MSU students turn south end zone into quite an experience
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Fans Make Their Mark
10/11/2013 9:29:00 AM | Football
MSU football fans boost Cats on friendly Bobcat Stadium turf
Montana State's Homecoming could've doubled for its Fan Appreciation Day on Saturday when the Bobcats dumped Northern Arizona 36-7 in sun-soaked Bobcat Stadium in front of a record attendance of 21,207. The fan factor was noticed by those who matter the most.
According to the coaches and players, from both sides, it has never had more of an effect than it did against the Lumberjacks. Since adding a 7,200-seat end zone in 2011, Bobcat Stadium not only hosts more fans, but it also holds in the sound those fans make much better creating a fun, yet intimidating, setting.
For a couple reasons, coaches won't typically admit that their opponent's crowd noise is a factor. That's mainly due to not wanting to encourage more of it.
"The run game is tough when you can't hear the snap count, that's the bottom line," NAU coach Jerome Souers said. "Everybody is going on sight of the ball. The advantage of knowing the snap count is eliminated, so it's difficult to run the football."
Souers might know a little bit about crowd noise. He's been the head coach at NAU for 16 years and his team often benefits from the sound created in his team's noisy, domed stadium. To drive home his point he repeatedly went back to the topic of crowd noise as he was questioned after the game.
MSU's fans helped cause a quick three-and-out on the opening possession of the game. The Lumberjacks ran the ball on first down and lost four yards when cornerback Sean Gords dropped Jesse Brantley behind the line of scrimmage causing the din to build. Before running its second play NAU called a timeout. The result: even more fan noise. A pass for nine yards set up 3rd-and-loud for the Jacks and pass play for a loss of a yard. A punt and six plays later and MSU was up 7-0. Seemingly in full control just five minutes into the game.
"It's difficult with the crowd noise," Souers added. "Difficult to maintain a rhythm and that makes it tough on the run game."
Souers wouldn't be the only one to talk about the fan factor as NAU's star running back Zach Bauman was at a loss.
"I don't ever expect the offense to come out here and struggle," he said. Bauman, who went over the 4,000-yard mark for his career a week earlier, was held to just 26 yards rushing on nine carries.
MSU's linebacker Cole Moore may have put it best.
"It was extremely loud," he said. "It's great to play at Bobcat Stadium in front of all our fans. When you have that kind of support, it gives you that much more adrenaline and that makes you want to do well. You don't want to let the fans or your team down."
As always MSU head coach Rob Ash gave a tip of his cap to the MSU fans. Since his first year at MSU the long time mentor, with 230 wins under his belt, has recognized the potential of the MSU fan base and what it can do to bend the outcome of games.
"I also have to say our crowd was awesome from the beginning of this game. That helps us get out of drives," he said.
Still there's nothing quite like having someone from the other side come out and say the fans make a difference. Souers, again, went back to the crowd noise during his post-game interview Saturday and summed things up succinctly.
"We had some difficulty with the crowd noise. It's a tough place to play here."
According to the coaches and players, from both sides, it has never had more of an effect than it did against the Lumberjacks. Since adding a 7,200-seat end zone in 2011, Bobcat Stadium not only hosts more fans, but it also holds in the sound those fans make much better creating a fun, yet intimidating, setting.
For a couple reasons, coaches won't typically admit that their opponent's crowd noise is a factor. That's mainly due to not wanting to encourage more of it.
"The run game is tough when you can't hear the snap count, that's the bottom line," NAU coach Jerome Souers said. "Everybody is going on sight of the ball. The advantage of knowing the snap count is eliminated, so it's difficult to run the football."
Souers might know a little bit about crowd noise. He's been the head coach at NAU for 16 years and his team often benefits from the sound created in his team's noisy, domed stadium. To drive home his point he repeatedly went back to the topic of crowd noise as he was questioned after the game.
MSU's fans helped cause a quick three-and-out on the opening possession of the game. The Lumberjacks ran the ball on first down and lost four yards when cornerback Sean Gords dropped Jesse Brantley behind the line of scrimmage causing the din to build. Before running its second play NAU called a timeout. The result: even more fan noise. A pass for nine yards set up 3rd-and-loud for the Jacks and pass play for a loss of a yard. A punt and six plays later and MSU was up 7-0. Seemingly in full control just five minutes into the game.
"It's difficult with the crowd noise," Souers added. "Difficult to maintain a rhythm and that makes it tough on the run game."
Souers wouldn't be the only one to talk about the fan factor as NAU's star running back Zach Bauman was at a loss.
"I don't ever expect the offense to come out here and struggle," he said. Bauman, who went over the 4,000-yard mark for his career a week earlier, was held to just 26 yards rushing on nine carries.
MSU's linebacker Cole Moore may have put it best.
"It was extremely loud," he said. "It's great to play at Bobcat Stadium in front of all our fans. When you have that kind of support, it gives you that much more adrenaline and that makes you want to do well. You don't want to let the fans or your team down."
As always MSU head coach Rob Ash gave a tip of his cap to the MSU fans. Since his first year at MSU the long time mentor, with 230 wins under his belt, has recognized the potential of the MSU fan base and what it can do to bend the outcome of games.
"I also have to say our crowd was awesome from the beginning of this game. That helps us get out of drives," he said.
Still there's nothing quite like having someone from the other side come out and say the fans make a difference. Souers, again, went back to the crowd noise during his post-game interview Saturday and summed things up succinctly.
"We had some difficulty with the crowd noise. It's a tough place to play here."
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