Former teammates Dan Davies (right) and Cal Poly equipment man Steve Kracher
Bobcat Game Day Notebook #9: MSU at Cal Poly
11/1/2014 5:57:00 PM | Football
Bobcats look for good execution, will be without Eryon Barnett
The passing of former Bobcat assistant and head football coach Cliff Hysell brought together many memories – and old friends – in reflection. An era often discussed was one many folks call the glory days of Bobcat football, the 1970s, when Hysell helped engineer MSU's defense and the Bobcats enjoyed a run of success that included three Big Sky Championships and a national title.
Current Cal Poly equipment manager Steve Kracher was a Bobcat running back from 1972-75, finishing as the school's all-time leading rusher. He broke that mark in his last game, a 222-yard effort against Northern Arizona on November 8, 1975.
Kracher remembers Hysell as a gruff, intimidating figure who was not without his caring side.
"Dennis Erickson was our backfield coach and I was having trouble fumbling" as a young freshman, Kracher said with a laugh. "He made me run around the entire practice field saying I will not fumble. Us offensive guys were always scared of Cliff, but he came up to me after practice and told me quietly, 'You're carrying the ball down on your hip. If you carry it up higher you won't have any problems.' So I made that adjustment, and all of a sudden I didn't have any trouble fumbling."
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The ties between the MSU and Cal Poly equipment staff run the other way, as well. The Bobcat equipment staff features a student manager named Katherine Taylor, a San Luis Obispo product who managed the football team at Mission Prep High School - the team coached by Steve Kracher. Kracher, a long-time assistant at Prep, recommended Taylor to Bobcat equipment manager Scott Gifford
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Facing its most unique challenge of the season, Montana State will be without a defensive starter tonight. Free safety Eryon Barnett will miss Saturday's game, replaced by redshirt freshman Khari Garcia.
The Cats also made an offensive starting change in the hours before kickoff. Tanner Roderick will start at receiver for freshman Justin Paige.
* * * * *
For the third time on as many trips to California this season, Montana State's Friday travel plans were jumbled. Bobcat coach Rob Ash says it doesn't matter.
"It's been our long-standing philosophy that we don't worry about the things we can't control," Ash said. "We just line up and play."
The California coast took on heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday for the first time in many months, but that also was of no concern to Ash, particularly late in the afternoon when beautiful weather settled over the San Luis Obispo area. "One of the advantages of playing in Bozeman is that we get used to playing in all kinds of weather conditions."
* * * * *
Ash said today's contest boils down to a simple factor on each side of the ball.
"Defensively," he said, "it's really a matter of every single guy doing his job on every single play. Offensively we have to maximize productivity on each possession, because I'm not counting on a game with a lot of possessions."
Current Cal Poly equipment manager Steve Kracher was a Bobcat running back from 1972-75, finishing as the school's all-time leading rusher. He broke that mark in his last game, a 222-yard effort against Northern Arizona on November 8, 1975.
Kracher remembers Hysell as a gruff, intimidating figure who was not without his caring side.
"Dennis Erickson was our backfield coach and I was having trouble fumbling" as a young freshman, Kracher said with a laugh. "He made me run around the entire practice field saying I will not fumble. Us offensive guys were always scared of Cliff, but he came up to me after practice and told me quietly, 'You're carrying the ball down on your hip. If you carry it up higher you won't have any problems.' So I made that adjustment, and all of a sudden I didn't have any trouble fumbling."
* * * * *
The ties between the MSU and Cal Poly equipment staff run the other way, as well. The Bobcat equipment staff features a student manager named Katherine Taylor, a San Luis Obispo product who managed the football team at Mission Prep High School - the team coached by Steve Kracher. Kracher, a long-time assistant at Prep, recommended Taylor to Bobcat equipment manager Scott Gifford
* * * * *
Facing its most unique challenge of the season, Montana State will be without a defensive starter tonight. Free safety Eryon Barnett will miss Saturday's game, replaced by redshirt freshman Khari Garcia.
The Cats also made an offensive starting change in the hours before kickoff. Tanner Roderick will start at receiver for freshman Justin Paige.
* * * * *
For the third time on as many trips to California this season, Montana State's Friday travel plans were jumbled. Bobcat coach Rob Ash says it doesn't matter.
"It's been our long-standing philosophy that we don't worry about the things we can't control," Ash said. "We just line up and play."
The California coast took on heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday for the first time in many months, but that also was of no concern to Ash, particularly late in the afternoon when beautiful weather settled over the San Luis Obispo area. "One of the advantages of playing in Bozeman is that we get used to playing in all kinds of weather conditions."
* * * * *
Ash said today's contest boils down to a simple factor on each side of the ball.
"Defensively," he said, "it's really a matter of every single guy doing his job on every single play. Offensively we have to maximize productivity on each possession, because I'm not counting on a game with a lot of possessions."
Players Mentioned
CB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ FootballThursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
