Bobcats By the Numbers: #93
6/2/2015 4:14:00 PM | Football
Jason Nicastro and Chris Steinbeisser wore the same number, but were very different
Every day we look at players who donned the jersey number corresponding to the number of days until the Bobcats open the 2015 season on September 3 against Fort Lewis College. 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 will be welcomed enthusiastically via e-mail at: blamberty@msubobcats.com. Complaints about featured players also welcome, but possibly with less enthusiasm.
#93
Matt Brownlow, DT: Matt Brownlow has not yet made a major impact on the field for Montana State, but he certainly has away from it. He is known not only as one of the hardest working Bobcats, but as one of the friendliest and funniest. The Missoula Sentinel product has become one of the program's most popular players.
Spotlight Player: Jason Nicastro's Bobcat career was brief, but noisy – in every conceivable way. The southern California native brought outstanding credentials and an ebullient personality to Montana State in the winter of 2002, when Cal State Northridge discontinued its football program. He immediately solidified a Bobcat defensive line that became one of the nation's best that fall, and which would help push the Bobcats to a share of the 2002 Big Sky Championship. Nicastro was marvelous from the beginning, and finished with 47 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss, and brought an extra degree of swagger, confidence and fire to the Bobcat defense. His mouth worked as hard as his body, and he immediately became a popular figure both inside and outside of the Bobcat program. He has returned to his native California to raise his family, but remains a loyal Bobcat.
Notable #93s in the Bobcat Past: Chris Steinbeisser was a walk-on from Sidney who quietly matriculated his way through the program, rising from valued scout teamer to special teams ace to starting at linebacker for the final 22 games of his career. Known and loved as Steiny, he was not big or fast enough to be recruited, but once given an opportunity he was impossible to get off the field. Steinbeisser was at the center of one of MSU's most thrilling and unlikely wins of the 1990s, when he returned an interception for a touchdown at Idaho State with just seconds to play for 25-24 Bobcat victory. Steinbeisser finished his career with 218 career tackles and a permanent spot in the hearts of everyone who roots for the underdog… Steve Niksich was a hard-nosed two-year starter at linebacker. Originally from Spokane's Ferris High School, he is remembered by Bobcat fans as a solid player. He also left quite an impression on ESPN SportsCenter anchor Neil Everett: "I remember when I was in seventh grade and Steve Niksich was in eight. I was on the seventh grade wrestling team, and Steve Niksich was the toughest guy in school. He was one of the baddest dudes around, as bad a dude as you can be in junior high in 1975. So the wrestling coach said, 'You're going to wrestle Steve today.' And I said, 'No I'm not.' I think I quit right there."
Through the years: Jerry Tomal (1980), Steve Niksich (1982), Mark Baker (1983), Mark Gibson (1984), Matt Spain (1985-86), John Galland (1988-90), Chris Steinbeisser (1991-94), AJ Stoneburner (1997), Nick Gerhard (2000), Eric Axlund (2001), Jason Nicastro (2002), Mike Feist (2003), Andy Matakis (2004-05), Dan Ogden (2007-08), Lee Perkins (2010-14), Matt Brownlow (2015-)
#93
Matt Brownlow, DT: Matt Brownlow has not yet made a major impact on the field for Montana State, but he certainly has away from it. He is known not only as one of the hardest working Bobcats, but as one of the friendliest and funniest. The Missoula Sentinel product has become one of the program's most popular players.
Spotlight Player: Jason Nicastro's Bobcat career was brief, but noisy – in every conceivable way. The southern California native brought outstanding credentials and an ebullient personality to Montana State in the winter of 2002, when Cal State Northridge discontinued its football program. He immediately solidified a Bobcat defensive line that became one of the nation's best that fall, and which would help push the Bobcats to a share of the 2002 Big Sky Championship. Nicastro was marvelous from the beginning, and finished with 47 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss, and brought an extra degree of swagger, confidence and fire to the Bobcat defense. His mouth worked as hard as his body, and he immediately became a popular figure both inside and outside of the Bobcat program. He has returned to his native California to raise his family, but remains a loyal Bobcat.
Notable #93s in the Bobcat Past: Chris Steinbeisser was a walk-on from Sidney who quietly matriculated his way through the program, rising from valued scout teamer to special teams ace to starting at linebacker for the final 22 games of his career. Known and loved as Steiny, he was not big or fast enough to be recruited, but once given an opportunity he was impossible to get off the field. Steinbeisser was at the center of one of MSU's most thrilling and unlikely wins of the 1990s, when he returned an interception for a touchdown at Idaho State with just seconds to play for 25-24 Bobcat victory. Steinbeisser finished his career with 218 career tackles and a permanent spot in the hearts of everyone who roots for the underdog… Steve Niksich was a hard-nosed two-year starter at linebacker. Originally from Spokane's Ferris High School, he is remembered by Bobcat fans as a solid player. He also left quite an impression on ESPN SportsCenter anchor Neil Everett: "I remember when I was in seventh grade and Steve Niksich was in eight. I was on the seventh grade wrestling team, and Steve Niksich was the toughest guy in school. He was one of the baddest dudes around, as bad a dude as you can be in junior high in 1975. So the wrestling coach said, 'You're going to wrestle Steve today.' And I said, 'No I'm not.' I think I quit right there."
Through the years: Jerry Tomal (1980), Steve Niksich (1982), Mark Baker (1983), Mark Gibson (1984), Matt Spain (1985-86), John Galland (1988-90), Chris Steinbeisser (1991-94), AJ Stoneburner (1997), Nick Gerhard (2000), Eric Axlund (2001), Jason Nicastro (2002), Mike Feist (2003), Andy Matakis (2004-05), Dan Ogden (2007-08), Lee Perkins (2010-14), Matt Brownlow (2015-)
Players Mentioned
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