2013 Bobcat Football Magazine — Review & Preview by Admin09

What Awaits You 02

Let there Be Light

What Makes a Bobcat a Champion?

Refusing to Settle

SONNY HOLLAND.........................................................................10 Living his dream......................................................................14 Bobcat Legend Stenerud Kicked it from Fetsund to Canton

CARRYING THE FLAG OF HIS PEOPLE:............................22 Even After Football, Leo Davis is Striving to be a Leader Amoung Montana Indians

RELENTLESS NATURE:..............................................................26 Tireless Work Transformed SchreBeis from Walk-on to Legend

THE REBIRTH:.................................................................................30 Zach Minter’s Chance to Chase NFL Dreams in a City He Considers His Second Home

BREAKING THROUGH:................................................................36 ASh, Staff Post First Playoff Win Over New Hampshire

The CEO:..........................................................................................42 Ash Has Built a Model Program the Only Way He knows How

Strong roots...........................................................................46 Family Man McEndoo Doesn’t Let Football Rule His Life

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The Age of DeNarius

40 Primetime Plays

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The Power of Visualization

Chasing a Feeling..................................................................58 Year Away Made Daly Appreciate His Love of the Game

MSU Preview...............................................................................60 The Opponents..........................................................................64-81 Big Sky Outlook......................................................................82 COMPOSITE SCHEDULE...........................................................84 LARGER Than Life....................................................................96 Cat-Griz Rivalry Has Deep Meaning Across the Treasure State

Biographies:................................................................................100 Ad Index...........................................................................................101

Hallowed Ground

The Rise of the Bobcats

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Welcome

It’s a great time to be a Bobcat. I should know, since I’ve been one for most of my life. I’ve spent time in Bozeman for seven decades and game days at Bobcat Stadium still bring me great happiness. From the pre-game tailgating and festivities to the anticipation surrounding the games, some of the most celebrated Saturdays in our community take place right off of Kagy. Most would call me a dyed-in-the-wool Bobcat. It’s true. To see what Coach Ash has built and the class he carries himself with and instills in his program is special. The culture he’s built is tremendous.

The three-time defending Big Sky Conference champion football team continues to build momentum. The wholesome attitude you see at Montana State — from the professors, the athletes and those who lead the university — makes me smile with satisfaction. Bobcat football has always been important to me, even before I moved from Butte to the Gallatin Valley. From my playing days in the 1950s when we won a national title, to my coaching days in the 1970s, when we also won a national crown, football has always been the most exciting part of my life. It’s a new challenge every year — and watching the Bobcats knowing what they have had to overcome to reach the heights they have reached has been outstanding. Don Williamson, a classmate of mine at Butte High School in the early 1950s, went on to play for the Montana Grizzlies. He earned his degree from UM as a Distinguished Military Graduate and was awarded varsity letters in football, track, and baseball. Don rose through the Army, eventually attaining the rank of Major General. Don’s grandson, Eric Williamson of Polson, will follow in my footsteps rather than his grandfather’s, coming to Montana State instead of Montana as a preferred walk-on safety in the fall. The last time Don and I talked, he said something I found surprising. He said; ‘Sonny, I never thought I’d say this, but years ago, you did the right thing.” Don is very excited about Eric becoming a Bobcat. That’s coming from a guy — a Grizzly, no less — who became a decorated general. That says all you need to know about the reputation of MSU. It makes me smile knowing we did it the right way. We’ve done this honestly and with hard work. We believed in what Montana State represents and what it could become. Seeing us do it the right way brings me as much pride as anything I’ve accomplished in my life. I hope you find the stories of that rise and resurrection within the pages of this publication.

Sonny Holland

Publisher: FMFP Enterprises Copyright© 2013 Bozeman, MT 59715 Editor: Cynthia Logan Design: Silver Oak Graphic Design All Rights Reserved Writers: Colter Nuanez, Cynthia Logan This publication is owned and distributed by FMFP Enterprises, not a part of Bobcat Sports Properties. FMFP Enterprises is licensed to use the Montana State University and Bobcat names and logos.

WHAT MAKES A BOBCAT A CHAMPION? by Cynthia Logan

hile there are outstanding athletes in every sport and in every season, there’s something intangible that sparks a winning streak — spirit. Symbolizing good luck and embodying that champion’s attitude is Montana State University’s mascot, Champ. The boogie-ing Bobcat is irresistible to fans young and old. He cheers MSU’s sports teams on to victory and softens the blow of defeat. He’s also an ambassador, representing the school at pep rallies and social events. efore 1916, Montana State’s athletic teams were known as Aggies, Bozeman Farmers, the Blue & Gold Warriors and the State College Team — not exactly spunky nicknames. That year, The Exponent’s editor Lester Cole and then sports editor Fred Bullock decided to multiply the spunk factor. They held a contest to select a name that would have a touch of the western, a trace of the Aggie and be related to the mountains. Getting few student suggestions, the two brainstormed and chose ‘Bobcats’ because, according to Cole; “the name was that of an animal who lives in the mountains, is crafty, a fighter, not large but respected’ — one that is wild, uses the teamwork of claws and teeth, and mixes cunning with brute strength in every battle.” And you can’t say ‘bobcat’ softly: you have to spit it out. The name alone has pep in it. So Bobcat it became, and ‘Spirit’ was its name. ust how many lives has this cat had? For a while, a stuffed lynx residing in the SUB’s

Sigma Chi came to Kappa Sigma to Bobcat Lair represented the fighting retrieve Taylor’s gift, they were given spirit. But when MSU graduate Dick the feisty cat. Claws out, Freddy Fang Taylor’s chickens went missing in Bobcat went into training for his de1938 in Whitehall, he naturally tried but at a Saturday night game against to find the culprit. One morning his weasel traps yielded two ... “we’re all champions, whether in the healthy bobcats. classroom or in sports. A Sigma Chi member, Taylor I wanted to capture that, and I shipped the cats shortened it to Champ” to the SX house, with instructions - Kalani Cowles to turn them over to the Fangs, a sophomore service organization. They were ‘accidentally’ the Omaha Cardinals. sent to Kappa Sigma house where, hile having a live bobcat according to The Exponent, “one mascot was exciting, it wasn’t developed a calm and dignified mien,” without challenges and controversy. while the other remained “a growling, First housed in a 4’ x 4’ plywood spitting, clawing and striking animal structure, Freddy twice escaped his befitting a mole-skinned Bobcat hutch, (upgraded to a 9’ x 15’square taking care of a Grizzly on the other foot cage in 1966 as an architectural side of the line of scrimmage.” When student project that included 10 tons

of rock from the Gallatin Canyon). He required $700 a month in upkeep, not to mention maintenance. Kitty litter cleanup generated letters to the editor that would not be printable today! In 1971 Freddy was given to a New Orleans animal-keeper, and the search was on for a mascot that would embody the Bobcat spirit without needing to be trained, chased or cleaned up after. ot much is known about the Mascot during the two decades after Freddy’s departure. Names and costumes changed, but nothing really stuck. During the 1980’s the Bobcats had a run of success worthy of a proud spirit supporter. ow Champ Got his Name, by MSU graduates Gerald Sullivan (writer) and Mark Sullivan (illustrator) recounts the search for a new name, which came when ten-year-old Kalani Cowles won a contest run by The Chronicle, submitting the

name ‘Champ’ in 1995. “My thought process was something like; ‘we’re all champions, whether in the classroom or in sports. I wanted to capture that,

and I shortened it to Champ,’” she remembers. The Cowles family owns Wild West Shirt Co. The store in the Gallatin Valley Mall now carries about fifty percent Bobcat-related merchandise. “There’s no denying that the success of the football team has expanded the demand,” says Kalani. “Our Bobcat section used to be one rack in the fall. Now half the store’s merchandise is Bobcat gear all year, because there are consistently 5,000 more people showing up every weekend. Football seems to grasp the masses; we get people from all over the state coming to these games. It’s great to see strangers tailgating together wearing MSU T-shirts.” Cowles says she has sold at least 400

plush Champ toys. n 2009 the mascot’s costume was redesigned by Street Characters, in part to appeal to children. Since then, says MSU Associate AD for Marketing & Operations Drew Ingraham, “requests for appearances have grown exponentially and Champ’s popularity is at an all-time high.” Maybe some of that has to do with ergonomic features incorporated into the costume design. The Street Characters’ company president spent many years as an NHL mascot, so Champ is comfy and confident inside breathable material with built-in footing for stability and a good grip on any surface. Though large, his head is made of the strongest, lightest weight components available, translating into less fatigue and neck pain, and allowing good visibility and ventilation. The material wicks perspiration away from the performer’s body, so the outfit doesn’t get sweaty. A good thing, since Champ is up close and personal with a lot of folks, dancing and giving high-fives. ho’s behind the costume? “Full-time students audition in open tryouts and are judged on physical training, dancing and entertainment ability while in costume,” says Ingraham. Over the past six years two men and one woman have been the primary Champ (there is a backup mascot). Champ is present at all home

football, volleyball and men’s & women’s basketball games. He also makes appearances at track and field meets and at the occasional ski race at Bridger. He has become a fixture at Commencement, as well as at other campus events. For this service, Champ receives a fee waiver for one school year, a contract that is renewed annually. “It’s an honor to be chosen as Champ and to represent MSU,” states a former Mascot. “I loved interacting with the kids, and it’s great when an older person responds with excitement and enthusiasm.” ot a bad tradeoff for a football, basketball, track, tennis, ski and golf Champ, albeit incognito. And hey, win or lose, Champ is always victorious: after all, he’s the one bringing smiles to the little ones’ faces, inspiring the next generation to jump for the joy of the game. o Champ —Go Bobcats! c

SONNY HOLLAND

by Colter Nuanez

s Jason McEndoo sits in his office at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, the Montana State OL coach lets the picture given to him by a mentor tell the story. Sonny Holland is always watching. “This picture says it all,” said McEndoo. Holland’s eyes are slit with focus. “You can see the passion in his eyes. Montana State is a storied program steeped in tradition. To have a living legend like Coach Holland around and have him hang out with the guys, that’s really special. The guys that are going through their careers and are able to be around him will tell the stories of Coach Holland some day.” he 11th-year Bobcat assistant has forged a sustained relationship with the greatest ‘Cat of them all. Holland was a three-time All-America center and middle linebacker in the 1950s at Montana State. As a coach, he piled up 47 wins between 1971 and 1977, including the 1976 Division II national championship. He’s remained close to the program as the reins have been handed down — from Dave Arnold to Earle Solmonson to Cliff Hysell to Mike Kramer — and now to Rob Ash. He’s such a quality person and he’s so genuinely committed to the Bobcats,” said Ash, who surpassed Holland on MSU’s all-time wins by the end of his sixth season last fall. “All he wants is for the Bobcats to be successful and to do it right. You look at what he did here; his loyalty to the program has never wavered. He’s

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committed his whole life to this place. Having him around is inspiring.” llyn “Sonny” Hollland, 75, now spends his winters in Arizona. But the last three seasons, he hasn’t traveled south until after Christmas. His Bobcats have been too busy making runs in the FCS playoffs. “It’s been exciting to watch the return of the real Bobcats,” said Holland, who has been heavily involved with a program that’s advanced to the FCS quarterfinals two years in a row. “People that have been around here for a long time are really impressed with what’s going on. I endorse what these guys are doing 110 percent.” hat Ash has done is resurrect a program smoldering in APR hell and a swamp of controversy. A program Holland once made nationally elite. In 2006, the Bobcats shared the Big Sky Conference title and won a playoff game. But Kramer was fired amidst a myriad of controversy. Since his hiring in 2007, Ash has won 50 games, including 30 over the last three seasons. MSU has shared the BSC championship each of the last three falls. Coach Ash has brought a level of integrity and professionalism that is unmatched as far as I’m concerned,” Holland said. “I admire his technique and the way he does things with the kids. Honestly seems to prevail in everything he does.” Although Ash has set a new benchmark for success, the original measuring stick for success for Bobcat football remains Sonny Holland. “He set the foundation way back in his day and he’s been an influence on every great player

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and coach since he’s been here,” said MSU linebackers’ coach Kane Ioane, a fourtime All-America player and an MSU assistant for seven years. “That’s what I want to be like. I want to be able to say I’ve had an influence ever since I’ve been here. That’s why Coach Holland is the greatest Bobcat of all time.” You can truly feel Coach Holland at every turn,” added MSU fifth-year wide receivers’ coach Brian Von Bergen. “Road trips during the season are when I notice him the most. He’s paying attention and that’s really cool to me. He’s certainly an ally and a great resource to have.” Butte boy who grew up with a working class background, Holland has had

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a profound influence on the landscape of football in the Treasure State. Between his four seasons as a player and his seven seasons as MSU’s head coach, he posted an incredible 10-1 record over the Bobcats’ fiercest rivals, the Montana Grizzlies. He’s the legendary Griz killer,” said Leo Davis, a 2011 senior OL for MSU and an iconic figure in Native American culture in Montana. “There’s nobody else you want to impress more than Coach Holland. He’s Mr. Bobcat.” olland’s coaching tree is as impressive as his coaching record. Dennis Erickson spent two seasons on Holland’s staff before winning national titles in 1989 and 1991 at the University of Miami. Sonny Lubick was on Holland’s staff for seven seasons MSU File Photo before spending 15 seasons as

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the head man at Colorado State. Cliff Hysell worked for Holland for seven years before coaching MSU for eight seasons. “It was always something that was important to me, before I ever even came here,” Holland said about Montana State football. “It’s always been the most exciting part of my life. Football is always a challenge every year, watching the Bobcats and what they have to overcome to reach the heights they’ve reached. It’s really exciting for me from the sidelines to watch what goes on.” olland walked away from the coaching ranks in 1977 to become MSU’s alumni director at the age of 39, yet he remains a profound influence on the Bobcats of the last three decades. “My grandfather passed away my senior year and when that happened, Coach Holland pulled me aside,” said Zach Minter, a 2012 senior who now plays for the Chicago

Bears. “He said as you grow old, you like to see your young kin folk, your grandsons, your sons succeed. Coach Holland told me I made my grandfather so proud.”

“There’s nobody else you want to impress more than Coach Holland. He’s Mr. Bobcat.” - Leo Davis

olland has lived in Bozeman for almost 60 years, but he still has a profound appreciation for his Mining City roots. When the Butte High Bulldogs won their first state championship since 1991 last fall (Butte’s 17th overall state title), Holland felt a profound sense of pride. “It’s a fiber, a work ethic, an intrinsic fiber

of the people that you aren’t going to put them down and keep them down forever, because they will surprise you,” he said. “It’s a blue collar type of town. They’ve tried themselves in that. They are real hard-working, carry your bucket to work type of folks. The game of football is something that Butte has hung its hat on. It has had its ups and downs, but there’s no doubt they try as hard as they can. In football and in life.” olland lost his wife of 50 years in 2008, but he’s since remarried. He has three daughters who all still live in Bozeman, and his sister still lives in Butte. Most of all, the greatest Bobcat of them all still has an immense pride in the program and the school he helped build. “We did it the right way,” Holland said. “We did it honestly. We worked hard. Seeing us do it the right way has been really neat.” c

living his dream

bobcat legend stenerud kicked it from fetsund to canton. by Colter Nuanez

an Stenerud has had two recurring dreams for most of his 70 years. The NFL Hall of Famer and Montana State legend’s story of growing up a prodigious skier in Norway before transforming into the only kicker in Canton makes it seem like Stenerud has been living a dream all his life. “I have had two dreams: one is that I’m standing on top of a ski jump and I can’t wait to go down because the feeling of flying through the air — and you could fly a lot higher in those days — is so much fun,” Stenerud said as he stood atop a podium placed on the Bobcat Stadium turf on an April morning in Bozeman. “But I would always wake up before I hit the hill. Now the other dream, I’m in the locker room before a game in the pros and because I can’t find a shoelace or a chinstrap, I can never get to the field on time. I wake up before I go on the field and for some reason I feel relieved. What I’m saying is the pressure must have been much stronger than what I ever realized it was, because it never bothered me when I was awake. When I wake up, I’m disappointed that I didn’t get to fly through the air, but I’m relieved when I wake up from football. That dream indicates to me I was probably under more pressure than I ever realized.” hose who watched Stenerud’s legendary career might think one of the all-time great kickers

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was immune to pressure. It sure seemed like it. During his 18-year NFL career, Stenerud essentially wrote the record books. His 373 made field goals and 1,699 points were all-time records when he retired. He earned seven All-Pro selections and was named to four Pro Bowls. He played on the Kansas City Chiefs team that won Super Bowl IV and he is a member of the Chiefs, Green Bay Packers and Montana State Bobcats Halls of Fame. he storybook football career of a man from Fetsund, Norway was almost a story that was never written. In 1962, Stenerud was fresh off a sixth-place finish at the Norwegian Junior National Ski Jumping Championship when a letter from Montana State arrived at his family’s home. Former MSU ski coach Bob Beck was offering a full-ride scholarship to come halfway across the globe.

down by kicking a few footballs. It pon arrival in the Gallatin just so happened that MSU men’s Valley, Stenerud was instantly basketball coach Roger Craft was enamored by campus life. Although taking his typical shortcut across he was far from home, living inGatton Field back to Brick Breeden dependently was an exhilarating Fieldhouse. He witnessed the young time, he said, and his ski jumping Norwegian consistently kicking career was just taking off. As a sophomore in 1964, Stenerud “Jim Sweeney gave me the chance of finished fourth at the NCAA a lifetime because I was a sideshow, a National circus. I was the only guy on the team Championships in the ski who couldn’t play football, didn’t even jump, earning try to play football.” - Jan Stenerud All-America honors in the process. Then footballs from the opposite 40-yard his life took an unexpected twist. line “out of the back of the end-zone The following spring, Stenerud was and beyond.” running the stairs at Gatton Field with his teammates. After the cardio he next day, Craft went into head session, MSU football player Dale football coach Jim Sweeney’s Jackson talked Stenerud into cooling office. A few weeks later, Craft saw

Stenerud running the Gatton stairs. Sweeney and his team were also on the field that day, so Craft yelled at Stenerud to come down and show his stuff. Stenerud was wearing loafers, so he had to borrow one of Sweeney’s waffle-soled coaching shoes. “The holder was on the hash mark of the 35-yard line,” Craft remembers. “Jan put it right through the uprights. Jim said, ‘Let’s see that again.’ So he did it again. Right then, Jim walked over to Jan, patted him on the rear and said, ‘We have pregame breakfast tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock.” In that moment, a record-setting football career was born. tenerud’s first season, however, he didn’t play. And he was perplexed by what he saw each day at practice. “I didn’t really like it because they played for four seconds then stood around for 30 seconds and talked for awhile and then did the same thing all over again,” he said. “Once I got involved with the game, I realized it was the greatest team game ever invented.” But when a lanky skier

from Norway was suddenly on the football team, some of his teammates hesitated. Once they saw Stenerud kick, all doubts were erased. Still, the idea of a football player who only kicked was foreign at the time. n 1965, Stenerud forever etched himself in MSU lore and put his name on the national map. In Montana State’s annual rivalry game against the University of Montana, Stenerud hit a 59-yard field goal, the longest in college football history at the time. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the AFL Futures draft. y 1966, he was a star. That season, the Bobcats scored 50 touchdowns and won the Big Sky Conference title. Stenerud hit 11 field goals and made 49 extra points in scoring an NCAA-record 82 points. He was a consensus All-America selection and was picked by the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL Draft. Stenerud ultimately decided to play for Hank Strom’s Kansas City Chiefs. By his fourth season, KC became just the

second AFL team to win a fledgling football game known as the Super Bowl. tenerud spent time in Green Bay and Minnesota before retiring in 1985. He was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1991 and remains the only player who was primarily a kicker enshrined in Canton, Ohio. All along the way, he never forgot the first coach who gave him a shot. “Jim Sweeney gave me the chance of a lifetime because I was a sideshow, a circus. I was the only guy on the team who couldn’t play football, didn’t even try to play football,” Stenerud said. Coach Sweeney passed away in early 2013. He’d never had a guy who just kicked. Instead of relegating Stenerud to being a sideshow or distraction, he embraced this idea and it was absolutely great. “I think about him almost every day of my life,” says Stenerud. “There will never be another man like Jim Sweeney.” Nor will there be another story like Jan Stenerud’s. c

MSU File Photo

Refusing to Settle bozeman native’s work ethic helps him hang in the nfl by Colter Nuanez hose who watched Dane Fletcher grow into a man echo one another when talking about the Montana State legend. Dane, he’s a competitor, there’s no other way to say it,” said Mike Person, a former MSU All-America offensive lineman who now plays for the Seattle Seahawks. “He is one of the hardest workers you will ever see. It speaks for itself how far he’s gone.”Fletcher parlayed an All-America career at Montana State that culminated in being named the 2009 Big Sky Conference Defensive Most Outstanding Player into a free agent contract with the New England Patriots. “He wants to be the best,” MSU defensive line coach Bo Beck said. “He wasn’t going to settle for anything except going to the NFL. He has no quit in him. He practiced harder than anybody I’ve ever been around. When he went, he went 100 miles per hour.” He was a constant warrior,” MSU defensive coordinator Jamie Marshall added. hile a Bobcat, the Bozeman native carried himself with an aura uncommon to most college football players. “There’s an irreverence about Dane that is refreshing,” said Montana State

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Photo by Dean Hendrickson

head “There’s an irreverence about coach Rob Ash, not Dane that is refreshing.” usually one -Head Coach Rob Ash to encourage brashness from his troops. “Dane always had an unbelievable motor, just playing the game so hard all the time.” He is intimidating to opponents during games and it isn’t the way he talks, it is the way he plays. He makes people give up,” Beck said. he last year has been filled with trials for the 26-year-old Fletcher. He’s had to channel every bit of gumption, every bit of his legendary work ethic, every bit of his toughness into recovery while his

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football future sat in limbo. Playing in the final year of his contract with the Patriots, he tore his ACL in August during the Pats’ first preseason game. He missed the entire 2012 season, putting his career in the NFL in question. In January, Fletcher signed a one-year deal with New England. “Staying focused was so hard because it’s hard to stay focused a year ahead, but that’s what I had to do,” Fletcher said in an interview from the Patriots practice facility. “This next year is a big year coming in for me. I did what I needed to do and now I have to attack this off-season.” letcher enters his fourth NFL season projected to be the team’s top reserve linebacker. He was penciled in as a starter next to Jerod Mayo before the injury. He will battle Brandon Spikes and Dont’a Hightower for playing time in the

middle of New England’s 3-4 defense. Fletcher has 55 career tackles in 23 games. “I approach every season with a chip on my shoulder,” Fletcher said. “Starting in with free agency out of college and carrying it on. I still have the chip. I’m playing hard for a contract right now. I need to have a good, healthy year.” letcher’s career has been filled with transition. He played as an outside linebacker his first two years in Bozeman before putting his hand on the ground and becoming one of the best defensive ends in school history. As a third-year MSU sophomore, Fletcher notched 19 tackles for loss. His junior and senior seasons, he was slowed by injury and missed six total games, but still totaled 13.5 sacks and finished 2009 as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award.

