MSU Game Notes vs. Dixie State
9/11/2009 5:41:21 PM | Football
For the second time in the last three years, the Bobcats follow their season opener at a BCS-level opponent with their Bobcat Stadium debut against Dixie State. The Red Storm came to Bozeman in 2007 as a newly-minted four-year school, but in 2009 Dixie is a legitimate Division II program with a high-flying offense (316.0 yards a game) and a win already in the bank. DSC is 1-1, with a win over Adams State and a loss to FCS Southern Utah.
THIS WEEK'S GAME
KICKOFF: 1:05 pm MDT
SITE: Bozeman, MT
STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Network (Jeff Lasky, Dan Davies, Tyler Wiltgen)
TELEVISION: Bobcat Sports Network (Chris Byers, Mike Callaghan, Dave Griffiths)
FOR OPENERS
* Since joining Division I-AA in 1978, MSU is 8-4 when opening at home the week after playing at an FBS/I-A opponent. Two of the losses came to Division II foes (Chadron State in 2006, Mesa State in 1988).
* MSU is 68-25-3 in home openers since 1908 (when home/road data is available).
STADIUM STUFF
* Michigan State's crowd of 74,518 was the second-largest to see the Bobcats play
* Montana State is 0-1 on grass this year, and plays on the real stuff four times
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
* Big Sky schools were 2-0 at home and 0-6 on the road last weekend, with both wins coming against non-Division I opponents and all six losses to FBS opponents
* Eric Fisher's two punts of 50 yards or more is tied for most in the Big Sky after one week, while his two pins inside the 20 is tied for second
HIGHLIGHTS
* Rob Ash stands 12th in school history in victories (13), and his winning percentage of .542 is seventh among Bobcat coaches with more than 10 games
* Neither MSU turned the ball over Saturday, marking the first game a Bobcat team has played without a turnover by either squad since 1975
* The Bobcats have averaged 145 rushing yards per game in Rob Ash's two-plus seasons at MSU, but just 95.5 yards a game against FBS opponents
STREAKS
* MSU's string of turning the ball over at least once since mid-2007 ended Saturday at Michigan State
* RG Jeff Hansen and RT Mike Person have 34 straight starts next to each other
MILESTONES
* Running back Aaron Mason has rushed for 1,039 yards in his career, just outside of MSU's career rushing top 20
* Dane Fletcher's 35.5 career tackles-for-loss is 0.5 shy of MSU's career top 10
SHINING
* OG Jeff Hansen, a fourth-year starter, earned preseason All-America honors
* DE Dane Fletcher registered two tackles-for-loss at Michigan State
* K Jason Cunningham is 14-of-20 on field goals as a Bobcat, 1-for-1 this year
