Bobcat Notes and Quotes, 9/6/03
9/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
* One week after allowing a blocked punt for a touchdown -- the first time in his 27 years a Mike Kramer-coached team has be victimized in that manner -- the Bobcats returned a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown
* Bruce Molock became the second different Bobcat running back in as many weeks to rush for 100 yards (David Mayfield had 101 last week, Molock 120 this week)
* Ryan Elliott, a senior fullback from Fort Benton, had never carried the ball before today, but rushed five times for 40 yards. “I did it to get his dad off my back,” offensive coordinator Don Bailey laughed on a post-game radio show.
* The crowd of over 11,000 is the largest in school history for a home opener and for a non-conference opponent
* In his first two games as a Bobcat, Clive Lowe has five tackles, 1.5 for a loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble
Post-Game Quotes from
Montana State’s Mike Kramer
“The crowd today, the ambiance, the enthusiasm and excitement, it was awesome. It was a spectacular culmination of four years in this program, and of a lot of hard work by a lot of people in the Athletic Department. I walked across from the Fieldhouse (before the game) with (assistant coach and former Bobcat player) Mike McCafferty, and when we got to the Stadium, he told me that he’s been here five years, and that right now it just feels right. Everything feels right. And he’s right, the way our team is playing, our approach to practice and preparation and playing, our fans, things have a good feel right now.”
On MSU’s defensive effort: “From the first play throughout the ballgame, it was a spectacular effort by an experienced, savvy group that recognized what was happening in front of them. Of particular importance was the play of our entire linebacker corps, particularly Nick Marudas, Roger Cooper, and Mac Mollohan. The defense kept everything in front of them, and I thought (defensive coordinator) Pete Kwiatkowski did a masterful job alternating line charges and allowing our linebackers to roam free. That was a huge play by Clive Lowe, which allowed us to get on the board and really changed the whole game. We utilized a lot of line twists to slow their rushing game. It was pretty obvious to all of us that they have a very impressive offense, we felt that way all week and I still feel that way. Gardner-Webb is a good ball club, well-coached and athletic. They have good kids that play hard. But our defense did a masterful job today.”
On MSU’s offense: “Our offense stayed patient and calm and played within itself. I thought we developed a sense of toughness today about running the ball outside. (Tight ends) Blake Jackson and Jason Goodman played simply superlative games.”
On MSU’s special teams: “Corey Smith is a debonair high-wire act in and of himself. He is very much the heir apparent to Junior Adams as one of the spectacular return men in all of college football. But no matter how well you run on a punt or kick return, there are 10 other guys that have to do their jobs. I thought a turning point this week was that our coaches stayed focused on the kicking game and really prepared the players well. If you punt the ball or kick the ball to us, we’re good enough to make you pay the price, and we did that today. That is not braggadocio, it’s just a fact that in my coaching career, special teams and particularly the return game has always been one of my major emphases. That’s been the case on every team I’ve ever coached, and that’s one of the things that allows us to win.”
MSU Defensive End Clive Lowe
On the Bobcat defense: “I’ve played linebacker before, but I prefer defensive end. We run hard, we run to the ball, that’s what our defense does. We work hard in practice on running, on being aggressive, on getting to the ball. We did a good job of that today. The interception was cool, I know I can catch the ball.”
MSU Return Man Corey Smith
“On the punt return, I just saw open field. The blockers did a great job, and I made a cut and was gone. It was a great feeling. On the kickoff, it was kind of a broken play, but the blocking was great. I just followed the blocking and got outside. You can just feel it all through the stadium when you make a big play on special teams. And the team that’s going on the field next plays fired up.”
* Bruce Molock became the second different Bobcat running back in as many weeks to rush for 100 yards (David Mayfield had 101 last week, Molock 120 this week)
* Ryan Elliott, a senior fullback from Fort Benton, had never carried the ball before today, but rushed five times for 40 yards. “I did it to get his dad off my back,” offensive coordinator Don Bailey laughed on a post-game radio show.
* The crowd of over 11,000 is the largest in school history for a home opener and for a non-conference opponent
* In his first two games as a Bobcat, Clive Lowe has five tackles, 1.5 for a loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble
Post-Game Quotes from
Montana State’s Mike Kramer
“The crowd today, the ambiance, the enthusiasm and excitement, it was awesome. It was a spectacular culmination of four years in this program, and of a lot of hard work by a lot of people in the Athletic Department. I walked across from the Fieldhouse (before the game) with (assistant coach and former Bobcat player) Mike McCafferty, and when we got to the Stadium, he told me that he’s been here five years, and that right now it just feels right. Everything feels right. And he’s right, the way our team is playing, our approach to practice and preparation and playing, our fans, things have a good feel right now.”
On MSU’s defensive effort: “From the first play throughout the ballgame, it was a spectacular effort by an experienced, savvy group that recognized what was happening in front of them. Of particular importance was the play of our entire linebacker corps, particularly Nick Marudas, Roger Cooper, and Mac Mollohan. The defense kept everything in front of them, and I thought (defensive coordinator) Pete Kwiatkowski did a masterful job alternating line charges and allowing our linebackers to roam free. That was a huge play by Clive Lowe, which allowed us to get on the board and really changed the whole game. We utilized a lot of line twists to slow their rushing game. It was pretty obvious to all of us that they have a very impressive offense, we felt that way all week and I still feel that way. Gardner-Webb is a good ball club, well-coached and athletic. They have good kids that play hard. But our defense did a masterful job today.”
On MSU’s offense: “Our offense stayed patient and calm and played within itself. I thought we developed a sense of toughness today about running the ball outside. (Tight ends) Blake Jackson and Jason Goodman played simply superlative games.”
On MSU’s special teams: “Corey Smith is a debonair high-wire act in and of himself. He is very much the heir apparent to Junior Adams as one of the spectacular return men in all of college football. But no matter how well you run on a punt or kick return, there are 10 other guys that have to do their jobs. I thought a turning point this week was that our coaches stayed focused on the kicking game and really prepared the players well. If you punt the ball or kick the ball to us, we’re good enough to make you pay the price, and we did that today. That is not braggadocio, it’s just a fact that in my coaching career, special teams and particularly the return game has always been one of my major emphases. That’s been the case on every team I’ve ever coached, and that’s one of the things that allows us to win.”
MSU Defensive End Clive Lowe
On the Bobcat defense: “I’ve played linebacker before, but I prefer defensive end. We run hard, we run to the ball, that’s what our defense does. We work hard in practice on running, on being aggressive, on getting to the ball. We did a good job of that today. The interception was cool, I know I can catch the ball.”
MSU Return Man Corey Smith
“On the punt return, I just saw open field. The blockers did a great job, and I made a cut and was gone. It was a great feeling. On the kickoff, it was kind of a broken play, but the blocking was great. I just followed the blocking and got outside. You can just feel it all through the stadium when you make a big play on special teams. And the team that’s going on the field next plays fired up.”
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