Today's Paper Chase will be abridged, and we'll then convene after Memorial Day. But two main topics continue to play out in this space.
First, congratulations to Bobcat offensive lineman Mike Person, who found a new home by successfully transitioning to left tackle this spring. He lands in Craig Haley's top 10 FCS offensive linemen lsit, and deservedly so. The Bobcats may be a little thin up front for Rob Ash's taste in terms of numbers, but the group is unquestionably talented, and Person is its leader.
National college football writer Tony Barnhart asks the most pointed and telling question of the entire conference realignment debate: who ever said the BCS was designed to be fair? The interesting nugget contained therein is that if things proceed as they are for the next couple of seasons, the Mountain West is expected to land a spot within the BCS structure in 2012. Meanwhile, Will C. Holden of the Chronicle wonders aloud why the Big Sky can't poach a small handful of schools from other leagues and form a 14-team superconference. When you stand back and admire the scheme, it's a thing of beauty. When you look more closely at the details, it becomes messy.
But that discussion, apparently, is for tomorrow. Today's topic, as usual with Will, is provocative outside-the-box thinking.
One person familiar with such talk is Bobcat football coach Rob Ash. He was not only intricately involved in the formation of the Pioneer League while serving in the same capacity at Drake, but he came up with the name for that conference. Ash said that while coaches are all keenly aware of the rumblings, they -- at least the ones he met with at the recent AFCA meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz. -- played things "pretty close to the vest."
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The Paper Chase - May 25, 2010
Craig Haley is back with more news and notes from around the FCS world today, featuring a look at Southern Illinois’ new stadium and some tidbits from the world of FCS scheduling. No look at Big Sky non-conference football scheduling excludes UC Davis, as Craig points out.
Alright, here's you CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT WARNING! If you're sick of reading this stuff, scroll past the next paragraph NOW!
Let's start with some interesting things by way of the Idaho Statesman in Boise, where BSU's President is making noise about "revenue discrimination" in the BCS. The points are interesting and, to my way of thinking, valid, particularly when he challenges BCS Commissioner Bill Hancock's assertion that "every game counts" by wondering how he can claim Boise State's games count while the Broncos are going undefeated while being frozen out of the championship picture. Yet, as the bowl system was never constructed for a purpose other than to attract tourists and attention to a small cabal of warm weather communities, the BCS was built primarily to generate revenue. In an extension of this argument, Andy Staples of SI.com presents the case that non-BCS teams actually enhance the system's television ratings and fan interest.
Bill Speltz of the Missoulian gets inside the head of UM Athletic Director Jim O'Day, who has been out front of the process. That process might include Boise State moving to the Mountain West, which could affect the Big Sky Conference, but WAC Commissioner Karl Benson's possible targets might surprise you. I would not have landed on Cal Poly, UC Davis, and Portland State as possibilities. The Las Vegas Sun gives us more regional insight from a Mountain West perspective. If you're thinking big picture, John Rohde of the Daily Oklahoman envisions a new conference landscape. The Omaha World Herald's Tom Shatel brings a different look at college football's potential conference shuffle nearly every day. He points out that Big 10-watching is addictive, but involves a lot of down time. He points out several awkward possibilities for the Big 10, which may have to choose between Michigan and Ohio State playing annually to advance to the Big 10 title game each year, or playing their annual rivalry game and one week later meeting for in the conference championship game. He also takes a look at how the expansion possibilities are playing out at Ground Zero, otherwise known as downtown Omaha. Teddy Greeinstein of the Chicago Tribune looks at the nuts and bolts of Big 10 expansion.
Idaho State color man Brad Bugger has a couple of interesting notes up on ISU's Bengal Blog, including a look at the Bengals' season opener against UM-Western and the idea that the school's men's basketball squad is likely to take its act on the road this summer.
Dave Reardon's look at the University of Hawaii's quest to replace receivers coach Ron Lee includes a couple of names familiar to Bobcat fans - Mouse Davis, recently the OC at Portland State, and Nick Rolovich, brother of former Bobcat signal caller Jack Rolovich.
Newly-minted Colorado head basketball coach Tad Boyle, formerly the head man at Northern Colorado, returned to his old stomping grounds in Greeley last week to a warm welcome. Interest in Buffs Basketball? Go figure.
Eastern Washington will play on red artificial turf this fall, and it will also play in a newly-renamed stadium. Welcome to Roos Field, nothing at all like Woodward Stadium.
As was pointed out last week by Bob Robinson, the supreme ruler of all basketball bloggers in and around the Northwest, Craig Kilborn is returning to TV. The former Bobcat shooting guard, who never really led the Big Sky in turnovers but who has gotten a lot of mileage out of saying he did, gets his own show on Fox next month. Kilborn was brilliant on SportsCenter and even better on the Daily Show, and we're looking forward to his debut!
-Bill Lamberty
Alright, here's you CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT WARNING! If you're sick of reading this stuff, scroll past the next paragraph NOW!
