Sebestyen Helps Anchor D-Line
10/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Say this for Ray Sebestyen, he's not afraid to try new things. He's also not bad at it.
Sebestyen arrived in Bozeman, sight unseen, in August of 2000, Mike Kramer's first season as head coach. He'd never heard of Montana State University until the day his head football coach told him in the middle of a math class that he needed to see him after school.
"I was in a math class and the head coach came in and said I have to talk to you. I thought I was going to Boise State, but when they told me they weren't going to pick me up, (the MSU coaches) jumped on it."
Sebestyen had never been to Montana. "I didn't take a recruiting trip or anything," he said. "I didn't know what I was getting into."
The Bobcats knew what they were in for, though. "We knew that Raymund had a chance to be a special player," Kramer said. "He was a little light, but he had quickness and natural instincts that even from the beginning earmarked him as a player with a chance to be special."
In addition, Sebestyen had never played football before his freshman year in high school, and had not played defensive line before his senior season. "It was hard to pick up," he said, "and I like it."
Sebestyen was light for a defensive tackle when he arrived at MSU, a situation he's worked hard to alter. "I think I came here at about 230 and kind of stuck around there for two seasons," he said. "I finally got some weight going this summer, just eating and lifting weights." Sebestyen spent the summer in Bozeman, working, lifting weights, "and just eating."
After a terrific sophomore season, in which he earned second team All-Big Sky honors, Sebestyen is piecing together a very good junior campaign. He leads all defensive linemen, and is fourth on the team, with 44 tackles. His seven tackles-for-a-loss is third on the team, and his 3.5 sacks is tied for second. Sebestyen has also brokeup up two passes and caused two fumbles.
The Bobcats continue to run off fumes from last week's stunning come-from-behind upset win over 10th-ranked Northern Arizona. "That win definitely helps us out," he said. "It's a big confidence booster."
But Sebestyen and his mates know that confidence won't do the team any good without supreme effort and execution. After getting gouged for 480 yards of total offense last week, Sebestyen said the Bobcats returned to fundamentals this week. "We haven't been doing so hot on our technique lately, but I this week it's been back to basics. We've been hitting the bags a little bit more. We need to strike and separate this week."
As an undersized defensive lineman -- Sebestyen plays at about 260 points, considerably lighter than the 300-pound behemoths that people Big Sky offensive fronts -- Sebestyen says his primary focus is technique. "It all depends on your strike, your delivery. You have to catch the guy off balance, and once you catch him off balance you pretty much own the guy. You can throw him whichever way. That's my key."
Sebestyen and the rest of the Bobcats know that, with one conference loss, every week is now or never. "It's a big game every week at this time of year," he said.
Sebestyen arrived in Bozeman, sight unseen, in August of 2000, Mike Kramer's first season as head coach. He'd never heard of Montana State University until the day his head football coach told him in the middle of a math class that he needed to see him after school.
"I was in a math class and the head coach came in and said I have to talk to you. I thought I was going to Boise State, but when they told me they weren't going to pick me up, (the MSU coaches) jumped on it."
Sebestyen had never been to Montana. "I didn't take a recruiting trip or anything," he said. "I didn't know what I was getting into."
The Bobcats knew what they were in for, though. "We knew that Raymund had a chance to be a special player," Kramer said. "He was a little light, but he had quickness and natural instincts that even from the beginning earmarked him as a player with a chance to be special."
In addition, Sebestyen had never played football before his freshman year in high school, and had not played defensive line before his senior season. "It was hard to pick up," he said, "and I like it."
Sebestyen was light for a defensive tackle when he arrived at MSU, a situation he's worked hard to alter. "I think I came here at about 230 and kind of stuck around there for two seasons," he said. "I finally got some weight going this summer, just eating and lifting weights." Sebestyen spent the summer in Bozeman, working, lifting weights, "and just eating."
After a terrific sophomore season, in which he earned second team All-Big Sky honors, Sebestyen is piecing together a very good junior campaign. He leads all defensive linemen, and is fourth on the team, with 44 tackles. His seven tackles-for-a-loss is third on the team, and his 3.5 sacks is tied for second. Sebestyen has also brokeup up two passes and caused two fumbles.
The Bobcats continue to run off fumes from last week's stunning come-from-behind upset win over 10th-ranked Northern Arizona. "That win definitely helps us out," he said. "It's a big confidence booster."
But Sebestyen and his mates know that confidence won't do the team any good without supreme effort and execution. After getting gouged for 480 yards of total offense last week, Sebestyen said the Bobcats returned to fundamentals this week. "We haven't been doing so hot on our technique lately, but I this week it's been back to basics. We've been hitting the bags a little bit more. We need to strike and separate this week."
As an undersized defensive lineman -- Sebestyen plays at about 260 points, considerably lighter than the 300-pound behemoths that people Big Sky offensive fronts -- Sebestyen says his primary focus is technique. "It all depends on your strike, your delivery. You have to catch the guy off balance, and once you catch him off balance you pretty much own the guy. You can throw him whichever way. That's my key."
Sebestyen and the rest of the Bobcats know that, with one conference loss, every week is now or never. "It's a big game every week at this time of year," he said.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
