Bobcats Carry Legacy into Saturday's Contest
11/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
When Mike Kramer leads his Bobcats onto the Kidd Brewer Stadium field on Saturday afternoon to face top-ranked Appalachian State in the Division I Football Playoffs, he will lead the NCAA-mandated roster of 60 Bobcats.
But he's bringing so much more.
"We're taking them all," Kramer said, referring to all Bobcats who have previously worn the Blue and Gold into post-season action, and all those who didn't get the opportunity. "This is about us, and 'us' includes everyone who's done this program proud."
Several Bobcat greats are expected to be in attendance at Saturday's quarterfinal contest, including representatives of all three Bobcat National Championship squads. Dave Alt, who quarterbacked the Bobcats to their first national title in 1956, is expected to be on hand.
Kramer spent time this week thinking - and talking - about those players. "We are very mindful of this program's great tradition, and I am mindful of those great players from 1984," he said. "Those guys are so proud of this program and they remain so close to each other. Our trip to North Carolina is about something much bigger than the people that will be on our sideline, and I think our players will play that way."
Kramer has a special bond with the 1984 and 1976 MSU championship teams. He was an assistant with the former, and as a four-year starter at Idaho played against many of the members of the latter. "The great teams, the championship teams, have a bond that can never be broken," Kramer said. "That's true with every team, but when you've accomplished together what those group of guys did, you've built something special."
Players that suffered through the bad times had a hand in building Montana State into a final eight team, Kramer said. "Montana State had great players even when it didn't have great teams. Cliff Hysell and his teams from the '90s, Ty O'Connor and Devlan Geddes and Neal Smith, they travel with us this weekend. The guys that played for us, Travis Lulay and Jon Montoya and Adam Cordeiro and Ryan Johnson and Brent Swaggert and Ryan Elliott, those guys are with us. We're traveling with 60 players this weekend, but we have a whole lot more that will be with us."
Tommy White, a Bozeman attorney, and other members of Montana State's 1984 National Championship squad have found themselves in the limelight as Bobcat fans and media members reminisce about that unforgettable run to the title. White said he has a simple wish for this year's Bobcats.
"I hope," he said, "that in 20 years, people are calling these guys and asking them what it was like and what they remember. Because the memories are great."
But he's bringing so much more.
"We're taking them all," Kramer said, referring to all Bobcats who have previously worn the Blue and Gold into post-season action, and all those who didn't get the opportunity. "This is about us, and 'us' includes everyone who's done this program proud."
Several Bobcat greats are expected to be in attendance at Saturday's quarterfinal contest, including representatives of all three Bobcat National Championship squads. Dave Alt, who quarterbacked the Bobcats to their first national title in 1956, is expected to be on hand.
Kramer spent time this week thinking - and talking - about those players. "We are very mindful of this program's great tradition, and I am mindful of those great players from 1984," he said. "Those guys are so proud of this program and they remain so close to each other. Our trip to North Carolina is about something much bigger than the people that will be on our sideline, and I think our players will play that way."
Kramer has a special bond with the 1984 and 1976 MSU championship teams. He was an assistant with the former, and as a four-year starter at Idaho played against many of the members of the latter. "The great teams, the championship teams, have a bond that can never be broken," Kramer said. "That's true with every team, but when you've accomplished together what those group of guys did, you've built something special."
Players that suffered through the bad times had a hand in building Montana State into a final eight team, Kramer said. "Montana State had great players even when it didn't have great teams. Cliff Hysell and his teams from the '90s, Ty O'Connor and Devlan Geddes and Neal Smith, they travel with us this weekend. The guys that played for us, Travis Lulay and Jon Montoya and Adam Cordeiro and Ryan Johnson and Brent Swaggert and Ryan Elliott, those guys are with us. We're traveling with 60 players this weekend, but we have a whole lot more that will be with us."
Tommy White, a Bozeman attorney, and other members of Montana State's 1984 National Championship squad have found themselves in the limelight as Bobcat fans and media members reminisce about that unforgettable run to the title. White said he has a simple wish for this year's Bobcats.
"I hope," he said, "that in 20 years, people are calling these guys and asking them what it was like and what they remember. Because the memories are great."
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