Let's start with some interesting things by way of the Idaho Statesman in Boise, where BSU's President is making noise about "revenue discrimination" in the BCS. The points are interesting and, to my way of thinking, valid, particularly when he challenges BCS Commissioner Bill Hancock's assertion that "every game counts" by wondering how he can claim Boise State's games count while the Broncos are going undefeated while being frozen out of the championship picture. Yet, as the bowl system was never constructed for a purpose other than to attract tourists and attention to a small cabal of warm weather communities, the BCS was built primarily to generate revenue. In an extension of this argument, Andy Staples of SI.com presents the case that non-BCS teams actually enhance the system's television ratings and fan interest.
Bill Speltz of the Missoulian gets inside the head of UM Athletic Director Jim O'Day, who has been out front of the process. That process might include Boise State moving to the Mountain West, which could affect the Big Sky Conference, but WAC Commissioner Karl Benson's possible targets might surprise you. I would not have landed on Cal Poly, UC Davis, and Portland State as possibilities. The Las Vegas Sun gives us more regional insight from a Mountain West perspective. If you're thinking big picture, John Rohde of the Daily Oklahoman envisions a new conference landscape. The Omaha World Herald's Tom Shatel brings a different look at college football's potential conference shuffle nearly every day. He points out that Big 10-watching is addictive, but involves a lot of down time. He points out several awkward possibilities for the Big 10, which may have to choose between Michigan and Ohio State playing annually to advance to the Big 10 title game each year, or playing their annual rivalry game and one week later meeting for in the conference championship game. He also takes a look at how the expansion possibilities are playing out at Ground Zero, otherwise known as downtown Omaha. Teddy Greeinstein of the Chicago Tribune looks at the nuts and bolts of Big 10 expansion.
Idaho State color man Brad Bugger has a couple of interesting notes up on ISU's Bengal Blog, including a look at the Bengals' season opener against UM-Western and the idea that the school's men's basketball squad is likely to take its act on the road this summer.
Dave Reardon's look at the University of Hawaii's quest to replace receivers coach Ron Lee includes a couple of names familiar to Bobcat fans - Mouse Davis, recently the OC at Portland State, and Nick Rolovich, brother of former Bobcat signal caller Jack Rolovich.
Newly-minted Colorado head basketball coach Tad Boyle, formerly the head man at Northern Colorado, returned to his old stomping grounds in Greeley last week to a warm welcome. Interest in Buffs Basketball? Go figure.
Eastern Washington will play on red artificial turf this fall, and it will also play in a newly-renamed stadium. Welcome to Roos Field, nothing at all like Woodward Stadium.
As was pointed out last week by Bob Robinson, the supreme ruler of all basketball bloggers in and around the Northwest, Craig Kilborn is returning to TV. The former Bobcat shooting guard, who never really led the Big Sky in turnovers but who has gotten a lot of mileage out of saying he did, gets his own show on Fox next month. Kilborn was brilliant on SportsCenter and even better on the Daily Show, and we're looking forward to his debut!
-Bill Lamberty
Ogden Lands on The Sports Network's D-Line List
If you play in the middle of the defensive line, you’re probably not going to get a lot of wholesale love. Some stats occasionally, praise from coaches in the privacy of the film room, and knowing glances from teammates who appreciate a job well done. But widespread adulation? That’s reserved for defensive ends who pile up sacks, and linebackers with gaudy tackle totals.
It was the defensive line’s turn in Craig Haley’s microscope last week, and an extremely productive and deserving Bobcat took a turn in the limelight. Haley identified MSU defensive tackle Dan Ogden as one of the top 10 defensive linemen. That’s not top 10 interior linemen, but top 10 linemen of any ilk.
Haley’s look at Ogden:
Dan Ogden, Montana State, Senior - Bobcats defensive line coach Bo Beck says Ogden can read blocks as fast as any player he has been around. The 6-foot, 261-pound All-Big Sky first-team selection does this with a quick first step, instincts and intelligence. By combining those skills, the defensive tackle makes opposing linemen miss with their block attempts. Last season, he totaled 44 tackles, including 5.5 sacks, while pursuing ball carriers all over the field.
Astutely, Haley gave the nod to six pure defensive tackles and another couple who can play inside or out. Renard Williams of Eastern Washington and Sacramento State’s Christian Clark join Ogden.
It was the defensive line’s turn in Craig Haley’s microscope last week, and an extremely productive and deserving Bobcat took a turn in the limelight. Haley identified MSU defensive tackle Dan Ogden as one of the top 10 defensive linemen. That’s not top 10 interior linemen, but top 10 linemen of any ilk.
Haley’s look at Ogden:
Dan Ogden, Montana State, Senior - Bobcats defensive line coach Bo Beck says Ogden can read blocks as fast as any player he has been around. The 6-foot, 261-pound All-Big Sky first-team selection does this with a quick first step, instincts and intelligence. By combining those skills, the defensive tackle makes opposing linemen miss with their block attempts. Last season, he totaled 44 tackles, including 5.5 sacks, while pursuing ball carriers all over the field.