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You knew he was going to bring it and make impact plays every day,” said former MSU All-American linebacker Bobby Daly. “I knew how hard he worked off the field. As relentless as his motor was on the field, he was as hard a worker off the field. That doesn’t always translate for everyone, but with his mindset, it always did.” He’s intimidating because you know how hard he worked,” added Michael Rider, Fletcher’s teammate for three seasons and now an defensive line assistant. “I know the preparation he put in. I followed him around before my junior year and was just in awe of how hard he worked.” Coming in as a freshman, you want to see who the top dog is,” said Zach Minter, a 2012 senior defensive tackle who now plays for

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Photos by Dean Hendrickson

the Chicago Bears. “You want to find that guy and try to be better than him. When I saw Dane and what he was doing and what people were saying about him, I knew he was the guy, the tone-setter. I knew I had to work like he did to have success like him.” n the NFL, Dane has learned to play middle linebacker, a drastic shift not easily made. Fletcher’s work ethic is unparalleled. But where does that ethic come from? “It started at a young age,” Fletcher said. “My parents raised me to work hard in everything I do. It’s ingrained in me. I’ve never been able to take it easy in life, because whatever I want to do in life, I want to win.” letcher grew up on a ranch outside Bozeman. He spent his youth working with his hands and helping out at his parents’ downtown businesses, Burger Bob’s and The

Cannery. He was a multi-spot standout. “His parents could have put a silver spoon in his mouth, but they made Dane and his sister work on the ranch,” Beck said. “Dane excelled in all the sports — baseball, hockey, football — and everything he touched was a success because of how hard he worked.” letcher’s unwavering pursuit of his dream has landed him in one of America’s most adoring sports towns, playing for one of the NFL’s model franchises. “Going out there to visit him, you see he has the respect of his teammates,” said Daly, who remains close friends with Fletcher. “To know he plays with Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski and then to be able to go have dinner and beers with those guys, that’s sweet. They are gods out there. You walk into a bar or a restaurant and they will kick

somebody out of a booth for you. They will give you a bouncer at your booth to make sure no one bothers you. It’s pretty crazy.” hough he’s broken ground on a house he’s building in Bozeman, Fletcher isn’t ready to come home yet. He wants to make the most of an NFL career that continues to blossom if when the Bobcat legend stays healthy. hrough it all, Fletcher remains the same humorous, irreverent and humble kid who left for the East Coast four years ago. “We’ve gotten a lot closer as friends since he’s been in the NFL,” Beck said. “He’s such a good guy. He’s never changed. He’s not arrogant. He’s still close with all his friends from over the years. He doesn’t want the fame. He just wants to be Dane.” c

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CARRYING THE FLAG OF HIS PEOPLE: even after football, leo davis is striving to be a leader among montana indians by Colter Nuanez

is rewarding, he wishes he could deal more exclusively with Native Amereven generations ago, the legendican kids. Seven generations after ary Lakota warrior Crazy Horse Crazy Horse’s prophetic words were prophesied an unknown future that is spoken, Davis and many tribal elders upon us today. In 1877, around Montana worry shortly after leading a Native people in the Lakota war party to vicTreasure State are tory in the Battle of the losing their identities. Little Big Horn, and four We as a people are days before he was slain, becoming more the great leader sat with materialistic, more Sitting Bull, smoked the concerned with wealth sacred peace pipe and than general health,” said: “Upon suffering Davis said. “Once beyond suffering; the you get your spirituRed Nation shall rise ality right and your again and it shall be a individual personality blessing for a sick world. honed in, you become A world filled with browealthy in the sense ken promises, selfishness that you don’t have to and separations. A world worry about tomorrow longing for light again. because you are rich in I see a time of seven Photo by Bill Groethe (1948) Available @ Old Main Gallery & Framing, Bozeman love. It doesn’t matter generations when all if you are Blackfeet the colors of mankind or Crow or Sioux. will gather under the sacred Tree of people’s fight. The former Montana We have to return to that. We have Life and the whole Earth will become State football star — Davis played a hard time with poverty and drugs one circle again. In that day there will defensive end, then offensive line for and alcohol and that’s because we are be those among the Lakota who will the Bobcats until graduating in 2011 chasing the dollar instead of chasing carry knowledge and understanding — is the son of Doug, a Blackfeet the dreams of our forefathers.” of unity among all living things, and and Debbie, a Lower Brule Lakota. hile a Bobcat football player, the young white ones will come to Davis was both revered and Since earning his degree in 2012, those of my people and ask for this resented by Montana Indians. Davis Davis has worked as a counselor at never let the negativity get in his wisdom. I salute the light within Youth Dynamics, a group home in your eyes where the whole universe way, instead earning his degree and Billings. Although he says the work

dwells. For when you are at that center within you and I am that place within me, we shall be as one.” eventh generation Native Leo Davis continues to fight his

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striving to give back to his people. “I was walking around with him his senior year when he was the president of the Indian Council here on campus and we were at the MSU Powwow and it was like being with the king,” said MSU OL coach Jason McEndoo. “He knows everyone. He’s done a great job of using the platform he was given here at Montana State to be a great ambassador for his people.” n Blackfeet tradition, those endowed with watching over the Thunder Medicine Pipe are given the responsibility of keeping their people alive. Doug’s parents, Darnell and Smokey RidesAtTheDoor are the keepers of the Thunder Medicine pipe. The pipe is the fundamental center of the circle

of balance that makes up Blackfeet beliefs: a perfect balance of happiness, health and strength physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. n June, Davis, who is Smokey and Darnell’s sacred son, participated in a Thunder Medicine pipe ceremony. He’s part of a Blackfeet drum group

“I feel like my true calling is carrying on our tradition and spiritual values.” - Leo Davis that travels the state performing at powwows and other ceremonies. Since his football career ended, Davis’ main focus has been transitioning

to become a weather dancer, a sacred part of the Okan, or Sun Dance, the annual ceremony that serves as the most sacred week of the year for the Blackfeet. I feel like my true calling is carrying on our tradition and spiritual values,” Davis said. “We all have a cross to bear. It depends on what your belief system is, but everyone has a belief in life that you have to bear. You take on more than you ever thought you would. You get your heart and your mind and your soul connected. You better yourself for a greater good.” ootball gave Davis a platform, but it’s not a game inundated into Native culture like basketball. It’s an American sport created by the White

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Man. Yet Darnell RidesAtTheDoor said Davis’ time at Montana State was a cultural right of passage. “These are our young warriors,” RidesAtTheDoor said in October 2011. “Football is a different type of warrior situation. You compare it to the parallels of the past when young men went out and did great things, counted coup. Then the family could tell their coup stories with great pride. These are young warriors out there making history, but also writing their own legend and the legend of our people. Leo has done that tenfold. He is a warrior we look up to, someone who brings our people much pride.” laying offensive line taught Davis that, when you get knocked down, you have to pop back up. He misses the camaraderie, the locker room, the stories, the funny moments. He misses competing, although he’s found a new competitive outlet — the gym. He’s lost nearly 65 pounds after weighing in at over 310 pounds as a fifth-year senior. He attended nearly every Montana State home game last season. Davis is at a crossroads — he knows he wants to continue to immerse himself in the traditions of his people. He’s applied for the political science master’s program at Montana State, but doesn’t think he wants to be a politician. He wants to connect with Native youth, but he doesn’t know if social work is his cup of tea. He might go back to school to earn his engineering degree. on Lebsock, the legendary long-time head football coach at Billings Skyview High and Davis’ former high school mentor, tells his Falcons the same thing year in and year out. He says, “God gave you tools. It’s your job to sharpen them.” Davis used to think the tool was his body. Now he understands it’s his role as a leader — a leader of five brothers, a leader of a family that counts more than 400 cousins across Montana, a leader of a group of people searching to reclaim their identity. Water is just water until it hits that one degree change, and that’s when it boils,” Davis said. “That’s when you go from being a boy to a man. I used football as a platform in my time. It was a great time for me to really focus on who I wanted to be as an individual. Football was a true blessing in my life on the journey to become a man. Now that I’m a man, I have to find a way to continue to lead.” c

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RELENTLESS NATURE: Tireless work transformed Schreibeis from walk-on to legend by Colter Nuanez

o matter the opponent, neither the prize, nor the accomplishment, the chip remained. After graduating from Billings West High in 2008, the last place Caleb Schreibeis wanted to play college football was at Montana State University. His brother, Joe, was already a Bobcat tight end and a leader of the team. Schreibeis wanted to carve out a niche all his own. When the only Division I offer he received came in the form of a preferred walk-on spot at MSU, the chip on the defensive end’s shoulder became visible. After making it through a redshirt year and a season filled with nothing but special teams playing time and not a single dollar of aid, an MSU coach suggested Schreibeis should explore other colleges The chip grew sharper still. I did not want to come here because of Joe, because I was sick of following in his footsteps,” the Montana State senior said in November of his final campaign. “I didn’t want to hear all the questions about whether I was going to be as good as him. My last resort was here. I think they were just throwing me a bone because Joe was here. One of the coaches even told me that I should consider other options and that’s something I won’t ever forget. I’ve had that chip on my shoulder and

that’s what has excelled me through to right now.” s a third-year sophomore, Schreibeis cracked the playing rotation and notched 43 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He wasn’t satisfied. He

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Honorable mention all-conference: just more fuel for Schreibeis’ fire. s a senior, Schreibeis left himself little to prove. The 6-foot-3, 253-pounder was a team captain for the Big Sky Conference-champion Bobcats. He earned consensus All-America honors by notching 12.5 sacks and an NCAA-leading eight forced fumbles. In December came the kicker — Schreibeis’ relentless drive culminated as he was named the first Buck Buchanan Award winner in school history. It’s a testimony to our program, but it’s also a testimony to the Montana kids,” MSU head coach Rob Ash said after Schreibeis won the Buck. “Those kids are the guts of this program. They are half of our team. Many of them are walkons or partial scholarship guys who have to work their way through. Caleb is just a shining example, representing all of those guys who have come through the program here.” sh knew Schreibeis’ work ethic was second to none because his pupil wouldn’t take no for an answer. “The chip early on was the scholarship,” Ash said. “He was absolutely impossible to deter. I definitely think that his frustration, the chip, the anger about not having money motivated him. He was very, very close to having to leave after his second year because of the money.

came into his junior season bigger, stronger and full of vigor. He was the opening-day starter at bandit end for a team that went on to win the Big Sky Conference title. His 61 tackles led all Big Sky defensive linemen. He had 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks. When the all-league awards were released, Schreibeis was slighted again.

nce he got his scholarship, he and Sac State (20-17). Nine of his that. He was really driven to make the didn’t rest. To me, that might sacks came in the fourth quarter. He guys he went up against quit. In the hurried the quarterback seven times, fourth quarter when it was really on, be the most intriguing part of the story. He has not let his foot off the broke up five passes and put forth a he made those guys quit.” legendary effort in a 16-7 win over gas pedal at all, even after becoming Caleb Schreibeis is a relenta captain and a full-time less player,” adds defensive starter. He has everything tackle Craig Ashworth, a “I don’t think there’s been a guy and he is still relentless. It’s senior in 2013. “I try to be become a habit, a lifestyle. who’s worked any harder than Caleb relentless like Caleb. Some I don’t think there’s been people could come into their since he walked in the door. In the a guy who’s worked any senior year and stop working. harder than Caleb since last five years, I can’t remember him He shows up every single he walked in the door. In day and works his tail off missing one practice. Not one. He is and he is relentless. If I could the last five years, I can’t remember him missing one a relentless worker and a relentless do anything in my career, practice. Not one. He is it would be to be like that.” player.” Coach Ash a relentless worker and a Facing denial time and again relentless player.” is fuel for Schreibeis’ fire. chreibeis thrived in the The word “relentless” always Montana, his tackle total matching his pops up whenever his coaches and biggest moments for the 11-2 team’s point total. Bobcats during the 2012 season. He teammates talk about him. Where forced fourth-quarter fumbles in wins does his unrelenting nature to succeed Those situations, that’s where he over Chadron State (33-6), Stephen come from? “It’s a testament to my wants to be,” said defensive line F. Austin (43-35), UC Davis (48-41) parents and how I was raised,” said coach Bo Beck. “He’s envisioned

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Schreibeis, whose mother Erika is a nurse at Billings Clinic and father; Clark is a Montana wildlife artist. “Nothing is free. You have to work hard for success. Anything good you have to work for. If I would have gotten a scholarship out of high school, I don’t know if it would have been different.” Schreibeis earned a degree in mechanical engineering in December. He’s already secured a job in Bozeman. He had a legitimate shot to play in the NFL, but decided to close this chapter in his book. The biggest thing that resonated with me,” stated Coach Beck, “was what he said: ‘Caleb Schreibeis will not be defined by whether or not he

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played in the NFL. His life won’t be defined by this.’ That’s a strong statement, but it didn’t surprise me coming from Caleb. He is satisfied with what he’s done in his football career.” s Schreibeis’ senior season wound down, his legend grew. In August, he was a team captain. By October, he was a fierce force. By December, he became a Bobcat icon. His 23 career sacks are in the top eight totals in school history. His eight forced fumbles in 2012 are a program record. He’s the first and only — from a rich lineage of standouts that includes Kane Ioane, Dane Fletcher and Jody Owens — to win the Buchanan.

espite not having the fanfare of some of his teammates, he’s become a Bobcat legend. “Caleb has a drive in him that is pretty incredible,” Coach Beck said. “He liked being the silent guy, the guy that everyone pointed other people at. His whole goal was to come here and make us all — I don’t want to say eat our words, because we gave him a shot — but he wasn’t a heralded recruit by any means. Here we are, five years later, and he’s done it, man. Sure, winning is important and it keeps everyone happy, but to see that kid smile when he won the Buck, you can’t beat it, man. That’s what it’s all about.” c

THE REBIRTH:

zach minter’s chance to chase nfl dreams in a city he considers his second home by Colter Nuanez

he fit almost seems like fate. The Montana State athletic department’s website lists Zach Minter’s hometown as Glendale, Ariz. But the uber-athletic defensive tackle that exhausted his eligibility with MSU during fall 2012 also has roots in the Windy City. n a sense, Zach Minter is going home. The 6-foot-1, 304-pounder signed a free agent contract with the Chicago Bears in April, within an hour of the completion of the 2013 NFL Draft. Minter’s

mother, Danette Minter, is a Chicago native and Zach estimates he has dozens of family members living in America’s third-largest metropolitan area. I won’t miss a beat. I’m beyond humbled and am very excited,” Minter said. “This is all so surreal that I’m going to be a Chicago Bear and my whole family lives there. That’s 50, 60 people that are blood.” After signing with one of the NFL’s most storied franchises, it seems things have come full circle for Minter. The 2011 All-America had

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a season full of trials for the 2012 co-Big Sky Conference champion Bobcats. A hamstring injury on the first day of fall camp lingered all autumn. Then came the death of Dannette’s father, Jack Franchine. Now Minter gets a chance to make a run at his professional dreams in a place one of his mentors lived nearly all his life. “I know the Lord has a lot to do with this and I know my grandfather did, too, because he helped me become who I am,” Minter said. “It seems too good to be true that I’m going to Chicago.”

tremendous explosiveness has been inter burst onto the NFL radar tackle. He ran a 4.80-second 40-yard after a stellar junior season. He put on display for all the NFL to see. dash. He had an 8-foot-11 broad He participated at MSU’s Pro Day jump and a 34.5-inch vertical. He was a unanimous first-team All-Big along with a regional combine in Sky selection after racking up 11.5 clocked in at 7.5 seconds in the three-cone drill. He banged out 31 tackles behind the line of scrimmage Seattle. His numbers in the Emerald and 7.5 sacks. He was an repetitions on the 225-pound All-America selection bench press test. and his NFL aspirations He’s explosive, and for I want to be the best; I want to start were rising. Before his his size, he has the tools for the Bears; I want to be a Pro senior season, he was they are looking for,” said on the Buck Buchanan MSU defensive line coach Bowler; I want to be in Hawaii — I watch list, a preseason Bo Beck. “You can put want to be in the Hall of Fame.” All-America pick and a his numbers up from the preseason All-Big Sky camps and the combines Zach Minter selection. Then came against anyone’s. Defensive the hamstring injury. linemen are always called Minter’s on-field numbers the prettiest girls in the room. City earned him a spot at the Super took a hit as a senior — he notched Everybody wants them.” Regional NFL Combine at Cowboy three sacks and 8.5 tackles for inter now transitions from a Stadium in Dallas. All 32 NFL teams loss — and so did his stock. He still freak among his FCS counterwere there. earned all-league recognition, but he parts to a player in a collection of the fell from the Buchanan list and didn’t t the Super Regional, Minter put world’s greatest athletes. earn any All-America nods. But up some of the most eye-popZach is very aware of (Minnesota since MSU’s season ended, Minter’s ping numbers of any defensive Vikings Hall of Fame defensive

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tackle) John Randle’s situation,” said Mike Boyer, Minter’s agent based in Washington, D.C. “They had a lot more rounds when John entered the league and he didn’t get drafted. He’s in the Hall of Fame. Minter will have a chip on his shoulder going in, but he has a wonderful opportunity in Chicago and it’s an excellent fit.” he 6-foot-1, 287-pound Randle set the standard for undersized interior defensive linemen. During his 14-year career spent in Minnesota (1990-2000) and Seattle (2000-2003), Randle set an NFL record for sacks by a defensive tackle with 137.5. He was a six-time All-Pro, was named to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 1990s and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. oyer mentioned Randle, along with current Cincinnati defensive tackle Geno Atkins as examples of how less-than-towering talents have

made it in the middle of NFL defenses. “Let’s be honest in that Zach is not the tallest guy in the world, but I did sell to teams that there is precedent for guys who are 6-1,” Boyer said. “I pointed every team to Randle and also to how well Geno Atkins is doing in Cincinnati. Geno is a tremendous athlete who ran a 4.75 40-yard dash at the combine (in 2010), but was 293 pounds, so he was lighter than Zach and they are the same height. Zach jumped higher (34.5 inches to 33 inches for Atkins). If anything, teams wish Zach was taller, but I did show them that Geno has success with similar stature.” Atkins is a two-time Pro Bowler out of Georgia who set a Bengals’ franchise record with 12.5 sacks last season. The red flag on Atkins before he was selected in the fourth round was his size, but his stellar performance at the NFL Combine — 4.75 40, 33 reps on

225-pound bench, 33-inch vertical jump, 4.43 in the 20-yard shuttle — vaulted him into the fourth round. inter’s senior season at MSU was a far cry from what he envisioned. But Chicago is a fresh start, a new opportunity to chase a dream. Minter has a new set of goals and he’s shooting for the stars. I just keep thinking there is so much more I have to do,” Minter said. “I have come far in my football career, playing in college, doing fairly well, securing an agent and signing with a pro football team. But there ís still so much more I have to do to attain my goals. I’ve written them down: I want to be the best; I want to start for the Bears; I want to be a Pro Bowler; I want to be in Hawaii — I want to be in the Hall of Fame.” c

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let there be light: BOBCATS HOST FIRST NIGHT GAME IN SCHOOL HISTORY

by Colter Nuanez

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he opponent may not have been a powerhouse, but the event was no doubt marquee. ontana State opened its 2012 campaign as the proverbial favorite to win the Big Sky Conference for a third straight fall. The season got off to a shining start on the Thursday of Labor Day weekend. With Division II Chadron State in town, MSU lit up Bobcat Stadium like never before. A program-record 20,767 fans packed the stands for the first night game in school history. “To see that stadium complete with the new end-zone lit up and packed full was really something,” Montana State seventh-year head coach Rob Ash said. he Bobcats didn’t disappoint. In front of the exuberant fan base, the Bobcat defense set the tone for the

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community that victory.” inebacker Jody Owens got his senior season off on the right foot, leading the Bobcat defense with seven total tackles and a forced fumble. Owens went on to win the Big “I know how much the fans wanted Sky’s Most OutDefensive that game. To watch them react was standing Player. Defensive so neat. That was a great moment for end Caleb Schreibeis also kick-started a everyone in our program.” senior season that saw him become -Coach Bo Beck the first Bobcat ever to win the Buck Buchanan Award, with 91 yards and the Bobcats posted a a six-tackle, one-sack performance. 33-6 win. “I know how much the fans The Buchanan is the Football Chamwanted that game,” MSU defensive pionship Subdivision’s top defensive line coach Bo Beck said. “To watch player. them react was so neat. That was a he signature moment of the great moment for everyone in our evening — and arguably the loudprogram. It was exciting to give this est the crowd got all night — came rest of the season, holding the Eagles to 135 total yards, including just 35 on the ground. Quarterback DeNarius McGhee threw for 176 yards and four touchdowns, Cody Kirk rushed for

on the first series of the second half. With the ball on Chadron’s 25-yard line, Eagles quarterback John McLain dropped back for a pass. MSU senior defensive tackle Zach Minter came on a stunt, engaged with a Chadron lineman, exploded into a patented spin move and swallowed McLain. As Minter stood above McLain, he engaged in his signature sack

celebration, causing the packed house to erupt ecstatically. Minter finished the game with 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. “It was the first game of my senior season and we wanted to set the pace, set the bar for how the season was going to go,” Minter said in April. “You build up all these practices and spring drills and all this weight training… so much hard work to get to your senior year. Then it’s the Gold Rush, the first night game and it was time to turn it out. It was one of my favorite memories as a Bobcat.”

he game marked MSU running backs’ coach Demo Odems’ first on the Bobcat sidelines. Odems played at the University of Iowa in the mid-1990s. The Hawkeyes play in Kinnick Stadium, a 71,000-seat venue that is one of college football’s best. Yet the Chadron State contest still sticks in Odems’ mind. “I talk about that night game when I’m on the recruiting trail in Texas,” Odems said. “The atmosphere during our games is unbelievable. For FCS night games, we’ll travel places and play in front of 3,000 or 4,000 people and half of those are ours. Then we have an 18,000-person stadium and we have more than 20,000 fans there. The atmosphere during that game was just crazy. We are blowing up right now. It’s second-to-none at this point. We have a better atmosphere than a lot of FBS schools. Games like that only help our reputation.” c

BREAKING THROUGH:

ash, staff post first playoff win over new hampshire By Colter Nuanez

ob Ash’s career was stocked with success long before New Hampshire rolled into town. ontana State’s head coach had 216 wins to his credit. He and his staff had just helped their Bobcats to a share of their second straight Big Sky Conference title. Yet one thing was missing: a playoff victory. And doubt swirled in the Bobcat Stadium air. n 2011, MSU streaked to nine straight wins and a No. 1 national ranking, the first such ascension since Montana State joined the Football Championship Subdivision. But the hot streak came to an end abruptly when Montana marched into Bobcat Stadium for the regular season finale for both squads. The Grizzlies pounded the Bobcats relentlessly, piling up 309 total rushing yards in a dominant 36-10 victory. Being No. 1 in the nation, playing our rivals at home and getting beat down showed us that we weren’t as good as we thought we were,” former Montana State All-America defensive tackle Zach Minter said. “It was humbling. We learned we couldn’t walk into a game and assume we are going to win.” he Bobcats entered the FCS playoffs licking their wounds, yet MSU was still awarded a first-round bye and a home game for the second

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round. The draw was New Hampshire. The question remained: could Ash and his staff, a group that spent 18 years at Drake, lead a team to a playoff win? he Drake Bulldogs are part of the Pioneer League. Ash won 125 games at the school, but none in the playoffs. Ash and his staff added 38 more

wins at Montana State before that November afternoon in 2011, but none were of the postseason variety. railing New Hampshire 19-16 with 10:52 to play, Montana State quarterback DeNarius McGhee mounted a rally. The sophomore ripped off a 37-yard touchdown run to give MSU a 23-19 lead.

