Press Box Ponderings
9/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Like any college football coach, Mike Kramer remembers his first game as a head coach. Like those who begin their careers 1-0, he remembers that game fondly.
Unlike most coaches, though, Kramer spent some time this week thinking back to that day a decade ago.
The date was Setpember 10, 1994, and young head coach Mike Kramer led Eastern Washington to an exhilerating 61-7 win over Cal Poly at Woodward Stadium in Cheney. "And I've been paying for it ever since," a wistful Kramer said Friday said with a laugh and a hint of irony on Friday.
Cal Poly has spent the next decade avenging that thumping. The Mustangs returned the favor with a 52-35 beating the next year in San Luis Obispo. As Montana State's head coach, Kramer lost to Cal Poly 35-14 in Bozeman in the disastrous 2000 season, and was victimized again in Bobcat Stadium 34-6 a season later.
The rivalry took a respite in 2002, but last season the Mustangs won a memorable 24-21 contest in Mustang Stadium that turned on a pair of spectacular plays by CP receiver Darrell Jones just before halftime. Jones returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown, and then in the last minute of the half caught the Bobcats in a blitz on a screen pass and scampered 50 yards for a score.
* * * * *
As game time approaches, Kramer's attention turns to hands and feet.
"We always punt away from the returner," Kramer said in response to a question about trying to take star Mustang return man Darrell Jones out of the game, "and on kickoffs we'll kick it into the end zone. Travis Doroski had the single best game a kicker has ever had for me last week. He is a full scholarship player just for his ability to kick the ball off, and he is worth it."
Kramer said the ability of his offensive skill players to perform at a high level will be crucial no just today, but well beyond. "We can't afford nine drops in a spread offense. If that continues, we will try new receivers. If that doesn't solve the problem, we'll begin altering our approach. Nine drops simply isn't acceptable."
* * * * *
No coaching staff prepares more thoroughly than Mike Kramer's, but this week's opponent forces MSU coordinators Don Bailey and Pete Kwiatkowski to take things on the run a little more than usual.
"Cal Poly morphs and changes so much from week to week that we've installed the shell of a game plan for this game," Kramer said, "but to a great extent the outcome will be decided by the adjustments we're able to make early in the game. This will be a real chess match.
* * * * *
Former Bobcat head coach Cliff Hysell was inducted into the Wendy's of Montana MSU Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night, which brought several former Bobcats back to town. Former All-Big Sky players such as John Taylor, recently cut from the Dallas Cowboys, Jason Westbrock, Brian Pepper, Devlan Geddes, Chad Mayer, and J.C. Murray returned to Bozeman and reunited at the induction ceremonies last night. They plan to treat their former coach to breakfast this morning.
* * * * *
Bobcat ticket manager Dusty Kurtz expects a large crowd at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday. Less than 2,000 tickets remained for today's Cal Poly game early on Friday, as the ticket office also dealt with the demands of the first day of sales for a Van Halen concert scheduled for October.
* * * * *
Montana State enters today's big non-conference game with mostly a clean bill of health. Cornerback Kahiam Hunter has not been cleared to play (shoulder), and will likely redshirt. Othwerwise, Demond Goins is likely to play, and Clive Lowe is back to full strength after missing last week's game because of oral surgery. Travis Lulay, who played last Saturday with a flu bug, felt fine as game time approached.
Unlike most coaches, though, Kramer spent some time this week thinking back to that day a decade ago.
The date was Setpember 10, 1994, and young head coach Mike Kramer led Eastern Washington to an exhilerating 61-7 win over Cal Poly at Woodward Stadium in Cheney. "And I've been paying for it ever since," a wistful Kramer said Friday said with a laugh and a hint of irony on Friday.
Cal Poly has spent the next decade avenging that thumping. The Mustangs returned the favor with a 52-35 beating the next year in San Luis Obispo. As Montana State's head coach, Kramer lost to Cal Poly 35-14 in Bozeman in the disastrous 2000 season, and was victimized again in Bobcat Stadium 34-6 a season later.
The rivalry took a respite in 2002, but last season the Mustangs won a memorable 24-21 contest in Mustang Stadium that turned on a pair of spectacular plays by CP receiver Darrell Jones just before halftime. Jones returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown, and then in the last minute of the half caught the Bobcats in a blitz on a screen pass and scampered 50 yards for a score.
* * * * *
As game time approaches, Kramer's attention turns to hands and feet.
"We always punt away from the returner," Kramer said in response to a question about trying to take star Mustang return man Darrell Jones out of the game, "and on kickoffs we'll kick it into the end zone. Travis Doroski had the single best game a kicker has ever had for me last week. He is a full scholarship player just for his ability to kick the ball off, and he is worth it."
Kramer said the ability of his offensive skill players to perform at a high level will be crucial no just today, but well beyond. "We can't afford nine drops in a spread offense. If that continues, we will try new receivers. If that doesn't solve the problem, we'll begin altering our approach. Nine drops simply isn't acceptable."
* * * * *
No coaching staff prepares more thoroughly than Mike Kramer's, but this week's opponent forces MSU coordinators Don Bailey and Pete Kwiatkowski to take things on the run a little more than usual.
"Cal Poly morphs and changes so much from week to week that we've installed the shell of a game plan for this game," Kramer said, "but to a great extent the outcome will be decided by the adjustments we're able to make early in the game. This will be a real chess match.
* * * * *
Former Bobcat head coach Cliff Hysell was inducted into the Wendy's of Montana MSU Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night, which brought several former Bobcats back to town. Former All-Big Sky players such as John Taylor, recently cut from the Dallas Cowboys, Jason Westbrock, Brian Pepper, Devlan Geddes, Chad Mayer, and J.C. Murray returned to Bozeman and reunited at the induction ceremonies last night. They plan to treat their former coach to breakfast this morning.
* * * * *
Bobcat ticket manager Dusty Kurtz expects a large crowd at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday. Less than 2,000 tickets remained for today's Cal Poly game early on Friday, as the ticket office also dealt with the demands of the first day of sales for a Van Halen concert scheduled for October.
* * * * *
Montana State enters today's big non-conference game with mostly a clean bill of health. Cornerback Kahiam Hunter has not been cleared to play (shoulder), and will likely redshirt. Othwerwise, Demond Goins is likely to play, and Clive Lowe is back to full strength after missing last week's game because of oral surgery. Travis Lulay, who played last Saturday with a flu bug, felt fine as game time approached.
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