Bobcat History Lesson: Northern Colorado
11/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Most Bobcat fans remember Northern Colorado's last trip to Bozeman, when the Bears stunned MSU 14-10 in 2003. That was only three years ago, and at the time many felt UNC would be back soon as a Big Sky rival.
That is the case this year, and while UNC's last visit remains fresh in the minds of many, only the true old-timers remember the last time UNC and the Bobcats met as conference foes. On October 12, 1956, Montana State upended Northern Colorado, then known as Colorado State Teachers College, 13-0, in the narrowest conference win for the Bobcats in that national championship season. Charley Jackson's fumble recovery in the first 30 seconds of the game set up the only points Montana State needed, and Dave Alt engineered the game-clinching 72-yard drive in the second half. That win spurred the 'Cats to an undefeated season and a 0-0 tie in the Aluminum Bowl that sealed the national title.
Northern Colorado's last visit to Bozeman as a conference foe came in 1955, when the Bobcats topped the Bears on Homecoming 29-7. Those two games in the late '50s capped a run of 20 games these teams staged between 1923 and 1956. MSU was 12-7-1 in those contests.
Another of the memorable contests between these schools was the 1950 contest in Greeley. The Bobcats brought an 0-4 record into the game in Greeley, but with head coach John Mason at the team hotel Bobcat assistant coaches led the team to an 18-7 win, one which would stand as Montana State's only victory of the season.
The eighth Bobcat loss in the series came two years ago, and brings to mind a sad note on which today's game is played. UNC's star receiver Vincent Jackson gained most of the notoriety on that day for his 123 receiving yards in UNC's upset win, but the day's workhorse was running back Adam Matthews. A junior on that team, Matthews ripped the staunch Bobcat defense apart for 103 yards on the ground. Adam Matthews passed away this week, but his brother Asa (AY-suh) carries his name forward, starting at linebacker for the Bears and wearing number 8, the same as his older brother.
The Bobcats and Bears may be new league rivals, but the teams have a considerable amount of history between them.
That is the case this year, and while UNC's last visit remains fresh in the minds of many, only the true old-timers remember the last time UNC and the Bobcats met as conference foes. On October 12, 1956, Montana State upended Northern Colorado, then known as Colorado State Teachers College, 13-0, in the narrowest conference win for the Bobcats in that national championship season. Charley Jackson's fumble recovery in the first 30 seconds of the game set up the only points Montana State needed, and Dave Alt engineered the game-clinching 72-yard drive in the second half. That win spurred the 'Cats to an undefeated season and a 0-0 tie in the Aluminum Bowl that sealed the national title.
Northern Colorado's last visit to Bozeman as a conference foe came in 1955, when the Bobcats topped the Bears on Homecoming 29-7. Those two games in the late '50s capped a run of 20 games these teams staged between 1923 and 1956. MSU was 12-7-1 in those contests.
Another of the memorable contests between these schools was the 1950 contest in Greeley. The Bobcats brought an 0-4 record into the game in Greeley, but with head coach John Mason at the team hotel Bobcat assistant coaches led the team to an 18-7 win, one which would stand as Montana State's only victory of the season.
The eighth Bobcat loss in the series came two years ago, and brings to mind a sad note on which today's game is played. UNC's star receiver Vincent Jackson gained most of the notoriety on that day for his 123 receiving yards in UNC's upset win, but the day's workhorse was running back Adam Matthews. A junior on that team, Matthews ripped the staunch Bobcat defense apart for 103 yards on the ground. Adam Matthews passed away this week, but his brother Asa (AY-suh) carries his name forward, starting at linebacker for the Bears and wearing number 8, the same as his older brother.
The Bobcats and Bears may be new league rivals, but the teams have a considerable amount of history between them.
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