Astutely, Haley gave the nod to six pure defensive tackles and another couple who can play inside or out. Renard Williams of Eastern Washington and Sacramento State’s Christian Clark join Ogden.
Former Bobcat OC Still Blazing Offensive Trails
Tucked neatly into The Sporting News Daily’s list of college football’s top 10 offensive coordinators last week was a name familiar to Bobcat fans, Jim McElwain. By now, everyone knows that Jimmy Mac has found his way to fame as Nick Saban’s play-caller at Alabama, and by his next trip home to the Treasure State will likely be sporting a national championship ring.
After parting ways with MSU upon Cliff Hysell’s retirement after the 1999 season, and after some time pulling double shifts with the coffee klatches at Kagy Korner, McElwain landed with John L. Smith at Louisville. It was not an accident. To his ever-lasting credit, Hysell worked diligently to help each of his assistants find work in the business. McElwain followed the former Idaho coach, with whom Hysell’s Bobcats waged some legendary battles, to Michigan State. From there the Missoula native spent a year in Al Davis’ Oakland Raiders circus, migrated back into college football for a season at Fresno State, and was then lured to one of the game’s holy places, Tuscaloosa.
For the great things McElwain has accomplished since leaving MSU, it’s worth a look back at his time in Blue and Gold.
When McElwain arrived from Eastern Washington as Cliff Hysell’s offensive coordinator in the summer of 1995, the Bobcats were fresh off a season in which the MSU offense was last (8th) in the league in scoring, passing* yards, and total yards. The program had long since identified itself as a team that would get done whatever it got done on the ground first, but was only 5th in the Big Sky in that category.
*In fairness, it should be pointed out that MSU threw for 217.3 yards a game in the pass-happy Big Sky that season, good for last in the league but 32nd nationally. Yes, that’s when the Big Sky was the Big Sky.
The offensive numbers hadn’t been that bleak throughout the Hysell era, but it was close. In the 7-4 1993 season, MSU finished 6th in scoring offense and 7th in total offense in the Big Sky. And with little time to restructure the offense and no influence as to the players he recruited, McElwain’s first Bobcat offense struggled in similar fashion. In a campaign that featured significant in-season quarterback shuffling, the Bobcats finished 8th in the league in passing yards, total yards, and scoring.
You can see where this is going, of course, as easily as those paying attention 15 years ago could see which direction the MSU offense was headed. In spite of remaining at the bottom of the league rankings in most offensive categories, MSU threw for nearly 300 yards more scored 54 more points in 1996 than the year before, and with the quarterback position coalescing around Rob Compson and two springs in McElwain’s system MSU’s offense took off in 1997. The team threw for 2,430 yards, 8th-most in school history to that point and 6th-best in the Big Sky. MSU scored 227 points, slightly down from the season before but also 6th in the league.
The 1998 season brought more improvement, and proved to be the team’s offensive peak for the years between Dave Arnold’s aerial high-wire act of the 1980s and the Travis Lulay-era teams of the early 2000s. MSU threw for 2,639 yards that year, the 4th-highest total in school history to that point and the most by a Bobcat team not led by Kelly Bradley. Rob Compson was terrific, and the passing explosion led the Bobcats to 348, the most in the Big Sky and still the 3rd-best mark in school history. The Bobcats averaged 31.6 points a game, and for the only time in the last 30 yards led the Big Sky in scoring.
Read that again. Montana State led the Big Sky in scoring in 1998 for the first time in 20 years, and hasn’t done so since. That was an amazing accomplishment then, and stands as an even more amazing accomplishment now. In three full years, McElwain built the Big Sky’s most productive offense.
Of course, a lot of things went wrong in 1999, but after some wistful moments McElwain’s offensive brilliance burned through at each of his stops. More importantly, all who have had the pleasure of knowing and working with him recall and appreciate the humility and humor.
After parting ways with MSU upon Cliff Hysell’s retirement after the 1999 season, and after some time pulling double shifts with the coffee klatches at Kagy Korner, McElwain landed with John L. Smith at Louisville. It was not an accident. To his ever-lasting credit, Hysell worked diligently to help each of his assistants find work in the business. McElwain followed the former Idaho coach, with whom Hysell’s Bobcats waged some legendary battles, to Michigan State. From there the Missoula native spent a year in Al Davis’ Oakland Raiders circus, migrated back into college football for a season at Fresno State, and was then lured to one of the game’s holy places, Tuscaloosa.
For the great things McElwain has accomplished since leaving MSU, it’s worth a look back at his time in Blue and Gold.
When McElwain arrived from Eastern Washington as Cliff Hysell’s offensive coordinator in the summer of 1995, the Bobcats were fresh off a season in which the MSU offense was last (8th) in the league in scoring, passing* yards, and total yards. The program had long since identified itself as a team that would get done whatever it got done on the ground first, but was only 5th in the Big Sky in that category.
*In fairness, it should be pointed out that MSU threw for 217.3 yards a game in the pass-happy Big Sky that season, good for last in the league but 32nd nationally. Yes, that’s when the Big Sky was the Big Sky.