McGhee, who threw for 167 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 96 yards and two more touchdowns, drove MSU 71 yards down to the New Hampshire nine-yard line, setting up a 26-yard Jason Cunningham field goal that gave MSU a 26-19 lead with 9:38 to play. unior cornerback Darius Jones picked off a pass by UNH star quarterback Kevin Decker and it looked the Bobcats would advance. The interception looked like the cap on a stellar day by the Montana State defense. Behind an incredible 11-tackle effort that included 3.5 tackles for loss by junior linebacker Jody Owens, the Bobcats held the explosive UNH offense to 248 total yards, only 48 of which came on the ground. But Chris Beranger (15 tackles), Matt Evans (11 tackles) and the Wildcat defense stood strong, forcing a punt and giving Decker one more shot with

linebackers’ coach) Kane (Ioane) and one minute to play. With six seconds left, Decker hit Justin Mello for a 29- I about choking each other when that yard touchdown to cut the gap to one. field goal got blocked. It was a great, great game.” On the ensuing extra point, Minter That was and MSU huge, safety Ste“Once that thing fell no good, whether ven Bethcoming from ley broke we went crazy. That was the Drake or anythrough the greatest feeling.” where — until line. Someyou actually one’s hand - Coach Bo Beck win a playoff touched the game, there’s ball and some uncerthe PAT fell tainty,” added MSU defensive coorshort. Montana State was moving on dinator Jamie Marshall, who played with a 26-25 win. Ash had his first for Ash at Drake and joined his staff playoff victory. There will always be the argument immediately afterward. “Two weeks before, we lost to the Griz and got run about who blocked that thing, Minter or Bethley, but who cares,” out of our own stadium. To be able to said Montana State defensive line come back and play the same style of offense and get our first playoff win coach Bo Beck. “Once that thing fell no good, we went crazy. That was the was huge for our coaching staff and this program.” greatest feeling. I remember (MSU

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hile the Bobcats were elated, the Wildcats were completely deflated. “When we threw that pick, I thought that was the end of our season,” said Tim Cramsey, Montana State’s first-year offensive

coordinator who held the same spot at UNH in 2011. “We get it back and score, but then the extra point gets blocked. My emotions in the booth went from down in the dumps, our season is over after that pick, to as completely as high as you could be because I thought we were going to tie it up to completely down to rock bottom

after that extra point. It was a feeling you never want to feel as a coach.” ontana State’s run ended the next week with a 49-13 loss at Sam Houston State. But on December 3, 2011, Ash broke through and his Bobcats took another step for the ascent of the Montana State program. “I went home and sat down in my chair and I thought I was going to enjoy the win. Then my wife Margaret came home and said, ‘Get your shoes on. We are going downtown,’”Ash said with a smile. “It was a fabulous game and a great effort, especially since we had that disappointing loss to the Griz. That win was monumental. It was the first playoff win in my career, ever. That was a real high point in my life.” c

PRIMETIME PLAYS: In front of national TV audience, Daly propels MSU to playoff win by Colter Nuanez

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ike they had all season, Brad Daly and Caleb Schreibeis found a way to get home. he relentless Montana State defensive end duo were in the position of closers once again as their Bobcats battled the bruising Seawolves of Stony Brook in the second round of the FCS playoffs on December 1, 2012. ontana State clung to a 1610 lead with 1:37 to play. The visiting Seawolves had one more shot at a last-minute drive with quarterback Kevin Essington

at the controls. chreibeis had fourth-quarter sacks against Drake, Stephen F. Austin and Southern Utah during MSU’s 2012 Big Sky Conference championship season. Daly played the role of closer against SUU, UC Davis. Against Stony Brook, he made two

of the season’s biggest plays when it mattered most.

ith the game on the line, Montana State’s closers slammed the door. Daly reached the quarterback to set up a long yardage situation. He then beat massive 6-foot-8, 345-pound Stony Brook offensive tackle Michael “Brad beating that big beast Bamiro again, flushing Essinginto Schreibeis and forcing around the corner, that’s just the ton a game-ending fumble. It’s the dream play for a will of the kid. That was David defensive end, to finish the beating Goliath.” game on a sack,” Daly said following the game. “Those

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are some of the best feelings in the world. I was going against the biggest human I’ve ever seen in my life. I knew I had to get around him, because I knew there wasn’t any way to go through him.” hen the Bobcats recovered the fumble and the playoff win was secured, the record crowd of 15,387 went into pandemonium. The first night playoff game in school history was seen by the nation, live on ESPN2. I was trying to not get emotional at that point because I still had to call the game, but I was pretty darn excited,” said Montana State seventh-year defensive coordinator Jamie Marshall. “When those guys got home and closed the game out for us, that was kind of the way the whole year went. We had so many games that we closed out with Caleb or Brad. It was unbelievable the way the crowd reacted when we took the field after that sack.” year earlier, Montana State beat New Hampshire 26-25 thanks to a blocked extra point in the waning seconds. But the Bobcats’ playoff run stopped short in Huntsville, Texas. Sam Houston State pounded MSU 49-13 in the FCS quarterfinals. The bracket set up perfectly for a rematch and this time the game would be played in Bozeman. There was so much on the line,” said MSU defensive line coach Bo Beck. “We knew we had to do it to take another step and we all wanted to win and we all wanted Sam Houston to come here. But Stony Brook was scary. Brad beating that big beast around the corner, that’s just the will of the kid. He just flat beat him. Then he comes off and he says, ‘That’s the biggest human in the world.’ That was David beating Goliath.” he moment was made even more special because of the national television audience. “We were like,

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‘Aye, it’s ESPN!” former MSU defensive tackle Zach Minter, now with the Chicago Bears, said. “That’s what you dream about, especially when you are from out of state. I wanted to have my family and friends watch me. I knew everyone would be watching. Then we got it done.” aly and Schreibeis’ grand finale was set up by a stellar defensive effort by the Bobcats. MSU limited one of the nation’s top rushing attacks to 123 yards and just 3.3 yards per rush. Overall, the Seawolves mustered just 245 total yards of offense. Miguel Maysonet, the eventual Walter Payton Award-winner who’s now with the Cleveland Browns, was limited to 83 yards, roughly half of his per-game average in 2012. The whole game, we were able to shut them down,” Beck said. “Maysonet was at the Buck Buchanan, Payton deal and he was so complimentary to Caleb (the eventual Buck Buchanan Award winner) about that game, because I don’t think he’s ever been shut down like that.” he MSU defense totaled 12 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including 2.5 by Daly. Middle linebacker Na’a Moeakiola had 1.5 TFLs among his 11 total tackles. Big Sky Defensive MVP Jody Owens added 1.5 TFLs among his eight total stops. he biggest plays in the Stony Brook backfield came when the game and the season were on the line. As a coach, it’s always winning for the team first, but to watch your guys do that and end it like that, it’s so much fun because it makes it all worth while,” Beck said. “Not only to just make plays, but to make great plays, winning plays. Then you get to go home and watch the replay on ESPN2. That game was huge for this program and one I will never forget.” c

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The

CEO:

Ash has built a model program the only way he knows how by Colter Nuanez

ob Ash took a mess and turned it into a model. As Montana State’s head coach enters his seventh season, the controversy-stricken program he inherited seems a distant memory. Ash’s Bobcats have won three straight Big Sky Conference titles. Last fall, the Bobcats won 11 games and advanced to the FCS quarterfinals for the second straight season. In the classroom, 12 Bobcats were named to the Big Sky’s All-Academic team and wide receiver Tanner Bleskin was a second-team Academic All-America.

Despite some of the toughest admission standards and academic curriculums in the Big Sky, the Bobcats had the fifth-best Academic Progress Rating (950) among the league’s nine members as of 2012. hen Ash first was hired from Drake, a school where he spent 18 seasons, the Bobcats were in APR hell. MSU had an APR of 876. The program was docked scholarships and practice time by the NCAA. In the Bozeman community, the program was awash in controversy. Six current or former MSU athletes, including five men with football ties, were linked to a drug conspiracy on campus that came to a head with the murder of Jason Wright. n May of 2007, Montana State terminated Mike Kramer’s contract, citing a “crisis in leadership.” Ash had won 126 games at Drake, but the non-scholarship FCS school was never a playoff team. He jumped at the chance to clean up a tradition-laden program like Montana State’s. I embraced it. There was no hesitancy,” Ash said. “But on the same token, I’m not sure I realized just how big a challenge we had here. I didn’t really understand the penalties we were going to suffer and how hard it was going to be to get out of that hole.” The outside perception was that there was some really bad things wrong,” said MSU defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Bo Beck, who’s spent 10 seasons since 2002 on Ash’s staff. “No. 1 was the APR. Coach was the right guy to fix that. He’s always been an academic

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linebacker who was heading into Hauck over at Montana. He told me guy. The stuff he put into place with the people downstairs in academics his junior season when Kramer was everything that was going on. All of a and turning that part around as fast as fired. “Kramer and his staff were very sudden, Coach got the job.” we did was huge.” intense and loud and in your face. sh had told himself that to move ast season, Ash became Montana Ash’s group is more teachers, more from Des Moines, the city where State’s all-time leader in wins. mental. They expect you to motivate he was born, the suitor would need His 50 victories in six seasons bested yourself. If you’ve ever been in the to be in a place where football was Sonny Holland’s 47 wins between locker room with Coach Ash, he’s not significant. The Bobcats had the 1971 and 1977. All along the way, going to give you a crazy pre-game talent. They needed the right man to he’s done it with charisma and class, speech. He expects you to motivate readjust the culture. becoming a figurehead around the he move was hard on Ash and his yourself, which there’s nothing wrong wife, Margaret, whom Ash said state of Montana. with that. It’s absolutely phenomenal what That first year, it was hard for the is more of a city person. But they’d he’s built,” said Mike Person, seniors because they felt like they always loved the mountains, having a 2010 All-America vacationed to all 50 states offensive lineman who to camp and falling in love “It’s absolutely phenomenal what with Colorado and Montana. now plays for the Seattle Seahawks. “It’s so nice to he’s built,” said Mike Person, a 2010 Initially, the winters were “a little long”, Ash said, but see what he’s done and the All-America offensive lineman who now vacations to warm weather way he’s done it. Those first few years, it was and unwavering community plays for the Seattle Seahawks. support made the move well tough, but these last few worth it. years, it’s just clicked. The progress speaks for itself We both really love the and I only see better things in the fact that this is a football lost their coaching staff. It went down future.” in July, so we had to adjust quick.” school,” Ash said. “Drake is a wonderful place, but it’s not a football he Montana State program is s the 2006 season wound down school. It’s great to be in a place humming along like a well-oiled in Des Moines, Iowa, Ash knew machine. But it wasn’t an instantahe was ready for a change. His Drake where football is really important and neous fix. Ash’s first three seasons, Bulldogs finished with a 9-3 record. It it’s supported by the university and MSU posted a 20-14 record, includwas the 10th time Drake had won at the community and the media and everybody.” ing three lopsided losses to fierce least seven games in a season under rival Montana. Ash. The head coach had four Piosh brought Marshall and Beck hile MSU had issues in the neer League championships. But the with him from Drake and both classroom and the courtroom, Bulldogs were left out of the playoffs remain on his staff. He retained Kramer had resurrected a dormant yet again. offensive line coach Jason McEndoo program and helped the ‘Cats rise to I felt like I accomplished pretty and promoted Kane Ioane to be his the top of the Big Sky. In Kramer’s much everything I could there and full-time linebackers coach from first season in 2000, MSU went 0-11. I felt like we were never going to get Kramer’s staff. The rest of the MSU in the playoffs,” Ash said. “The proBy 2002, the Bobcats were Big Sky coaches are relatively new, but each champs for the first time since 1984’s cess of leaving started a couple years time there’s a vacancy, Ash seems to national title run. Kramer beat the before I actually left. At that point in make a stellar hire. Griz in 2002, 2003 and 2005, sharing my career, I would have taken any job He does a great job of letting his Big Sky titles each year and ending in the Big Sky Conference.” coaches coach and his players MSU’s 16-game losing streak to their sh applied at Stephen F. Austin play,” Ioane said. “He’s a great manamong other FCS powers. In the ager of people. He does a great job hated neighbors to the west. Kramer’s 2006 Bobcats went 8-5, including a spring of 2007, Ash and his staff were of making sure that he has an idea of 31-13 win over Furman to earn MSU at longtime defensive coordinator where he wanted to take the program Jamie Marshall’s wedding. “Coach a berth in the FCS quarterfinals. and he stuck to it. To take us from on When Ash was hired, it was walks in and asks, ‘Who knows the cusp to getting us there, he had anything about Montana State?’” that vision and he made it.” definitely a culture shock,” said Bobby Daly, a two-time All-America Beck said. “I said I knew Bobby 43

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He’s always done it his way,” Beck said. “He’s always been the coach of the coaches, more of a CEO guy who lets us do our things with the kids and coach them. But there’s a way it needs to be done.” ver the past three seasons, Ash’s staff has lost six coaches, including three offensive coordinators. The continuity of the program hasn’t missed a beat. One thing that really intrigued me when I interviewed for this job was Coach didn’t talk about football,” said running backs coach Demo Odems, who Ash hired before the 2012 season. “Not once. We talked about life, about developing kids. We talked about everything but football.” fter a few years of readjusting the culture, the players went all in. The result has been 30 wins and three straight Big Sky titles over the past three seasons. “I’m a firm believer in attitude and expectations, expecting to win every time out,” said Mike Rider, the captain of the 2010 BSC champions who was hired in 2012 to be a defensive line assistant. “Coach Ash has established that attitude here and helped us bring some swagger back.”

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It’s a mindset; if you are used to losing, you are going to lose. When you are used to winning, you just win,” added running back Cody Kirk, a senior captain for the 2013 Bobcats. “I don’t know why we win, we just do. And that’s because Coach Ash and the staff accepts nothing less.” n 2010, Waded Cruzado took over as the president at Montana State. By 2011, the school had raised more than $10 million to renovate Bobcat Stadium. Now the venue holds 17,777 fans and more than 20,000 watched the Bobcats open the 2012 season at night under newly erected lights. The stadium, the way that dovetailed together with the fundraising during the 2010 season when we were winning our first championship and winning the Grizzly game and

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reaching our financial goals, it was an amazing convergence of events,” Ash said. “It’s one of those historical moments for it to come all together.” sh has added to his win total each season he’s been at Montana State. The program has risen to the ranks of the nationally elite. The Bobcats enter the 2013 season as the No. 3 team in the country. The Bobcats return a slew of talent, including Kirk and All-America quarterback DeNarius McGhee. Can the ascent continue on its upward track? That’s what we try to do,” Ash said. “The difference between winning and losing is razor thin. We just have to keep pushing our players and coaches to another level to stay where we are, much less move forward. I know it can’t go on forever, but we are sure going to try.” c

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strong family roots man m endoo c

doesn’t let football rule his life by Colter Nuanez

ver the last decade, Jason McEndoo has carved out a life of stability in the Gallatin Valley. To hear the 11th-year Montana State offensive line coach say it, there are two types of coaches: the ones who’ve been fired and the ones who will be. McEndoo is neither. The 38-year-old has helped MSU climb the ranks of the nationally elite. The Bobcats have shared the last three Big Sky Conference titles. McEndoo has coached seven All-America players. In 2011, the man they call ‘Coach Mac’ was honored as the American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year in the FCS. Suitors have come calling; yet MSU’s longest tenured coach has never jumped for a bigger job. cEndoo is a family man. He’s been married to his wife, Ruth, for 14 years. They have four children and a home just four minutes from the MSU campus. Where else, McEndoo asks, can you have a 4-H project with two steers in the back yard minutes away from a raucous

football stadium that fills to the gills every Saturday? hen he’s not roaming the sidelines at Bobcat Stadium, McEndoo is busy coaching his own kids in sports and the game of life. Last spring, on top of MSU’s spring football drills, McEndoo also coached his son, Luke (11) and his daughters, Elizabeth (9) and Aubrie (7) in baseball and softball. It all comes with a sacrifice. But McEndoo would much rather give up his own time roaming the banks of the Yellowstone River fly fishing than the livelihood of his family. “I have to make sure I’m making an impact on my kids’ lives,” McEndoo said while sitting in his office in April. “That’s what’s lost in translation in college coaching. (Legendary NFL coach) Bill Parcells said it best. The guy has been married two or three times. He said he would do it differently because he doesn’t know his family. His kids don’t know him. I don’t want that.”And while McEndoo’s life may seem ideal, if not incredibly hectic, it’s been a long path of healing , learning and forgiveness.

s the summer of 1996 dwindled ith the upcoming season on McEndoo had a marketing class and Washington State’s fall the horizon, McShane and together and a friendship blossomed. camp approached, McEndoo was McEndoo struggled to cope with “You talk about God putting people on top of the world. The Cougars the tragedy. McEndoo began seeing in your life at certain times and returned the “Fat Five,” a relentless WSU’s sports psychologist, but certain places, I know He put her group of linemen assigned to protect nothing could dull the pain. “No one there,” McEndoo said. Heisman Trophy hopeful and future really knew how to handle me,” he ut McEndoo still had resentment NFL first-round quarterback Ryan said. “I skipped all the meetings. in his heart toward McShane, his Leaf. McEndoo thought he was Su(The coaches) tried to help when best friend. He isolated himself from perman. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound OL they could, but they didn’t know teammates. When Walters showed up could squat more than 600 pounds. what to do. I was a complete wreck. on campus for an article to recount He could bench more than 450 and I was downtown every single night. the tragedy, he was part sportswriter, power clean more than 375. He was I was going to class, then practice part unintentional therapist. At one an All-Pac 10 player and an NFL and as soon as practice was over, point during his interview, Walters hopeful. “I had an S on my chest, I was going to the bar.”McEndoo turned off the tape recorder and just walked around like I was let the WSU offensive lineinvincible,” he said. men yell out his frustrations. “My world got flipped upside down,” “It was a transformational n June of that couple of hours for Jason summer, McEndoo McEndoo said. “Looking back at it now, and (Walters) had no idea married his Aberdeen you don’t know why things happen. he was conducting a therapy (Wash.) High sweetwithin the interview,” heart, Michelle. A You don’t know why God does certain session Ruth McEndoo wrote in an month later, the McEndoos hopped in fellow things. Nobody knows why. But I think email. “The article came out the week Washington State WSU lineman Ryan time does heal.” played Oregon in Eugene, McShane’s Ford Exbut Coach (Mike) Price plorer and headed west refused to let them read it until to Tacoma for Cory Wicontemplated sitting out the 1996 the game was over. Without that throw’s wedding. On the drive back season. But he soon realized he article, I’m not sure the 1998 Rose to Pullman, McShane fell asleep at Bowl would have happened.” was beginning to see himself as a the wheel. His SUV veered off the widower rather than a 21-year-old exit ramp just before Ellensburg. n 1997, the Cougars fulfilled their student athlete. So he pressed on. He McShane jolted awake, grabbing potential. The team reeled off the wheel and over correcting. The ordered M’s for the uniforms of his seven straight wins to climb to No. Explorer rolled nearly a dozen times 10 in the country. After a 63-37 lamfellow linemen and Leaf in memory down the freeway. basting of Cal, McEndoo and a few of Michelle. fter being thrown from the SU opened up the campaign teammates hit the Sports Page. When car, McShane landed on top of with a 37-19 loss at Colothe crew tried to close out their tab, Michelle on a barbed wire fence. rado. On the final play of the game, Ruth told them it was on the house. Jason — the only one wearing his McEndoo allowed Leaf to be sacked. McEndoo handed her his checkbook seatbelt — watched in horror, upside Maybe he wasn’t ready to return so she could write herself a tip. The down in the vehicle, helpless. When to the gridiron. “I didn’t even try next week, they started dating. By police arrived, Michelle was already to stop him,” McEndoo told John February of 1998, they were married. dead. Walters of Sports Illustrated in 1997. eanwhile, Washington State My world got flipped upside “I unbuckled my chin strap and made a run that culminated in walked toward the sideline. I don’t down,” McEndoo said. “Looking a Rose Bowl berth and ended with a back at it now, you don’t know why mean after the play. During the play.” 21-16 Rose Bowl loss to No. 1 MichDuring his late nights drinking at the igan, the 1997 national champions. things happen. You don’t know why God does certain things. Nobody bars, McEndoo met Ruth Padgett, That spring, the Seattle Seahawks knows why. But I think time does a bartender at the Pullman bar, The drafted McEndoo. Sports Page. That semester, she and heal.”

