Montana State faces a challenge in Flagstaff
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #10: Starting Corner to Miss Today's Game
11/11/2017 4:05:00 PM | Football
Bobcats face Northern Arizona on emotional night in Flagstaff
Jeff Choate's specialty may not be marketing phrases, but occasionally brilliant things will just pop out of him.
"Twenty years of Jerome in the Dome," Choate said at one point recently when pondering the legendary career of Northern Arizona's long-time head coach Jerome Souers, who leads his Lumberjacks onto the Walkup Skydome field for the final time in a regular season game tonight in Flagstaff. Souers is the Big Sky Conference's all-time wins leader, and the one-time Montana assistant has coached in the Big Sky Conference in four different decades.
Choate will miss Souers' wisdom away from the field, he said. "I've called him for advice more than once," Choate said, "and in the conference meetings, when there's a difficult topic, the coaches all kind of wait for Jerome to weigh in. He's a very savvy person. His presence will definitely be missed."
Bobcat defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak counts Souers among the several members of the NAU staff with which he's close, personally and professionally. "The longevity is amazing," he said. "When you think of being anywhere for 20 years in this day and age, that's impressive. He's a tremendous coach, and there are so many connections with that staff."
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Among the connections are NAU assistant coach Jimmy Beal. He was a Bobcat running back and cornerback from 2002-04 before finishing his career at Rocky Mountain College.
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Cornerback Tyrel Thomas will miss today's game on a one-game suspension for a violation of team rules. Jalen Cole will start at cornerback for the Cats in Thomas' place. The Bobcats will benefit from the return of safety JoJo Henderson, who has missed several weeks with an injury.
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Choate says one things he expects in the Skydome tonight is emotion. "It will be a step above normal, we know that," he said. "With Senior Night and Jerome's last game, we know things will be very emotional. (NAU) will bring a lot of energy to this game."
"Twenty years of Jerome in the Dome," Choate said at one point recently when pondering the legendary career of Northern Arizona's long-time head coach Jerome Souers, who leads his Lumberjacks onto the Walkup Skydome field for the final time in a regular season game tonight in Flagstaff. Souers is the Big Sky Conference's all-time wins leader, and the one-time Montana assistant has coached in the Big Sky Conference in four different decades.
Choate will miss Souers' wisdom away from the field, he said. "I've called him for advice more than once," Choate said, "and in the conference meetings, when there's a difficult topic, the coaches all kind of wait for Jerome to weigh in. He's a very savvy person. His presence will definitely be missed."
Bobcat defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak counts Souers among the several members of the NAU staff with which he's close, personally and professionally. "The longevity is amazing," he said. "When you think of being anywhere for 20 years in this day and age, that's impressive. He's a tremendous coach, and there are so many connections with that staff."
* * * * *
Among the connections are NAU assistant coach Jimmy Beal. He was a Bobcat running back and cornerback from 2002-04 before finishing his career at Rocky Mountain College.
* * * * *
Cornerback Tyrel Thomas will miss today's game on a one-game suspension for a violation of team rules. Jalen Cole will start at cornerback for the Cats in Thomas' place. The Bobcats will benefit from the return of safety JoJo Henderson, who has missed several weeks with an injury.
* * * * *
Choate says one things he expects in the Skydome tonight is emotion. "It will be a step above normal, we know that," he said. "With Senior Night and Jerome's last game, we know things will be very emotional. (NAU) will bring a lot of energy to this game."
Players Mentioned
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