nurses in this country.”

“You know, it speaks to the type of people that come from South Dakota,” Wilson said. “But if anyone deserves to go viral in this country for her actions, her deeds, it’s Marnie Chambless.”

Connecting with others

Chambless’ favorite part of being a nurse is interacting and spending quality time with patients.

“I love the pre-op period because I love getting close to people. I feel like I can bring calm to a situation,” she said. “And it’s probably one of the hardest times in a lot of people’s lives. I pray for them, whether they know it or not.”

Venita Winterboer was a professor in the School of Nursing while Chambless was a student at SDSU. Winterboer remembers Chambless as a “kind, caring person with a passionate attitude toward patients and families.”

“What Marnie embodies aligns closely with the College of Nursing’s values ​​of improving the health and quality of life of others and respecting all individuals,” Winterboer said.

Of Wilson’s message, Chambless said: “It speaks volumes about his character and the kind of person he is to come out of his battle and write such a meaningful tribute.”

As for the reach of the message, Chambless said, “With one little message, a whole network of strangers came together to support him and pray for him. It’s pretty incredible. We may be rivals on the field, but we all support Evan in life.”