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ac played three years in the league before catching on as a high school coach in Washington. In 2003, MSU head coach Mike Kramer took a chance on a 27-year-old with no collegiate experience. When Kramer was fired in 2007, Rob Ash was one of the finalists for the head job. During his final interview, he remembers McEndoo sitting front and center taking notes. When Ash was hired, he gave each of Kramer’s former assistants the opportunity to interview for a spot on his staff. It was the middle of summer and McEndoo was busy running one of the various youth football camps on the MSU campus. Ash looked out the window of his new office at about 11:45. He knew McEndoo was scheduled to be in his office in 15 minutes for a two-hour interview. When the clock struck noon, there was McEndoo, dressed in a full suit, tie and a sports coat. He sweated through the interview before returning to the camp. “That was a great first impression,” Ash said. “That sums up Mac.” ince Ash took over, Mac has had his fair share of talented players. But he’s also taken unheralded and undersized walk-ons like Jimmy Verlanic and Shaun Sampson and turned them into All-Big Sky performers. “As a player, I really didn’t think I’d ever play at the Big Sky level,” said Verlanic, a team captain in 2008. “He always pushed us to be better than we thought we could be. You wanted to hate him during certain times, but you loved him afterward. He would just ream you, but it was always to make you better.” hether his player is a former walk-on running back like 2011 starting offensive guard Casey Dennehy or a four-year starter with NFL potential like 2010 All-America tackle Mike Person, McEndoo knows

how to maximize talent. I’m a huge believer — and this is something Mac taught me — is to do everything right all the time,” said Jeff Hansen, a 2009 All-America pick who had a brief stint with the San Diego Chargers. “The little things always add up. If it’s schoolwork or football or your job, do it 100 percent and to the best of your ability. That’s how you turn potential into greatness.” hile his players’ on-field production speaks for itself, McEndoo’s recruiting chops have sharpened over the past decade. When he first arrived at MSU, Joe O’Brien was the Montana recruiter for the Bobcats. MSU had some momentum, having beaten the Griz two years in a row after an epic 16-game losing skid known across the Treasure State as “The Streak.” O’Brien was fired after being charged with crimes surrounding cooking and distributing methamphetamines. Kramer was assigned to recruit all of Montana by himself. McEndoo was used to back roads after growing up in the logging town of Cosmopolis, Wash. But it’s tough to grasp the size of Montana. cEndoo remembers a time when the “Eastern Swing” — a trip that is more than 1,900 miles and takes him up through Plentywood, Opine and Scobey — was a trip devoid of cell phone service. He remembers stopping for a hamburger at a bar in Scobey and having to scour the 200-person town for an ATM because it was a cash-only joint. McEndoo sums up the back roads of Montana with his trademark saying:“I always talk about 100 miles and a corndog, because when I first started, debit cards weren’t online,” he said. “No one had debit cards let alone was there a McDonald’s or anything once you got past Miles

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City. There was nothing. Nothing. It’s all small-town cafes and Town Pump gas stations. I’d always get a corndog at the gas station before driving another 100 miles.” bove the light switch in McEndoo’s office is a sticker. Each night he leaves, he looks at it to remind him to turn the light off and leave the stresses of his day on campus. When he’s home, he’s not Coach Mac. He’s dad. He’s Ruth’s husband. The sticker is a reminder of three phrases McEndoo lives by. Patience is a virtue. Wind produces character. Bigger is not always better. McEndoo coaches like he parents. He strives to make an impact in the lives of his players. Many of the boys he tutored at Montana State have since grown into men. The phone calls about weddings and kids and new houses make Mac’s heart swell. He still advises Person as he tries to hang on the NFL. He catches up with Hansen when he can. He spoke at Verlanic’s wedding. e strives for his priorities to remain faith, family, football, in that order. McEndoo knows he’s passed over opportunities. But he values the quality of life at Montana State. He also knows that, when the time is right, he will move on. “It’s inevitable. But right now, we are trying to live in a good place and raise our family,” McEndoo said. “I feel fortunate to start my career in a place we want to be. Guys spend their entire careers trying to get to that elusive place and some of them never make it. I don’t take that for granted.” c

The Age of Denarius THE END OF AN ERA IS UPON THE BOBCATS. CAN MSU SEND MCGHEE OUT ON TOP? by Colter Nuanez

golden sunset on a March evening seemed a symbol of things to come. As Montana State Sr. QB DeNarius McGhee ran wind sprints on the Bobcat Stadium turf, his sense of urgency was apparent. As the sun disappeared over the Tobacco Root Mountains, the intensity foreshadowed the days, weeks and months to come. The twilight of DeNarius McGhee’s time in blue and gold had begun for the MSU Bobcats. The four-year starter has been the face of the ‘Cats for two generations. When he took his first snap for the Bobcats as a redshirt freshman in 2010, he helped usher in an era of unparalleled success. No longer is McGhee a

phenom with potential. He’s now the Godfather of Big Sky Conference quarterbacks, the league’s reigning Offensive Most Outstanding Player — and his opportunity is running thin. We don’t have any time to waste because there are other teams in the country who are trying to knock us off, so we have to embrace every moment,” McGhee said as he caught his breath following the first day of spring drills that picturesque March evening. “I have to give it all. We have to give it all.” McGhee enters his final season at Montana State as the school’s all-time leader in wins (30) and touchdown passes (71). With 283 completions, 3,501 yards, 28 touchdowns and four wins, McGhee would become the Big Sky’s all-time

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leader in all four categories. No matter what he ends up with, he’s going to go down as one of the best players this conference has seen and one of the best players in this country,” said MSU’s first-year offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey. Despite all the accolades — McGhee was the Big Sky’s Offensive MOP in 2010 and an AFCA first-team All-America in 2012 — the Bobcats have fallen short of their ultimate goal three years running. Of the 30 wins MSU has piled up with McGhee at the helm, only two have been in the playoffs. The last two seasons have stopped short with FCS playoff quarterfinal losses to Sam Houston State. We owe DeNarius a big year because he’s given us his best three years,” said Sonny Holland, an alltime MSU great who won a national title as a player in 1956 and as the ‘Cats’ head coach in 1976. “He’s carried us on his shoulders to this point. He’s brought us right to the altar. I’d sure like to see us go all the way just for him.” or all he’s accomplished, McGhee has an “attitude to never be satisfied.” The exuberant, loud young man battles in everything he does. Jason

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McEndoo, MSU’s 11th-year OL coach, said McGhee is one of the fiercest competitors he’s ever seen. He wants to beat you in chess. He wants to beat you on the basketball court or while playing Xbox or on the football field. Although McGhee has already written a legacy as one of the Big Sky’s best gunslingers, he wants more. “If you look at my game, I’ve been good, but I’ve never been great,” McGhee said. “To think that I haven’t been great since I’ve been at MSU drives me crazy.” n Montana State’s roster, McGhee’s hometown is listed as Euless, Texas. But McGhee spent the first 13 years t the end of his junior year, primary caretaker. Gause strategically of his life being raised mostly by his McGhee had one scholarship chose Euless to raise his son. Trinity aunt and grandmother in the predomHigh School’s football program is one offer: a full ride to the Air Force inantly black Mississippi community Academy. Then Justin Gaines entered of America’s best. Gause’s brother is of McComb. “When someone asks a preacher in Euless and helped instill the picture. The charismatic, energetic me where I’m from, I say McComb, a foundation of faith within DeNarius. former MSU assistant called or wrote Mississippi,” he said. “That’s where “My dad took a risk for me,” McGhee daily. Sometimes, he’d call just to my roots are.” McGhee didn’t know see if he could stop by for some of said. “My mom knew she couldn’t his mother, Ella Mae McGhee, or his Gause’s famous chili spaghetti. father, Mike Gause, until he When head coach Rob Ash was nine-years-old. came to McGhee’s house and rowing up in Mc“He’s carried us on his shoulders told him tales of frigid battles Comb, a city of 13,644 to this point. He’s brought us right to with the hated Montana Grizabout 80 miles south of zlies and made promises of Jackson, taught McGhee the altar. I’d sure like to see us go McGhee being the key to lead tolerance. McComb is MSU back to the Promised all the way just for him.” 66 percent black and 31 Land, the Trojan QB knew percent white. McGhee he’d be a Bobcat. remembers going to play on ike Rider vividly rememthe swings at the “Caucasian bers a morning during teach me how to be a man. My dad people’s quarters” and having cops the winter of 2010. The standout taught me integrity, character and to come through to kick him out. Segresafety and team captain was heading be relentless at all times.” gation, even in 21st-century America, cGhee arrived at Trinity an uninto his senior season. As he and still exists. dersized athlete who’d excelled McGhee tossed the football after their Mississippi is racist. So racist,” at skill positions. A growth spurt teammates had left, they dreamt of McGhee said. “There’s a train pushed him to his current height of what the Bobcats could become. They track through McComb and there’s six-feet. Under the tutelage of lauded spoke of the belief it would take, the white people quarters on one side mentor Trinity head coach Steve the drive the ‘Cats would need if the and the hood on the other side. It’s program wanted to attain the national Lineweaver, McGhee developed into completely segregated.” a star. He led the Trojans to the 2007 championship level that had eluded hen DeNarius reached adolesTexas 5A Division I state title. it since 1984. “You could see even cence, his father became his

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then that there was something special within him,” said Rider, now an MSU DL assistant coach. “He had a vision, he had expectations and he’s a hard worker. He’s loud and he’s vocal, but when it was just the two of us sitting there talking, I could tell that he was going to be special.” s the fall rolled around, Rider and his veteran teammates, captain (S) Jordan Craney and (DE) Dustin O’Connell threw McGhee in the fire right away. As McGhee battled former Oregon transfer senior Cody Kempt for the starting job, tensions within the team began to build. “His personality, he’s just so exuberant about everything and he wants to be in the front with everything and it rubbed some of the older guys the wrong way,” said former OT Mike Person, a 2010 team captain and All-America selection. “But once DeNarius got out there and he proved it by playing the way he did, we all accepted him.” is first year under center, McGhee took the Big Sky by storm. He threw for 3,163 yards and 23 touchdowns. The Bobcats capped their first Big Sky title run since 2005 with a thrilling 21-16 win in Missoula over the hated Grizzlies. s McGhee enters his senior season, the resurrection of the Bobcats seems near completion. When Ash took over in 2007 after Kramer’s controversial firing, the team was on NCAA-mandated probation and short a handful of scholarships. Now, MSU is among the model programs in all the FCS. “(Former MSU quarterback) Travis Lulay helped put our program back on the map after the 0-11 season in 2000. DeNarius has helped take us from a good program to a great program,” said MSU linebackers’ coach Kane Ioane, a four-time All-America safety and teammate of Lulay. “Both of them will go down as two of the greatest if not the two greatest.”

ith the dawn of each season, the pressure mounts. The Bobcats have won one more game each season between McGhee’s freshman and junior years, but have fallen short in the playoffs each time. With the 2013 season on the horizon, nothing short of two more wins and a berth in the national championship game will satisfy the senior. ff the field, his fame has grown to superstar status within the borders of the Treasure State. “DeNarius, he’s the true definition of a celebrity,” said Sr. RB Cody Kirk, a 2013 team captain. “He’s handled it well. DeNarius is going to be a successful person in whatever he does.” The star understands the microscope he’s under. Gause taught DeNarius to always trust his instincts. If your first instinct is to stay away, don’t go. McGhee understands that in a small town that glorifies its football stars, even if he avoids trouble, trouble could find him. So most nights, he hangs out with his brothers at his Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. cGhee’s No. 9 jersey smatters the stands no matter where the Bobcats play. After games, he spends

extra time, sometimes more than an hour, signing autographs for kids and adults alike. “Off the field, I think it’s been remarkable how consistent he’s been,” Ash said. “For five years, he’s never changed, never fallen off the wagon or had any ups and downs.” cGhee is closing in on his marketing degree. If he doesn’t go to grad school and serve as a football graduate assistant, he’d like to try his hand at medical device sales. A fear of not being able to take care of his mom and his little sister, of not providing enough for them to get out of the Mississippi ghetto always lingers. It drives him. cGhee knows he wants to return to Bozeman someday. He hopes he will call the Gallatin Valley home when he’s old. But that’s generations in the future. The sun has yet to set on DeNarius McGhee’s career at Montana State. “We must win and win more and win it,” McGhee said. “I don’t want to say what ‘it’ is because that’s a long ways from now. But we have to win it. We have to make sure every single guy on our team gives it all they have and if we do that, we will be champions.” c

POWER OF VISUALIZATION: KIRK REMAINS DRIVEN AS HE ENTERS HIS SENIOR SEASON by Colter Nuanez

ody Kirk looks in the mirror and sees a vision. Every time the Montana State running back goes to his locker, the same image is squarely in front of his face. Attached to his mirror and in his locker is a laminated picture of Bobcat Stadium. Kirk believes in the power of visualization, so he refuses to let himself waver in his ultimate pursuit. As he enters his senior year, the sense of urgency has never been greater. It’s what I’ve played this game for. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of bringing back here,” Kirk said as he sat cross-legged outside the

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MSU weight room after completing one of his intense workouts on a sunny afternoon. “I want to visualize it every day and tell myself that the trophy is coming back to this stadium. I’m a big believer in visualization and I want to will it to happen. “We can’t have complacency, because we are not good enough yet. We have to go to work.” Peace of mind is the direct result of self-satisfaction when you know you made the effort to become the best you are capable of becoming.’ It’s the Wizard of Westwood’s definition of success. Kirk memorized John Wooden’s timeless words when he was 14-years-old. Before Kirk was in high school, he already promised himself he would never regret not becoming the absolute best athlete he could be. If I came (to Montana State) and worked my absolute hardest and it didn’t work out, I have nothing to be ashamed of,” Kirk said. “That’s still my mentality. If it doesn’t work out, then it wasn’t meant to be. But I will be able to look back on this 20 years from now and say there wasn’t anything more I could have done.” s Kirk enters his senior season, his Bobcat legacy is already among the best in school history. He’s a two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection. His 2,334 career rushing yards are the seventh-most in school

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history — 1,312 yards from Ryan Johnson’s school record. With one touchdown this fall, Kirk will have 30 scores, one more than Don Hass, the most in MSU history. o get to this point, Kirk needed a profound belief in the power of visualization and an unrivaled work ethic. Every day is a competition. Whether Kirk is working out calculus formulas as he pursues a mathematics degree, fighting for practice reps with Tray Robinson and Orenzo Davis, or plowing ahead for yards against Sacramento State, Kirk knows no quit. Kirk wants to win the day. Every day. That kid is just incredible,” Montana State head coach Rob Ash said. “He’s the epitome of hard work and competitiveness. He’s an unbelievable leader on the field. When it gets tough out there, he is going to get that first down, that touchdown. He’ll get a big drive going to ice up a win. He’s a guy you have to have out there.” o believe so staunchly in the power of visualization may seem idealistic. But much of what Kirk has envisioned since he was a star at Frenchtown High School has manifested itself in reality. In 2008, Kirk rushed for more than 1,700 yards for the Broncs. The Montana Grizzlies, a school just 15 minutes from the ranch he grew up on, didn’t give him a sniff.

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Not that it mattered. Kirk fell in love camp in 2010. Then Davis, a junior the primary ball carrier nonetheless, with the Bobcats as a youngster. His college transfer with speed to burn, earning first-team All-Big Sky honors “figured it out,” Ash said. Kirk ended by rushing for 1,351 yards (fifth-most uncle, Tom Mahlum — a Montana State Hall-of-Famer who played tight his redshirt freshman year with just in school history) and 14 touchdowns, end on the 1984 national title the second-most ever by a team — brought Kirk to Bobcat. Bozeman each Saturday. avis and Robinson both “Peace of mind is the direct result of returned in 2012, but Kirk They stood on the sidelines, self-satisfaction when you know you held them off again. He missed watching some of Mike Kramer’s best teams in the made the effort to become the best the month of October with early 2000s. Kirk’s vision a hamstring injury, yet still you are capable of becoming.” for his future was born. rushed for 841 yards and 13 But the Bobcats weren’t touchdowns, earning secthrowing scholarship money ond-team All-Big Sky honors Kirk’s way either. He was offered a 37 carries, 142 yards and two touchin the process. downs. Davis rushed for 1,126 yards preferred walk-on spot. There’s a BIG chip on my No one had any expectations for on 206 carries and 10 scores. shoulder,” Kirk said in April. me,” Kirk said. “No one thought ollowing the season, Davis was “I love Coach Ash and I love what I was going to be the next great he’s done, but I have a chip on my ruled academically ineligible. running back. Shoot, half the reason I The MSU coaches brought in transfer shoulder towards him for (bringing in was recruited was I’m Tom’s nephew. Tray Robinson, a chiseled 6-foot-1, transfers). That lack of trust at times, I came here to prove people wrong.” 225-pound block of muscle from the that’s my negative connotation in Kirk won the starting job out of fall University of Nebraska. Kirk was interpreting it and it motivates me.

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But that lack of trust gave me that chip and makes me think, ‘I’m going to prove you wrong.’ That’s the way it has been every single year. I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened again this year.” Former University of Nevada tailback Anthony Knight was rumored to be joining the Bobcats in June, but legal troubles got in the way. Kirk will be one of nine running backs on the 2013 roster. Honestly, that chip, that ‘screw you’ to everyone drives me,” Kirk said. “It sounds cocky, but try to beat me and I’ll prove you wrong. I refuse to let it be any other way. It’s the story of my college career: not fast enough, not big enough, not this, not that. I will prove you wrong.” atch Kirk work and you realize it’s foolish to doubt him. His discipline is unparalleled. He works out with MSU strength and conditioning coach Alex Wilcox sometimes twice as often as any other Bobcat. He’s unwaveringly dedicated to stretching and sitting in the cold tub to regenerate his body after tough workouts. He’s improved his strength and size — his 5-foot-10 frame is up to a rippling 213 pounds — while also increasing his vertical speed and honing his lateral quickness. “When you see him in the weight room, you know this guy is about business,” said former MSU defensive tackle Zach Minter, a 2012 senior who’s now with the Chicago Bears. “He has one of the best work ethics I’ve ever seen. Ever. Seeing where he’s come from, being a walk-on, it’s a testament to what he’s about.” He has great balance, he has great strength and his vision is impeccable. Everyone talks about how Cody is a ground-and-pound guy,” MSU running backs’ coach Demo Odems said. “He can be a home-run guy. I want him to believe that he can be dynamic in the second and third levels. He’s one of the best running backs in the country if not the best in

the country at the first level.” hat motivates Kirk? Where does his drive come from? Kirk is the youngest of three brothers. Tyler, the eldest son of Connie and Tim, had a fledgling athletic career derailed by spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic disease that manifests in various degrees of severity which all have in common general muscle wasting and mobility impairment. I remember being in seventh and eighth grade when the SMA first came up,” Kirk said. “That influenced me for the better. I always had a lot of writing on my wrists before games and he’s one of them. He worked hard, but his body just couldn’t do it, so that’s why I always work hard.” ac, the middle Kirk brother, was a standout tailback at Frenchtown who played wide receiver for three seasons at Carroll College. Cody tagged along with Mac and his friends, training with the likes of former UM tight end Steven Pfahler and former Dickinson State basketball player Brian Lebsock. ork and competition were a part of the daily routine as the three brothers helped the family on Connie’s father, Dale Mahlum’s, thoroughbred racehorse ranch. The ranch has three houses — Connie and Tim’s; Tom and Brenda’s; and Dale and Sue’s — making the fabric of the family strong. The Kirk clan has been infinitely supportive of Cody, traveling the vast reaches of the Big Sky Conference to support their youngest. The family has seen Kirk rise to impressive fame. Last fall, a massive poster with Minter, Kirk and senior linebacker Jody Owens hung above the entrance to Bobcat Stadium below the slogan “Bobcat Born.” After games, Kirk signs dozens, sometimes hundreds of autographs, for adoring fans. One fan went as far as to name her dog after Kirk. I don’t necessarily think we do anything special,” Kirk said,

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flashing an endearing smile of humility. “Everyone is good at something. This is what we are good at and people enjoy that. Most of the stuff we do, it’s the right thing to do and sometimes people make too big a deal with that. It’s the glorification of athletes. That’s the era we live in. But you just roll with the punches and know you can’t be an idiot. My fat face is on that billboard.” ollowing his senior season, Kirk will continue to pursue his degree. He hopes to get his masters in athletic administration and hopes to go into coaching. Until then, Kirk will continue to visualize. Montana State has won 30 times in the last three seasons and 37 times since Kirk took his first handoff. The Bobcats have captured three straight shares of the Big Sky Conference title. But MSU has lost in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs two years straight. I told him, ‘Don’t forget what got you here. Don’t forget that chip on your shoulder,’” Odems said. “He has to keep that walk-on chip. No one expected him to do a lot when he got here. That’s what’s gotten him this far and that’s what will take him to the next level. ”The next level for Kirk is the only level left. He doesn’t worry about personal accolades, but an All-America campaign could make his vision for the ‘Cats a reality. Until then, he refuses to stop dreaming. You learn so much from football,” Kirk said. “When it comes down to it, in 30 years, I’m going to remember the Prowl and the rings, but it’s the friends I will remember most. The intrinsic relationships are what linger. But that’s for the future. Right now, I won’t quit until my vision becomes a reality.” c

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away made Daly Chasing year appreciate his love of the game a Feeling: ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// by Colter Nuanez

ith 1:37 to play in the Bobcats’ second-round FCS playoff matchup with Stony Brook, MSU clung to a 16-10 lead. But the Seawolves had one last shot to tie the score. Matched up against what Daly later called “the largest human I’ve ever seen,” behemoth 6-foot-8, 345-pound offensive tackle Michael Bamiro, Daly went bonkers. Daly beat Bamiro around the end on two straight plays, sacking Kevin Essington each time, the second resulting

