Saturday, September 10
Bozeman, MT
2:05 pm
Montana State University
vs
Bryant
Gunnar Brekke returns to the MSU lineup, while Chad Newell is out
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #2: Chad Newell to Miss Home Opener
9/10/2016 1:00:00 PM | Football
Gunnar Brekke returns, but Cats again operate without one-two punch
Citing precaution as the primary reason, Montana State coach Jeff Choate announced Saturday morning that while he gets one of his primary offensive weapons back on Saturday he loses another.
Senior running back Chad Newell, who gained 104 yards last week against Idaho, will be held out of today's season opener against Bryant due to an injury suffered in last week's game at Idaho. Gunnar Brekke, who missed the season opener with an illness, returns today to start at running back.
"I know Gunnar's excited to get going," Choate said. "It's unfortunate for Chad, and he could probably play if we really wanted to push it. But we want to make sure he's completely ready to go."
While Brekke starts and Nick LaSane stands to see an expanded role, Choate said players that did not see carries in the season opener could also help carry the mail. "We have a couple of young guys, freshmen, that will get some work. I'm excited to see what they can do."
Much of the attention, though, falls on Brekke's season debut. "I'm hoping Gunnar joins Chad in rushing for a hundred yards," MSU's first-year head coach said with a smile."
* * * * *
If last week's game plan was to keep the ball away from Idaho's explosive offense, Choate said this week's could tilt more toward wide open.
"It's time to take the wraps off the offense and see what we've got," Choate said. "Tyler (Bruggman) played very efficiently last week, and we're put the reigns in his hands and let him go a little. We want to run downhill, we want to push the ball down the field, and we want to attack."
* * * * *
While the Bryant football program enters Bobcat Stadium as a completely unfamiliar entity to Montana State fans, the same is not true with the MSU coaching staff. That is true at the very least at the top rung on the ladder, where head coach Jeff Choate once worked with Bulldogs running backs coach Steve Brickey at Eastern Illinois in 2005. "A very good football coach" is Choate's summation of Brickey, and his running backs stand in testimony to that. Brenden Femiano (98 yards) and Christian Martey (90) each proved effective in Bryant's week one win over Merrimack, while this week's starter Ryan Black carried only four times last weekend.
* * * * *
While the Cats have never faced Bryant, MSU linebackers coach calls Stony Brook – a squad the Cats edged 16-10 in a thrilling and intense FCS Playoff win in 2012 – a good point of reference. "They do some things that look similar," Ioane said of the comparison between the teams offensively. "They come downhill at you in the run and try to catch you with play action. They move the pocket, the quarterback is very efficient, very crafty."
* * * * *
Bryant head coach Marty Fine has built an outstanding program since taking over in 2004, and he is known for his humor. He put on quite a performance for Treasure State media members this week. A sampling, courtesy Colter Nuanez at Skyline Sports…
"We are not trying to be the toughest guy on the block anymore. I grew up in New York City and all anybody ever wanted to do was drive a Cadillac and be tough. Now the Cadillac is the old man's BMW and toughness doesn't count in our sport anymore. They are ruling it out. We are changing as quickly as we can to be more like you guys do it on the West Coast."
"We have the greatest athletic department in the history of mankind. I will show up on Thursday and they will point me where to go. I will carry my briefcase, limp a little bit, get there slowly, everyone will laugh, we will take off and fly and we will be there. I don't even know where we are stopping. We will get there around dinner time on Thursday night. Friday, we are going to go see a museum. What do you have an old west museum right by the stadium? I haven't seen cowboys since I was in Silver City, New Mexico when I was coaching there in '83 and '84 so I'm excited to go out there, spit some tobacco and wear some pointy shoes."
Senior running back Chad Newell, who gained 104 yards last week against Idaho, will be held out of today's season opener against Bryant due to an injury suffered in last week's game at Idaho. Gunnar Brekke, who missed the season opener with an illness, returns today to start at running back.
"I know Gunnar's excited to get going," Choate said. "It's unfortunate for Chad, and he could probably play if we really wanted to push it. But we want to make sure he's completely ready to go."
While Brekke starts and Nick LaSane stands to see an expanded role, Choate said players that did not see carries in the season opener could also help carry the mail. "We have a couple of young guys, freshmen, that will get some work. I'm excited to see what they can do."
Much of the attention, though, falls on Brekke's season debut. "I'm hoping Gunnar joins Chad in rushing for a hundred yards," MSU's first-year head coach said with a smile."
* * * * *
If last week's game plan was to keep the ball away from Idaho's explosive offense, Choate said this week's could tilt more toward wide open.
"It's time to take the wraps off the offense and see what we've got," Choate said. "Tyler (Bruggman) played very efficiently last week, and we're put the reigns in his hands and let him go a little. We want to run downhill, we want to push the ball down the field, and we want to attack."
* * * * *
While the Bryant football program enters Bobcat Stadium as a completely unfamiliar entity to Montana State fans, the same is not true with the MSU coaching staff. That is true at the very least at the top rung on the ladder, where head coach Jeff Choate once worked with Bulldogs running backs coach Steve Brickey at Eastern Illinois in 2005. "A very good football coach" is Choate's summation of Brickey, and his running backs stand in testimony to that. Brenden Femiano (98 yards) and Christian Martey (90) each proved effective in Bryant's week one win over Merrimack, while this week's starter Ryan Black carried only four times last weekend.
* * * * *
While the Cats have never faced Bryant, MSU linebackers coach calls Stony Brook – a squad the Cats edged 16-10 in a thrilling and intense FCS Playoff win in 2012 – a good point of reference. "They do some things that look similar," Ioane said of the comparison between the teams offensively. "They come downhill at you in the run and try to catch you with play action. They move the pocket, the quarterback is very efficient, very crafty."
* * * * *
Bryant head coach Marty Fine has built an outstanding program since taking over in 2004, and he is known for his humor. He put on quite a performance for Treasure State media members this week. A sampling, courtesy Colter Nuanez at Skyline Sports…
"We are not trying to be the toughest guy on the block anymore. I grew up in New York City and all anybody ever wanted to do was drive a Cadillac and be tough. Now the Cadillac is the old man's BMW and toughness doesn't count in our sport anymore. They are ruling it out. We are changing as quickly as we can to be more like you guys do it on the West Coast."
"We have the greatest athletic department in the history of mankind. I will show up on Thursday and they will point me where to go. I will carry my briefcase, limp a little bit, get there slowly, everyone will laugh, we will take off and fly and we will be there. I don't even know where we are stopping. We will get there around dinner time on Thursday night. Friday, we are going to go see a museum. What do you have an old west museum right by the stadium? I haven't seen cowboys since I was in Silver City, New Mexico when I was coaching there in '83 and '84 so I'm excited to go out there, spit some tobacco and wear some pointy shoes."
Players Mentioned
Leon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
