Bobcats Open '05 at Oklahoma State
8/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
(For more, see attached PDF file)
THE STORYLINE
Montana State opens the 2005 season with a historic road trip, visiting Oklahoma State for MSU’s first-ever contest with a Big 12 opponent. The Bobcats have never faced Oklahoma State, and last faced a current Big 12 school in 1989, when Montana State lost 41-17 at Kansas. Payton Trophy and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm candidate Travis Lulay leads the Bobcat offense, a unit expected to be one of the best in the Big Sky. MSU is without receiver Rick Gatewood, who will miss the season’s first three games for eligibility reasons, this week.
GAME FACTS
KICKOFF: 5 pm MDT
SITE: Stillwater, OK
STADIUM: Boone Pickens Stadium
MSU PRESS BOX: 406/243-4167
RADIO: State Farm Bobcat Network (Kris Atteberry, Dan Davies)
TELEVISION: none
HIGHLIGHTS
l Montana State opens the season ranked 18th in Division I-AA
STREAKS
l MSU enters a new year on a losing streak of at least three games for the third time in the last six years
l The Bobcats have registered at least 400 yards of total offense in seven straight games, a school record
l Travis Lulay’s six straight 300-yd passing games is an MSU record
MILESTONES
l Travis Lulay needs 36 yards to break Montana State’s career passing yards record (he has 8,117)
l Montana State’s 683 total yards vs. EWU last season was a school record, and the 44 points in that game was MSU’s most-ever in a loss
SHINING
l QB TRAVIS LULAY enters his senior season on the Walter Payton and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm watch lists
l WRs TRAMAINE MURRAY & JEVON MILLER, both senior transfers from Washington State, make their Bobcat debuts looking to ease the loss of Rick Gatewood
l LB MAC MOLLOHAN is a two-time All-Big Sky linebacker
ABOUT THE ‘CATS...
MSU in ‘05 0-0
Conf./Record Big Sky/0-0
Home/Road 0-0/0-0
Grass/Turf 0-0/0-0
Day/Night 0-0/0-0
HEAD COACH Mike Kramer
Alma Mater Idaho/’76
Overall/Years 62-66/12th
At MSU/Years 25-34/6th
vs OSU 0-0
Home/Road 0-0/0-0
SERIES first meeting
At MSU 0-0
At OSU 0-0
At Neutral 0-0
Current Streak none
ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE...
OSU in ‘05 0-0
Conf./Record Big 12/0-0
Home/Road 0-0/0-0
Grass/Turf 0-0/0-0
Day/Night 0-0/0-0
HEAD COACH Mike Gundy
Alma Mater Oklahoma St/’90
Overall/Years 0-0/1st
At School/Years same
vs MSU 0-0
Home/Road 0-0/0-0
ABOUT OSU The Cowboys
Colors Orange, black
Location Stillwater, OK
Enrollment 31,100
Stadium Boone Pickens
OPPONENT ‘04 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
S3 Montana State
S8 at Florida Atlantic
S17 Arkansas State
O1 Colorado
O8 Missouri
O15 at Texas A&M
O22 at Iowa State
O29 Texas
N26 at Oklahoma
N12 Texas Tech
N19 at Baylor
BOBCAT 2005 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
S3 at Oklahoma St 5:00 pm First-ever game vs. Big 12 opponent
S10 Stephen F. Austin 1:05 pm Lumberjacks’ first trip to MSU since ‘92
S17 at Cal Poly 7:05 pm Bobcats have lost six straigt to Mustangs
S24 North Dakota St 1:05 pm Bobcats face old rival for first time since ‘80
O1 *Idaho State 1:35 pm MSU, oldest out-of-state rivals open league
O8 *at Weber State 1:35 pm Ron McBride leads rejuvenated Wildcats
O15 *at Portland State 7:05 pm Bobcats face league’s top D
O29 *NAU 12:05 pm MSU’s first two-game streak vs. NAU since ‘79
N5 *Sac State 12:05 pm ‘Cats look to avenge 38-28 loss
N12 *at Eastern Wash. 3:05 pm Bobcats face preseason Big Sky faves
N19 *Montana 12:05 pm The 105th ‘Cat-Griz game
NOTING THE ‘CATS
What to Watch
F Opening Big... Montana State has opened its season against Division I-A competition 11 times in the 25 years since joining Division I-AA in 1979, but rarely has it opened with a big-time program, as it will against Oklahoma State this year. The Bobcats have opened the season against a current BCS-level opponent only four times, five if you count Utah (1982), which played in a BCS game last year -- Washington State (1981 and ‘83), Florida (‘88), and Kansas (’89).
