Mataio Toilolo helped anchor MSU's offensive line in the early 2000s
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcats by the Numbers: 65
6/25/2013 8:44:00 AM | Football
The number 65 has produced good players on both sides of the ball at MSU
Every day we look at players who donned the jersey number corresponding to the number of days until the Bobcats open the 2013 season on August 29 against Monmouth. The list of MSU football players by the jersey number is based on preseason rosters. The set of available rosters is complete from 1946-81 and '83-present. Only the 1926-27, 1934, 1937 and 1941 rosters are available in the pre-WWII years. Corrections, additions, or rosters that fill out the set are welcome to blamberty@msubobcats.com.
#65
Christian Williams, OL: Christian Williams arrived a year ago with expectations to solidify MSU's young offensive line, and one great endorsement – from his long-time friend Zach Minter. But an injury in camp derailed his entire season, and he spent 2012 as a redshirt. He enters this season as Matthew Devereux's backup at center, but is capable anywhere along the offensive line. Williams could become a key cog in the team's still-young offensive front in 2013.
Spotlight Player: Mataio Toilolo was a really good player for the Bobcats during the years when MSU was a program on the rise, and he was almost part of one of the great stories in school history. Toilolo started the first 12 games at guard as a junior in the fall of 2002, but a knee injury shelved him for MSU's playoff game at McNeese State. But after a rash of injuries and uneven play in that contest, there was Mataio, warming up on the stationary bike during halftime. And the big warrior from southern California trotted out to open the second half – at center. He performed admirably, and helped the Bobcats to a near-upset of top-seeded McNeese State. Toilolo earned First Team All-Big Sky honors that season and second team mention the next.
Notable #65s in the Bobcat Past: You'd have a hard time finding a more genuine, down-to-earth bunch than the guys who suited up for Montana State during the late 1970s, and particularly the '76 National Championship season. That group remains a strong presence around the state and in their continuing support of the Bobcat program. One of those guys is Bozeman businessman John Close, whose wife Kathy was a great track and field athlete at MSU. John and Kathy's daughter Mandy was a Bobcat women's basketball assistant coach until returning to her alma mater, Oregon State, this summer, and son Kevin is a jumper on the MSU track squad. John Close was a rangy and fast defensive end who started for three seasons and earned Second Team All-Big Sky honors as a senior.
Through the Years: Rex Workman (1957), Steve Sobonya (1959-61), Jerry Ross (1964), Wayne Purdom (1965-66), Frank Kalfoss (1967-69), Curt Brandon (1970), Greg Maurer (1971-74), John Close (1975-78), John Blackman (1979-82), Jeff Gorski (1983-84), Jamie Smith (1985), Bryan Ratzburg (1986-89), Jeff Brickert (1990), Cory Brye (1991-93), Mike McGrath (1994), Jon Eckberg (1995), Harold Powers (1998), Matt Horlacher (1999), Mataio Toilolo (2000-03), Adam Brockway (2004-05), Tim Garcia (2006-10), Christian Williams (2012-)
#65
Christian Williams, OL: Christian Williams arrived a year ago with expectations to solidify MSU's young offensive line, and one great endorsement – from his long-time friend Zach Minter. But an injury in camp derailed his entire season, and he spent 2012 as a redshirt. He enters this season as Matthew Devereux's backup at center, but is capable anywhere along the offensive line. Williams could become a key cog in the team's still-young offensive front in 2013.
Spotlight Player: Mataio Toilolo was a really good player for the Bobcats during the years when MSU was a program on the rise, and he was almost part of one of the great stories in school history. Toilolo started the first 12 games at guard as a junior in the fall of 2002, but a knee injury shelved him for MSU's playoff game at McNeese State. But after a rash of injuries and uneven play in that contest, there was Mataio, warming up on the stationary bike during halftime. And the big warrior from southern California trotted out to open the second half – at center. He performed admirably, and helped the Bobcats to a near-upset of top-seeded McNeese State. Toilolo earned First Team All-Big Sky honors that season and second team mention the next.
Notable #65s in the Bobcat Past: You'd have a hard time finding a more genuine, down-to-earth bunch than the guys who suited up for Montana State during the late 1970s, and particularly the '76 National Championship season. That group remains a strong presence around the state and in their continuing support of the Bobcat program. One of those guys is Bozeman businessman John Close, whose wife Kathy was a great track and field athlete at MSU. John and Kathy's daughter Mandy was a Bobcat women's basketball assistant coach until returning to her alma mater, Oregon State, this summer, and son Kevin is a jumper on the MSU track squad. John Close was a rangy and fast defensive end who started for three seasons and earned Second Team All-Big Sky honors as a senior.
Through the Years: Rex Workman (1957), Steve Sobonya (1959-61), Jerry Ross (1964), Wayne Purdom (1965-66), Frank Kalfoss (1967-69), Curt Brandon (1970), Greg Maurer (1971-74), John Close (1975-78), John Blackman (1979-82), Jeff Gorski (1983-84), Jamie Smith (1985), Bryan Ratzburg (1986-89), Jeff Brickert (1990), Cory Brye (1991-93), Mike McGrath (1994), Jon Eckberg (1995), Harold Powers (1998), Matt Horlacher (1999), Mataio Toilolo (2000-03), Adam Brockway (2004-05), Tim Garcia (2006-10), Christian Williams (2012-)
Leon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
