Gunnar Brekke
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #3: Chad Newell's Time Draws Near... Maybe
9/17/2016 1:00:00 PM | Football
Bobcat senior running back is a game-time decision
If all the folks in Bobcat Nation feel they're waiting patiently to see Chad Newell and Gunnar Brekke take the field in the same game, imagine how Jeff Choate feels.
He may not have to wait much longer. Newell's status Saturday will be decided close to game time. "Chad really wants to get out there and play," Choate said, "and I want him out there. But at the same time, we're taking the long view of this. We want to make sure he has a lot of chances to play in his senior season, so we're not going to do anything today to put that in jeopardy."
While Newell was confined to the sideline against Bryant last week, Choate said it was anything but a lost week. "I kept looking around and behind me and thinking, 'Who is that maniac?'" Choate said of Newell's presence in street clothes. "He was everywhere, encouraging everyone from Gunnar and Tyler (Bruggman, MSU's starting quarterback) to the guys on the kickoff and punt teams. He was so positive, so encouraging, he knew the role the team needed him to play that week.
"I gained more respect for Chad last week than I did when he ran for 100 yards the week before," Choate said.
* * * * *
Long-time Bobcat fans scouring the opponent roster and coaching staff will come across a familiar name. Western Oregon defensive line coach Kimo Von Oelhoffen played defensive line at Boise State before a long NFL career. He likely doesn't have great memories of Montana State, as he lost to the Cats in 1992 and '93.
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Montana State has considerable history with schools from Oregon, compiling a 26-13 all-time mark, although 29 of those 39 games are against current Big Sky rival Portland State. The breakdown: MSU is 1-0 against Eastern Oregon, 2-0 against Lewis & Clark (from Portland), 0-1 against Oregon, 4-2 against Portland, and 19-10 vs. the Vikings.
* * * * *
The Cats have never met Western Oregon in football, but stand 11-3 all-time against schools with 'Western' in their name.
He may not have to wait much longer. Newell's status Saturday will be decided close to game time. "Chad really wants to get out there and play," Choate said, "and I want him out there. But at the same time, we're taking the long view of this. We want to make sure he has a lot of chances to play in his senior season, so we're not going to do anything today to put that in jeopardy."
While Newell was confined to the sideline against Bryant last week, Choate said it was anything but a lost week. "I kept looking around and behind me and thinking, 'Who is that maniac?'" Choate said of Newell's presence in street clothes. "He was everywhere, encouraging everyone from Gunnar and Tyler (Bruggman, MSU's starting quarterback) to the guys on the kickoff and punt teams. He was so positive, so encouraging, he knew the role the team needed him to play that week.
"I gained more respect for Chad last week than I did when he ran for 100 yards the week before," Choate said.
* * * * *
Long-time Bobcat fans scouring the opponent roster and coaching staff will come across a familiar name. Western Oregon defensive line coach Kimo Von Oelhoffen played defensive line at Boise State before a long NFL career. He likely doesn't have great memories of Montana State, as he lost to the Cats in 1992 and '93.
* * * * *
Montana State has considerable history with schools from Oregon, compiling a 26-13 all-time mark, although 29 of those 39 games are against current Big Sky rival Portland State. The breakdown: MSU is 1-0 against Eastern Oregon, 2-0 against Lewis & Clark (from Portland), 0-1 against Oregon, 4-2 against Portland, and 19-10 vs. the Vikings.
* * * * *
The Cats have never met Western Oregon in football, but stand 11-3 all-time against schools with 'Western' in their name.
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