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.
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
