Jessie Clark with Ty Gregorak
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #11: Ty's Time Comes
11/19/2016 11:00:00 AM | Football
MSU defensive coordinator visits Missoula Saturday
Ty Gregorak knew this day would arrive.
The day when traveling the three hours from Bozeman to Missoula didn't mean reveling in a hard-earned win or chewing on loss but anticipating a game yet played, when the destination is the visiting sideline and not the defensive offices, when he would call the defensive plays for Montana State rather than Montana. He knew it the countless thousands of times he was reminded of it since last December, when he accepted a position on Jeff Choate's coaching staff and made a rare, if not unprecedented move of traveling directly from one rival to the other.
"I spent 12 great years in Missoula," Gregorak said the week leading to the 116th – and in many ways most unique – Cat-Griz game. "I made a lot of friends there. My three children were born there, and there were so many players, they really became my family. Their families are my family."
"Once the game is over they'll go back to doing their thing and I'll be over here coaching the Bobcats and raising my family."
* * * * *
One of the tallest tasks falling to Gregorak's defense today is slowing one of the game's shortest players. Jerry Louie-McGee stands 5-9, but his presence casts a tall shadow over the game. The redshirt freshman has missed three games with injury, but he leads the team with 67 catches and 622 yards. He averages 21.9 yards per kick return and 19.2 yards per punt return.
"He has great hips, great quickness, great speed," Gregorak said. "He has a real knack with the ball in his hands."
* * * * *
The Bobcat secondary gets a boost today with the likely return of Naijiel Hale. The sophomore has played only one game all season, battling leg injuries, but he is slated to play against Montana. Senior Gunnar Brekke is also likely to play in the secondary for MSU, a role he has eased into during the last month.
* * * * *
Montana State's full roster today features 52 players from the Treasure State, and 16 have started at least one game for the Cats this year. Montana's has 27 in-state products, of which half have started.
* * * * *
MSU hasn't won its final true road game of a season since 2010, when DeNarius McGhee led the Cats to a 21-16 win in Missoula.
* * * * *
Five games in this series have ended in ties, but the Bobcats and Grizzlies have never played an overtime period.
The day when traveling the three hours from Bozeman to Missoula didn't mean reveling in a hard-earned win or chewing on loss but anticipating a game yet played, when the destination is the visiting sideline and not the defensive offices, when he would call the defensive plays for Montana State rather than Montana. He knew it the countless thousands of times he was reminded of it since last December, when he accepted a position on Jeff Choate's coaching staff and made a rare, if not unprecedented move of traveling directly from one rival to the other.
"I spent 12 great years in Missoula," Gregorak said the week leading to the 116th – and in many ways most unique – Cat-Griz game. "I made a lot of friends there. My three children were born there, and there were so many players, they really became my family. Their families are my family."
"Once the game is over they'll go back to doing their thing and I'll be over here coaching the Bobcats and raising my family."
* * * * *
One of the tallest tasks falling to Gregorak's defense today is slowing one of the game's shortest players. Jerry Louie-McGee stands 5-9, but his presence casts a tall shadow over the game. The redshirt freshman has missed three games with injury, but he leads the team with 67 catches and 622 yards. He averages 21.9 yards per kick return and 19.2 yards per punt return.
"He has great hips, great quickness, great speed," Gregorak said. "He has a real knack with the ball in his hands."
* * * * *
The Bobcat secondary gets a boost today with the likely return of Naijiel Hale. The sophomore has played only one game all season, battling leg injuries, but he is slated to play against Montana. Senior Gunnar Brekke is also likely to play in the secondary for MSU, a role he has eased into during the last month.
* * * * *
Montana State's full roster today features 52 players from the Treasure State, and 16 have started at least one game for the Cats this year. Montana's has 27 in-state products, of which half have started.
* * * * *
MSU hasn't won its final true road game of a season since 2010, when DeNarius McGhee led the Cats to a 21-16 win in Missoula.
* * * * *
Five games in this series have ended in ties, but the Bobcats and Grizzlies have never played an overtime period.
Players Mentioned
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