Thursday, August 30
Bozeman, MT
7:05 pm
Montana State University
vs
CHADRON STATE (GOLD RUSH)
Montana State's vaunted defense leads the team into action Thursday against Chadron State
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
MSU Hosts Chadron State in First Bobcat Stadium Night Game
8/29/2012 2:27:00 PM | Football
Eagles bring strong squad to Bozeman six years after upset
For all the talk about what's new at the beginning of Montana State's 2012 football season - an offensive coordinator, a home night game for the first time, 80 percent of the offensive line - the things that are the same are those that really matter. A head coach entering his sixth season with the core of a coaching staff that has been at his side the entire tenure, a third-year starting quarterback, nine returning starters on defense - those factors led to the Bobcats' #4 national ranking entering the season. The Cats host Chadron State, a strong Division II outfit from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, to open 2012.
Montana State Game Notes vs. Chadron State
THIS WEEK'S GAME
KICKOFF: 7:05 pm
SITE: Bozeman, MT
STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Tyler Wiltgen, Dan Davies)
TELEVISION: Max Media (Chris Byer, Mike Callaghan, Jeff Eberle)
FOR OPENERS
* The last three times Montana State opened its season with a home game the Cats did so against a school from the Rocky Mountain Conference, to which MSU once belonged
* Chadron State won its last trip to Bozeman, a 35-24 triumph in 2006 powered by current New England Patriot Danny Woodhead
* Montana State has hosted Chadron State to open its season twice previously - a 20-10 win in 1999, and a 24-14 win in 1997
STADIUM STUFF
* MSU's 2012 season opener stands as the first home night game in school history
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
* Big Sky coaches and media each pick MSU to win the Big Sky
2012 MSU SCHEDULE
Aug 30--Chadron State, 7:05 pm
Sept 8--at Drake, 5:05 pm MT
Sept 15--Stephen F. Austin, 1:35 pm
Sept 22--*Northern Colorado, 2:05 pm
Sept 29--*at Southern Utah, 1:35 pm
Oct 6--*at UC Davis, 5:05 pm MT
Oct 13-*Eastern Wash., 1:35 pm
Oct 27--*North Dakota, 2:05 pm
Nov. 3--*at Sacramento St, 5:05 pm MT
Nov 10--*Portland State, 1:35 pm
Nov 17--*at Montana, 1:35 pm
HIGHLIGHTS
* Montana State opens the 2012 season ranked #4 in both The Sports Network media/SID poll and the FCS Coaches Poll, the school's highest preseason ranking since at least 1985
* MSU has gained at least 500 yards 10 times over the past two seasons, one more than from 1992-2009 combined
STREAKS
* DeNarius McGhee has started - and completed a touchdown pass - in each of his first 25 games as a Bobcat
* Linebacker Jody Owens, the preseason Big Sky Defensive MVP, had tackles-for-loss in three straight games and seven of the last eight to close 2011
* Montana State has compiled 10 consecutive winning seasons, the longest such streak in school history
MILESTONES
* DeNarius McGhee's 46 career TD passes is 4th in Bobcat history
* Elvis Akpla's 2,107 career receiving yards is a Bobcat record
SHINING
* DT Zach Minter landed on every Preseason All-America team after his unanimous All-Big Sky season of 2011
* LB Jody Owens also earned Preseason All-America mention on every team released, along with the added distinction of Preseason Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year honors
* QB DeNarius McGhee has thrown for 5,962 yards through two seasons
Montana State Game Notes vs. Chadron State
THIS WEEK'S GAME
KICKOFF: 7:05 pm
SITE: Bozeman, MT
STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium
RADIO: Bobcat Radio Network (Tyler Wiltgen, Dan Davies)
TELEVISION: Max Media (Chris Byer, Mike Callaghan, Jeff Eberle)
FOR OPENERS
* The last three times Montana State opened its season with a home game the Cats did so against a school from the Rocky Mountain Conference, to which MSU once belonged
* Chadron State won its last trip to Bozeman, a 35-24 triumph in 2006 powered by current New England Patriot Danny Woodhead
* Montana State has hosted Chadron State to open its season twice previously - a 20-10 win in 1999, and a 24-14 win in 1997
STADIUM STUFF
* MSU's 2012 season opener stands as the first home night game in school history
BIG SKY BULLET POINTS
* Big Sky coaches and media each pick MSU to win the Big Sky
2012 MSU SCHEDULE
Aug 30--Chadron State, 7:05 pm
Sept 8--at Drake, 5:05 pm MT
Sept 15--Stephen F. Austin, 1:35 pm
Sept 22--*Northern Colorado, 2:05 pm
Sept 29--*at Southern Utah, 1:35 pm
Oct 6--*at UC Davis, 5:05 pm MT
Oct 13-*Eastern Wash., 1:35 pm
Oct 27--*North Dakota, 2:05 pm
Nov. 3--*at Sacramento St, 5:05 pm MT
Nov 10--*Portland State, 1:35 pm
Nov 17--*at Montana, 1:35 pm
HIGHLIGHTS
* Montana State opens the 2012 season ranked #4 in both The Sports Network media/SID poll and the FCS Coaches Poll, the school's highest preseason ranking since at least 1985
* MSU has gained at least 500 yards 10 times over the past two seasons, one more than from 1992-2009 combined
STREAKS
* DeNarius McGhee has started - and completed a touchdown pass - in each of his first 25 games as a Bobcat
* Linebacker Jody Owens, the preseason Big Sky Defensive MVP, had tackles-for-loss in three straight games and seven of the last eight to close 2011
* Montana State has compiled 10 consecutive winning seasons, the longest such streak in school history
MILESTONES
* DeNarius McGhee's 46 career TD passes is 4th in Bobcat history
* Elvis Akpla's 2,107 career receiving yards is a Bobcat record
SHINING
* DT Zach Minter landed on every Preseason All-America team after his unanimous All-Big Sky season of 2011
* LB Jody Owens also earned Preseason All-America mention on every team released, along with the added distinction of Preseason Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year honors
* QB DeNarius McGhee has thrown for 5,962 yards through two seasons
This week's game preview is brought to you by Montana Disaster and Emergency Services.
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