F Passing Fancy... Statistically and stylistically, Bobcat quarterback Travis Lulay bears some resemblance to OSU’s first-year head coach
Career School Pass Years as
Passing Ranking Starter
Lulay 8,117 2nd (35 from 1st) 3 (so far)
Gundy 7,997 1st 4
F Glad to Have Ya... The addition of senior transfer receivers Jevon Miller and Tramaine Murray to an already-seasoned receiving crew seemed superfluous to some, but with the Bobcat offense without Rick Gatewood for the first three games the experience of Murray and Miller, combined with Chaz Guinn and Brandon Roosevelt, looks like a major positive.
Pinning ‘Em
After becoming Montana State’s punter early in 2003, Travis Lulay used a rugby-like roll punt to average 36.2 yards a punt, and pinned the opponent inside the 20 nine times. Last year as a junior, having nailed down MSU’s punting job almost exclusively, Lulay pinned the opponent inside the 20 a dozen times on the year on 50 kicks, averaging 42.2 yards per punt, fourth in the Big Sky and ninth in the nation. He drilled five line drives of 60+ yards, 29 of 40 yards or more. Included in that total is an 81-yarder against Adams State, the second-longest punt in school history. Lulay’s punting, combined with his offensive aptitude, make him the premiere all-around threat in Division I-AA football.
1-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89
6 14 19 6 4 0 1
Big Play Bobcats
In the first five games of 2004, MSU registered 12 big plays, none of which made it to the paint. In the last six games, MSU’s offense produced 32 big plays, eight for touchdowns.
Third Quarter Nightmare
MSU surrendered only 33 points in the first eight third quarters of 2004, but gave up 40 points in the last three third quarters of the season.
Not So Special
In Mike Kramer’s tenure at Montana State, Bobcat returners have taken 11 punts or kickoffs back for touchdowns. All 11 of those came in 2001-03, as Bobcat return units failed to score in 2000 or 2004 -- Kramer’s only two seasons as a head coach at any level without returns for touchdowns.
Escalating
Montana State’s offense has improved drastically under Don Bailey’s guidance. Montana State rolled up 360.7 yards of offense a game in 2001, Bailey’s first season at Montana State, the receded to 334.0 in 2002. The Bobcats moved up to 344.0 in 2003, and last year rolled up 433.0 yards a game. In those four years, MSU has moved from eighth in the Big Sky, to seventh, to sixth, to second.
Moving the Sticks
Montana State piled up 246 first downs last season, the third-highest total in school history. The Bobcats had 268 first downs in 1984, and 248 in 1976. Both those teams won National Championships.
Airing it Out
Montana State threw for 3,498 yards last year, all but 13 by junior quarterback Travis Lulay, the second-best passing season in Montana State’s football history.
Opening Information
Montana State has compiled a 54-43-5 record in season openers since the Bobcat program began playing as the Montana State A&M Aggies in 1897. The Bobcats have won two of Mike Kramer’s season openers, with two of the three losses at Division I-A opponents. Montana State is 35-8-2 when opening the season in Bozeman, 12-28-2 when opening on the road, and 3-4-1 when opening on a neutral field. (The location of six Bobcat openers is unknown.) Montana State has not won a season opener away from Bozeman since beating Western Illinois to open the 1993 season.
Opening on the Road
Montana State has opened the season in some exotic, remote, unusual, and historic sites through the years. Mike Kramer’s teams alone have opened in Laramie, Wyo. (2003) Birmingham, Ala. (2001, MSU’s only trip to that state). Through the years, the ‘Cats have also opened in Gainesville, Fla. against the Gators, in Lawrence, Kans., against KU, at Long Beach State, and against Washington State in both Pullman and Spokane.
Bobcats and the Big 12
Montana State has never faced a team calling the Big 12 home, although the Bobcats have squared off with several current members of that league. The last time MSU played a current Big 12 school was 1989, when the Bobcats lost at Kansas, 41-17 when the Jayhawks played in the Big 8. The Bobcats own a 2-5 all-time record against current members of the Big 12, capturing a pair of wins three quarters of a century ago against Colorado. Back then, Montana State belonged to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in the league’s hey-day as a national power, featuring Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Utah State, and Brigham Young. The Bobcats split a pair of games against CU in Bozeman (losing in 1925, winning in 1927), and beating the Buffs in Boulder in 1926. MSU is also 0-2 against Nebraska (1928 and 1930), and 0-1 against Kansas (1989) and Texas Tech (1936).