MSU’s captain in 1978. His older brother, Bobby Daly, was a two-time t took a year away from his first All-America and team captain in love, but absence made Brad Daly 2007 and 2008. Blue and gold ran realize there really is no replacing through Brad Daly’s veins. In 2009, that feeling. When the Montana after an initial switch to linebacker, State defensive end gets into his Daly returned to his natural defenthree-point stance, his legs coiled sive end position and flourished. As a and his body looking like a panther true freshman, he notched two sacks ready to pounce, his energy builds. and blocked two kicks over MSU’s As the crowd’s roar grows, Daly’s final six games. But the constructs eyes become slits and his heart races. of campus life weren’t for him. The As the opposing quarterback screams stringent demands of Division I out orders, Daly’s adrenafootball and the academic line kicks in. rigors of Montana State “When I came back, I promised myn the downs when were too much for the he prevails, it’s the 19-year-old to handle. self I wouldn’t compare myself to my ultimate victory. To hear The pressure of followbrother,” Daly said. “I was going to play ing in the steps of an the adoration the Montana State faithful feel for a brother and where I wanted to play and if it worked All-America young man draped in a an all-conference father out, it worked out. But I wanted to blaze was too much. “I don’t blue and gold lineage is a feeling like no other. “That know what the my own trail. I wouldn’t trade that year really feeling on third down, I hell was going on,” Daly love that, man,” the senior said. “I was a confused off. I grew up a lot that year.” MSU captain said in April. kid. I had no idea what “When you make a play on I wanted. I just knew I third down, that’s an unwanted change.” So in the in a game-ending fumble. As fellow paralleled by anything I’ve ever felt spring of 2010, Daly decided to walk before. There is nothing greater.” pass rush guru Caleb Schreibeis away from the game he once loved. aly’s felt the feeling plenty in waved the football over his head, I begged him not to go,” MSU DL his football career — from his Daly’s elation was on display for the coach Bo Beck said. “I told him 10 sacks during his Class AA MVP playoff-record 15,237 fans at Bobcat I’d fix this. But there was no talking senior season at Helena Capital in him out of it.” Daly gave up a fullStadium and a national ESPN2 2008 to his 20 sacks in three seasons television audience to see. It was a ride scholarship and took a job with at Montana State — but the most Cathedral Energy Services, a drilling moment to remember. It was also potent shot of adrenaline he’s ever company out of Calgary, Alberta. He a moment that didn’t seem to be in felt came on a December evening last Daly’s future not long ago. spent the next seven months working fall. ecoming a Bobcat seemed inev- 14-hour shifts handling and hoisting itable. Daly’s father, J Daly, was pipe that weighed upward of 140

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pounds. The per diem (sometimes $100 a day) and pay (drill helpers can make as much as $80,000 a year) were good. The accommodations were great — Daly’s crew worked mostly in Colorado, staying each night at the Candlewood Suites. But something was missing. “I did a lot of daydreaming,” Daly said. “It’s so repetitive, you think about everything. You have a lot to think about when you’re at work. You find yourself in a constant state of self-evaluation.” eanwhile back in Bozeman, the Bobcats had transformed from a solid Big Sky program — MSU went 7-4 during Daly’s true freshman season — into the cream of the Big Sky Conference. In late November, MSU notched a signature 21-16 win over rival Montana in Missoula, clinching the Big Sky crown, snapping the Grizzlies’ 12-year reign atop the league and ensuring UM wouldn’t go to the playoffs for the first time in 17 seasons. I remember calling him after the Cats went down to Missoula and won,” Bobby Daly said. “It was something that he would have been a part of had he been there. As a player, I knew how much that meant to me playing in those games. So I asked him if he missed it, not necessarily telling him what he was doing was wrong, but I wanted to put it in his head.” lthough Daly had left the Bobcats behind, those in Bozeman hadn’t forgotten about the former Bobcat now laying pipe. “When Brad first left, there were no hard feelings at all and the door was always open,” head coach Rob Ash said. n December 2010, Daly’s former high school coach Marc Sampson called Daly to see if he was interested in coming up to play at Montana State-Northern. The “seed was planted and it started to grow” after an autumn spent ignoring text

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messages from his dad and not watching college football on Saturdays. By February, Daly couldn’t get past how much he missed that feeling. He wanted to return, but he didn’t know where. He took a visit to Havre. Then fellow Capital alum Brian Bignell, an MSU junior defensive tackle at the time, convinced him to come back to the Bobcats for one season. ithout a scholarship, Daly walked on to the Bobcats in the spring of 2011. “The kid had to fix a lot in his life,” Beck said. “Someday, I hope we sit down and he tells me what it was like. Whatever demons he was fighting, he doesn’t share those. He had to go away so he could come back.” y the fall, Daly was a star. As a sophomore, Daly took the Big Sky by storm. Playing primarily as a third-down specialist, the 6-foot-1, 240-pounder racked up a league-leading 12.5 sacks. At times, he was dominant. In MSU’s 41-24 win over Northern Arizona, Daly stole the show, notching three sacks. When I came back, I promised myself I wouldn’t compare myself to my brother,” Daly said. “I was going to play where I wanted to play and if it worked out, it worked out. But I wanted to blaze my own trail. I wouldn’t trade that year off. I grew up a lot that year.” s a junior, Daly transitioned into an every-down player. Despite battling a severe high ankle sprain and a dislocated elbow, he earned second-team All-Big Sky honors. In the spring of this year, he was elected captain, carrying on his family’s legacy as Bobcat leaders. Honestly, I think this fall he will be one of the best defensive players in the whole conference,” Ash said. “I think he’ll be a candidate for player of the year in the league and for the Buck Buchanan. I don’t think anything is outside his reach.”

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You can’t have a better story,” Montana State defensive coordinator Jamie Marshall said. “What he’s gone through — coming in as a linebacker, leaving the program for a year and working on the oil rigs and coming back and playing defensive end — and now, being voted team captain. That’s as good a story as you can get in college football. Then you tie in the legacy, with his dad and brother being captains and now he’s a captain. That’s unbelievable.” early as unbelievable as the rush Brad Daly experiences every time he takes his stance on third down. c

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MSU Preview by Colter Nuanez

hat is it going to take for Montana State to reach the summit? “I think it’s mental toughness,” All-America senior quarterback DeNarius McGhee said. “We get tired later in the season; people start feeling sorry for themselves and we get beat, plain and simple. You feel sorry for yourself against a team like Sam Houston State and they are going to kick you out of your own home stadium. We have to be relentless. It’s something that’s so hard to explain. That’s the type of team that wins

national championships.” We work hard. But everyone works hard. We have to work harder than is even possible.” ontana State has won a share of three straight Big Sky Conference championships. The Bobcats are 21-3 in Big Sky play since McGhee, the 2010 and 2012 Big Sky Conference Offensive Most Outstanding Player, took over under center in 2010. Overall, the Bobcats have posted 30 wins in the last three seasons. Yet just two of those wins have come in the FCS playoffs. Montana State’s season has ended at

the hands of the nationally elite three years in a row. n 2010, North Dakota State went bananas in the fourth quarter, rolling up 379 rushing yards all told in a 42-17 second-round win. In 2011, MSU went to Huntsville, Texas and got a 49-13 FCS quarterfinal shellacking at the hands of Sam Houston State in which the Bearkats rushed for 428 yards. Last season, Sam Houston came to Bozeman for an FCS quarterfinal matchup. MSU slowed SHSU’s vaunted option attack, but Brian Bell stepped up to averaged 23.1 yards per completion and threw three

touchdown passes as the Bearkats rolled to a 34-16 win. orth Dakota State is the two-time defending FCS champion. SHSU is the two-time FCS national runner-up. “We have to practice like we are going against Sam Houston today, against North Dakota State today so when we go out on that field, we can do it,” McGhee said. “If our defense beats us in practice and we play like that against those teams, we will be out of it in the first quarter. They will shove it right down our throat. Until we have that attitude…we have the potential no doubt, but we have to put it together. We aren’t there yet. And we are running out of time.” lthough the ending was disappointing, the 2012 season was a landmark campaign for the Bobcats. The team finished 11-2, the highest win total since the program captured the 1984 national title. A slew of ‘Cats earned post-season awards, including defensive end Caleb Schreibeis winning the Buck Buchanan Award. Schreibeis, a former walk-on from Billings, was also a consensus All-America and left MSU as the most decorated player in school history. chreibeis is gone from Montana State’s league-leading defense, a unit that allowed 315 yards per game and finished among the FCS leaders with 39 sacks. The MSU defense

also loses Big Sky Defensive Most Outstanding Player Jody Owens (96 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, four forced fumbles); two-time first-team All-Big Sky defensive tackle Zach Minter (11 sacks, 19 tackles for loss last two seasons); two-time second-team All-Big Sky cornerback Darius Jones (five career interceptions); and safety Joel Fuller, a first-team All-Big Sky pick in 2012. “We have a lot of guys who have to prove their worth, pull their weight,” senior defensive end Brad Daly, a 2013 team captain, said. “It’s time to step up. We won’t accept any excuses.” enior middle linebacker Na’a Moeakiola (5-11, 219) should be the anchor of MSU’s defense. As a junior, he notched 89 tackles, including a Big Sky middle linebacker-high 13.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He’s a team captain for 2013. Junior Alex Singleton slips into Owens’ spot on the outside. He had six tackles for loss in spot duty in 2012. Junior Cole Moore returns for his second year as a starter on the strong side. “As far as on the field, our productivity, I don’t think we will miss a beat,” MSU linebackers’ coach Kane Ioane said. reston Gale, a 6-foot-3, 252-pound senior from Forney, Texas, steps into Schreibeis’ spot on the outside. Gale has shown flashes,

notching 11 tackles for loss since 2010 in spot duty. It’s unrealistic to replace an athletic marvel like Minter — he signed with the Chicago Bears in April — but junior Taylor Dees (6-foot-2, 275) and sophomore Taylor Sheridan (6-3, 275) will try. Senior Craig Ashworth (6-1, 290) will hold down the nose tackle spot. “Minter is going to go down as a freak. I really hope we can find another kid like that in this program, but I don’t know if we will,” said Montana State DL coach Bo Beck. “They are all different. Taylor Dees is maybe a little more cerebral. He can read the block a lot faster than Sheridan can. Sheridan is a lot tougher, stronger, thick. He can go blow some stuff up because he’s bigger and strong. Combined, there’s Minter. We are just going to have to do it with three bodies instead of one.” enior free safety Steven Bethley (5-11, 217) will be called upon to anchor MSU’s secondary. Jones and James Andrews are gone on the outside, leaving the No. 1 corner duties to junior Deonte Flowers (5-11, 180). Cornerback Sean Gords (5-10, 193), a senior who had a breakout spring after being hampered by a knee injury the past two seasons, will start opposite of Flowers. The other safety spot will likely go to Eryon Barnett (6-2, 200), a former University of Texas transfer who can run and hit

with authority. We have to take it up to another notch,” MSU third-year secondary coach Brandon North said. “For me, I want to have the No. 1 secondary in the nation. That’s what you have to strive for, to be the best.” The Bobcat offense has far fewer question marks. The catalyst will again be McGhee. The senior from Euless, Texas is already an MSU all-time great. He’s the school’s all-time leader in wins (30) and touchdowns (71). He was an AFCA All-America pick last season after throwing for 3,154 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushing for five more scores. eapons will surround McGhee. Cody Kirk is back for his senior season after two straight all-league campaigns. The 5-foot-10, 213-pounder from Frenchtown enters his senior captain seventh on MSU’s all-time rushing yards list and tied for the most touchdowns (29) in school history. On the outside, captain Tanner Bleskin will be the leader statistically and emotionally. The 6-foot-4, 219-pound Great Falls native is a three-time All-Big Sky selection who hauled in 66 passes for 928 yards last year. Senior Jon Ellis is back for his second year as a starter after nabbing 53 McGhee passes for 555 yards and a team-high six touchdowns last fall. he tight ends return everyone, including juniors Tiai Salanoa (6-3, 255) and Lee Perkins (6-2, 235). The duo combined for 18 catches, 146 yards and three touchdowns last fall. Four offensive linemen who started at least five games return from a crew that experienced growing pains last fall. John Weidenaar (6-7, 290) will anchor the line after starting 13 games as a redshirt freshman at left tackle. Junior Quinn Catalano (6-4, 285) is the veteran of the group and can play both guard spots. Sophomore Matt Devereux (6-3, 305) shifts to center after starting five games at left guard before injury cut his season short. Kyle Godecke (6-5, 305) and JP Flynn (6-5, 297) will battle during fall camp for the other guard spot opposite Catalano. Sophomore Alex Eekhoff (6-6, 287) will take over for second-team All-Big Sky pick Steven Foster at right tackle. he biggest loss up front is the graduation of three-year starting center Shaun Sampson, a 2012 first-team All-Big Sky pick. “You lose a guy like Shaun Sampson, invaluable, you can’t put a price tag on a kid like that,” MSU 11th-year offensive line coach Jason McEndoo said. “Everyone thinks the quarterback is the main guy out there

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T 62

calling the shots, but the guy who’s calling the shots behind the scenes is the center. That guy is the field general. The quarterback is the maestro who pulls the strings, but the center really sets the wheels in motion.” he Bobcats should again be the favorite to win the Big Sky Conference, although Montana, Northern Arizona, Eastern Washington, Sacramento State and Cal Poly will all push for playoff berths as well. But Montana State is focused on much more than the Big Sky.

The team has national championships aspirations and Kirk isn’t afraid who knows it.

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This last year, we had some close games to some teams that perhaps shouldn’t have been close,” Kirk said. “We have to be able to go out and dominate those games. You have to take a good team and you have to whoop their ass. That’s our key to being successful. We can’t just be OK with winning. We have to never be satisfied with anything short of dominating. That’s the approach we started to take this year. We’ve gotten far, but not where we want to go. This is it for the seniors.” c

HOME and LONE STAR STATE BOUND: Two trips to Texas highlight Bobcats’ non-conference schedule by Colter Nuanez

ontana State’s non-conference schedule for the fall of 2013 has been a transformative entity. MSU knew it would have to travel to Nacogdoches, Texas to pay back a home-and-home contract that began with the Bobcats’ thrilling 43-35 win in Bozeman in 2012. The other three games, however, came about late in the scheduling game. Following the FCS title game and a second straight national title for North Dakota State, most Bobcat fans were planning to travel to Fargo. MSU was scheduled to return a home-and-home that was first played in 2006. But the ‘Cats bought out the game in a financial juggling act that helped them land the rest of their non-league slate. SU bought out NDSU for $100,000, and then signed a contract to travel to Dallas, Texas to play FBS Southern Methodist. SMU will pay MSU $350,000 to travel south for a September 7 date. MSU then scheduled FCS Monmouth to come to Bozeman to play at Bobcat Stadium on Thursday, August 28. Division II Colorado-Mesa will play at MSU on September 14.

MONMOUTH - AUG. 29 Location: Long Branch, New Jersey Conference: Monmouth will play 2013 as an FCS independent before joining the Big South in 2014. Coach: Kevin Callahan, the only coach in program history, enters his 21st season with 114 wins, the 15thmost among active FCS coaches. Player to Watch: Tevrin Brandon, defensive back, 5-10, 180, Senior — The UConn transfer sat out last season, but was voted a team captain last spring. He played in nine games for the 2010 Big East champion Huskies.

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SOUTHERN METHODIST - SEPT. 7 Location: Dallas, Texas Conference: American Athletic Conference Coach: June Jones led the Mustangs to a win in the 2009 Hawaii Bowl, the program’s first bowl win since the infamous 1987 “Death Penalty” that devastated the program. The legendary offensive mind that helped create the “Run & Shoot” is 31-34 at SMU. Player to Watch: Kenneth Acker, defensive back, 6-0, 195, Senior — The first-team All-Conference USA selection had three interceptions and 12 pass breakups last season.

////////////////////////////////////// COLORADO MESA - SEPT. 14 Location: Grand Junction, Colorado Conference: Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach: Russ Martin will be a first-year head coach in 2013. He spent the last eight seasons as the offensive coordinator at Division II power Nebraska-Kearney. Player to Watch: Jake Cimolino, running back, 6-0, 200, Junior - As a sophomore, Cimolino rushed for 1,365 yards and nine touchdowns.

////////////////////////////////////// STEPHEN F. AUSTIN - SEPT. 21 Location: Nacogdoches, Texas Conference: Southland Conference Coach: J.C. Harper, the two-time Southland Conference Coach of the Year, has led the Lumberjacks to the FCS playoffs and two top-10 national finishes in his seven years at the helm. He’s 14 wins away from becoming the school’s all-time leader. Player to Watch: Brady Attaway, quarterback, 6-1, 215, Senior - The gunslinger threw for 3,671 yards and 29 touchdowns in SFA’s high-powered passing offense last season. He (Attaway) threw for 418 yards and three touchdowns in the ‘Jacks loss in Bozeman last season.

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UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA T

he University of North Dakota is still without a mascot and its football team is still without an identity. UND loses its top two quarterbacks — Braden Hanson and Marcus Hendrickson — to graduation, so they are unlikely to air it out like a season ago despite the return of All-America receiver Greg Hardin. UND also loses three All-Big Sky Conference offensive linemen, yet Jake Miller returns for his senior year as the feature back in the team’s pro-style offense. UND’s second season in the Big Sky is likely to mirror its first.

//////////////////////// QUICK HITS Location:

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Nickname: None Founded: 1883. Founded on a strong liberal arts foundation, the school is still one of the top public research institutions in the country. Enrollment: The school had 15,250 students and an endowment of $140 million. Stadium:

Alerus Center. Opened in 2001, the $80 million indoor arena seats 21,000. Last year, UND averaged 8,962 fans during six home games.

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THE TEAM

(3-5 in Big Sky, 5-6 overall in 2012)

THE COACH

Chris Mussman, sixth season at UND. Mussman’s team couldn’t find consistency last season after 2011 saw UND post an 8-03 record and win the Great West. Last fall, UND beat Sac State, Southern Utah and Montana, but were shellacked by Eastern Washington (55-17) and Montana State (55-10). Mussman is 28-26 overall at North Dakota.

WHO TO WATCH the offense

reg Hardin, Wide Receiver, 5-11, 167, Senior: The threetime all-league selection was an All-America pick in 2012 and should again be one of America’s best. Last season, Hardin lit the Big Sky on fire, catching 65 passes for 1,145 yards and 14 touchdowns. His 333 receiving yards in UND’s 40-34 win over Montana was Big Sky record and part of a banner day that saw Braden Hanson throw for a league-record 660 yards. Hardin will be one of the conference’s top return men as well after averaging 32 yards per kick return, including a 98-yard touchdown against Montana.

aylee Carr, Strong Safety, 5-9, 192, Junior — Despite starting just seven games, Carr was UND’s top tackler. Last fall, Carr had 57 tackles, including one for loss and he forced a fumble.

ake Miller, Running Back, 5-11, 167, Senior — Miller is sure to get more than the 94 carries he had last season with the graduation of Mitch Sutton. Last fall, Miller averaged 5.8 yards per carry in totaling 543 yards and scoring three total touchdowns.

the defense en Peters, Linebacker, 6-2, 244, Junior: Peters was one of two UND players to start all 11 games and he was one of the team’s most productive statistical players. Peters had 54 tackles, including four behind the line of scrimmage. He forced a fumble and had four quarterback hurries.

ameer Jackson, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 233, Sophomore — The 2012 Jerry Rice Award (national freshman of the year) is a grown man physically. Now he just needs to hone his consistency. Jackson had 55 catches for 705 yards and six touchdowns during his impressive rookie campaign.

ominique Bennett, Linebacker, 6-1, 234, Senior — In just three starts, Bennett was one of UND’s most disruptive defenders. The bruiser had 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks among his 27 total stops. He also intercepted a pass and forced two fumbles.

THE OUTLOOK Hardin should be one of the Big Sky’s most dangerous weapons, but UND needs to find someone to get him the ball. The team will likely experience growing pains in pass protection and with staying balanced offensively with the graduation of two senior quarterbacks and three all-conference offensive linemen. To duplicate last season’s record would be an accomplishment. 67

NORTHERN ARIZONA LUMBERJACKS T

he ‘Jacks finally broke through, but Jerome Souers’ team couldn’t pull out a W when it mattered most. Last fall, Northern Arizona ripped off eight straight wins to climb into the FCS top 15. The Lumberjacks beat Montana for the first time in Souers’ 15-year tenure in Flagstaff and notched a win over FBS UNLV, who is coached by former UM coach Bobby Hauck, one of Souers’ long-time rivals. NAU likely needed one win in its final two games to make the FCS playoffs. But the ‘Jacks fell to Southern Utah 35-29 at home, then lost what amounted to a playoff game in falling to Cal Poly 42-34 in Flagstaff. Instead of sharing their first Big Sky Conference title since 2003 and moving on to the FCS playoffs, the 8-3 Lumberjacks were left on the outside looking in. NAU returns 13 all-conference players, including All-America running back Zach Bauman and looks primed to make another run at a postseason berth.

/////////////////// QUICK HITS Location:

Flagstaff, Arizona

Nickname: Lumberjacks Founded: 1899. The high research institution has 36 satellite campuses across Arizona. Enrollment: The university had 23,600 students and an endowment of $110 million. Stadium:

The Walkup Skydome. Opened in 1977, the 10,000-seat stadium received a $26 million facelift in 2011. Flagstaff’s elevation of more than 7,200 feet about sea level makes the Skydome a venue with some of the thinnest air in America.

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THE TEAM

(6-2 in Big Sky, 8-3 overall in 2012)

THE COACH

Jerome Souers, 15th season at NAU. The Godfather of the Big Sky enters his 16th season in Flagstaff this fall. He’s 84-85 overall and helped the ‘Jacks to the 2003 Big Sky title, the school’s only playoff appearance under Souers.