The offensive numbers hadn’t been that bleak throughout the Hysell era, but it was close. In the 7-4 1993 season, MSU finished 6th in scoring offense and 7th in total offense in the Big Sky. And with little time to restructure the offense and no influence as to the players he recruited, McElwain’s first Bobcat offense struggled in similar fashion. In a campaign that featured significant in-season quarterback shuffling, the Bobcats finished 8th in the league in passing yards, total yards, and scoring.
You can see where this is going, of course, as easily as those paying attention 15 years ago could see which direction the MSU offense was headed. In spite of remaining at the bottom of the league rankings in most offensive categories, MSU threw for nearly 300 yards more scored 54 more points in 1996 than the year before, and with the quarterback position coalescing around Rob Compson and two springs in McElwain’s system MSU’s offense took off in 1997. The team threw for 2,430 yards, 8th-most in school history to that point and 6th-best in the Big Sky. MSU scored 227 points, slightly down from the season before but also 6th in the league.
The 1998 season brought more improvement, and proved to be the team’s offensive peak for the years between Dave Arnold’s aerial high-wire act of the 1980s and the Travis Lulay-era teams of the early 2000s. MSU threw for 2,639 yards that year, the 4th-highest total in school history to that point and the most by a Bobcat team not led by Kelly Bradley. Rob Compson was terrific, and the passing explosion led the Bobcats to 348, the most in the Big Sky and still the 3rd-best mark in school history. The Bobcats averaged 31.6 points a game, and for the only time in the last 30 yards led the Big Sky in scoring.
Read that again. Montana State led the Big Sky in scoring in 1998 for the first time in 20 years, and hasn’t done so since. That was an amazing accomplishment then, and stands as an even more amazing accomplishment now. In three full years, McElwain built the Big Sky’s most productive offense.
Of course, a lot of things went wrong in 1999, but after some wistful moments McElwain’s offensive brilliance burned through at each of his stops. More importantly, all who have had the pleasure of knowing and working with him recall and appreciate the humility and humor.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The Paper Chase - May 19, 2010
The suddenly-springlike weather has conspired with an abundance of baseball and softball games to curtail both my time and focus lately, but here's a mid-week look at what's going on around the Big Sky Conference...
Because I just can’t get enough of the conference realignment talk, here is a look at what the whole thing may or may not mean in our region. One innocuous quote from a West Coast president and it’s, Look out, Mountain West, here come the Broncos! And just when everyone seems to think they have a handle on things, Big 10 commissioner Jim Delany throws everyone for a loop by implying (or maybe by not implying) that his league looks south rather than on an east-west axis. My favorite columnist in Nebraska is intrigued by the intrigue.
Northern Arizona’s men’s basketball program just might have put a ribbon on the Big Sky Conference’s recruiting for 2010 with a pair of players that seem solid, even if pronouncing their names may be something of a challenge for the league’s radio and public address announcers.
If you’re looking for a wrap from this year’s Big Sky Conference spring meetings, Will Holden of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle gives a solid overview, as we’ve come to expect, and Bill Speltz of the Missoulian writes that Lady Griz basketball coach Robin Selvig will be only slightly mollified with the lifting of part of last year’s travel party restrictions.
For a little sporting whimsy on this hump day, take a look at the list of sports' best team nicknames in today’s Ogden Standard-Examiner. You won’t find Golden Bobcats on the list, but if you’re from the Chicago area there’s more than enough to keep you interested.
Craig Haley from the Sports Network takes a peak at a pair of recently-graduated FCS standouts. Craig will be ranking the top defensive linemen the FCS next week, and a certain returning All-Big Sky choice from Kalispell who anchors the Bobcat stop unit may sneak in there.
Finally, for those of you who are closet Nebraska high school basketball fans, like me, congratulations to Fremont High Coach Mark "Buck" Williams (FHS Class of '85), who earned the state's Class A Metro Co-Coach of the Year honors for reviving the school's flagging boys basketball program. All hail the Fremont Tigers!
Because I just can’t get enough of the conference realignment talk, here is a look at what the whole thing may or may not mean in our region. One innocuous quote from a West Coast president and it’s, Look out, Mountain West, here come the Broncos! And just when everyone seems to think they have a handle on things, Big 10 commissioner Jim Delany throws everyone for a loop by implying (or maybe by not implying) that his league looks south rather than on an east-west axis. My favorite columnist in Nebraska is intrigued by the intrigue.
Northern Arizona’s men’s basketball program just might have put a ribbon on the Big Sky Conference’s recruiting for 2010 with a pair of players that seem solid, even if pronouncing their names may be something of a challenge for the league’s radio and public address announcers.
If you’re looking for a wrap from this year’s Big Sky Conference spring meetings, Will Holden of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle gives a solid overview, as we’ve come to expect, and Bill Speltz of the Missoulian writes that Lady Griz basketball coach Robin Selvig will be only slightly mollified with the lifting of part of last year’s travel party restrictions.
