Bobcats Open Spring Drills Wednesday
3/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Spring is a time of opportunity in the Montana State football program. Just ask Mike Kramer. Or Joe Hirst.
Kramer opens his fifth spring as the Bobcats' head coach on Wednesday, his second straight as coach of the defending Big Sky Conference Champions. A primary focus for Kramer over the next four weeks will be on which player emerges from relative anonymity as an important part of next year's team.
"We have several players staring opportunity in the face this spring," Kramer said. "It's always intriguing to see which players will step forward, like Joe Hirst did last year." Hirst, taking all the repetitions at one tackle spot because of a rash of injuries in the offensive front, became a starter during the spring and started 12 games in MSU's championship run.
Kramer expects a strong performance from his offensive line this spring. All-America candidate Jeff Bolton, a guard, joins center Zach Wolf and Hirst as starters. Sophomore guard Brant Birkeland, who played on both the offensive and defensive lines a year ago, and redshirt tackle Adam DeCock enter the spring as starters, as well. Joaquin Echauri, Lawrence Figueroa, Dusty Daws, and Rory Canfield are all expected to miss the spring with injuries.
Defensively, a pair of All-America candidates anchors the front seven. Linebacker Roger Cooper, who moves from the middle back to the strong-side linebacker position this year, and defensive tackle Ray Sebestyen both return as All-Big Sky choices. Experience is harder to find in the secondary, where all four starters are gone and part-time starter Kahiam Hunter will miss the spring with a shoulder injury.
Kramer's Bobcats practice Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday this week at 3:30 pm, and next week settle into a Monday-Wednesday-Thursday-Saturday rotation, weather permitting, that will carry through the spring. Spring notes and practice schedule changes are available throughout the spring at www.msubobcats.com.
Kramer opens his fifth spring as the Bobcats' head coach on Wednesday, his second straight as coach of the defending Big Sky Conference Champions. A primary focus for Kramer over the next four weeks will be on which player emerges from relative anonymity as an important part of next year's team.
"We have several players staring opportunity in the face this spring," Kramer said. "It's always intriguing to see which players will step forward, like Joe Hirst did last year." Hirst, taking all the repetitions at one tackle spot because of a rash of injuries in the offensive front, became a starter during the spring and started 12 games in MSU's championship run.
Kramer expects a strong performance from his offensive line this spring. All-America candidate Jeff Bolton, a guard, joins center Zach Wolf and Hirst as starters. Sophomore guard Brant Birkeland, who played on both the offensive and defensive lines a year ago, and redshirt tackle Adam DeCock enter the spring as starters, as well. Joaquin Echauri, Lawrence Figueroa, Dusty Daws, and Rory Canfield are all expected to miss the spring with injuries.
Defensively, a pair of All-America candidates anchors the front seven. Linebacker Roger Cooper, who moves from the middle back to the strong-side linebacker position this year, and defensive tackle Ray Sebestyen both return as All-Big Sky choices. Experience is harder to find in the secondary, where all four starters are gone and part-time starter Kahiam Hunter will miss the spring with a shoulder injury.
Kramer's Bobcats practice Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday this week at 3:30 pm, and next week settle into a Monday-Wednesday-Thursday-Saturday rotation, weather permitting, that will carry through the spring. Spring notes and practice schedule changes are available throughout the spring at www.msubobcats.com.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
