Bobcat John Bryant grabs a rebound against Wyoming in 1959
Bobcats, Wyoming Rekindle Long-Time Rivalry
12/23/2014 4:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MSU hosts Cowboys for first time since 1959
A monkey had just returned from a test flight into space for the U.S. space program, "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin topped the nation's music chart, President Eisenhower was visiting the Mediterranean on a "mission of peace," and Operation Petticoat was a major hit at the box office.
And in Bozeman, Montana State beat the Wyoming Cowboys in basketball on consecutive days in the school's sparkling new 'basketball palace.' Brick Breeden Fieldhouse was less than three years old, and in fact hadn't even taken the name of the legendary Bobcat player, head coach and administrator that is has proudly carried now for a half-century.
Tuesday night, the Bobcats and Wyoming get together for the first time in 55 years. Tipoff is at 7 pm.
The MSC Fieldhouse, as it was known the last time these teams played in it, had already hosted a wide array of sporting and cultural events by December 4-5, 1959. None of the fans present could know that it would be Wyoming's final contest in Bozeman for 55 years.
"We drew pretty well then," recalled Gordie Haugen, a sophomore on that Bobcat squad. "We got good crowds. It was a fun game to play, a natural rivalry."
The rivalry may be natural, but it hasn't always been played on even terms. Since its resumption nearly a quarter-century ago, the Bobcats have won just one of 16 meetings between the regional foes. Before that, the Cats had won five straight between 1955 and '61. In the midst of that short string is Wyoming's most recent trip to Bozeman, and the Bobcats' last run of dominance in the series.
"(Montana State's 1959-60 team had a lot of offensive talent," said Bob Parkins, also a sophomore for the Cats that season, "but not much defense. We had a lot of height and speed, as well. As I remember Wyoming that year was rebuilding and we had a lot of vets."
The other Bobcat advantage that season, Parkins remembers, was the Fieldhouse itself. "Playing in the Fieldhouse was not easy due to the vast expanse of the place," he said. "We were used to it, but teams that came in to play us often had difficulty. It was kind of like playing in outer space for the visitors."
Whatever factors played a role, the Bobcats got the better of Wyoming that weekend. Montana State won 69-59 on Friday, Dec. 4, and took a 76-53 decision the next night.
The game was more meaningful for Haugen than most. "Everett Shelton was the coach (at Wyoming) then, and I had a full-ride scholarship offer from there." He said he will enjoy Tuesday night's proceedings. "It's such a natural game to play, it will be fun seeing them play in the Fieldhouse again."
The series between Wyoming and MSU is unique. The teams have met 53 times, but only 21 of them have come on one campus or the other. In addition to Laramie and Bozeman, the schools have met in communities in Utah (Logan and Salt Lake City), Wyoming (Casper, Sheridan, Powell, Rock Springs, Riverton, Worland and Gillette), and Montana (Butte, Billings).
Bobcat coach Brian Fish also sees the rivalry as a natural. "There were a couple of things I heard from a lot of people when I got this job," Fish said, "and one of them was getting the Border War against Wyoming going again. Our fans really want to see this game, Coach (Larry) Shyatt and I both feel that way, and we're working to play this game every year."
Wyoming and the Cats met on December 14 in Laramie, with the Cowboys capturing a 70-61 decision. UW holds a 42-11 advantage in the series, including a 6-6 mark in Bozeman. The games in 1959 are the only between the two schools in Worthington Arena.
And in Bozeman, Montana State beat the Wyoming Cowboys in basketball on consecutive days in the school's sparkling new 'basketball palace.' Brick Breeden Fieldhouse was less than three years old, and in fact hadn't even taken the name of the legendary Bobcat player, head coach and administrator that is has proudly carried now for a half-century.
Tuesday night, the Bobcats and Wyoming get together for the first time in 55 years. Tipoff is at 7 pm.
The MSC Fieldhouse, as it was known the last time these teams played in it, had already hosted a wide array of sporting and cultural events by December 4-5, 1959. None of the fans present could know that it would be Wyoming's final contest in Bozeman for 55 years.
"We drew pretty well then," recalled Gordie Haugen, a sophomore on that Bobcat squad. "We got good crowds. It was a fun game to play, a natural rivalry."
The rivalry may be natural, but it hasn't always been played on even terms. Since its resumption nearly a quarter-century ago, the Bobcats have won just one of 16 meetings between the regional foes. Before that, the Cats had won five straight between 1955 and '61. In the midst of that short string is Wyoming's most recent trip to Bozeman, and the Bobcats' last run of dominance in the series.
"(Montana State's 1959-60 team had a lot of offensive talent," said Bob Parkins, also a sophomore for the Cats that season, "but not much defense. We had a lot of height and speed, as well. As I remember Wyoming that year was rebuilding and we had a lot of vets."
The other Bobcat advantage that season, Parkins remembers, was the Fieldhouse itself. "Playing in the Fieldhouse was not easy due to the vast expanse of the place," he said. "We were used to it, but teams that came in to play us often had difficulty. It was kind of like playing in outer space for the visitors."
Whatever factors played a role, the Bobcats got the better of Wyoming that weekend. Montana State won 69-59 on Friday, Dec. 4, and took a 76-53 decision the next night.
The game was more meaningful for Haugen than most. "Everett Shelton was the coach (at Wyoming) then, and I had a full-ride scholarship offer from there." He said he will enjoy Tuesday night's proceedings. "It's such a natural game to play, it will be fun seeing them play in the Fieldhouse again."
The series between Wyoming and MSU is unique. The teams have met 53 times, but only 21 of them have come on one campus or the other. In addition to Laramie and Bozeman, the schools have met in communities in Utah (Logan and Salt Lake City), Wyoming (Casper, Sheridan, Powell, Rock Springs, Riverton, Worland and Gillette), and Montana (Butte, Billings).
Bobcat coach Brian Fish also sees the rivalry as a natural. "There were a couple of things I heard from a lot of people when I got this job," Fish said, "and one of them was getting the Border War against Wyoming going again. Our fans really want to see this game, Coach (Larry) Shyatt and I both feel that way, and we're working to play this game every year."
Wyoming and the Cats met on December 14 in Laramie, with the Cowboys capturing a 70-61 decision. UW holds a 42-11 advantage in the series, including a 6-6 mark in Bozeman. The games in 1959 are the only between the two schools in Worthington Arena.
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