WHO TO WATCH Z

ach Bauman, Running Back, 5-10, 200, Senior: The Phil Steele All-America pick has been one of the Big Sky’s best since his freshman year. He’s already NAU’s all-time leading rusher after gaining 1,182 yards and eight touchdowns last fall. He added 34 catches for 216 yards and a touchdown during his junior season. Bauman seems to rise to the occasion during moments of magnitude. He rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown in NAU’s upset of UNLV in Las Vegas and he wracked up 253 yards and three touchdowns in the ‘Jacks’ 41-31 win in Missoula over the Montana Grizzlies.

ucky Dozier, Safety, 5-10, 185, Senior — Dozier was the best ball-hawking safety in the league last season. His four interceptions tied for the Big Sky lead and he earned first-team All-Big Sky recognition alongside Montana State senior Joel Fuller in the process. Dozier added 57 tackles, including two for loss, five pass breakups and nine passes defended last fall.

the offense ejzon Walker, Tight End/Wide Receiver, 6-2, 225, Junior — Walker was somewhat overshadowed by Bauman and departed senior Ify Umodu last season, but he still managed to put up impressive numbers. He’s played on the outside and with his hand on the ground. It’s still up in the air where his primary position will be, but he seems primed for a breakout year after leading NAU with 36 catches, 505 yards and three touchdowns.

the defense nders Battle, Cornerback, 6-0, 185, Senior: Along with Eastern Washington senior TJ Lee, Battle should be one of the Big Sky’s top cornerbacks. The 2012 first-team All-Big Sky selection led the Lumberjacks with 64 tackles, including two for loss. He was also a key cog in an NAU defensive secondary that helped the ‘Jacks lead the Big Sky in pass yards allowed. Battle had an interception, seven pass defenses and six pass breakups as a junior.

.J. Rickert, Tight End, 6-2, 230, Junior — After earning honorable mention All-Big Sky honors as a sophomore, Rickert will look to improve during his junior campaign. Last fall, he had 27 catches, 272 yards and three touchdowns. Along with Drew Emanuel (eight catches, 140 yards, TD), NAU had two honorable mention all-league tight ends last year.

im Wilkinson, Defensive Tackle, 5-11, 290, Senior — The twotime All-Big Sky selection (Wilkinson was second-team all-league last fall) enters his senior season as one of the top defensive tackles in the conference. Last fall, the box-bodied bruiser had 6.5 sacks, tied for the most among Big Sky defensive tackles.

THE OUTLOOK

Northern Arizona returns a stout defense boosted by a talented secondary. The ‘Jacks return 14 all-conference performers and Bauman is one of the most explosive playmakers in America. But NAU has a devastating schedule that includes a five-week stretch in which the team must play Montana, at Montana State, at Sacramento State and at Cal Poly. The Jacks will be in the hunt, but they missed their best shot at a Big Sky crown last season. Still, NAU will make the playoffs after getting snubbed last season. 69

WEBER STATE - WILDCATS A

re the Wildcats finally stable? A year after one of the more bizarre coaching debacles in recent league memory, once-powerful Weber State hopes to finally be back on track. Longtime coach Ron McBride retired following the 2011 season. Weber hired former Michigan State head coach John L. Smith. Smith coached the Wildcats through spring drills, then jumped ship to Arkansas after Bobby Petrino was fired. Weber scrambled, ultimately promoting defensive coordinator Jody Sears to the head coach position despite only being at the school for four months. On the field, the Wildcats sputtered, posting a 2-9 record that included two Big Sky Conference wins. To add to the wackiness, Sears hired much-maligned former Montana head coach Robin Pflugrad to his staff as the offensive coordinator. Pflugrad was fired at Montana despite being named the 2011 Big Sky Coach of the Year because UM found itself in a myriad of controversy. Seven current or former Griz were implicated in a sexual assault scandal, but only one player was actually convicted.

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Ogden, Utah

Nickname: Wildcats Founded: 1889. The university was founded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and became an accredited college in 1962. Enrollment: The university has 26,681 students and an endowment of $62.2 million. Stadium: Stewart Stadium. Opened in 1966, the 17,312-seat stadium sits at the base of the Wasatch Mountains. The Wildcats averaged 7,416 fans during six home games.

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THE TEAM

2-6 in Big Sky, 2-9 overall in 2012

THE COACH

Jody Sears, second season at Weber. Sears faced a difficult situation after John L. Smith jumped ship to Arkansas after less than three months at Weber. Sears is no stranger to the Big Sky, having served as Paul Wulffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defensive coordinator at Eastern Washington from 2003-20007.

WHO TO WATCH the offense

osh Booker, Running Back, 6-0, 210, Senior — A second-team All-Big Sky pick in 2011, Booker had a slump last season. With C.J. Tuckett gone, Booker will again be WSU’s feature back. Booker rushed for 701 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore, numbers that dipped to 185 yards and one touchdown last year.

nthony Morales, Middle Linebacker, Senior — The high-energy linebacker had one of the signature moments of the Big Sky Conference season for a defensive player in earning second-team all-league recognition. Against Montana, Morales tallied 23 total tackles, the highest single-game total by any player in the conference last season. All told, Morales notched 108 tackles, including 9.5 behind the line of scrimmage.

avian Johnson, Wide Receiver, 6-0, 185, Junior — Johnson earned honorable mention all-league honors as a sophomore last fall. He had 33 catches for 519 yards and two touchdowns.

the defense hris Wheeler, Safety, 6-0, 175, Senior — The former junior college transfer was second on the Wildcats in total tackles last season. Wheeler chalked up 61 total stops, including 4.5 behind the line of scrimmage and he recovered a fumble as a junior.

rik Walker, Wide Receiver, 5-10, 180, Senior — Weber will be in search of a replacement for three-year starting quarterback Mike Hoke and Walker will be one of the primary targets for the heir apparent. Last season, Walker hauled in 22 passes for 403 yards (18.3 yards per catch), including a team-high five touchdowns.

ela Marcial, Cornerback, 5-10, 180, Senior — One of the league’s top punt returners — he was third in the league in 2011 in return average — will also be counted upon to anchor the Weber secondary next fall. Marcial had a team-high two interceptions to go with 32 total tackles last fall.

THE OUTLOOK The instability may be over, but the struggles are likely to continue. WSU must find a replacement for quarterback Mike Hoke as well as steady defensive end Trevor Pletcher. Pflugrad should infuse the offense with new energy, but the Wildcats are still a ways away.

UC DAVIS - AGGIES I

t’s the dawn of a new day in Davis, California for the Aggies. After more than two decades as the head coach of his alma mater and nearly 40 years all told, Bob Biggs resigned at the end of last season. Ron Gould takes over a team that lost 22 lettermen, including six All-Big Sky Conference performers. All-league honorees middle linebacker Jordan Glass, guard Sean Davies, center Ray Wilburn and defensive tackle Andrew Benjamin were more than good players; they were the emotional core of the team. Randy Wright returns at quarterback, but the Aggies will have a hard time surrounding him with talent.

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Davis, California

Nickname: Aggies Founded: 1905. Originally established as the Univer sity Farm, the agricultural extension of Cal-Berkeley, the sprawling university with one of America’s largest campuses (7,309 acres) is now considered a Public Ivy School. Enrollment: The university has 31,862 students and an endowment of $713.2 million, each the largest in the Big Sky Conference. Stadium: Aggie Stadium. The newest venue in the Big Sky opened in 2007 and holds 10,743. The Aggies averaged 8,215 fans in six home games during their first Big Sky season.

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THE TEAM

3-5 in Big Sky, 4-7 overall in 2012

THE COACH

Ron Gould, first season at UC Davis. Gould has spent the last 16 seasons as an assistant at Cal. The Golden Bears’ associate head coach since 2008, Gould has helped mentor NFL running backs Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks), Jahvid Best (Lions), Shane Vereen (Patriots), Justin Forsett (Texans) and Will Ta’ufo’ou (Jaguars) over the past decade. In 35 years as a Davis coach, including the last 20 as the head coach, Biggs amassed 144 wins.

WHO TO WATCH the offense

andy Wright, Quarterback, 6-4, 210, Senior — Wright has an impressive arm and showed flashes of his talent at times last year — he threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a third in UC Davis’ near-upset of No. 2 Montana State (UCD lost 48-41) — but he struggles with his consistency. As a junior, Wright threw for 2,234 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he completed just 56 percent of his passes and threw 13 interceptions

ick King, Defensive End, 6-3, 245, Senior — Jackson might have been the most slighted player in the Big Sky Conference when it came to postseason honors last fall. King totaled 12.5 tackles for loss, the second-most among returning BSC defenders and the ninth-most in the league last fall. His 6.5 sacks were the eighth-most in the league, yet King was completely snubbed. He was left off any All-Big Sky team.

orey Galindo, Wide Receiver, 6-4, 205, Junior: The Aggies’ top pass catcher in 2012 returns after earning honorable mention All-Big Sky recognition as a sophomore last fall. Galindo caught 32 passes for 576 yards and three touchdowns last season.

the defense onathan Perkins, Cornerback, Senior — Despite missing two games, Perkins earned honorable mention all-league recognition as UCD’s top defensive back. He had 36 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups last fall. He also defended nine passes and forced a fumble.

aylor Sloat, Tight End, 6-4, 235, Senior — Sloat was one of the top pass-catching tight ends in the league as a junior. He hauled in 30 passes for 428 yards and two touchdowns to earn honorable mention all-league recognition last fall.

teven Pitts, Outside Linebacker, 6-1, 195, Junior — The speedy Pitts was solid as a junior, finishing fourth on the Aggies in total tackles. Last fall, Pitts had 49 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and two sacks. He also forced two fumbles and recovered three more.

THE OUTLOOK UC Davis had a solid core of seniors a year ago, yet still managed just three wins in its first year in the Big Sky. Wright should have a solid senior year, but playing for a first-year head coach after having the same regime for more than two decades will be more than the Aggies will be able to overcome. 73

NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS N

o longer are the Bears the Big Sky’s cellar dweller. Northern Colorado had a breakthrough last season, posting a 4-4 Big Sky Conference record, including UNC’s first three-game winning streak under third-year coach Earnest Collins Jr. UNC was 0-11 in Collins Jr.’s first season in 2011. UNC’s late-season surge came without Clarence Bumpas, the team’s emotional leader and one of the Big Sky’s best middle linebackers. Bumpas is back for his final season, as is towering quarterback Seth Lobato, a former Colorado transfer.

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Greeley, Colorado

Nickname: Bears Founded: 1889. Established as the State Normal School of Colorado, UNC is still the top education school in the state. Enrollment: The school has 10,102 students and an endowment of $61.5 million. Stadium:

Nottingham Field. One of two natural grass stadiums left in the league (UC Da- vis is the other), the 6,500-seat venue is named for Vic Nottingham, who spear headed the effort to raise private funds for the entire $4 million project, completed in 1995.

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THE TEAM

4-4 in Big Sky, 5-6 overall in 2012

THE COACH

Earnest Collins, Jr., third year at UNC. The young head coach took his lumps his first year at his alma mater — UNC went 0-11 — but the Bears turned it around, winning five times, including three straight, to end Collins Jr.’s second season 4-4 in Big Sky Conference play.

WHO TO WATCH the offense

eth Lobato, Quarterback, 6-5, 230, Senior: Lobato, a former University of Colorado transfer, has one of the biggest arms in the league. Toward the end of last season, he learned how to use his cannon consistently. During UNC’s season-ending three-game win streak, Lobato completed 61 percent of passes, averaging 315 yards per outing with eight touchdown passes. Lobato was an honorable mention All-Big Sky pick after throwing for 2,797 yards and 19 touchdowns last fall.

larence Bumpas, Middle linebacker, 6-2, 236, Senior — When healthy, the former Kansas State transfer is one of the league’s most fearsome forces. As a sophomore in 2011, Bumpas had 145 tackles, including 10.5 for loss in earning first-team All-Big Sky honors. Last fall, he had 49 tackles and a sack despite playing in just five games. A healthy Bumpas will be a key to UNC’s success.

ace Davis, Wide Receiver, 6-0, 209, Senior — Davis was a first-team All-Big Sky selection in 2010, but has struggled to regain his consistency after sitting out the 2011 season because he was academically ineligble. Last season, Davis got back on track, catching 50 passes for 642 yards and three touchdowns in earning honorable mention All-Big Sky honors.

the defense avin Miller, Defensive End, 6-4, 235, Senior: As a junior, Miller was the Bears’ top pass rusher in earning honorable mention All-Big Sky honors. Last fall, he had nine tackles for loss among his 49 stops and he had a team-high 3.5 sacks.

romaine Dennis, Running Back, 5-11, 205, Senior — After transferring from Butte (Calif.) College, the same junior college that produced NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Dennis carried the mail admirably for the Bears. Dennis was an honorable mention All-Big Sky selection after carrying the ball 203 times for 948 yards (4.8 ypc) and scoring 10 touchdowns.

ourtney Hall, Cornerback, 5-9, 159, Senior — Despite missing three games, Hall earned honorable mention All-Big Sky honors a season ago. Hall had 32 tackes, including three for loss. He intercepted two passes, defended six and broke up four.

THE OUTLOOK The Bears don’t have to play league power Montana, but UNC does have matchups at Sacramento State, versus Montana State, at Northern Arizona and versus Cal Poly standing in the way to equaling last season’s success. Lobato and Bumpas are two of the league’s most talented players, but a lack of depth and the weakest home field advantage in the league will keep the Bears from making many strides. 75

EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES L

ast fall, the Eastern Washington Eagles proved they belong in the conversation among the FCS elite. EWU, the 2010 FCS national champs, rebounded from an injury-stricken 2011 to win 11 games last fall. Eastern shared the Big Sky Conference title with Montana State and Cal Poly. The Eagles were the most successful Big Sky team in the postseason, advancing to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs before losing to Sam Houston State, 45-42. Eastern must find replacements for three receivers — Brandon Kaufman, Nicholas Edwards, Greg Herd — who found their way onto NFL rosters. But the Eagles return 10 all-conference players, including linebacker Ronnie Hamlin, an early favorite to be the preseason Big Sky Most Outstanding Defensive Player.

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Cheney, Washington

Nickname: Eagles Founded: 1882. Eastern Washington is a public university which is academically divided into four colleges: Arts and Letters; Business and Public Administration; Science, Health and Engineering; and Social & Behavioral Sciences and Social Work. Enrollment: The school has 12,130 total students and a $52.1 million endowment. Stadium:

Roos Field holds 8,600 fans. Complete with its trademark red turf, the stadium is named after Michael Roos, an All-Big Sky offensive lineman who is currently a Pro Bowl offensive lineman for the Ten nessee Titans. EWU averaged 8,089 fans in eight home games last fall.

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THE TEAM

7-1 in Big Sky, 11-3 overall in 2012

THE COACH

Beau Baldwin, sixth season at Eastern Washington. Baldwin is quickly establishing himself as one of the top young coaches in America. The 41-year-old was the Big Sky Coach of the Year last season after leading EWU to its second share of a Big Sky crown in three seasons. Over the past three years, no Big Sky team has won more games than Eastern’s 30. Baldwin is 30-10 against Big Sky competition since taking over in Cheney.

WHO TO WATCH the offense

ernon Adams, Quarterback, 6-0, 190, Sophomore: Adams had one of the most bizarre rookie seasons in recent Big Sky memory. He took over for SMU transfer Kyle Padron in Week 3 despite the fact that Padron led the Eagles to an upset of FBS Idaho (20-3) and a near-upset of FBS Washington State (24-20). Adams led EWU to wins over Weber State, Montana, North Dakota and No. 2 Montana State before Padron entered the picture again, The duo split time against Southern Utah, Sac State and UC Davis. Adams came off the bench to throw for 381 yards against Portland State, then didn’t

play in EWU’s playoff wins over Wagner or Illinois State. n the FCS semifinals, Adams came off the bench to throw for 364 yards and six touchdowns in a 45-42 loss to Sam Houston State. All told, Adams accounted for 192 total yards a game and scored 21 total touchdowns. He completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,956 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushed for 342 yards. His production should skyrocket in EWU’s pass-happy offense as he’s the star signal caller now. Demetrius Bronson, Running Back, 5-10, 210, Senior — The former University of Washington transfer the defense onny Hamlin, Middle LineJ Lee, Cornerback, 5-9, 170, backer, 6-2, 210, Senior — SimSenior: If it seems like Lee ply put, Hamlin is a ferocious beast. has been the best corner in the Big He’s undersized, but he might be the Sky for what seems like forever, Big Sky’s most intense, high-motor it’s because he has. The two-time player. His numbers reflect his reunanimous first-team All-Big Sky lentless style. Last season, he led the selection is finally a senior and is Big Sky with an amazing 136 total primed for a huge final campaign aftackles, including 11.5 behind the ter a killer junior year. In 2012, Lee line of scrimmage. He also had two had 90 tackles, including 7.5 tackles interceptions, six passes defended, for loss and 2.5 sacks. He had an four pass breakups, two forced interception, broke up 11 passes and fumbles and a fumble recovery. defended 12 more. He forced two fumbles and recovered a third.

earned honorable mention All-Big Sky recognition after serving as one of the league’s top red-zone threats. As a junior, Bronson rushed for 472 yards and 11 touchdowns, the latter the second-best total in the league. shton Clark, Wide Receiver, 5-11, 185, Senior — Now that he’s finally out of the shadow of the Kaufman-Edwards-Herd trio, Clark should have a breakout season. Over the past two seasons, Clark has hauled in 82 passes for 1,086 yards despite not ever being a primary target. Last season, he caught 49 balls for 650 yards and four touchdowns.

llen Brown, Safety, 5-10, 170, Senior — Brown was a second-team All-Big Sky selection after notching 91 tackles and forcing two fumbles last fall. He also broke up seven passes and defended seven more.

THE OUTLOOK Eastern returns 10 all-conference players and looks primed to make a run at a repeat Big Sky crown, but a devastating schedule stands in the Eagles’ way. EWU has dates at FBS Oregon State and Toledo and is the only team in the league that has to play fellow Big Sky powers Montana State, Cal Poly and Montana. It also remains to be seen if the Eagle offense can remain as explosive without the field-stretching talents of Kaufman and Edwards. 77

SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS I

t will be an unusual sight to see the Thunderbird offense take the field this fall. For the first time in four years, record-setting quarterback Brad Sorensen wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be at the controls for Southern Utah. The hulking 6-foot-5, 230-pounder, a former BYU transfer, was a seventh-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. While Sorensen departs, most of his offensive weaponry and a stout defense led by Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year Zach Browning returns from a squad that went 4-4 in its first year in the league.

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Cedar City, Utah

Nickname: Thunderbirds Founded: 1897. The public university was founded by the citizens of Cedar City and is an extension of the Agriculture College of Utah. Enrollment: The university has 8,297 students and an endowment of $14.7 million. Stadium: Eccles Coliseum. The 8,500-seat venue opened in 1967. Last fall, SUU averaged 5,435 fans during five home games.

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THE TEAM

4-4 in Big Sky, 6-5 overall in 2012

THE COACH

Ed Lamb, sixth season at Southern Utah. Lamb has helped the Thunderbirds to three straight 6-5 seasons, but the playoffs have eluded the team. Lambâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s squad posted a 4-4 record in its first season in the Big Sky and Lamb, a BYU alum, is 26-29 overall at SUU.

WHO TO WATCH the offense

atu Moala, Wide Receiver, 6-2, 183, Senior: The Big Sky’s third-leading returning receiver will have to adjust to catching passes from someone other than stud Brad Sorensen, who took his talents to the NFL as a seventh-round draft pick last spring. As a junior, Moala earned second-team All-Big Sky recognition by catching 65 passes for 810 yards and nine touchdowns.

ak Browning, Middle Linebacker, 5-11, 220, Sophomore — Browning was literally everywhere last season for the Thunderbirds. The Big Sky Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-America led the league in tackles per game (11.6) and his 116 are the second-most among returning Big Sky players. He also notched 5.5 tackles for loss and forced four fumbles.

itch Jessop, Wide Receiver, 6-4, 206, Junior — Jessop is one of the Big Sky’s strongest receivers. It’s no surprise since he’s old for his grade — he went on a two-year LDS mission in 2010-11 — and now that the rust is completely off, he’ll be dangerous. Last fall, he was an honorable mention Big Sky selection after hauling in 33 passes for 519 yards (15.7 ypc) and three touchdowns.

the defense ames Cowser, Defensive End, 6-4, 244, Sophomore: Like Jessop, Cowser served a two-year LDS mission after graduating from high school in 2008 and redshirting in 2009. He had a breakout freshman year, earning Freshman All-America and honorable mention All-Big Sky honors. His 7.5 sacks were the fifthbest total in the Big Sky and his 13.5 tackles for loss are the best total of any returner in the league.

avin Farr, Offensive Guard, 6-3, 287, Senior — In his first year playing guard in a brand new league, the converted center was one of the Big Sky’s best. He started all 11 games for the T-Birds and earned first-team All-Big Sky honors in the process. The three-time all-league player — Farr was an All-Great West center in 2010 and 2011 — will look for a fourth nod as one of the steadiest players in the conference.

iles Kilebrew, Safety, 6-3, 201, Sophomore — The least heralded on an SUU defense with three freshman stars last fall, Kilebrew still had a huge rookie season. He had 69 tackles, four pass breakups and four passes defended in earning honorable mention All-Big Sky honors. He also had a 49-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

THE OUTLOOK The Thunderbirds will again be a dangerous team after proving they could play with anyone last season. If not for last-minute losses to Montana State (24-27), Sac State (27-22), and North Dakota (33-29), SUU would have been right in the mix for the Big Sky crown. The T-Birds also knocked off Montana, Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona, but Sorensen was a huge difference maker. SUU should be in the middle of the Big Sky pack again this season. 79

UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA GRIZZLIES T

he string of success finally ran dry. For the first time since 1985, despite six coaching changes in that span, the Montana Grizzlies posted a losing record. After an unprecedented streak of 17 straight playoff appearances and 12 consecutive conference titles, 2012 capped a three-year period that saw the Griz miss the playoffs twice in three seasons. On the field, Montana struggled. Off the field, the program was mired in controversy. A sexual assault scandal on campus that targeted five sexual assaults involving seven current or former members of the football team brought the NCAA and the U.S. Department of Justice to town. When the dust settled, former running back Beau Donaldson was convicted of rape, while quarterback Jordan Johnson was acquitted and reinstated to the program. No other charges were filed. With the return of 10 defensive starters and Johnson back in the fold offensively, Montana looks primed to return to the top of the Big Sky.

////////////////// QUICK HITS Location:

Missoula, Montana

Nickname: Grizzlies Founded: 1893. The public research university is the largest in Montana and specializes in liberal arts, business, forestry and journalism. It is a major source of research, continuing education, economic development and fine arts, as well as a driving force in strengthening Montana’s ties with countries throughout the world. Enrollment: The university has 14,946 students and an endowment of $108 million. Stadium: Washington-Grizzly Stadium. One of the gems of the FCS, the Grizzlies have been among the nation’s leaders in attendance since the stadium opened in 1985. Last fall was no different. Despite a 5-6 record — UM’s worst since the venue opened — the Griz still averaged 25,236 fans per game.