For a little sporting whimsy on this hump day, take a look at the list of sports' best team nicknames in today’s Ogden Standard-Examiner. You won’t find Golden Bobcats on the list, but if you’re from the Chicago area there’s more than enough to keep you interested.
Craig Haley from the Sports Network takes a peak at a pair of recently-graduated FCS standouts. Craig will be ranking the top defensive linemen the FCS next week, and a certain returning All-Big Sky choice from Kalispell who anchors the Bobcat stop unit may sneak in there.
Finally, for those of you who are closet Nebraska high school basketball fans, like me, congratulations to Fremont High Coach Mark "Buck" Williams (FHS Class of '85), who earned the state's Class A Metro Co-Coach of the Year honors for reviving the school's flagging boys basketball program. All hail the Fremont Tigers!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Paper Chase - May 12, 2010
Congratulations go out today to Denise Albrecht and her Bobcat women’s tennis squad, which earned public kudos Wednesday for performance in Academic Progress Rate (APR), as measured by the NCAA. Coach Albrecht is a terrific coach and a unique character, and she is building a successful program that embodies the positives of Bobcat Athletics.
The Sports Network’s top 10 rankings of each FCS position moves to the defense today, where Eastern Washington’s J.C. Sherritt stands atop an impressive list of linebackers. The 2009 Buchanan Award runner-up is the only 2010 Bobcat opponent on the list, although one would have to think that MSU’s Clay Bignell, Idaho State’s A.J. Storms and Taylor Sedillo of Weber State merited discussion.
If you’re tired of hearing and reading about conference realignment in college athletics, skip right to the next paragraph. The topic fascinates me endlessly, and it occurred to me sometime recently that the schools that are really in tough shape if the dominoes start to fall like some think they will are current BCS entries such as Iowa State and the Kansas schools, which aren’t really being mentioned in the realignment rumblings. Right on cue, the Kansas City Star takes a look at where Kansas and Kansas State presently stand. Collegesportsinfo.com provides a look at realignment possibilities across the land, including at the FCS level.
If you’re looking for previews of this weekend’s Big Sky Conference track and field championships in Ogden, here are a couple from perennial powers Weber State and Northern Arizona, as well as a look at Montana State’s newly-minted qualifiers.
--Bill Lamberty
The Sports Network’s top 10 rankings of each FCS position moves to the defense today, where Eastern Washington’s J.C. Sherritt stands atop an impressive list of linebackers. The 2009 Buchanan Award runner-up is the only 2010 Bobcat opponent on the list, although one would have to think that MSU’s Clay Bignell, Idaho State’s A.J. Storms and Taylor Sedillo of Weber State merited discussion.
If you’re tired of hearing and reading about conference realignment in college athletics, skip right to the next paragraph. The topic fascinates me endlessly, and it occurred to me sometime recently that the schools that are really in tough shape if the dominoes start to fall like some think they will are current BCS entries such as Iowa State and the Kansas schools, which aren’t really being mentioned in the realignment rumblings. Right on cue, the Kansas City Star takes a look at where Kansas and Kansas State presently stand. Collegesportsinfo.com provides a look at realignment possibilities across the land, including at the FCS level.
If you’re looking for previews of this weekend’s Big Sky Conference track and field championships in Ogden, here are a couple from perennial powers Weber State and Northern Arizona, as well as a look at Montana State’s newly-minted qualifiers.
--Bill Lamberty
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The Paper Chase - May 11, 2010
Craig Haley of The Sports Network is back at it, slipping his ranking of FCS quarterbacks past me last week. It’s a pretty impressive list, headed by Stephen F. Austin’s Jeremy Moses and featuring NAU’s Michael Herrick and Cameron Higgins of Weber State. Craig didn’t pick an honorable mention, but I have to think Montana’s Justin Roper and Andrew Selle and Drew Hubel of Portland State each received strong consideration. I’m also a hopeless homer, but I fully expect Cody Kempt to be on or near this list at season’s end.
Dan Angell continues his look at Big Sky men’s basketball recruiting classes with two-time defending league regular season champion Weber State.
Portland State wrapped up Nigel Burton’s first spring on the Park Blocks with its Green-White game on Saturday.
Will Holden is already wondering about MSU’s quarterback situation.
Tom Shatel is one of the best local sports columnists in America, and has been offering wit and wisdom at the Omaha World-Herald for many years. Tom writes that while the “non-denial denials” by Nebraska and the others linked to the Big 10 yesterday by Kansas City radio station WHB remain plausible, it’s also likely that some contact has occurred which could lead to more formal proceedings.
Whenever an athlete is severely injures or dies while participating in his or her chosen sport, it hits close to home. The Missoulian provides a touching look at the life of former Missoula Sentinel standout Dylan Steigers, who was killed during spring football drills at Eastern Oregon last weekend. Thoughts and prayers go to his family and friends.
Sacramento State landed more front-line help in junior college forward Zach Nelson.
Dan Angell continues his look at Big Sky men’s basketball recruiting classes with two-time defending league regular season champion Weber State.
