Hysell's Last Stand
11/20/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
he'd get there. You always do in the coaching profession.
For sure, Hysell's days in football aren't over. He'll hook on as an assistant coach at a majorcollege program somewhere in the future, and that school's colors will pop up here and therearound Bozeman. Or maybe he'll work as an NFL scout.
But in a few short hours, his days as the head coach at Montana State will end. He will nolonger stalk the sideline of the only school he's ever loved, doing the only job he ever wanted.
And make no mistakes about this - it's been quite a run. Hysell's 41 wins entering his finalgame is the second-highest total in school history, behind his mentor and biggest boosterSonny Holland. But more importantly he turned the fortunes of the Bobcat football programaround. If you're sitting in this stadium, you know the numbers by heart: he's won 17 moregames in his eight years than MSU had in the previous eight, owns four of the seven winningseasons the Bobcats have posted as a I-AA school, and is the only Bobcat coach to defeat a
#1 team and to win at Boise State.
Yet, like so many people that steadfastly do things their own way, Hysell was a lightning rod
for criticism. His conservative style on offense early in his career was a common lament among
Bobcat fans, which, we all know now, was completely illogical, given the level and distribution
of the program's talent.
Many impressions will remain of Hysell's tenure as Bobcat coach... his foreboding presence in
the blue duster and cowboy boots on the sideline, the wry smile, chasing Kenyatte Morgan
down the sideline as the diminutive speedster raced by the Bobcat bench on a punt return for
TD. He will be remembered for dealing with every situation that arose honestly and frankly,
always protecting the players that have played so hard for him.
The last four months have been most difficult on this proud man. He has been physically
limited, and his ability to exact his will on every situation in which he is involved - games,
practices, meetings - diminished slightly because of this.
Tomorrow morning, Hysell's priority becomes himself. He will prep for surgery on
Wednesday, will work to rehabilitate his aching back, then next spring will undergo a second
surgery. Soon thereafter, hopefully, he will be back on his feet.
But as his time as Bobcat coach nears its end, one image of Hysell will remain. It is a surreal
mental snapshot of Hysell sitting at his desk with a poster of his hero, John Wayne - who else
could it be? - looming in the background, never too far out of sight or mind. Like the Duke,
here's Hys, standing tall, saying little, bending only slightly when the situation calls for it, but
never compromising.
And like The Duke in The Shootist, Hysell knows the end is near. He knows the fate which
awaits him. He'll enter the saloon one last time today. He'll fire all his bullets. He may emerge
victorious, he may not.
But Bobcat fans will always know this: regardless of which team scores more points today,Hysell will walk away from the Stadium which he helped build, and he'll do so a winner.
Life never fades to black. This scene won't end with a wide shot of a corral. But as Cliff Hysellwalks away amidst hgus from former players, teammates and coaches, from friends, andperhaps even from a Grizzly or two, we'll all know this. He'll have left this place - his school,his town - better than when he found it.
He'll reach the end of the road. But he'll have done so in style. Standing tall, saying little,enjoying every minute. He'll have done it his way.
For sure, Hysell's days in football aren't over. He'll hook on as an assistant coach at a majorcollege program somewhere in the future, and that school's colors will pop up here and therearound Bozeman. Or maybe he'll work as an NFL scout.
But in a few short hours, his days as the head coach at Montana State will end. He will nolonger stalk the sideline of the only school he's ever loved, doing the only job he ever wanted.
And make no mistakes about this - it's been quite a run. Hysell's 41 wins entering his finalgame is the second-highest total in school history, behind his mentor and biggest boosterSonny Holland. But more importantly he turned the fortunes of the Bobcat football programaround. If you're sitting in this stadium, you know the numbers by heart: he's won 17 moregames in his eight years than MSU had in the previous eight, owns four of the seven winningseasons the Bobcats have posted as a I-AA school, and is the only Bobcat coach to defeat a
#1 team and to win at Boise State.
Yet, like so many people that steadfastly do things their own way, Hysell was a lightning rod
for criticism. His conservative style on offense early in his career was a common lament among
Bobcat fans, which, we all know now, was completely illogical, given the level and distribution
of the program's talent.
Many impressions will remain of Hysell's tenure as Bobcat coach... his foreboding presence in
the blue duster and cowboy boots on the sideline, the wry smile, chasing Kenyatte Morgan
down the sideline as the diminutive speedster raced by the Bobcat bench on a punt return for
TD. He will be remembered for dealing with every situation that arose honestly and frankly,
always protecting the players that have played so hard for him.
The last four months have been most difficult on this proud man. He has been physically
limited, and his ability to exact his will on every situation in which he is involved - games,
practices, meetings - diminished slightly because of this.
Tomorrow morning, Hysell's priority becomes himself. He will prep for surgery on
Wednesday, will work to rehabilitate his aching back, then next spring will undergo a second
surgery. Soon thereafter, hopefully, he will be back on his feet.
But as his time as Bobcat coach nears its end, one image of Hysell will remain. It is a surreal
mental snapshot of Hysell sitting at his desk with a poster of his hero, John Wayne - who else
could it be? - looming in the background, never too far out of sight or mind. Like the Duke,
here's Hys, standing tall, saying little, bending only slightly when the situation calls for it, but
never compromising.
And like The Duke in The Shootist, Hysell knows the end is near. He knows the fate which
awaits him. He'll enter the saloon one last time today. He'll fire all his bullets. He may emerge
victorious, he may not.
But Bobcat fans will always know this: regardless of which team scores more points today,Hysell will walk away from the Stadium which he helped build, and he'll do so a winner.
Life never fades to black. This scene won't end with a wide shot of a corral. But as Cliff Hysellwalks away amidst hgus from former players, teammates and coaches, from friends, andperhaps even from a Grizzly or two, we'll all know this. He'll have left this place - his school,his town - better than when he found it.
He'll reach the end of the road. But he'll have done so in style. Standing tall, saying little,enjoying every minute. He'll have done it his way.
Saturday, August 29
Thursday, August 27
Monday, August 24
Monday, August 24