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THE TEAM

3-5 in Big Sky, 5-6 overall in 2012

THE COACH

Mick Delaney, second season at Montana. After serving as an assistant at Montana State, Colorado State, Montana Western and Montana, Delaney became a head coach for the first time at 70 years old. His first season was a rocky one, as controversy and attrition sent the Griz to their first losing season since 1985.

WHO TO WATCH the offense

ordan Johnson, Quarterback, Junior: After a much-documented year away — Johnson was charged with forced sexual intercourse without consent in February of 2012 and acquitted of the crime in February of 2013 — the dual-threat quarterback returns under center for the Grizzlies. In 2011, Johnson was one of the Big Sky’s best. He threw for 2,400 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 506 yards and four touchdowns in leading UM to an 11-3 record and an semifinal berth in the FCS playoffs. It remains to be seen if the year away will affect Johnson’s on-field performance, but even if he’s rusty, he’s a marked

ordan Tripp, Outside Linebacker, 6-4, 237, Senior — The team captain enters his third year as a starter and his stock is through the roof. He’ll be a preseason All-America and a favorite for the Buck Buchanan Award after a junior season that saw him notch 95 tackles, including 13.5 behind the line of scrimmage and 5.5 sacks. The 2012 All-America also snared an interception that he returned 58 yards and recovered a fumble that he returned 80 yards. He forced four fumbles. He should be among the Big Sky and FCS’ best defensive talents.

upgrade over Trent McKinney or Shay Smithwick-Hann, who split time last season with Johnson suspended. ordan Canada, Running back, 5-9, 190, Junior — Canada has been Montana’s second and sometimes third option over the past two seasons running the zone-read option, yet the speedster has still rushed for 1,166 yards and 13 touchdowns in that span. With the graduation of Peter Nguyen and Dan Moore, it’s Canada’s show. He might be the fastest running back in the league and he will look to exceed his totals of 586 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore last fall. the defense rock Coyle, Middle Linebacker, 6-2, 255, Senior: Coyle has a chip on his shoulder and he doesn’t care who knows it. Coyle’s 107 tackles led the Griz and his 10 tackles per game was the second-best mark in the Big Sky, yet the Bozeman native earned just honorable mention All-Big Sky honors. The team captain worked tirelessly in the offseason to add even more strength to his already sizeable frame and he’ll enter the fall as a potential Buck Buchanan finalist and one of the best middle linebackers in the Big Sky.

raVon Van, Running Back, 5-11, 195, Junior — After graduating from Helix High in San Diego — a school that also produced Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith — Van was one of the most highly touted prep running backs in the country. He initially signed to play for Urban Meyer at Florida, but ended up at Marshall. After two position switches, he’s now a Grizzly. In 2011, Van rushed for 551 yards and three touchdowns. Last fall, he led the team in rushing through three games before the coaching staff inexplicably switched him to defense.

ach Wagenmann, Defensive End, 6-4, 260, Senior — Montana returns 10 starters from a defense that led the league in rush defense (96 yards per game) and between Tripp, Coyle and Wagenmann, the Griz could have three Buck Buchanan finalists. Last season, the Missoula Sentinel product had a breakout year. He notched 11.5 sacks (3rd in the Big Sky) and 13 tackles for loss among his 50 tackles. The first-team All-Big Sky and Phil Steele All-America pick also had four passes defended and two forced fumbles.

THE OUTLOOK

Look for Montana to be right in the mix of things in the increasingly competitive and nationally-elite Big Sky. Three-time defending champion Montana State, 2010 national champion Eastern Washington, 2012 co-league champ Cal Poly and borderline 2012 playoff contender Northern Arizona should be in the hunt for the league crown, but so should a UM squad that returns 10 defensive starters plus a slew of talent on offense, including 2011 stud quarterback Jordan Johnson. 81

Big Sky Outlook I S

tackle Zach Minter. Senior middle t seems the kings of the Big Sky quarterback Jordan Johnson. The linebacker Na’a Moeakiola and Conference once again reside in junior missed last season after being senior defensive end Brad Daly will Big Sky Country. charged with sexual assault. He was lead the charge. ince the turn of the century, acquitted and will be the Grizzlies’ Montana (11 conference titles) he Grizzlies return 10 starters opening day starter. Two seasons ago, and Montana State (six conference from one of the league’s top dethe dual-threat gunslinger accounted titles) have dominated the league. fenses from a season ago, including for 25 total touchdowns and led Each looks primed to make Montana to a share of the another run at the conference Big Sky crown and an FCS crown in 2013. For the first playoffs semifinal berth. hile the Treasure time since 1985, the Grizzlies Team Conference Overall (5-6 in 2012) finished with a State schools are the *Montana 7-1 10-1 below .500 record and missed front-runners and the an*Mont. St. 7-1 10-2 nual Cat-Griz season-finale the playoffs for just the second time in 20 seasons last fall. will likely serve as the de *NAU 7-1 9-2 Meanwhile, the Bobcats posted facto league championship *E. Wash 6-2 8-3 a 10-1 regular-season record game, the ‘Cats and Griz Sac St. 5-3 7-4 that included a 16-7 victory over are not alone. Northern Arizona (8-3) narrowly missed the Grizzlies in Missoula. The Cal Poly 5-3 8-4 win was MSU’s second straight the playoffs after losing two S. Utah 4-4 7-5 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium straight games to end the N. Colo 3-5 4-8 and just the 24th by an opponent season. The Lumberjacks since the venue opened in 1985. return 14 all-conference UND 2-6 3-8 performers, including The rivalry game victory sewed UC Davis 2-6 4-7 up a share of a third straight All-America running back Idaho St. 1-7 3-9 conference title for the Bobcats. Zach Bauman and firstteam all-league defensive he Bobcats (11-2) should Portland St. 1-7 1-10 backs Lucky Dozier and have one of the league’s top Weber St. 1-7 1-10 Anders Battle. offensive attacks led by senior * Playoff Teams quarterback DeNarius McGhee, astern Washington (11the two-time Big Sky Confer3) shared the Big Sky ence Offensive Most Outstanding honors candidates senior linebackers crown with MSU and Cal Poly. The Eagles lose three receivers — BranPlayer. MSU also has durable senior Jordan Tripp and Brock Coyle and running back Cody Kirk, a two-time don Kaufman, Nicholas Edwards, junior defensive end Zach Wagenall-league pick, and towering wide Greg Herd — to the NFL off last mann. The Griz offense brings back receiver Tanner Bleskin, a three-time a stout line and an explosive stable of season’s FCS semifinals qualifier. All-Big Sky performer. Defensively, running backs led by offensive tackle But the Eagles should have one of the the Bobcats must replace five All-Big Danny Kistler and running backs league’s top defenses led by firstSky players, including Buck Buteam All-Big Sky linebacker Ronnie Jordan Canada and TrayVon Van, chanan Award winner Caleb SchHamlin and three-time first-team the latter a transfer from Marshall reibeis, BSC Defensive MVP Jody all-conference cornerback TJ Lee. by way of the Florida Gators. The The Eagles also return dual-threat Owens and All-America defensive wildcard could be the return of UM

Predicted finish

quarterback Vernon Adams for his sophomore season. Junior Garrett Safron will be one of the Big Sky’s most explosive playmakers under center for Sacramento State (6-5). Cal Poly (9-3) returns 10 all-conference guys and 10 starters on defense from last year’s Big Sky co-champs. Southern Utah’s young defense

should be stingy with the return of BSC Newcomer of the Year Zach Browning leading the way from his linebacker spot. he Big Sky should again be right alongside the Missouri Valley Conference and the Colonial Athletic Association as the FCS’ strongest. Here’s a look at what to expect. c

Preseason All-Big Sky team Offensive Most Outstanding Player — DeNarius McGhee, quarterback, Montana State, senior Defensive Most Outstanding Player — Jordan Tripp, linebacker, Montana, senior Newcomer of the Year — TrayVon Van, running back, Montana, junior

Offense

Quarterback — DeNarius McGhee, Montana State, senior; Garrett Safron, Sacramento State, junior. Running back — Cody Kirk, Montana State, senior; Zach Bauman, Northern Arizona, senior. Wide Receiver — Tanner Bleskin, Montana State, senior; Greg Hardin, North Dakota, senior; Morris Norrise, Sacramento State, senior; Fatu Moala, Southern Utah, Senior. Offensive Tackle — Danny Kistler, Montana, senior; Giovanni Sani, Cal Poly, senior; Mitchel Van Dyk, Portland State, senior. Offensive Guard — Gavin Farr, Southern Utah, senior; Quinn Catalano, Montana State, junior; Steven Forgette, Eastern Washington, senior. Center — Ashton Miller, Eastern Washington, senior; Kjelby Oiland, Montana, senior. Tight End — R.J Rickert, Northern Arizona, junior; Taylor Sloat, UC Davis, senior.

Fullback — Dalton Turray, UC Davis, junior. Placekicker — Rory Perez, Montana State, senior. Return Specialist — Shawn Johnson, Montana State, junior.

DEFENSE

Defensive end — Zach Wagenmann, Montana, junior; Brad Daly, Montana State, senior; James Cowser, Southern Utah, sophomore. Defensive tackle — Sullivan Grosz, Cal Poly, senior; Tim Wilkinson, Northern Arizona, senior; Tonga Takai, Montana, junior. Outside linebacker — Alex Singleton, Montana State, junior; Jordan Tripp, Montana, senior; John Paul Kanogata’a, Montana, senior. Middle linebacker — Na’a Moeakiola, Montana State, senior; Brock Coyle, Montana, senior; Ronny Hamlin, Eastern Washington, senior. Cornerback — T.J. Lee, Eastern Washington, senior; Anders Battle, Northern Arizona, senior; Osagie Odiase, Sacramento State, senior. Safety — Lucky Dozier, Northern Arizona, Senior; Steven Bethley, Montana State, senior; Allen Brown, Eastern Washington, senior; Punter — Andy Wilder, Northern Arizona, senior. Special teams ace — Michael Foster, Montana State, junior. 83

COMPOSITE SCHEDULE

Predicted winners in bold; *BSC games

Thursday, Aug. 29 Southern Utah at South Alabama Monmouth at Montana State Valparaiso at North Dakota Sacramento State at San Jose State Friday Aug. 30 Northern Arizona at Arizona Saturday Aug. 31 Appalachian State at Montana Eastern Washington at Oregon State San Diego at Cal Poly UC Davis at South Dakota Stephen F. Austin at Weber State Langston at Northern Colorado Thursday Sept. 5 Sacramento State at Arizona State Saturday Sept. 7 Western Oregon at Eastern Washington Cal Poly at Fresno State Weber State at Utah Dixie State at Utah Fort Lewis at Southern Utah Montana State at Southern Methodist South Dakota State at North Dakota Portland State at Cal UC Davis at Nevada Colorado State-Pueblo at Northern Colorado Saturday Sept. 14 Montana at North Dakota (non-conference) Eastern Washington at Toledo Cal Poly at Colorado State Humboldt State at Portland State Northern Colorado at Wyoming Weber State at Utah State Western State at Idaho State Southern Utah at Washington State Northern Arizona at UC Davis (non-conference) Southern Oregon at Sacramento State

Saturday Sept. 21 Oklahoma Panhandle State at Montana Portland State at UC Davis (non-conference) Southern Utah at Sacramento State (non-conference) Idaho State at Washington Weber State at McNeese State Montana State at Stephen F. Austin Northern Iowa at Northern Colorado South Dakota at Northern Arizona Thursday Sept. 26 *Cal Poly at Portland State Saturday Sept. 28 *Montana at Northern Arizona *Idaho State at UC Davis *Sacramento State at Weber State *Southern Utah at Northern Colorado *Montana State at North Dakota

Saturday Oct. 5 *Portland State at Montana *Weber State at Eastern Washington *UC Davis at Southern Utah *Northern Colorado at Sacramento State *Northern Arizona at Montana State *North Dakota at Idaho State Yale at Cal Poly Saturday Oct. 12 *Montana at UC Davis *Eastern Washington at North Dakota *Northern Arizona at Sacramento State *Weber State at Cal Poly *Northern Colorado at Idaho State *Portland State at Southern Utah Saturday Oct. 19 *Cal Poly at Montana *Southern Utah at Eastern Washington *UC Davis at Northern Colorado *Montana State at Weber State *Idaho State at Northern Arizona *Sacramento State at North Dakota

Saturday Oct. 26 *Eastern Washington at Montana *UC Davis at Montana State *Northern Arizona at Cal Poly *Idaho State at Southern Utah *North Dakota at Portland State Saturday Nov. 2 *Montana at Sacramento State *Eastern Washington at Idaho State *Cal Poly at UC Davis *Weber State at Portland State *Montana State at Northern Colorado *North Dakota at Northern Arizona Saturday Nov. 9 Montana at South Dakota *Montana State at Eastern Washington *Sacramento State at Cal Poly *Portland State at Idaho State *Southern Utah at Weber State *North Dakota at Northern Colorado Saturday Nov. 16 *Weber State at Montana *Eastern Washington at Cal Poly *North Dakota at UC Davis *Sacramento State at Portland State *Northern Colorado at Northern Arizona *Southern Utah at Montana State Idaho State at BYU Saturday Nov. 23 *Montana at Montana State *Portland State at Eastern Washington *UC Davis at Sacramento State *Cal Poly at Northern Colorado *Northern Arizona at Southern Utah *Idaho State at Weber State

Cal Poly - Mustangs C

al Poly’s first season in the Big Sky Conference was a shining success. The Mustangs sprang their triple-option attack on the rest of the league with great success, posting a 7-1 conference record in sharing the Big Sky title with Montana State and Eastern Washington. The former Great West power returns eight offensive and 10 defensive starters from last year’s team. Last fall, Cal Poly fell to eventual FCS runner-up Sam Houston State, 18-16, in the second round of the FCS playoffs. In 2012, Cal Poly set the Big Sky single-season record for rushing yards in a season with 3,890. The Mustangs lose quarterback Andre Broadous and top running back Deonte Williams, the Big Sky’s leading rusher last season.

//////////////// QUICK HITS Location:

San Luis Obispo, California

Nickname: Mustangs Founded: 1901. Cal Polytechnic State started as a vocational school and is one of two polytechnic universities in the 23-member California State University system. Enrollment: The school has 18,679 total students and a $168.4 million endowment. Stadium:

Alex G. Spanos Stadium holds 11,075 fans. Originally erected in 1935 and expanded in 2006, the stadium is named for the Cal Poly alum who currently owns the San Diego Chargers. Cal Poly averaged 8,566 fans during the 2012 season.

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THE TEAM

(7-1 in Big Sky, 9-3 overall in 2012)

THE COACH

Tim Walsh, fifth season at Cal Poly. After five seasons away, Walsh returned to the Big Sky. The former Portland State head coach (19932006) is 143-101 in his coaching career, including a 55-47 mark in Big Sky games. Walsh shared Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year honors with Eastern Washington’s Beau Baldwin.

WHO TO WATCH the offense

ristaan Ivory, running back, 5-9, 195, Junior — Ivory’s numbers are sure to be among the Big Sky’s best as he becomes the primary ball carrier in Cal Poly’s vaunted triple-option attack. Playing behind 1,500-yard rusher Deonte Williams last fall, Ivory still managed to rush for 728 yards on 109 attempts (6.7 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns. He also caught two touchdown passes.

ohnny Millard, Outside Linebacker, 6-3, 231, Senior — The stout four-year starter was the Mustangs’ third-leading tackler last fall with 72 total stops. His tackle total was 27th in the league and earned him second-team All-Big Sky honors. His six tackles for loss and two sacks tied for second on the team as the Mustangs had the Big Sky’s third-ranked defense in points and yards allowed.

illie Tucker, wide receiver, 6-3, 205, Junior — A product of the same high school as NFL wide receivers Austin Collie and Seyi Ajirotutu, Tucker has a breakout sophomore season that saw him earn honorable mention All-Big Sky recognition despite being targeted sparingly. Playing for the nation’s third-ranked rushing team, Tucker averaged 18.5 yards per catch (28 catches, 517 yards) and hauled in a team-high seven touchdowns.

the defense ullivan Grosz, Defensive Tackle, 6-4, 280, Senior — The threeyear starter will seek his third all-conference nod — he was honorable mention All-Great West in 2011 and second-team All-Big Sky last fall — during his final campaign. In 2012, Grosz helped the Mustangs limit opponents to 131 rushing yards per game with 57 total tackles, including a team-high 12.5 for loss, the 10th-best total in the league and the second-best mark for defensive tackles. He also had five sacks, the 12th-best performance in the Big Sky and tied for the third-best among Big Sky defensive tackles.

ole Stanford, S-Back, 6-2, 225, Senior — The converted linebacker proved to be the Mustangs’ top big-play threat in 2012. Stanford averaged an eye-popping 13.2 yards per touch, but he got the ball just 55 times. Still, his 28.6 yards per catch would have led the Big Sky if he had more grabs and his four receiving touchdowns were second on the team.

ick Dzubnar, Outside linebacker,: As a sophomore, Dzubnar was one of seven Big Sky players to notch more than 100 tackles, yet he only earned honorable mention all-league recognition likely because he was the third-best linebacker on his squad. Of Dzubnar’s 107 tackles, 61 were solo and six came behind the line of scrimmage. He also had an interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

THE OUTLOOK Cal Poly has a tough schedule — the team plays at Fresno State and at Colorado State in September and has league dates at Montana, versus Northern Arizona and versus Eastern Washington — but the Mustangs have the firepower to hold their own. Cal Poly returns 10 starters from a stingy defense. If Walsh can find a replacement for triggerman Andre Broadous to run his spread triple-option attack, Cal Poly should again challenge for the Big Sky title. 87

IDAHO STATE - BENGALS Y

ear three of the rebuilding phase in Pocatello is underway. Mike Kramer, a three-time Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year, took over an Idaho State program in 2011 that had won five Division I games in the previous four seasons. In two seasons under Kramer, the Bengals have one Division I win. Not only has Kramer overhauled the roster, but he’s stacked his coaching staff with a slew of former stud football players. Don Bailey, Kramer’s offensive coordinator since their time at Montana State, remains. But the rest of the staff is new. Former Montana State linebacker Roger Cooper, the 2004 Big Sky Defensive MVP, is the co-defensive coordinator with Spencer Toone, a former University of Utah and Tennessee Titans standout. Former All-Big Sky receivers for the Montana Grizzlies Matt Troxel (offensive line) and Mike Ferriter (inside wide receivers), former Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots defensive tackle Steve Fifita (defensive line), and former BC Lions defensive back Stanley Franks (secondary) fills out the coaching staff.

QUICK HITS ////

Location:

Pocatello, Idaho

Nickname: Bengals Founded:

1901. ISU is a Carnegie-clas sified doctoral research high and teaching institution that attracts students from around the world.

Enrollment: The university has 15,553 and an endowment of $40.3 million. Stadium:

Holt Arena. The 42-year-old arena holds 12,000. The school replaced its notorious Astro Turf with field turf before the 2011 season. The Bengals averaged 5,918 fans in five home games last fall.

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THE TEAM

(0-8 in Big Sky, 1-10 overall in 2012)

THE COACH

Mike Kramer, third season at Idaho State. Kramer’s 54 Big Sky Conference wins are among the most in league history, but the former Montana State and Eastern Washington head coach has only won one league contest at ISU. The three-time Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year is in the middle of a rebuilding process, but his ability to resurrect EWU and MSU gives those in Pocatello hope.

WHO TO WATCH the offense

ustin Arias, Quarterback, 6-1, 202, Junior: Kramer brought in Kevin Yost and Arias from the junior college ranks in 2011. Yost beat out Arias, so Kramer redshirted Arias last season. Now it’s Arias’ show. He threw for 348 yards and two touchdowns in 2011. He takes over one of the most prolific passing offenses in the country. Last year, Yost threw for 3,695 yards (336 yards per game) and 24 touchdowns. Arias should put up comparable numbers if he gets the 553 attempts Yost got last year.

ameron Richmond, Wide Receiver, 6-1, 175, Senior — Richmond has played second fiddle to Rodrick Rumble (career: 223 receptions, 2,863 yards, 17 TDs) the last three seasons. Despite being the third-leading pass catcher in ISU’s high-flying offense last season, Richmond still earned honorable mention All-Big Sky honors by catching 67 passes for 739 yards and four touchdowns last fall.

uke Austin, Wide Receiver, 6-1, 185, Senior — Austin was the fourth option in ISU’s aerial attack, but he was the top point scorer. Last fall, Austin caught 46 passes for 611 yards and a teamhigh eight touchdowns.

the defense

revor Spence, Outside Linebacker, 5-11, 218, Senior — Spencer was the lone Bengal on the worst defense in the FCS (54 points, 570 yards per game) to earn all-league honors. Spence earned honorable mention all-league honors with 90 tackles, including six for loss and three sacks. He also had an interception and four pass breakups.

aison Manu, Safety, 5-9, 195, Sophomore: Manu was the last level of defense for the Bengals’ porous defense last season. As a freshman, he had 77 tackles — second on the team — including 4.5 behind the line of scrimmage.

ustin Graves, Defensive End, 6-2, 240, Junior — Graves missed a third of the season — he played in eight games — but he still was second on the Bengals in tackles for loss. Graves had 32 total tackles, including five behind the line of scrimmage and a sack.

THE OUTLOOK It’s unlikely, if impossible, that Idaho State’s defense will be worse than a season ago. But when you throw the ball every down, that gives opponents plenty of time to grind the clock. Kramer is still in rebuilding mode — he’s revamped the coaching staff — but he still needs the marquee quarterback to run his up-tempo, all-passing offense. It will be another long year for the Bengals. 89

PORTLAND STATE - VIKINGS S

ooner or later, the work on the recruiting trail is going to pay off for Nigel Burton and his Vikings. The headstrong and sometimes volatile coach — he fired his defensive coordinator and took over the position himself after the second week of last season — is a great recruiter. His staff signed what many sources thought was the top recruiting class in the FCS in 2010. PSU had a breakthrough, going 7-4 in 2011, but last season was a different story. After a 77-10 shellacking of Idaho State, the Vikings lost four out of five, including getting destroyed by Montana State in Bozeman, 65-30. MSU build a 59-10 halftime lead before coasting to victory.