Portland State wrapped up Nigel Burton’s first spring on the Park Blocks with its Green-White game on Saturday.
Will Holden is already wondering about MSU’s quarterback situation.
Tom Shatel is one of the best local sports columnists in America, and has been offering wit and wisdom at the Omaha World-Herald for many years. Tom writes that while the “non-denial denials” by Nebraska and the others linked to the Big 10 yesterday by Kansas City radio station WHB remain plausible, it’s also likely that some contact has occurred which could lead to more formal proceedings.
Whenever an athlete is severely injures or dies while participating in his or her chosen sport, it hits close to home. The Missoulian provides a touching look at the life of former Missoula Sentinel standout Dylan Steigers, who was killed during spring football drills at Eastern Oregon last weekend. Thoughts and prayers go to his family and friends.
Sacramento State landed more front-line help in junior college forward Zach Nelson.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Bobcat Linebacker Corps Takes Hit - May 7, 2010
A trio of Bobcat linebackers have left the MSU football program, Rob Ash said on Friday. Jared Rohrback from Great Falls, Jimmy Ekumah from Arlington, Tex., and Brad Daly from Helena have each informed Ash they won't be returning to the program. Ekumah suffered a severe injury last summer and has been shelved since. Rohrback's initial plan appears to be to remain at MSU but not play football, while Daly is expected to leave school.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Paper Chase - May 6, 2010
If you’re in or around Bozeman today you’re probably in the mood for some football and basketball talk, since the spring blizzard that’s blanketing the Gallatin Valley has already left a few inches behind and there’s no real end in sight. On the gridiron, The Sports Network’s new FCS Editor Craig Haley is proving to be as good at providing FCS news as he is prolific. Today, he has a look at the subdivision’s newly-expanded playoff format and several other topics. Really great stuff. Also, for a more universal look at the future of the FCS, check out The National Football Foundation’s look at impending additions to our level of college football.
With the last stop on his self-described ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, Will C. Holden has more good stuff on spring football drills around the Big Sky Conference on the Bozeman Chronicle’s web site, specifically NAU’s quarterback situation. Will takes a statistical look at the production of Big Sky quarterbacks relative to what surrounds them and to their first breakout season. With a tip of the hat to Jason McEndoo, my suggestion when analyzing offensive production is to start up front.
Northern Arizona’s sensational wing Cameron Jones may have passed on the chance to enhance his personal finances by withdrawing from the NBA Draft on Wednesday, but he emphatically enhanced the Lumberjacks’ chances in the 2011 Big Sky Conference race.
Idaho State men’s basketball coach Joe O’Brien inked another international big – really big – man on Wednesday. Kamil Gawrzydek, at 6-11, 260 lbs, comes to ISU from Poland via North Platte (Nebr.) CC. He joins 7-0, 240 lb Lithuanian Deividas Busma to form the Big Sky’s most imposing post duo. Gawrzydek is Idaho State’s eighth and final signee, leaving the Bengals and Bobcats in a flat-footed tie for most 2010-11 newcomers. Whether Gawrzydek finds a family restaurant as sensational as North Platte’s Merrick’s Ranch House in Pocatello is an open question.
The Portland State’s men’s program added its second junior college guard in a week, while the Vikings women have also retooled the backcourt.
Finally, it was a sad day when legendary sportscaster Ernie Harwell passed on this week. It has been said that he, perhaps, said thank you more than any other American in the past 60 years or so, but I’d like to thank him. Mr. Harwell brought tremendous grace and dignity to my favorite game, and to professional sports and sports in general, pursuits which often need that touch.
Have you ever wondered how it would sound had Harwell called college football? Wonder no longer. And if you’re interested in treating yourself to a Harwell tribute delivered by a fellow legend, check out Vin Scully’s opus during the first inning of a Dodgers' game on May 4.
--Bill Lamberty
With the last stop on his self-described ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, Will C. Holden has more good stuff on spring football drills around the Big Sky Conference on the Bozeman Chronicle’s web site, specifically NAU’s quarterback situation. Will takes a statistical look at the production of Big Sky quarterbacks relative to what surrounds them and to their first breakout season. With a tip of the hat to Jason McEndoo, my suggestion when analyzing offensive production is to start up front.
Northern Arizona’s sensational wing Cameron Jones may have passed on the chance to enhance his personal finances by withdrawing from the NBA Draft on Wednesday, but he emphatically enhanced the Lumberjacks’ chances in the 2011 Big Sky Conference race.
Idaho State men’s basketball coach Joe O’Brien inked another international big – really big – man on Wednesday. Kamil Gawrzydek, at 6-11, 260 lbs, comes to ISU from Poland via North Platte (Nebr.) CC. He joins 7-0, 240 lb Lithuanian Deividas Busma to form the Big Sky’s most imposing post duo. Gawrzydek is Idaho State’s eighth and final signee, leaving the Bengals and Bobcats in a flat-footed tie for most 2010-11 newcomers. Whether Gawrzydek finds a family restaurant as sensational as North Platte’s Merrick’s Ranch House in Pocatello is an open question.