Against Okies
Montana State’s trip to Stillwater this week marks the school’s fourth foray to Oklahoma. The Bobcats previously lost three times at Tulsa, dropping a 23-13 decision in 1963, a 13-10 contest in 1966, and a 20-2 tilt in 1990.
Mike Kramer in OT
When the ‘Cats split a pair of overtime decisions last fall, it marked the first time Mike Kramer’s Bobcats had played extra football. Below is a look at MSU’s all-time overtime encounters...
2004 44-51 Eastern Washington+
2004 31-24 Portland State+
1994 31-34 Eastern Washington++
1990 28-25 Eastern Washington+
1984 44-41 Nevada+
1982 30-27 Idaho State+
Current Montana State Two-Deep (with pro-nuns-ee-AY-shuns) Player Notes
Offense
LEFT TACKLE 79 Adam DeCock 6-6 307 So* Played in all 11 games last year
76 Jeff Hansen 6-4 255 Fr True freshman on redshirt alert
LEFT GUARD 64 Jeff Bolton 6-4 302 Sr* Returning All-America, Preseason A-A
53 Peder Jensen 6-6 277 So* Can play anywhere in the O-line but C
CENTER 57 Brant Birkeland 6-2 271 Jr* Started 10 games at guard
61 Jim Verlanic 6-0 249 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
RIGHT GUARD 74 Lawrence Figueroa (fig-uh-ROE-uh) 6-2 285 Sr+* Started all 11 at guard
66 Chris Smith 6-3 290 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
RIGHT TACKLE 73 Joe Hirst 6-7 292 Jr* Missed eight games due to knee injury
53 Peder Jensen 6-6 277 So* Started first nine games of ‘04
68 Bryan Beniger (BEN-egg-er) 6-4 276 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
QUARTERBACK 14 Travis Lulay (LOO-lay) 6-2 205 Sr MSU’s season & career total off. leader
15 Cory Carpenter 6-2 214 So* Played sparingly in 2004
16 Rick Coppack (COP-uck) 6-0 187 So* Played in three games in 2004
RUNNING BACK 8 Justin Domineck 5-11 206 Sr+ HM All-Big Sky, 736 yards rushing
11 Michael Bass (like pass) 5-6 190 Sr*+ Transfers from Hawai’i
28 Evin Groves 5-8 185 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
X RECEIVER 81 Jevon Miller (juh-VAWN) 6-0 200 Sr+* Transfers from Washington State
10 Tyler Lulay (LOO-lay) 6-0 182 Fr* Redshirt freshman
SLOT RECEIVER 19 Chaz Guinn (like Gwynn) 6-2 194 Sr+ Second on team with 48 catches
83 Mike Brown 5-9 186 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
87 Toby Rundle 5-10 181 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
1 Rick Gatewood 6-0 180 Sr*+ Will miss the first three games
Z RECEIVER 17 Tramaine Murray 5-10 180 Sr+* Transfers from Washington State
6 Brandon Roosevelt 5-11 166 Jr* Missed most of ‘04 (knee)
TIGHT END 95 Elliott Barnhart 6-4 242 So True freshman in ‘04, had one catch
86 Nick Parker 6-4 225 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
84 Brandon Bostick (BOSS-stick) 6-4 251 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
45 Ty McDonald 6-2 223 So* Played sparingly last year
Defense
END 97 Chris Kolone (KOE-loe-nay) 6-4 288 Fr*+ Transfers from Arizona
92 Daryl Rogers 6-1 275 Sr+ 33 tackles, 9 TL, in ‘04
NOSE 75 Louis Saucedo (sou-SEE-doe) 6-5 317 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
94 David Siataga (see-uh-TON-guh) 5-11 285 Jr+* JC transfer
TACKLE 99 Aaron Papich (like rap) 6-2 263 So* Played sparingly last year
96 Jason Macciola (muh-CHO-luh) 6-3 235 Jr+ JC transfer
71 Joe Rothenberger 6-3 285 Jr* JC transfer
63 Sean Neill 6-3 225 Fr* US Army veteran, redshirted in ‘04
ROVER 43 Nick Marudas (muh-ROOD-us) 6-2 218 Sr* Missed most of ‘04 with broken leg
23 Jason Gathing (like gather) 6-1 208 Sr*+ Missed 2004 with injuries
24 Dan Ashley 6-1 195 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