///////////////// QUICK HITS Location:

Portland, Oregon

Nickname: Vikings Founded:

1946. Oregon’s largest school is the only public university in the state located in a major metropolitan area.

Enrollment: The commuter school has 29, 703 students and a $40 million endowment. Stadium:

Jeld-Wen Field. Formerly known as Multnomah Field when it first opened in 1893, the off-campus facility holds 22,000 fans and is also home to the Portland Timbers, the city’s Major League Soccer club.

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THE TEAM

(2-6 in Big Sky, 3-8 overall in 2012)

THE COACH

Nigel Burton, fourth season at Portland State. The University of Washington alum and the former Nevada defensive coordinator has implemented his mentor Chris Ault’s Pistol offense with limited success. Burton is 12-21 in three seasons, including 8-16 in Big Sky play.

WHO TO WATCH the offense

ieran McDonagh, Quarterback, 6-2, 245, Sophomore: McDonagh is big, durable and can run with force between the tackles. He’s a perfect fit for Burton’s Pistol offense, but he can also toss it around when needed. In his first year as a starter —the first time PSU has had a freshman under center in nearly 60 yards — McDonagh threw for 2,187 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 406 yards and nine touchdowns.

aycob Shoemaker, Outside Linebacker, 6-0, 230, Senior — With the graduation of All-America linebacker Ian Sluss, Shoemaker will be PSU’s primary playmaker. Last season, the honorable mention all-league player notched 79 tackles, including a team-leading 12 for loss. He had two sacks and an interception as well.

J Adams, Running Back, 5-10, 210, Senior — The Big Sky’s second-leading returning rusher is primed for a big senior season. The former Maryland transfer rushed for 972 yards on 164 carries (5.9 yards per carry) and his 12 touchdowns were among the Big Sky’s best totals. Including his time as a Terrapin, the honorable mention All-Big Sky pick has scored 27 touchdowns on 271 carries, or roughly one TD every 10 touches.

the defense ennis Fite, Cornerback, 6-5, 190, Senior: The Big Sky’s biggest cornerback is going to have to play like his size if the Vikings want to have any shot of stopping opponents this season. Last fall, Fite had 42 tackles, but he didn’t have an interception and he broke up just three passes.

homas Carter, Wide Receiver, 5-10, 185, Sophomore — Carter moved from quarterback to slot receiver just two weeks before the season began and was an instant threat. As a true freshman, he led the Vikings with 32 catches. He totaled 313 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored a rushing touchdown.

ick Alexander, Defensive End, 6-4, 250, Senior — With Marquis Jackson gone to the NFL, Portland State’s primary pass rushing duties fall on the former Boise State Bronco. The Los Angeles native has always had the talent — he was a two-time All-City selection at Crenshaw High — but this is his last season to put it all together. He had 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks as a junior, but his 17 total tackles is a number that must improve.

THE OUTLOOK McDonagh is the perfect player to run the Pistol, an FCS version of Tim Tebow with a durable frame and the ability to throw deep. Adams is one of the Big Sky’s most talented running backs. But the Vikings are inconsistent defensively — they gave up 36 points and 400 yards per game last fall — and that’s not likely to change with the graduation of All-America linebacker Ian Sluss. The Vikings will again finish toward the bottom of the league. 91

SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS T

he Hornets have been knocking on door for a most of Marshall Sperbeck’s tenure. Is 2013 the year Sacramento State finally breaks through? After an upset win over FBS Colorado, Sac looked primed to make a postseason push last fall. But narrow losses to eventual co-Big Sky champs Eastern Washington (31-28) and Montana State (20-17) was the difference between eight Division I wins, including six in league play. The Hornets return some stars from last year’s 6-5 squad, including electrifying quarterback Garrett Safron.

////////////////// QUICK HITS Location:

Sacramento, California

Nickname: Hornets Founded: 1947. One of California’s largest universities located in the state’s capital s designated as a “Center of Academic Excellence” by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency (NSA). Enrollment: The student body totals 28,000 and the endowment is $29 million. Stadium:

Hornets Stadium. Opened in 1969, the 21,195-seat venue was only half full last season on aver age. The Hornets drew 9,109 fans per game for five home games.

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THE TEAM

(4-4 in Big Sky, 6-5 overall in 2012)

THE COACH

Marshall Sperbeck, 7th season at Sac State. If nothing else, Sperbeck is consistent. In five seasons at Sac, the Hornets have never won more than six games and never less than six. Sperbeck is 30-37 at Sac, 139-90 overall.

WHO TO WATCH the offense

arrett Safron, Quarterback, 6-1, 195, Junior: Safron burst on the Big Sky scene last season and, at times, was brilliant. In Sac’s 35-29 upset of then-No. 11 Cal Poly, Safron completed 31-of-38 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 46 more yards. In the Hornets’ narrow 20-17 loss to then No. 3 Montana State, Safron threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns, including a 76-yard bomb to standout wide receiver Morris Norrise. All told, Safron completed 64 percent of his passes for 2,540 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 377 yards and two more scores.

odd Davis, Outside Linebacker, 6-1, 230, Senior — Davis is one of seven Big Sky Conference players who notched more than 100 tackles last season and six of the century-club members return. Last fall, the rangy Davis was all over the place for the Hornets. The honorable mention all-league pick totaled 103 tackles, including 13.5 for loss, and 3.5 sacks. His tackles for loss total was the fourth-best in the Big Sky and the best returning total.

orris Norrise, Wide Receiver, 6-2, 185, Senior — Norrise will challenge for his fourth straight All-Big Sky nod — he was a second-team all-conference pick last fall — after a strong junior season. Last fall, he caught 60 passes for 777 yards and seven touchdowns. He also returned 10 punts for 130 yards.

the defense sagie Odiase, Cornerback, 6-1, 180, Senior: The four-year starter should be one of the Big Sky’s best cover corners as a senior. Last fall, Odiase was second in the Big Sky in passes defended (11) and interceptions (3). He earned second-team All-Big Sky honors after notching 65 tackles, three for loss and a sack along with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and eight pass breakups.

zekiel Graham, Running Back, 5-9, 170, Senior — Graham arrived in Sacramento last fall after an All-America career at Los Angeles Southwest Junior College and he carried the load for the Hornets rushing attack. Graham was an honorable mention All-Big Sky selection after rushing for 861 yards on 166 carries (5.2 yards per carry) and five touchdowns. He also caught 40 passes and gained 406 receiving yards, scoring twice through the air.

arkell Williams, Cornerback, 5-8, 180, Senior — Williams was Sac’s fourth-leading tackler from his cornerback spot last fall, notching 69 stops. His aggression showed as he also had five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions.

THE OUTLOOK Sac has never lacked athleticism, but now the Hornets have an athlete under center. Safron presents some of the biggest challenges for opposing defenses in the Big Sky, what with his ability to run, extend plays and throw under pressure. He could be the difference in helping Sac knock on the playoff door. The first two weeks of November — Sac hosts Montana, then plays at Cal Poly — will likely determine if the Hornets break through. 93

HALLOWED GROUND: The Hellgate Canyon has long Been a fearsome place for opponents by Colter Nuanez

enturies ago, the Bitterroot Salish Indian tribe would travel through the Missoula Valley on its way to bison hunting grounds. As the hunters traversed through the heavily wooded valley’s narrow mouths, the Blackfeet, the keepers of the land, would ambush and kill the Salish nomads. The gate to nourishment also became the gate to danger for the Salish. The Flathead people referred to the valley as the lm-sul-etiku, which literally translates as “by the cold, chilling waters,” but which the Salish used metaphorically to mean, “the place chilled with fear.” When French trappers first passed through the valley about two decades after Lewis and Clark trekked through the

Treasure State, the sheer number of human bodies scattered throughout the landscape was horrifying. The French dubbed the valley “Porte de l’Enfer,” meaning “Hell Gate.” ven now, in the 21st century, the tales of yesteryear have a profound influence on the landscape of the Garden City. The bitter, biting winds that start in the east and whip through the passage in between Mount Jumbo and Mount Sentinel are still referred to as the Hellgate winds. On the west side of town sits Hellgate, a K-8 school with the largest non-high school enrollment in the state. Downtown in the University district sits Hellgate High School, one of the oldest public high schools in Montana.

t the base of the eastern edge of Hellgate Canyon now stands Washington-Grizzly Stadium, one of the gems of the Football Championship Subdivision. The home to the University of Montana football team holds more than 26,000 fans and the home-field advantage the venue provides strikes fear into visiting opponents. Since the stadium opened in 1986, Montana is 174-24 at home. It seems the Hellgate Canyon has elicited the terror of visitors for centuries. But of the legendary canyon’s guests, the Bobcats seem to be the least scared. “It’s a great environment. They have tremendous support over there — the fans are great and the stadium is just awesome,” said Montana State head coach Rob Ash before his team posted a 16-7 win in the 2012 game in Missoula. “You are completely surrounded and you’re down in the arena. It’s fabulous and I really enjoy it because it’s so exciting to play in that type of setting.” sh remembers his first trip to Missoula well. That afternoon, Montana left warm-ups early and returned to the turf-wearing throwback copper and gold jerseys. The Griz rode the electric atmosphere to a 35-3 win. “I remember a few years ago, we went into Cat-Griz and we had a defensive player;

a linebacker on the first play of the far ahead of yourself. You just hope Schreibeis, a touchdown pass from game who was lined up completely those emotions calm down after the DeNarius McGhee to Saco native opening kickoff.” Kruiz Siewing and three Rory Perez wrong,” Ash laughed. “He hadn’t lined up wrong all season and he was field goals, MSU notched a 16-7 win, n 2011, Montana walked into the the Bobcats’ second straight in UM’s out there covering space, nobody newly renovated Bobcat Stadium around him. He was frozen. He was hallowed home. “It’s tremendous. — MSU’s venue got a 7,200-seat so hyped up, he couldn’t even move.” addition in the south end zone and a That venue they have is great; the ontana head coach Mick brand new scoreboard to the north — fans are rowdy,” said former Montana State center Shaun Delaney has Sampson, a first-team been an assistant coach “I don’t think it makes any difference All-Big Sky selection in on both sides of the what’s at stake; it’s Cat-Griz,” Ash said 2012. “It just adds to the rivalry. He said there’s and it’s a lot no point in trying to before the win. “Everybody is going to be atmosphere of fun. You love playing in control the emotions that as a player and it just of the players because sky-high for this game.” adds to the game.” it’s just not possible. “I’ve been involved in I don’t think it makes any difference what’s at this thing 10 or 12 times as and destroyed the then-No. 1 Boban assistant — I think there’s really cats. Montana rushed for 309 yards in stake; it’s Cat-Griz,” Ash said before the win. “Everybody is going to be no way you can control it,” Delaney a 36-10 victory that lit the fuse for a sky-high for this game. It wouldn’t said last November. “You have to do FCS semifinals run. what you’ve been doing. The kids matter if it meant nothing for everyast season, the Bobcats got just come out and practice so hard. revenge. Behind an unforgettable one or everything for both teams, it’s You just try to coach the way you’ve 16-tackle effort by eventual Buck always a fantastic game.” c coached all season and don’t get too Buchanan Award-winner Caleb

“

LARGER Than Life by Colter Nuanez

ob Ash remembers growing up in America’s heartland as a staunch supporter of the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Iowa-Iowa State football game drew attention from across the state, but the result of the game yielded little more than bragging rights. When Ash became the head coach at Montana State in 2007, he was quickly indoctrinated with one of the oldest and fiercest rivalries in all of college football. Montana State versus Montana isn’t just a football game. It’s a cultural event. It’s a defining day for residents all across the Treasure State. It’s more than a game on one day of the year. What I’ve come to realize is that Cat-Griz is every day of the year,” Ash said before the 2012 contest. “It’s every day, not just in the football sense, but as a way of

“

Cat-Griz rivalry has deep meaning across the Treasure State

life in Montana. You go anywhere in Just the thought of the game and its the state and a guy sees your Bobcat repercussions makes Gratton’s blood plates on your car and he’s a Bobboil. “I’m not going to hold back cat, he loves you. If he’s a Griz, he here. I hate the Cats with everything hates you. It’s just the way it is. The in my gut, my heart, my head, I hate everything about them. I just hate intensity of it throughout the whole year surprised me when I first got “They could be 0-9 going into it and to Montana State, I don’t think records would matter. but trust me, I’m a believer now. This I get nervous just thinking about it, one is really unique but it’s one of the biggest days of in the passion that surrounds it.” the year every year.” ormer Montana wide receiver Sam Gratton, a senior in 2012, was born a Grizzly. the Cats,” Gratton said in November The Billings native is the son of 2012. “I feel stuff on those Saturdays a Grizzly — Scott Gratton played that we play them that I don’t feel on linebacker for UM from 1979-1982 normal Saturdays. I’m not ashamed — and the brother of a Grizzly. His of it, I’m not afraid to say it, it’s younger sibling, Zach, is a UM safety. seriously how I feel. I’m starting to shake right now a little bit.” ontana State senior running back Cody Kirk is the other side of the coin, the tails to Gratton’s heads. The Bobcats’ leading rusher the past two seasons grew up in Grizzly country, but has always had blue and gold running through his veins. Until he graduated from Frenchtown High School in 2009,

Kirk lived amongst the enemy. He’s been a dyed-inthe-wool Bobcat since spending Saturdays as a kid on the Montana State sidelines with his uncle, Tom Mahlum, an MSU Hall-of-Famer and a member of the 1984 MSU national title team. “(Growing up in Missoula) sucked,” Kirk said with a laugh following MSU’s 65-30 drubbing of Portland State last season. “I remember when we broke the 16-game losing streak in Missoula (a 10-7 MSU win in 2002). I remember I had the headline hanging in my room for at least a year. ‘SNOW JOKE’ was the headline and I thought that was so cool. I remember being there, celebrating with my family. That was an awesome moment.” rian Bignell came to Montana State with a family legacy to maintain. His uncle, Joe Bignell, is MSU’s all-time leader in career catches (169) and, like Mahlum, an MSU Hall-of-Famer and owner of a 1984 championship ring. Bignell’s older brother, Clay, was the captain of the 2011 MSU defense. Both Bignell’s parents are MSU alums and his mother was a rodeo star on the 1986 national title team. “Growing up, every Saturday it was cheering for the Bobcats and hoping the Griz lose,” Brian Bignell said last November. “It’s always been all about the Bobcats.” aleb Schreibeis, the 2012 Buck Buchanan winner and a Bobcat captain, knows records are thrown out the window once Cat-Griz commences. “It’s easy to get psyched out for, but it is just another game and that’s how you have to approach it,” Schreibeis said before last year’s game. “They could be 0-9 going into it and I don’t think records would matter. I get nervous just thinking about it, but it’s one of the biggest days of the year every year.” he Grizzlies come to Bozeman for the 2013 edition of the historic rivalry. The Bobcats haven’t defeated the Grizzlies in Bobcat Stadium since 2005 and have just two home wins over UM since 1985. Each team is among the favorites in the Big Sky Conference race this fall. It seems the legend of the rivalry continues to grow. c

Biographies: felix a. marquez

My earliest memories of photography include a little Kodak Brownie box camera. I played with and pushed the shutter of the filmless box camera countless times for hours on end. The lack of film did not stop me from pressing the shutter. I have been told that those were the best photographs I have ever taken, thus I continue to shoot, hoping someday I will come full circle. Through high school, I furthered my interest in photography as a photographer/photo editor for the school newspaper. My skills and love of photography continued as I financed my college education by covering university events as well as taking candid shots and portraits for sororities and fraternities. I earned a Masters degree in Oceanography from OSU; however, photo assignments, photo editing and printing is where I have spent the majority of my free time. In 1991, I began to focus on sporting events; especially tennis, golf and football. The rest is history. My images of golf and tennis legends have sold worldwide and have appeared in numerous Sports Illustrated issues, as well as in National Geographic. Cheers, Felix Felix A. Marquez Professional Photographer

cynthia logan

Having started The Washington Elementary Times school newspaper in sixth grade, Cynthia Logan has been a freelance writer and editor for over two decades. She is founder and principal of LogoRhythms, the lucrative aspect of her literary life. Her features have appeared in Big Sky Journal, Distinctly Montana, Home, Outside Bozeman and other regional publications, as well as in The Montecito Journal. She is the author of over 50 interview / profiles commissioned by the national publication Atlantis Rising, ten of which were selected for inclusion in two anthologies published by

Inner Traditions. Ms. Logan has been the Managing Editor for The BoZone Entertainment and Events Calendar for the past eight years and is, along with Felix Marquez, principal of L & M Enterprises. A feature article accompanying Mr. Marquez’ photographs is anticipated in the 2014 summer edition of Cowboys and Indians. Cynthia can be reached at logorhythms@gmail.com or via loganmarquez.com.

colter nuanez

Colter Nuanez is a freelance sportswriter living in Southwestern Montana. The 2013 Montana State football campaign will be the third he has covered for the three-time defending Big Sky Conference-champion Bobcats. Nuanez currently is the senior writer for Bobcat Beat, the front end of Bobcat Nation (bobcatnation. com), now in its second decade. Previously, Nuanez served as the sports editor of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and the Ellensburg Daily Record. During his time in Ellensburg, Nuanez was named the Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year for 2010. In 2011, he won eight Montana Newspaper Association awards, including first place in “Best Sports Story” and second place in “Best Niche Publication” for the Chronicle’s “Cat-Griz” magazine. His work has appeared in USA Today, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Seattle Times, The Oregonian, the Spokesman Review, the Houston Chronicle, the Arizona Sun, the Austin Texas Statesman and every major newspaper in the state of Montana. Nuanez can be reached at BobcatBeat56@gmail.com. 100

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CREDITS Photography FMFP Photo Felix A. Marquez (unless otherwise marked)

Articles Colter Nuanez Cynthia Logan Sonny Holland

Magazine Layout Silver Oak Graphic Design

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THE RISE OF THE BOBCATS:

CAN THE TRA DITIO ASC REA N- LA ENT O DEN FA CH THE PRO GRA PINN M ACL E?

By Colter Nuanez

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he ascent of the Montana State Bobcats since the turn of the 21st century has been profound, but it has not been without turmoil. program steeped in tradition — MSU won national championships in 1956, 1976 and 1984 — lay dormant for much of the final 20 years of the 20th century. Following 1984’s Cinderella run, the Bobcats won just 62 games over the next 16 seasons, coming to a dismal head with an 0-11 record in 2000, Mike Kramer’s first campaign. ut the charismatic Kramer helped resurrect the Bobcats, using a grass-roots effort to reaffirm that the Treasure State was home to two Football Championship Division powerhouses, not just the Montana Grizzlies. After 16 straight losses, an embarrassing string of beat downs known across Montana as “The Streak,” Kramer and his charges finally knocked off the mighty Grizzlies. In front of a packed Washington-Grizzly Stadium, true freshman quarterback Travis Lulay silenced the crowd and foreshadowed a legendary career that would see him lead MSU to three wins in four tries over UM as MSU posted a 10-7 win over the defending national champs. y 2006, the ‘Cats had shared three Big Sky titles under Kramer and the coach’s final campaign included a playoff win over Furman. But all was not well in Bozeman. n the spring of 2007, Kramer was controversially fired. Montana State’s Academic Progress Rating was in the toilet. Six current or former football players faced charges related to a cocaine conspiracy that culminated in the murder of a rival drug dealer. nter Rob Ash. The longtime Drake mentor came to Bozeman and instantly revamped the culture. Behind a philosophy of thriving in the classroom, in the community and on the field, the Bobcats have risen to unparalleled heights. MSU went 11-2 last season, capping a three-year run that saw the ‘Cats win 30 games and share three straight Big Sky Conference championships. The Bobcats have been to the playoffs three years in a row and have won second-round games at Bobcat Stadium each of the last two falls. he program has seen its visibility skyrocket with a $10 million stadium renovation that included a 7,200-seat expansion to the south, a towering scoreboard to the north and lights all around. In 2012, MSU opened its season with the first night game in Bobcat Stadium history. The season ended with two night playoff games on ESPN2, including a thrilling win over Stony Brook to earn MSU its second straight quarterfinal berth.

B I

ff the field, Montana State is in good standing in APR and has gotten beyond the NCAA-mandated probation that plagued Ash’s first few seasons in Bozeman. Around the Gallatin Valley, the Bobcats gave more than 850 hours of community service in 2012 alone. ollowing the 2013 campaign, the Bobcats will face another crossroads. This senior class is the last recruiting class that came to MSU before the Bobcats were the kings of the Big Sky. The team will lose superstar quarterback DeNarius McGhee, a four-year starter and the face of the program. MSU will also have to replace stalwarts like running back Cody Kirk, defensive end Brad Daly, wide receiver Tanner Bleskin and linebacker Na’a Moeakiola. ttrition and graduation are not new to college football. The powerhouse programs don’t rebuild; they reload. With a talented and deep offensive line anchored by Jon Weidenaar and Quinn Catalano that includes six underclassmen among its top 10 players, the trenches will be as solid as ever. The skill positions are deep, with wide receiver Brian Flotkoetter and lightning-quick tailback Shawn Johnson set to carry the torch beyond the 2013 season. Defensively, players like linebackers Alex Singleton and Michael Foster and defensive end Odin Coe have waited for their turn to become starters. cGhee will be nearly impossible to replace, both for his wizard-like skills on the field and his unwavering role as a steady ambassador for the Bobcats off it. But the cupboard is not dry. Rocket-armed righty Jake Bleskin will be a junior in 2014. Dakota Prukop showed his skills as a dual threat as a redshirt freshman during spring drills in 2013. The X-factor could be Bozeman’s favorite son. Tanner Roderick transferred after two seasons at the University of Nevada. He will play wide receiver in 2013, but will be a primary candidate to be McGhee’s successor. The 2010-2011 Montana Gatorade Player of the Year in football and basketball at Bozeman High was one of the most decorated and electrifying prep athletes in the history of the state of Montana. erhaps most importantly, the Bobcats have stability. Ash is as steady as they come. His staff is a perfect mix of energy and intellect. The school’s reputation around the state mirrors that of the football program. ince Ash took over, the Bobcats’ rise has continued to gain momentum. Can the climb continue into the future? Only time will tell. c

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AUTOGRAPHS