The Portland State’s men’s program added its second junior college guard in a week, while the Vikings women have also retooled the backcourt.
Finally, it was a sad day when legendary sportscaster Ernie Harwell passed on this week. It has been said that he, perhaps, said thank you more than any other American in the past 60 years or so, but I’d like to thank him. Mr. Harwell brought tremendous grace and dignity to my favorite game, and to professional sports and sports in general, pursuits which often need that touch.
Have you ever wondered how it would sound had Harwell called college football? Wonder no longer. And if you’re interested in treating yourself to a Harwell tribute delivered by a fellow legend, check out Vin Scully’s opus during the first inning of a Dodgers' game on May 4.
--Bill Lamberty
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tall Tales - A Former (Really Tall) Bobcat Making Good
Every spring when finals week rolls around my mind drifts back in time to friends that passed our way and moved on, sometimes student-athletes and sometimes other friends and acquintances. By a stroke of fortuitous timing, and courtesy die-hard Bobcat and long-time friend Bob Robinson (the famed Msla Cat), a link appeared in my inbox today detailing the life of former MSU men's basketball center and current University of Iowa law student Ted Morris.
Ted transferred to MSU from Indiana State in 2004, and grabbed 294 rebounds in his two seasons at MSU. Ted led the Bobcats with 7.1 boards a game as a senior.
Ted was a bit of a hard-luck case. Things didn't work out in his first college spot, and just as he was getting his feet underneath him at MSU he suffered an eye injury that shelved him for for most of what would have been a very productive mandatory redshirt season. Yet he perservered, and through it all was carried by a relentlessness that showed through in his academic work and the weight room, and once he was healthy on the basketball floor.
Most people will think of the goofy-looking goggles when they remember Ted. I'll remember an almost-seven-footer running hard on every wind sprint, finishing every drill, committing himself to doing things the right way. All in all, Ted was a pretty impressive kid while he was here and apparently he's on his way.
Ted transferred to MSU from Indiana State in 2004, and grabbed 294 rebounds in his two seasons at MSU. Ted led the Bobcats with 7.1 boards a game as a senior.
Ted was a bit of a hard-luck case. Things didn't work out in his first college spot, and just as he was getting his feet underneath him at MSU he suffered an eye injury that shelved him for for most of what would have been a very productive mandatory redshirt season. Yet he perservered, and through it all was carried by a relentlessness that showed through in his academic work and the weight room, and once he was healthy on the basketball floor.
Most people will think of the goofy-looking goggles when they remember Ted. I'll remember an almost-seven-footer running hard on every wind sprint, finishing every drill, committing himself to doing things the right way. All in all, Ted was a pretty impressive kid while he was here and apparently he's on his way.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The Paper Chase - May 4, 2010
It may seem like a slow time of the sports calendar, but there's plenty going on in the Big Sky right now. Let's take a spin through the league...
Craig Haley is staying busy in his new post as FCS editor at The Sports Network. Today he takes a look at a small handful of 2010 breakout candidates, although stopping at the 98th meridian would not please famed historian Walter Prescott Webb. Haley also glances at some key FCS vs. FBS matchups next fall, again failing to venture west of the Great Plains.
Big Sky schools have their hands full against FBS opponents this fall. Games that might most interest Big Sky fans include Eastern Washington at Nevada, Sacramento State visiting Stanford, and, of course, the Bobcats’ trip to Washington State. A week-by-week look: Sept. 2-EWU at Nevada; Sept. 4-Sac State at Stanford, WSU at Boston College, and PSU at Arizona State; Sept. 11-MSU at Washington State, ISU at Utah State, NAU at Arizona State; Sept. 18-PSU at Oregon; Sept. 25-UNC at Michigan State; Nov. 6-ISU at Georgia; Nov. 20-WSU at Texas Tech.
Don’t rub your eyes, you read that right – Arizona State, under the guidance of former Bobcat Dennis Erickson, plays two Big Sky schools, Portland State and NAU, in back-to-back weeks. Three Big Sky schools play a pair of FBS games (PSU plays at ASU and Oregon, Idaho State plays at Utah State and Georgia, and Weber State plays at Boston College and Texas Tech).
And if you’re looking for the toughest start to a season in all of college football, start with Portland State. In his first three games as Vikings' head coach, Nigel Burton opens at Arizona State, travels to UC Davis, then visits Oregon. In his first three games.
If you haven’t already, take a look at Chris Syme’s outstanding look at Dustin Cichosz’s attempt to break a one-to-one Big Sky title tie with his father. This two-generation league championship father-son bond is incredible, and so is the family background.
If the name Travis Brown rings familiar to Bobcat football fans, it should. He was Northern Arizona’s record-setting quarterback in the late 1990s, and played for a small handful of NFL teams covering six seasons. He coached high school ball for a year and spent one season as color commentator for NAU’s football broadcasts, and has now resurfaced as a quarterback guru in the Phoenix area.