WILL LINEBACKER 44 Epikopo King (epp-ee-COE-poe) 6-1 205 So* 33 tackles, 1 interception last year
37 Grant Elliott 6-0 217 Jr Moves from fullback
MIKE LINEBACKER 33 Mac Mollohan 6-0 205 Sr Two-time All-Big Sky
54 Bobby Daly 6-1 229 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
49 Wes Mauia (mou-EE-yah) 6-0 237 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
SAM LINEBACKER 42 Clive Lowe 6-3 232 So* Missed first two games (oral surgery)
36 Clayton Curley 6-1 195 Sr Three-time letterman
FIELD CORNER 22 Kahiam Hunter (KIE-am) 5-10 165 Sr* Missed last year with shoulder injury
18 Eddie Smith 5-9 200 So*+ ‘04 redshirt after transferring from JC
4 Derrick Davis 5-9 175 Jr*+ Played at MSU in ‘02, returns this year
FIELD SAFETY 25 Toph Grenfell 6-0 191 Sr+ Returning starter
7 Luke Holden 6-1 175 Fr* Redshirt in ‘04
5 Marcosus Le Blanc 6-0 200 Jr*+ Transferred from Boise State in late Aug.
BOUNDARY SAFETY 20 Ryan Force 6-2 207 Jr* Started all 11 games in 2004
7 Brian Williams 6-0 195 Fr Enrolled at MSU in January ‘05
BOUNDARY CORNER 9 Andre Fuller 5-10 159 Fr* Led MSU with 15 pass breakups
13 Kory Austin 5-11 172 So* 2004 starter
*-indicates player has used redshirt year, +-indicates player is a transfer
KICKOFFS: 12-Tyler Bolton PLACE KICKER: 46-Jeff Hastings
PUNTS: 14-Travis Lulay SHORT SNAPS: 57-Brant Birkeland
KICK RETURNS: 17-Tramaine Murray LONG SNAPS: 84-Brandon Bostick/59-Jeff Moore
PUNT RETURNS: 11-Michael Bass
THE STORYLINE
Montana State opens the 2005 season with a historic road trip, visiting Oklahoma State for MSU’s first-ever contest with a Big 12 opponent. The Bobcats have never faced Oklahoma State, and last faced a current Big 12 school in 1989, when Montana State lost 41-17 at Kansas. Payton Trophy and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm candidate Travis Lulay leads the Bobcat offense, a unit expected to be one of the best in the Big Sky. MSU is without receiver Rick Gatewood, who will miss the season’s first three games for eligibility reasons, this week.
GAME FACTS
KICKOFF: 5 pm MDT
SITE: Stillwater, OK
STADIUM: Boone Pickens Stadium
MSU PRESS BOX: 406/243-4167
RADIO: State Farm Bobcat Network (Kris Atteberry, Dan Davies)
TELEVISION: none
HIGHLIGHTS
l Montana State opens the season ranked 18th in Division I-AA
STREAKS
l MSU enters a new year on a losing streak of at least three games for the third time in the last six years
l The Bobcats have registered at least 400 yards of total offense in seven straight games, a school record
l Travis Lulay’s six straight 300-yd passing games is an MSU record
MILESTONES
l Travis Lulay needs 36 yards to break Montana State’s career passing yards record (he has 8,117)
l Montana State’s 683 total yards vs. EWU last season was a school record, and the 44 points in that game was MSU’s most-ever in a loss
SHINING
l QB TRAVIS LULAY enters his senior season on the Walter Payton and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm watch lists
l WRs TRAMAINE MURRAY & JEVON MILLER, both senior transfers from Washington State, make their Bobcat debuts looking to ease the loss of Rick Gatewood
l LB MAC MOLLOHAN is a two-time All-Big Sky linebacker
ABOUT THE ‘CATS...
MSU in ‘05 0-0
Conf./Record Big Sky/0-0
Home/Road 0-0/0-0
Grass/Turf 0-0/0-0
Day/Night 0-0/0-0
HEAD COACH Mike Kramer
Alma Mater Idaho/’76
Overall/Years 62-66/12th
At MSU/Years 25-34/6th
vs OSU 0-0
Home/Road 0-0/0-0
SERIES first meeting
At MSU 0-0
At OSU 0-0
At Neutral 0-0
Current Streak none
ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE...
