Butch Damberger
Photo by: MSU Sports Information
Bobcats by the Numbers: 87
6/3/2013 1:38:00 PM | Football
Butch Damberger and Brian Pepper were impact players in many ways
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.
#87
Shadeed Crockett, WR: Shadeed Crockett joined the Bobcat program as a walk-on last fall, and performed well as a scout team player. He is a bigger, physical receiver with emerging ball skills who could become a solid receiver in the MSU program.
Spotlight Player #1 (Going Strictly Chronologically): Every great University seems to have people who as alums choose to spend their professional careers at that school and become an important part of the culture. At MSU, Butch Damberger is such a person. He was a great tight end for the Cats in the late '70s, contributing to the team's 1976 National Championship as a freshman and eventually All-Big Sky honors twice. He was an assistant coach for a decade, and is now a key man on campus as manager of the Strand Union Building. Damberger came to MSU from Cut Bank, and brought so many of the values the Bobcat program has always embraced – toughness, Treasure State pride, raw athleticism. An accomplished basketball player in his day and a fierce competitor, Damberger continues to be a great link to MSU's glorious football past.
Spotlight Player #1A (Still Going Chronologically, or alphabetically, take your pick): It was pretty clear from the beginning that Cliff Hysell's staff inherited a player in former Bozeman High star Brian Pepper for whom it didn't have a ready-made role. He was recruited by the previous staff as an athlete and projected as a tight end, and spent his first two years there, but never really fit. When he was moved to linebacker in the spring of 1994, though, it was obvious that he had found a home. He contributed 16 tackles, one for a loss, as a junior, and the ease with which he played linebacker foreshadowed other future Bozeman High state hurdles champions that starred on the Cat defense in years to come. Pepper blossomed into a star as a senior, leading the Bobcats with 118 tackles and earning First Team All-Big Sky honors. At a time when MSU struggled to gain traction against its in-state rival, Pepper followed fellow BHS alum Corey Widmer to the Bobcat program and led the way for other local products such as Nick Marudas and Beau Clark (Belgrade High) that would be great Bobcats in years to come. Pepper was a great source of local pride for everyone in Blue and Gold but especially those in Bozeman. And in his work for Universal Athletic Service in Bozeman he remains active in supporting the Hawks and Bobcats.
Notable #87s in the Bobcat Past: Everyone who works in college athletics has their favorite athletes, and has been mentioned previously, BBTN is no different. As we remember it, Frank Green, a tough and talented tight end from Butte who wore #87, and Arie Grey were true freshmen who were making the first airplane rides of their lives when the team flew into San Antonio for a game at Southwest Texas State in September, 1997. We may be remembering that story wrong, but what is not mistaken is the impact both those young men had on the program. Green caught 28 passes for 350 yards during a career during which he battled injuries. The Butte product was as solid as he could be in every way, and was one of four seniors during the difficult 2000 season which helped pave the way for MSU's 21st century success. Another BBTN favorite is Lee Carter, a Wyoming transfer from Helena Capital who was a solid player on the team's 1990 and '91 defensive units.
Through the years: Bob Black (1956), John Kinker (1957), Bob Surdam (1958-59), Gary Decolati (1963-64), Bob Stephan (1965-66), Bill Fieldstead (1967-68), Gary Beller (1969), Lynn Schenk (1970-72), Bob Grabb (1973), Bob Lubig (1974), Dennis Mizelle (1975), Butch Damberger (1976-79), Bill Bishop (1980), Tod Kasten (1982), Jame Todd (1983-86), Shawn Sulff (1987), Lee Carter (1990-91), Brian Pepper (1992-95), Jake Headlee (1996), Frank Green (1997-2000), Justin Reber (2001), Kolby Drube (2002), Sean Kelley (2003), Toby Rundle (2004-05), Deon Toliver (2006), Daniel Malison (2008), Gregory Oswood (2010-11), Shadeed Crockett (2012-present)
#87
Shadeed Crockett, WR: Shadeed Crockett joined the Bobcat program as a walk-on last fall, and performed well as a scout team player. He is a bigger, physical receiver with emerging ball skills who could become a solid receiver in the MSU program.
Spotlight Player #1 (Going Strictly Chronologically): Every great University seems to have people who as alums choose to spend their professional careers at that school and become an important part of the culture. At MSU, Butch Damberger is such a person. He was a great tight end for the Cats in the late '70s, contributing to the team's 1976 National Championship as a freshman and eventually All-Big Sky honors twice. He was an assistant coach for a decade, and is now a key man on campus as manager of the Strand Union Building. Damberger came to MSU from Cut Bank, and brought so many of the values the Bobcat program has always embraced – toughness, Treasure State pride, raw athleticism. An accomplished basketball player in his day and a fierce competitor, Damberger continues to be a great link to MSU's glorious football past.
Spotlight Player #1A (Still Going Chronologically, or alphabetically, take your pick): It was pretty clear from the beginning that Cliff Hysell's staff inherited a player in former Bozeman High star Brian Pepper for whom it didn't have a ready-made role. He was recruited by the previous staff as an athlete and projected as a tight end, and spent his first two years there, but never really fit. When he was moved to linebacker in the spring of 1994, though, it was obvious that he had found a home. He contributed 16 tackles, one for a loss, as a junior, and the ease with which he played linebacker foreshadowed other future Bozeman High state hurdles champions that starred on the Cat defense in years to come. Pepper blossomed into a star as a senior, leading the Bobcats with 118 tackles and earning First Team All-Big Sky honors. At a time when MSU struggled to gain traction against its in-state rival, Pepper followed fellow BHS alum Corey Widmer to the Bobcat program and led the way for other local products such as Nick Marudas and Beau Clark (Belgrade High) that would be great Bobcats in years to come. Pepper was a great source of local pride for everyone in Blue and Gold but especially those in Bozeman. And in his work for Universal Athletic Service in Bozeman he remains active in supporting the Hawks and Bobcats.
Notable #87s in the Bobcat Past: Everyone who works in college athletics has their favorite athletes, and has been mentioned previously, BBTN is no different. As we remember it, Frank Green, a tough and talented tight end from Butte who wore #87, and Arie Grey were true freshmen who were making the first airplane rides of their lives when the team flew into San Antonio for a game at Southwest Texas State in September, 1997. We may be remembering that story wrong, but what is not mistaken is the impact both those young men had on the program. Green caught 28 passes for 350 yards during a career during which he battled injuries. The Butte product was as solid as he could be in every way, and was one of four seniors during the difficult 2000 season which helped pave the way for MSU's 21st century success. Another BBTN favorite is Lee Carter, a Wyoming transfer from Helena Capital who was a solid player on the team's 1990 and '91 defensive units.
Through the years: Bob Black (1956), John Kinker (1957), Bob Surdam (1958-59), Gary Decolati (1963-64), Bob Stephan (1965-66), Bill Fieldstead (1967-68), Gary Beller (1969), Lynn Schenk (1970-72), Bob Grabb (1973), Bob Lubig (1974), Dennis Mizelle (1975), Butch Damberger (1976-79), Bill Bishop (1980), Tod Kasten (1982), Jame Todd (1983-86), Shawn Sulff (1987), Lee Carter (1990-91), Brian Pepper (1992-95), Jake Headlee (1996), Frank Green (1997-2000), Justin Reber (2001), Kolby Drube (2002), Sean Kelley (2003), Toby Rundle (2004-05), Deon Toliver (2006), Daniel Malison (2008), Gregory Oswood (2010-11), Shadeed Crockett (2012-present)
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