Idaho State Journal sportswriter Dan Angell is in the midst of analyzing the recruiting efforts of each Big Sky school. On Monday, he posted an extensive and information Q&A with Bobcat coach Brad Huse. Coach Huse, thoughtful and insightful as usual, explains that championship-level playing experience helps mitigate the infusion of youth on next year's Bobcat team.
Staying on the hardwood, Sacramento State and Idaho State each added pieces to the 2010-11 puzzle with junior college transfers. Interestingly, this year’s only two of the five Hornet signees in the current recruiting class hail from California. By contrast, 10 of Sac State’s 12 U.S.-born players 2009-10 players came from the Golden State.
If you’re yearning for more ISU football and basketball information, Bengals color commentator Brad Bugger blogs some of both.
Matt Schuman of the Greeley Tribune took a look recently at Northern Colorado’s new head men’s basketball coach B.J. Hill.
While plenty is happening on the hardwood, blogger extraordinaire Will Holden at the Bozeman Chronicle continues to look at spring football camps around the Big Sky. He may not know his way around a map, but he hast he league’s football scene covered like no one else.
Staying on the gridiron, Montana’s Class AA ranks will have a different look next fall after some head coaching changes. At Great Falls High, Gregg Dart moves from the field to the gym, taking over the Bison girls’ basketball program, but the Great Falls Tribune's fine prep writer Mike Towne says that on his way to climate-controlled coaching Dart wishes his successor well against the state’s “big three.”
Craig Haley is staying busy in his new post as FCS editor at The Sports Network. Today he takes a look at a small handful of 2010 breakout candidates, although stopping at the 98th meridian would not please famed historian Walter Prescott Webb. Haley also glances at some key FCS vs. FBS matchups next fall, again failing to venture west of the Great Plains.
Big Sky schools have their hands full against FBS opponents this fall. Games that might most interest Big Sky fans include Eastern Washington at Nevada, Sacramento State visiting Stanford, and, of course, the Bobcats’ trip to Washington State. A week-by-week look: Sept. 2-EWU at Nevada; Sept. 4-Sac State at Stanford, WSU at Boston College, and PSU at Arizona State; Sept. 11-MSU at Washington State, ISU at Utah State, NAU at Arizona State; Sept. 18-PSU at Oregon; Sept. 25-UNC at Michigan State; Nov. 6-ISU at Georgia; Nov. 20-WSU at Texas Tech.
Don’t rub your eyes, you read that right – Arizona State, under the guidance of former Bobcat Dennis Erickson, plays two Big Sky schools, Portland State and NAU, in back-to-back weeks. Three Big Sky schools play a pair of FBS games (PSU plays at ASU and Oregon, Idaho State plays at Utah State and Georgia, and Weber State plays at Boston College and Texas Tech).
And if you’re looking for the toughest start to a season in all of college football, start with Portland State. In his first three games as Vikings' head coach, Nigel Burton opens at Arizona State, travels to UC Davis, then visits Oregon. In his first three games.
If you haven’t already, take a look at Chris Syme’s outstanding look at Dustin Cichosz’s attempt to break a one-to-one Big Sky title tie with his father. This two-generation league championship father-son bond is incredible, and so is the family background.
If the name Travis Brown rings familiar to Bobcat football fans, it should. He was Northern Arizona’s record-setting quarterback in the late 1990s, and played for a small handful of NFL teams covering six seasons. He coached high school ball for a year and spent one season as color commentator for NAU’s football broadcasts, and has now resurfaced as a quarterback guru in the Phoenix area.
Idaho State Journal sportswriter Dan Angell is in the midst of analyzing the recruiting efforts of each Big Sky school. On Monday, he posted an extensive and information Q&A with Bobcat coach Brad Huse. Coach Huse, thoughtful and insightful as usual, explains that championship-level playing experience helps mitigate the infusion of youth on next year's Bobcat team.
Staying on the hardwood, Sacramento State and Idaho State each added pieces to the 2010-11 puzzle with junior college transfers. Interestingly, this year’s only two of the five Hornet signees in the current recruiting class hail from California. By contrast, 10 of Sac State’s 12 U.S.-born players 2009-10 players came from the Golden State.
If you’re yearning for more ISU football and basketball information, Bengals color commentator Brad Bugger blogs some of both.
Matt Schuman of the Greeley Tribune took a look recently at Northern Colorado’s new head men’s basketball coach B.J. Hill.
While plenty is happening on the hardwood, blogger extraordinaire Will Holden at the Bozeman Chronicle continues to look at spring football camps around the Big Sky. He may not know his way around a map, but he hast he league’s football scene covered like no one else.
Staying on the gridiron, Montana’s Class AA ranks will have a different look next fall after some head coaching changes. At Great Falls High, Gregg Dart moves from the field to the gym, taking over the Bison girls’ basketball program, but the Great Falls Tribune's fine prep writer Mike Towne says that on his way to climate-controlled coaching Dart wishes his successor well against the state’s “big three.”
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