OSU in ‘05 0-0
Conf./Record Big 12/0-0
Home/Road 0-0/0-0
Grass/Turf 0-0/0-0
Day/Night 0-0/0-0
HEAD COACH Mike Gundy
Alma Mater Oklahoma St/’90
Overall/Years 0-0/1st
At School/Years same
vs MSU 0-0
Home/Road 0-0/0-0
ABOUT OSU The Cowboys
Colors Orange, black
Location Stillwater, OK
Enrollment 31,100
Stadium Boone Pickens
OPPONENT ‘04 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
S3 Montana State
S8 at Florida Atlantic
S17 Arkansas State
O1 Colorado
O8 Missouri
O15 at Texas A&M
O22 at Iowa State
O29 Texas
N26 at Oklahoma
N12 Texas Tech
N19 at Baylor
BOBCAT 2005 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
S3 at Oklahoma St 5:00 pm First-ever game vs. Big 12 opponent
S10 Stephen F. Austin 1:05 pm Lumberjacks’ first trip to MSU since ‘92
S17 at Cal Poly 7:05 pm Bobcats have lost six straigt to Mustangs
S24 North Dakota St 1:05 pm Bobcats face old rival for first time since ‘80
O1 *Idaho State 1:35 pm MSU, oldest out-of-state rivals open league
O8 *at Weber State 1:35 pm Ron McBride leads rejuvenated Wildcats
O15 *at Portland State 7:05 pm Bobcats face league’s top D
O29 *NAU 12:05 pm MSU’s first two-game streak vs. NAU since ‘79
N5 *Sac State 12:05 pm ‘Cats look to avenge 38-28 loss
N12 *at Eastern Wash. 3:05 pm Bobcats face preseason Big Sky faves
N19 *Montana 12:05 pm The 105th ‘Cat-Griz game
NOTING THE ‘CATS
What to Watch
F Opening Big... Montana State has opened its season against Division I-A competition 11 times in the 25 years since joining Division I-AA in 1979, but rarely has it opened with a big-time program, as it will against Oklahoma State this year. The Bobcats have opened the season against a current BCS-level opponent only four times, five if you count Utah (1982), which played in a BCS game last year -- Washington State (1981 and ‘83), Florida (‘88), and Kansas (’89).
F Passing Fancy... Statistically and stylistically, Bobcat quarterback Travis Lulay bears some resemblance to OSU’s first-year head coach
Career School Pass Years as
Passing Ranking Starter
Lulay 8,117 2nd (35 from 1st) 3 (so far)
Gundy 7,997 1st 4
F Glad to Have Ya... The addition of senior transfer receivers Jevon Miller and Tramaine Murray to an already-seasoned receiving crew seemed superfluous to some, but with the Bobcat offense without Rick Gatewood for the first three games the experience of Murray and Miller, combined with Chaz Guinn and Brandon Roosevelt, looks like a major positive.
Pinning ‘Em
After becoming Montana State’s punter early in 2003, Travis Lulay used a rugby-like roll punt to average 36.2 yards a punt, and pinned the opponent inside the 20 nine times. Last year as a junior, having nailed down MSU’s punting job almost exclusively, Lulay pinned the opponent inside the 20 a dozen times on the year on 50 kicks, averaging 42.2 yards per punt, fourth in the Big Sky and ninth in the nation. He drilled five line drives of 60+ yards, 29 of 40 yards or more. Included in that total is an 81-yarder against Adams State, the second-longest punt in school history. Lulay’s punting, combined with his offensive aptitude, make him the premiere all-around threat in Division I-AA football.
1-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89
6 14 19 6 4 0 1
Big Play Bobcats
In the first five games of 2004, MSU registered 12 big plays, none of which made it to the paint. In the last six games, MSU’s offense produced 32 big plays, eight for touchdowns.
Third Quarter Nightmare
MSU surrendered only 33 points in the first eight third quarters of 2004, but gave up 40 points in the last three third quarters of the season.
Not So Special
In Mike Kramer’s tenure at Montana State, Bobcat returners have taken 11 punts or kickoffs back for touchdowns. All 11 of those came in 2001-03, as Bobcat return units failed to score in 2000 or 2004 -- Kramer’s only two seasons as a head coach at any level without returns for touchdowns.
