Roger Cooper
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #8: Roger Cooper Returns to Bobcat Stadium Today
10/28/2017 12:45:00 PM | Football
MSU football fans, who know a thing or two about brother acts, see one for ISU today
The image is ingrained in the memories of long-time Bobcat fans. The long strides, gaining with every one, chasing an opposing ball carrier from behind. The gracefulness of a sprinter, the agility of a hurdler, the tenacity of a wrestler, the reach of a great rebounder, they all converged when Roger Cooper chased an opponent ball carrier.
It's a pleasure to welcome Cooper, an Idaho State assistant coach and Bobcat Hall of Famer, back to Bobcat Stadium today. Ol' number 91 is one of Montana State's greatest players ever, a linebacker who was MSU's second straight Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, snaring All-America honors along the way.
He was part and parcel of Montana State's defensive renaissance during his playing career (which is taking nothing away from the great and talented defenses that preceded his time), but the turnaround he is engineering as Idaho State's defensive coordinator is also impressive. The Bengals allow a touchdown less per game than in the past two years, and while some of that owes to the team's offensive performance, much is due to a stronger defense that is "really anchored by the front seven," Bobcat coach Jeff Choate says, "which is really good."
Cooper has mentored Mario Jenkins as ISU's linebackers coach, and the senior is considered one of the top players in the FCS. He began his coaching career in the middle of Troy Purcell's turnaround project at Bozeman High, which culminated in the Hawk's first state title in 2010, and he was a Bobcat grad assistant in 2011. His MSU coach, Mike Kramer, hired him at ISU in 2012, and Cooper has remained with the Bengals since then.
* * * * *
Choate had praise for Cooper's position group. "Their linebackers are playmakers," he said, "and they do a great job running sideline to sideline." But the unsung heroes, he said, are the defensive linemen "who keep the linebackers clean" of opposing blockers.
* * * * *
Today will be a beautiful afternoon in Bobcat Stadium by anyone's measure, but it wouldn't take much to top the conditions during Idaho State's last visit. The temperature on November 15, 2014, was in single digits, one of the coldest days in Bobcat Stadium history, as MSU held on for a wild 44-39 win in a game that proved to be a play-in game for the FCS Playoffs. The Cats lost to South Dakota State in a first round game at home two weeks later.
* * * * *
The ranks of the Bobcat linebacker crew grew thinner this week when Balue Chapman was ruled out with a shoulder injury. A redshirt freshman, Chapman joins fellow Bozeman High grad Grant Collins, a junior, on the shelf for the remainder of the season. Running back Edward Vander is also expected to miss today's game, although cornerback Tyrel Thomas is expected to play.
* * * * *
The success of Idaho State's brother act of Tanner and Mitch Gueller – "You can tell Tanner threw a lot of passes in the back yard to his brother," Bobcat head coach Jeff Choate said this week – brings to mind some of the great brother acts in the last 25 years of Bobcat history. (The list below is not intended to be exhaustive or complete, and includes brothers who played together except in special circumstances):
Wilson & Mitch Brott (2015/16/17), Ben & Monte Folsom (2016), Jakob & Lukas McCarthy (2016), Leo & Matt & Ryan Davis, Na'a & Toti Moeakiola (2014), Bobby & Brad Daly, Nate & Mac Bignell (2013/14/15), Kazz & Kruiz Siewing (2009-12), Joe & Caleb Schreibeis (2009), Clay & Brian Bignell (2009-11), Tanner & Jake Bleskin (2012/13), Jayshawn & Morris Gates (2013/15), Trace & Trevan Timmer (2013/14), Trevor & Tyler Bolton, Rhett & Chase Young (2011/12), Travis & Tyler Lulay (2003/04/05), Bruce & Jonathan Molock (2003), Ryan & Grant Elliott (2003), Clayton & Carson Curley (2004/05), Claude & Jacque Boiteau (2004), Blake & Zach Wolf (2002/03), Kyle & Eric Ecker (1999), Jason & Dan Hicks (1995)
* * * * *
A pair of players have left the Bobcat program recently. Sophomore offensive lineman Jake McFetridge and freshman running back Nich Van Horssen have each been removed from the team's roster.
* * * * *
A pair of relative newcomers to their schools actually strengthen the long-time bond between Montana State and Idaho State. Bengals coach Rob Phenicie and MSU defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak became friends during their seven seasons together on the coaching staff at Montana. Their families have remained friends, communicating "at least once a week" during the normal course of the year. But Gregorak said because they coach opposite sides of the ball, "there's really not much" shop talk about football.
One interesting side note: Phenicie's daughter attends Montana State.
* * * * *
Whether other opponents employ a technique used by Northern Colorado that worked for a time early in the game against the Cats last week remain to be seen. Choate called it a "mush rush" that was designed to apply only token pressure on MSU quarterback Chris Murray. The main objective was to prevent Murray from leaking out on pass downs and doing damage with his legs. "They had a very unique plan," Bobcat offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong said. "They were not rushing (the passer), they were trying to keep him in the pocket."
