Daws to Start Saturday
9/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dusty Daws remembers.
Montana State's junior offensive tackle remembers sitting in the stands in Bobcat Stadium as a youngster, watching his heroes on Saturday afternoon. He remembers Chip Hobbs, an All-America receiver, and Chad Mayer, like Daws a Bozeman Hawk star who moved down 11th Street to play for his hometown Bobcats.
Daws remembers growing up a Bobcat. "I loved the 'Cats," he said. "I always wanted to be a Bobcat."
That passion for Montana State football will be on display Saturday afternoon, as the Bobcats host 25th-ranked Gardner-Webb from Boiling Springs, N.C., because Daws will be making his first start as a Bobcat.
"I'm excited," he said, "and nervous."
Daws' path to starting at left tackle this Saturday for the Bobcats has been unlikely. "I think if you'd told Dusty a year ago that he'd be starting at left tackle, he'd have looked at you like, 'What are you talking about?'" said MSU offensive line coach Jason McEndoo. "In reality, Dusty is starting because of all the reps he took in the spring. He took every rep at left tackle, and that really allowed him to progress to this point."
Daws was recruited to MSU as a tight end, which was technically his position during his first three years in the program. Yet, he had no hesitation when MSU coach Mike Kramer suggested moving in three feet during the spring. "I loved having the opportunity," Daws said. "I loved the chance."
He has made the most of it, according to Bobcat head coach Mike Kramer. "Dusty's story is one of perseverance and adaptation," Kramer said. "He was floundering a little at tight end, but he has always been a very excellent long snapper. This spring, he found himself at left tackle. His footwork is what allows him to get on the field as a tackle."
Although he has not yet started, Daws has been a fixture in the Bobcat lineup. He has been MSU's long snapper since his freshman year. "Dusty Daws has done his job as well as anyone in college football over the last three years," Kramer said. "As a long snapper, he is as close to perfect as is possible."
Daws' emergence is reminiscent of a scene that played itself out 30 years ago. A week after seeing limited action against Boise State on the road, sophomore defensive end Brad Daws, Dusty's father, made his first start against Fresno State. Daws was instrumental in MSU's 38-6 thrashing of the Bulldogs, and the Bobcats held Fresno State to just 288 total yards.
Injuries played a key role in the starting debut of each Daws. Brad injured his hand in the Boise State game and "thought it would really screw me up" for playing time the next week. "But Sonny Lubick told me that I was going to start against Fresno State, bad hand and all," Daws recalls. "Head slaps were legal then, and I had a big soft cast on my hand, and I wielded it pretty effectively."
Dusty Daws is starting at left tackle this week because of injuries to Joaquin Echauri and Jeff Bolton. Really, says McEndoo, he is starting because of his effectiveness in translating a spring opportunity into fall success. "Dusty took every rep in the spring, just like (starting center) Zach Wolf and (starting right tackle) Joe Hirst. Those guys looked like a ragtag outfit in the spring, but they worked hard and now here they are in the fall in the starting lineup, and it's because of hard work."
Regardless of why he's on the field, Daws is excited with the chance. "Mostly I'm anxious," the younger Daws says of his emotions. "Once you get that first play over with, you just go back to the things you do in practice."
Montana State's junior offensive tackle remembers sitting in the stands in Bobcat Stadium as a youngster, watching his heroes on Saturday afternoon. He remembers Chip Hobbs, an All-America receiver, and Chad Mayer, like Daws a Bozeman Hawk star who moved down 11th Street to play for his hometown Bobcats.
Daws remembers growing up a Bobcat. "I loved the 'Cats," he said. "I always wanted to be a Bobcat."
That passion for Montana State football will be on display Saturday afternoon, as the Bobcats host 25th-ranked Gardner-Webb from Boiling Springs, N.C., because Daws will be making his first start as a Bobcat.
"I'm excited," he said, "and nervous."
Daws' path to starting at left tackle this Saturday for the Bobcats has been unlikely. "I think if you'd told Dusty a year ago that he'd be starting at left tackle, he'd have looked at you like, 'What are you talking about?'" said MSU offensive line coach Jason McEndoo. "In reality, Dusty is starting because of all the reps he took in the spring. He took every rep at left tackle, and that really allowed him to progress to this point."
Daws was recruited to MSU as a tight end, which was technically his position during his first three years in the program. Yet, he had no hesitation when MSU coach Mike Kramer suggested moving in three feet during the spring. "I loved having the opportunity," Daws said. "I loved the chance."
He has made the most of it, according to Bobcat head coach Mike Kramer. "Dusty's story is one of perseverance and adaptation," Kramer said. "He was floundering a little at tight end, but he has always been a very excellent long snapper. This spring, he found himself at left tackle. His footwork is what allows him to get on the field as a tackle."
Although he has not yet started, Daws has been a fixture in the Bobcat lineup. He has been MSU's long snapper since his freshman year. "Dusty Daws has done his job as well as anyone in college football over the last three years," Kramer said. "As a long snapper, he is as close to perfect as is possible."
Daws' emergence is reminiscent of a scene that played itself out 30 years ago. A week after seeing limited action against Boise State on the road, sophomore defensive end Brad Daws, Dusty's father, made his first start against Fresno State. Daws was instrumental in MSU's 38-6 thrashing of the Bulldogs, and the Bobcats held Fresno State to just 288 total yards.
Injuries played a key role in the starting debut of each Daws. Brad injured his hand in the Boise State game and "thought it would really screw me up" for playing time the next week. "But Sonny Lubick told me that I was going to start against Fresno State, bad hand and all," Daws recalls. "Head slaps were legal then, and I had a big soft cast on my hand, and I wielded it pretty effectively."
Dusty Daws is starting at left tackle this week because of injuries to Joaquin Echauri and Jeff Bolton. Really, says McEndoo, he is starting because of his effectiveness in translating a spring opportunity into fall success. "Dusty took every rep in the spring, just like (starting center) Zach Wolf and (starting right tackle) Joe Hirst. Those guys looked like a ragtag outfit in the spring, but they worked hard and now here they are in the fall in the starting lineup, and it's because of hard work."
Regardless of why he's on the field, Daws is excited with the chance. "Mostly I'm anxious," the younger Daws says of his emotions. "Once you get that first play over with, you just go back to the things you do in practice."
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