Big Sky Summer Kickoff Notebook
7/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Every media member that visited with Rob Ash at Tuesday’s Big Sky Conference Football Kickoff interview session brought the same question to the table.
How’d the first year go?
“The body of work was very positive,” Ash said. “We knew we had to attack the issues on all fronts. We knew we had to sustain the momentum on the field because the program had attained outstanding success, but we also had to clean up some academic issues and we needed to establish a high standard of behavior in the community. Looking back on the first year, I think we were successful on each front.”
Ash said considerable attention went into enhancing his program’s public perception. “The image of the program right now is very positive,” he said. “We’ve been able to communicate our values to the community and the state, and the people in our state have been very receptive.”
* * *
The second question most media members posed to Rob Ash at Park City was just as obvious.
How’s the quarterback situation?
“We like the pieces we have in place,” Ash said. “Mark Iddins had a very productive spring. He is very efficient, and did a good job picking up the offense in the spring. We also added some young players to the program during the recruiting process that we’re excited about.”
Then, with Ash and the Bobcat staff feeling comfortable with the situation at quarterback, everything changed in June. “When we learned that Cody had an interest in our program, because his father played for the Bobcats, we had to take a hard look at that, and decided that he is a young man that would be an outstanding addition to our program.”
Upon Kempt’s arrival, sophomore Jordan Rasmussen, who battled with Iddins during the spring, transferred to a junior college. That leaves Iddins and Kempt in competition for starting honors entering fall camp.
“Mark Iddins is ahead because he knows the system, but Cody Kempt has really done a great job immersing himself in our program,” Ash said. “We haven’t had a chance to work with him, but he has worked hard. We’re excited to see what Cody and Mark can do once fall camp begins.”
* * *
Bobby Daly represented Montana State during the players’ interview sessions at the Big Sky Summer Kickoff. Ash expects big things from his senior linebacker this season. “If he is as productive this year as he has been in the past, I’ll be very disappointed if he’s not the Buck Buchanan award winner. Not just a finalist, but the winner.”
* * *
One of the first things Ash heard about the Montana State program was the Bobcat-Grizzly rivalry. Even knowing it was coming, Ash said the intensity and all-encompassing nature of the Cat-Griz issue surprised him.
“You hear about it every day,” he said with a smile. “This is what struck me from the very first day – everybody is either a Cat or a Griz. You’re on one side of the fence or the other. I can talk to somebody in February, and the question is always going to be, how are we going to do against the Griz.”
Ash said the spirit of beating the other team was never more intense than in the weeks and days leading up to the game. “I got more help the week of the Cat-Griz game than during any game week in my life,” he said. “I got play-call suggestions, motivational suggestions. I had a rancher tell me he’d fattened a pig for slaughter if we win that game. It’s intense.”
Now entering his second year at MSU, Ash has experienced the difference between the Bobcat-Grizzly rivalry and many others in college football. “You live it all year long.”
How’d the first year go?
“The body of work was very positive,” Ash said. “We knew we had to attack the issues on all fronts. We knew we had to sustain the momentum on the field because the program had attained outstanding success, but we also had to clean up some academic issues and we needed to establish a high standard of behavior in the community. Looking back on the first year, I think we were successful on each front.”
Ash said considerable attention went into enhancing his program’s public perception. “The image of the program right now is very positive,” he said. “We’ve been able to communicate our values to the community and the state, and the people in our state have been very receptive.”
* * *
The second question most media members posed to Rob Ash at Park City was just as obvious.
How’s the quarterback situation?
“We like the pieces we have in place,” Ash said. “Mark Iddins had a very productive spring. He is very efficient, and did a good job picking up the offense in the spring. We also added some young players to the program during the recruiting process that we’re excited about.”
Then, with Ash and the Bobcat staff feeling comfortable with the situation at quarterback, everything changed in June. “When we learned that Cody had an interest in our program, because his father played for the Bobcats, we had to take a hard look at that, and decided that he is a young man that would be an outstanding addition to our program.”
Upon Kempt’s arrival, sophomore Jordan Rasmussen, who battled with Iddins during the spring, transferred to a junior college. That leaves Iddins and Kempt in competition for starting honors entering fall camp.
“Mark Iddins is ahead because he knows the system, but Cody Kempt has really done a great job immersing himself in our program,” Ash said. “We haven’t had a chance to work with him, but he has worked hard. We’re excited to see what Cody and Mark can do once fall camp begins.”
* * *
Bobby Daly represented Montana State during the players’ interview sessions at the Big Sky Summer Kickoff. Ash expects big things from his senior linebacker this season. “If he is as productive this year as he has been in the past, I’ll be very disappointed if he’s not the Buck Buchanan award winner. Not just a finalist, but the winner.”
* * *
One of the first things Ash heard about the Montana State program was the Bobcat-Grizzly rivalry. Even knowing it was coming, Ash said the intensity and all-encompassing nature of the Cat-Griz issue surprised him.
“You hear about it every day,” he said with a smile. “This is what struck me from the very first day – everybody is either a Cat or a Griz. You’re on one side of the fence or the other. I can talk to somebody in February, and the question is always going to be, how are we going to do against the Griz.”
Ash said the spirit of beating the other team was never more intense than in the weeks and days leading up to the game. “I got more help the week of the Cat-Griz game than during any game week in my life,” he said. “I got play-call suggestions, motivational suggestions. I had a rancher tell me he’d fattened a pig for slaughter if we win that game. It’s intense.”
Now entering his second year at MSU, Ash has experienced the difference between the Bobcat-Grizzly rivalry and many others in college football. “You live it all year long.”
Wednesday, August 19
Wednesday, June 10
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