Escalating
Montana State’s offense has improved drastically under Don Bailey’s guidance. Montana State rolled up 360.7 yards of offense a game in 2001, Bailey’s first season at Montana State, the receded to 334.0 in 2002. The Bobcats moved up to 344.0 in 2003, and last year rolled up 433.0 yards a game. In those four years, MSU has moved from eighth in the Big Sky, to seventh, to sixth, to second.
Moving the Sticks
Montana State piled up 246 first downs last season, the third-highest total in school history. The Bobcats had 268 first downs in 1984, and 248 in 1976. Both those teams won National Championships.
Airing it Out
Montana State threw for 3,498 yards last year, all but 13 by junior quarterback Travis Lulay, the second-best passing season in Montana State’s football history.
Opening Information
Montana State has compiled a 54-43-5 record in season openers since the Bobcat program began playing as the Montana State A&M Aggies in 1897. The Bobcats have won two of Mike Kramer’s season openers, with two of the three losses at Division I-A opponents. Montana State is 35-8-2 when opening the season in Bozeman, 12-28-2 when opening on the road, and 3-4-1 when opening on a neutral field. (The location of six Bobcat openers is unknown.) Montana State has not won a season opener away from Bozeman since beating Western Illinois to open the 1993 season.
Opening on the Road
Montana State has opened the season in some exotic, remote, unusual, and historic sites through the years. Mike Kramer’s teams alone have opened in Laramie, Wyo. (2003) Birmingham, Ala. (2001, MSU’s only trip to that state). Through the years, the ‘Cats have also opened in Gainesville, Fla. against the Gators, in Lawrence, Kans., against KU, at Long Beach State, and against Washington State in both Pullman and Spokane.
Bobcats and the Big 12
Montana State has never faced a team calling the Big 12 home, although the Bobcats have squared off with several current members of that league. The last time MSU played a current Big 12 school was 1989, when the Bobcats lost at Kansas, 41-17 when the Jayhawks played in the Big 8. The Bobcats own a 2-5 all-time record against current members of the Big 12, capturing a pair of wins three quarters of a century ago against Colorado. Back then, Montana State belonged to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in the league’s hey-day as a national power, featuring Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Utah State, and Brigham Young. The Bobcats split a pair of games against CU in Bozeman (losing in 1925, winning in 1927), and beating the Buffs in Boulder in 1926. MSU is also 0-2 against Nebraska (1928 and 1930), and 0-1 against Kansas (1989) and Texas Tech (1936).
Against Okies
Montana State’s trip to Stillwater this week marks the school’s fourth foray to Oklahoma. The Bobcats previously lost three times at Tulsa, dropping a 23-13 decision in 1963, a 13-10 contest in 1966, and a 20-2 tilt in 1990.
Mike Kramer in OT
When the ‘Cats split a pair of overtime decisions last fall, it marked the first time Mike Kramer’s Bobcats had played extra football. Below is a look at MSU’s all-time overtime encounters...
2004 44-51 Eastern Washington+
2004 31-24 Portland State+
1994 31-34 Eastern Washington++
1990 28-25 Eastern Washington+
1984 44-41 Nevada+
1982 30-27 Idaho State+
Current Montana State Two-Deep (with pro-nuns-ee-AY-shuns) Player Notes
Offense
LEFT TACKLE 79 Adam DeCock 6-6 307 So* Played in all 11 games last year
76 Jeff Hansen 6-4 255 Fr True freshman on redshirt alert
LEFT GUARD 64 Jeff Bolton 6-4 302 Sr* Returning All-America, Preseason A-A
53 Peder Jensen 6-6 277 So* Can play anywhere in the O-line but C
CENTER 57 Brant Birkeland 6-2 271 Jr* Started 10 games at guard
61 Jim Verlanic 6-0 249 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