Murray's (and the coaching staff's) ability to adapt in the second half led to the win. The Bobcats drove 94 yards for one score and moved down the field with the game on the line to provide Gabe Peppenger the opportunity to kick his first career walk-off field goal for the win.
It's a pleasure to welcome Cooper, an Idaho State assistant coach and Bobcat Hall of Famer, back to Bobcat Stadium today. Ol' number 91 is one of Montana State's greatest players ever, a linebacker who was MSU's second straight Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, snaring All-America honors along the way.
He was part and parcel of Montana State's defensive renaissance during his playing career (which is taking nothing away from the great and talented defenses that preceded his time), but the turnaround he is engineering as Idaho State's defensive coordinator is also impressive. The Bengals allow a touchdown less per game than in the past two years, and while some of that owes to the team's offensive performance, much is due to a stronger defense that is "really anchored by the front seven," Bobcat coach Jeff Choate says, "which is really good."
Cooper has mentored Mario Jenkins as ISU's linebackers coach, and the senior is considered one of the top players in the FCS. He began his coaching career in the middle of Troy Purcell's turnaround project at Bozeman High, which culminated in the Hawk's first state title in 2010, and he was a Bobcat grad assistant in 2011. His MSU coach, Mike Kramer, hired him at ISU in 2012, and Cooper has remained with the Bengals since then.
* * * * *
Choate had praise for Cooper's position group. "Their linebackers are playmakers," he said, "and they do a great job running sideline to sideline." But the unsung heroes, he said, are the defensive linemen "who keep the linebackers clean" of opposing blockers.
* * * * *
Today will be a beautiful afternoon in Bobcat Stadium by anyone's measure, but it wouldn't take much to top the conditions during Idaho State's last visit. The temperature on November 15, 2014, was in single digits, one of the coldest days in Bobcat Stadium history, as MSU held on for a wild 44-39 win in a game that proved to be a play-in game for the FCS Playoffs. The Cats lost to South Dakota State in a first round game at home two weeks later.
* * * * *
The ranks of the Bobcat linebacker crew grew thinner this week when Balue Chapman was ruled out with a shoulder injury. A redshirt freshman, Chapman joins fellow Bozeman High grad Grant Collins, a junior, on the shelf for the remainder of the season. Running back Edward Vander is also expected to miss today's game, although cornerback Tyrel Thomas is expected to play.
* * * * *
The success of Idaho State's brother act of Tanner and Mitch Gueller – "You can tell Tanner threw a lot of passes in the back yard to his brother," Bobcat head coach Jeff Choate said this week – brings to mind some of the great brother acts in the last 25 years of Bobcat history. (The list below is not intended to be exhaustive or complete, and includes brothers who played together except in special circumstances):
Wilson & Mitch Brott (2015/16/17), Ben & Monte Folsom (2016), Jakob & Lukas McCarthy (2016), Leo & Matt & Ryan Davis, Na'a & Toti Moeakiola (2014), Bobby & Brad Daly, Nate & Mac Bignell (2013/14/15), Kazz & Kruiz Siewing (2009-12), Joe & Caleb Schreibeis (2009), Clay & Brian Bignell (2009-11), Tanner & Jake Bleskin (2012/13), Jayshawn & Morris Gates (2013/15), Trace & Trevan Timmer (2013/14), Trevor & Tyler Bolton, Rhett & Chase Young (2011/12), Travis & Tyler Lulay (2003/04/05), Bruce & Jonathan Molock (2003), Ryan & Grant Elliott (2003), Clayton & Carson Curley (2004/05), Claude & Jacque Boiteau (2004), Blake & Zach Wolf (2002/03), Kyle & Eric Ecker (1999), Jason & Dan Hicks (1995)
* * * * *
A pair of players have left the Bobcat program recently. Sophomore offensive lineman Jake McFetridge and freshman running back Nich Van Horssen have each been removed from the team's roster.
* * * * *
A pair of relative newcomers to their schools actually strengthen the long-time bond between Montana State and Idaho State. Bengals coach Rob Phenicie and MSU defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak became friends during their seven seasons together on the coaching staff at Montana. Their families have remained friends, communicating "at least once a week" during the normal course of the year. But Gregorak said because they coach opposite sides of the ball, "there's really not much" shop talk about football.
One interesting side note: Phenicie's daughter attends Montana State.
* * * * *
Whether other opponents employ a technique used by Northern Colorado that worked for a time early in the game against the Cats last week remain to be seen. Choate called it a "mush rush" that was designed to apply only token pressure on MSU quarterback Chris Murray. The main objective was to prevent Murray from leaking out on pass downs and doing damage with his legs. "They had a very unique plan," Bobcat offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong said. "They were not rushing (the passer), they were trying to keep him in the pocket."
Murray's (and the coaching staff's) ability to adapt in the second half led to the win. The Bobcats drove 94 yards for one score and moved down the field with the game on the line to provide Gabe Peppenger the opportunity to kick his first career walk-off field goal for the win.
Players Mentioned
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RB
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