Papich Leads Bobcats to Great Falls
4/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aaron Papich will always go home to Great Falls, but he's about to make his last trip there to play football. Montana State's senior defensive lineman leads a deep, yet depleted, Montana State team to his former home field, Memorial Stadium, for Saturday's Triangle Classic.
Kickoff for the final scrimmage of Montana State's 2007 spring practice session is 2:05 pm.
"It's going to be great," the former Great Falls High star said. "It's my last time in playing in Memorial Stadium, and I'm excited about that. I'm excited to play in front of the fans in Great Falls, they're great people and great supporters."
Those fans have drawn the Bobcats back to Great Falls for the fourth straight spring, and a crowd of over 3,000 is expected for a scrimmage believed to be the first spring contest televised live by a Big Sky Conference school. Altitude Sports and Entertainment, a regional network based in Denver and available on satellite across America, carries Saturday's scrimmage.
The effect of the Triangle Classic's growth is not lost on Bobcat head coach Mike Kramer. "This is a fabulous event, a weekend with a great deal of impact on our program and on the community of Great Falls," he said. "How can you not sit in that historic stadium on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, watching college football in April, and not understand how meaningful Bobcat football is to people in the Golden Triangle area and across the state? It's become a great tradition."
Kramer's hopes for Saturday's scrimmage remain simple. "I want to see a well-aced, vigorous display of the quality and depth of our program. I want to see the strong emotional effect of this day on every player able to wear the gear."
The Bobcats remain without several key performers Saturday. TE Elliott Barnhart, WRs Tyler Lulay and Deon Toliver, LB Epikopo King, and quarterback Jack Rolovich are limited by injury, while OG Louis Saucedo, RB Aaron Mason, C Jim Verlanic and WR Jamelle Banks will also not suit up. The absence of Saucedo and Verlanic on the offensive line forced Adam DeCock inside to play guard, and thrust freshmen Mike Person and Jeff Miller into the fray.
Those two freshmen linemen spent the spring turning opportunity into reward. "At offensive tackle, the two freshmen, Person and Miller, have showed varsity-level talent, a la Joe Hirst (in the spring of 2003). They have really answered the call. Obviously, Brandon Bostick has elevated his level of play to give us two starting tight ends, where we're not just Elliott Barnhart and backups any more. And (defensive end) Dane Fletcher has displayed tremendous physical tools and the mental energy to give us a relentless defensive front."
Kramer also singled out the emergence of kicker and punter Eric Fisher as a key development in the spring. "Eric Fisher just continues to become dominant kicking and punting," Kramer said. "He's aided by the arrival of Tim Garcia as a long snapper."
While the arrival of the Bobcats in Great Falls typically portends an exciting afternoon of football, this year's Triangle Classic stands as a bittersweet affair for Papich. It marks his final trip to Great Falls for football, and the end of his final spring practice session. "I have (thought about it)," the second team All-Big Sky defensive lineman said. "I think for sure once the scrimmage is over it's going to hit me. It hasn't hit yet, though, I'm focused on getting ready for the scrimmage and on doing my job."
Papich has been pleased to travel to his home town for four of these events. "I take great pride in going back to Great Falls," he said. "I like telling everyone that's where I went to high school, and where Tyler Bolton went to high school. I like showing people the ropes around Great Falls and introducing them to people and showing them around."
The Bobcats offer youth football and cheerleading clinics on Saturday morning at 10 am at the Great Falls High practice fields. Cost of admission is a $5 game ticket. Tickets remain for Saturday's scrimmage.
Kickoff for the final scrimmage of Montana State's 2007 spring practice session is 2:05 pm.
"It's going to be great," the former Great Falls High star said. "It's my last time in playing in Memorial Stadium, and I'm excited about that. I'm excited to play in front of the fans in Great Falls, they're great people and great supporters."
Those fans have drawn the Bobcats back to Great Falls for the fourth straight spring, and a crowd of over 3,000 is expected for a scrimmage believed to be the first spring contest televised live by a Big Sky Conference school. Altitude Sports and Entertainment, a regional network based in Denver and available on satellite across America, carries Saturday's scrimmage.
The effect of the Triangle Classic's growth is not lost on Bobcat head coach Mike Kramer. "This is a fabulous event, a weekend with a great deal of impact on our program and on the community of Great Falls," he said. "How can you not sit in that historic stadium on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, watching college football in April, and not understand how meaningful Bobcat football is to people in the Golden Triangle area and across the state? It's become a great tradition."
Kramer's hopes for Saturday's scrimmage remain simple. "I want to see a well-aced, vigorous display of the quality and depth of our program. I want to see the strong emotional effect of this day on every player able to wear the gear."
The Bobcats remain without several key performers Saturday. TE Elliott Barnhart, WRs Tyler Lulay and Deon Toliver, LB Epikopo King, and quarterback Jack Rolovich are limited by injury, while OG Louis Saucedo, RB Aaron Mason, C Jim Verlanic and WR Jamelle Banks will also not suit up. The absence of Saucedo and Verlanic on the offensive line forced Adam DeCock inside to play guard, and thrust freshmen Mike Person and Jeff Miller into the fray.
Those two freshmen linemen spent the spring turning opportunity into reward. "At offensive tackle, the two freshmen, Person and Miller, have showed varsity-level talent, a la Joe Hirst (in the spring of 2003). They have really answered the call. Obviously, Brandon Bostick has elevated his level of play to give us two starting tight ends, where we're not just Elliott Barnhart and backups any more. And (defensive end) Dane Fletcher has displayed tremendous physical tools and the mental energy to give us a relentless defensive front."
Kramer also singled out the emergence of kicker and punter Eric Fisher as a key development in the spring. "Eric Fisher just continues to become dominant kicking and punting," Kramer said. "He's aided by the arrival of Tim Garcia as a long snapper."
While the arrival of the Bobcats in Great Falls typically portends an exciting afternoon of football, this year's Triangle Classic stands as a bittersweet affair for Papich. It marks his final trip to Great Falls for football, and the end of his final spring practice session. "I have (thought about it)," the second team All-Big Sky defensive lineman said. "I think for sure once the scrimmage is over it's going to hit me. It hasn't hit yet, though, I'm focused on getting ready for the scrimmage and on doing my job."
Papich has been pleased to travel to his home town for four of these events. "I take great pride in going back to Great Falls," he said. "I like telling everyone that's where I went to high school, and where Tyler Bolton went to high school. I like showing people the ropes around Great Falls and introducing them to people and showing them around."
The Bobcats offer youth football and cheerleading clinics on Saturday morning at 10 am at the Great Falls High practice fields. Cost of admission is a $5 game ticket. Tickets remain for Saturday's scrimmage.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