RIGHT GUARD 74 Lawrence Figueroa (fig-uh-ROE-uh) 6-2 285 Sr+* Started all 11 at guard
66 Chris Smith 6-3 290 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
RIGHT TACKLE 73 Joe Hirst 6-7 292 Jr* Missed eight games due to knee injury
53 Peder Jensen 6-6 277 So* Started first nine games of ‘04
68 Bryan Beniger (BEN-egg-er) 6-4 276 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
QUARTERBACK 14 Travis Lulay (LOO-lay) 6-2 205 Sr MSU’s season & career total off. leader
15 Cory Carpenter 6-2 214 So* Played sparingly in 2004
16 Rick Coppack (COP-uck) 6-0 187 So* Played in three games in 2004
RUNNING BACK 8 Justin Domineck 5-11 206 Sr+ HM All-Big Sky, 736 yards rushing
11 Michael Bass (like pass) 5-6 190 Sr*+ Transfers from Hawai’i
28 Evin Groves 5-8 185 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
X RECEIVER 81 Jevon Miller (juh-VAWN) 6-0 200 Sr+* Transfers from Washington State
10 Tyler Lulay (LOO-lay) 6-0 182 Fr* Redshirt freshman
SLOT RECEIVER 19 Chaz Guinn (like Gwynn) 6-2 194 Sr+ Second on team with 48 catches
83 Mike Brown 5-9 186 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
87 Toby Rundle 5-10 181 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
1 Rick Gatewood 6-0 180 Sr*+ Will miss the first three games
Z RECEIVER 17 Tramaine Murray 5-10 180 Sr+* Transfers from Washington State
6 Brandon Roosevelt 5-11 166 Jr* Missed most of ‘04 (knee)
TIGHT END 95 Elliott Barnhart 6-4 242 So True freshman in ‘04, had one catch
86 Nick Parker 6-4 225 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
84 Brandon Bostick (BOSS-stick) 6-4 251 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
45 Ty McDonald 6-2 223 So* Played sparingly last year
Defense
END 97 Chris Kolone (KOE-loe-nay) 6-4 288 Fr*+ Transfers from Arizona
92 Daryl Rogers 6-1 275 Sr+ 33 tackles, 9 TL, in ‘04
NOSE 75 Louis Saucedo (sou-SEE-doe) 6-5 317 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
94 David Siataga (see-uh-TON-guh) 5-11 285 Jr+* JC transfer
TACKLE 99 Aaron Papich (like rap) 6-2 263 So* Played sparingly last year
96 Jason Macciola (muh-CHO-luh) 6-3 235 Jr+ JC transfer
71 Joe Rothenberger 6-3 285 Jr* JC transfer
63 Sean Neill 6-3 225 Fr* US Army veteran, redshirted in ‘04
ROVER 43 Nick Marudas (muh-ROOD-us) 6-2 218 Sr* Missed most of ‘04 with broken leg
23 Jason Gathing (like gather) 6-1 208 Sr*+ Missed 2004 with injuries
24 Dan Ashley 6-1 195 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
WILL LINEBACKER 44 Epikopo King (epp-ee-COE-poe) 6-1 205 So* 33 tackles, 1 interception last year
37 Grant Elliott 6-0 217 Jr Moves from fullback
MIKE LINEBACKER 33 Mac Mollohan 6-0 205 Sr Two-time All-Big Sky
54 Bobby Daly 6-1 229 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
49 Wes Mauia (mou-EE-yah) 6-0 237 Fr* Redshirted in 2004
SAM LINEBACKER 42 Clive Lowe 6-3 232 So* Missed first two games (oral surgery)
36 Clayton Curley 6-1 195 Sr Three-time letterman
FIELD CORNER 22 Kahiam Hunter (KIE-am) 5-10 165 Sr* Missed last year with shoulder injury
18 Eddie Smith 5-9 200 So*+ ‘04 redshirt after transferring from JC
4 Derrick Davis 5-9 175 Jr*+ Played at MSU in ‘02, returns this year
FIELD SAFETY 25 Toph Grenfell 6-0 191 Sr+ Returning starter
7 Luke Holden 6-1 175 Fr* Redshirt in ‘04
5 Marcosus Le Blanc 6-0 200 Jr*+ Transferred from Boise State in late Aug.
BOUNDARY SAFETY 20 Ryan Force 6-2 207 Jr* Started all 11 games in 2004
7 Brian Williams 6-0 195 Fr Enrolled at MSU in January ‘05
BOUNDARY CORNER 9 Andre Fuller 5-10 159 Fr* Led MSU with 15 pass breakups
13 Kory Austin 5-11 172 So* 2004 starter
*-indicates player has used redshirt year, +-indicates player is a transfer
KICKOFFS: 12-Tyler Bolton PLACE KICKER: 46-Jeff Hastings
PUNTS: 14-Travis Lulay SHORT SNAPS: 57-Brant Birkeland
KICK RETURNS: 17-Tramaine Murray LONG SNAPS: 84-Brandon Bostick/59-Jeff Moore
PUNT RETURNS: 11-Michael Bass
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
