Jon Oglesby of the Big Sky Conference with Jeff Choate and everyone's object of affection
Big Sky Conference Media Guide Notebook
7/20/2017 12:58:00 PM | Football
A glimpse at the Big Sky's upcoming football season through school media packets
One of the many delightful components of the annual Big Sky Conference's Summer Kickoff is the ability to glean information from each school's media packets to begin analysis of the upcoming Big Sky season. Below is an early look at Big Sky Football in 2017…
MONTANA STATE
Non-conference opponents: at Washington State, South Dakota State, Kennesaw State
Big Sky teams missed: Cal Poly, Sacramento State, Southern Utah, UC Davis
Big Sky schedule ranking: 4th most difficult
Head Coach: Jeff Choate, who became the first Bobcat head coach since 1968 to beat the Grizzlies in Missoula during his first season
* Chris Murray set an MSU freshman rushing record last season
* Mitchell Herbert is tied for 5th in school history in touchdown catches
* Mac Bignell is tied for 1st in Bobcat history in forced fumbles
CAL POLY
Non-conference opponents: Colgate, at San Jose State, at Northern Iowa
Big Sky teams missed: Eastern Washington, Montana, Montana State, North Dakota
Big Sky schedule ranking: 13th most difficult
Head Coach: Tim Walsh, who is 167-124 in 26 years as a head coach and 115-99 at PSU and CP
* Cal Poly opens the FCS slate against Colgate on ESPN2 on August 26
* Dano Graves, the Mustangs' quarterback in 2016, is the team's quarterbacks coach in 2017
* Cal Poly has led the FCS in rushing for four straight seasons
EASTERN WASHINGTON
Non-conference opponents: at Texas Tech, North Dakota State, at Fordham
Big Sky teams missed: Cal Poly, Idaho State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado
Big Sky schedule ranking: 9th most difficult
Head Coach: Aaron Best, who enters his first season as EWU's head coach but his 21st in the Eagles' program
* Eastern Washington advanced to the FCS semifinals three of the last five seasons
* The Eagles have won or shared five of the last seven Big Sky titles
* Eastern averaged 416.0 passing yards in 2016 to lead the FCS
IDAHO STATE
Non-conference opponents: Western Oregon, at Utah State, at Nevada
Big Sky teams missed: Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona, North Dakota, Southern Utah
Big Sky schedule ranking: Tied for 10th most difficult
Head Coach: Rob Phenicie, a former UM, ISU and Cal State Northridge assistant, is in his first season as a head coach
* Idaho State is 2-17 at home against ranked teams since 2005
* The team's 2,689 passing yards last fall was its fewest since 2010
* The Bengals had two offensive plays of 75 yards or more in 2016
MONTANA
Non-conference opponents: Valparaiso, at Washington, Savannah State
Big Sky teams missed: Cal Poly, Sacramento State, Southern Utah, UC Davis
Big Sky schedule ranking: 6th most difficult
Head Coach: Bob Stitt, who invented the fly sweep, is 9-7 in Big Sky games at UM
* Montana's vaunted passing attack accounted for 327 yards a game last fall, second in the Big Sky, including 192 against the Cats
* Kentucky transfer Reese Phillips is expected to contend for starting quarterback honors
* Junior RB Jeremy Calhoun has scored 18 rushing touchdowns in two seasons of part-time duty
NORTH DAKOTA
Non-conference opponents: at Utah, Missouri State, at South Dakota
Big Sky teams missed: Cal Poly, Idaho State, Northern Arizona, Weber State
Big Sky schedule ranking: Tied for 10th most difficult
Head Coach: Bubba Schweigert, who is 2-1 vs. MSU
* North Dakota won a share of the Big Sky title last season with an 8-0 mark, but did not play FCS semifinalist Eastern Washington
* The Fighting Hawks lost their first FCS Playoff game last fall, a second round defeat by Richmond
* The 2017 North Dakota squad is led by 17 returning starters into the school's final Big Sky campaign
NORTHERN ARIZONA
Non-conference opponents: at Arizona, Western Illinois, Illinois State
Big Sky teams missed: Eastern Washington, Idaho State, North Dakota, Weber State
Big Sky schedule ranking: 12th most difficult
Head Coach: Jerome Souers, the Big Sky's all-time winningest coach
* Senior receiver Emmanuel Butler is the first Lumberjack to return with two 1,000-yard seasons
* Quarterback Case Cookus returns after throwing for 3,117 yards in 2015
* Joe Logan rushed for 726 yards as a freshman
NORTHERN COLORADO
Non-conference opponents: College of Idaho, at Florida, at Colorado
Big Sky teams missed: Eastern Washington, Portland State, UC Davis, Weber State
Big Sky schedule ranking: 7th most difficult
Head Coach: Earnest Collins, still one of UNC's all-time leaders in punt return yards
* Northern Colorado's 34.3 points per game in 2016 was the program's most in the Division I era
* Three starters return in the team's secondary
* UNC plays Colorado for the first time since 1934
PORTLAND STATE
Non-conference opponents: at BYU, at Oregon State, UC Davis
Big Sky teams missed: Northern Colorado, Sacramento State, Southern Utah, UC Davis
Big Sky schedule ranking: 1st most difficult
Head Coach: Bruce Barnum, whose son begins his career as a Washington State pitcher this fall
* PSU plays two FBS opponents in the same season for the eighth time
* Five of Portland State's 2016 losses came when the team had a chance to tie or win in the closing minutes
* Like MSU's Chris Murray and Mitch Brott, Vikings offensive lineman Anthony Del Toro was a Hero Sports Freshman All-America in 2016
SACRAMENTO STATE
Non-conference opponents: at Idaho, Incarnate Word, Weber State
Big Sky teams missed: Montana, Montana State, Portland State, Southern Utah
Big Sky schedule ranking: 5th most difficult
Head Coach: Jody Sears, who was also head coach at Weber State
* The Hornets return 20 starters from last year's squad
* Three of Sacramento State's five road games occur indoors (at Idaho, at North Dakota, at NAU)
* Two Sac State players return after logging at least 100 tackles a season ago
SOUTHERN UTAH
Non-conference opponents: at Oregon, at Stephen F. Austin, Northern Iowa
Big Sky teams missed: Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, Portland State
Big Sky schedule ranking: 3rd most difficult
Head Coach: Demario Warren, who has coached at Southern Utah for the past decade
* Demario Warren has coached three draft picks at SUU
* Southern Utah's 20 interceptions led the Big Sky in 2016
* SUU opens at Oregon this year, the second straight season which begins in a Pac 12 stadium
UC DAVIS
Non-conference opponents: at San Diego State, San Diego, at Portland State
Big Sky teams missed: Montana, Montana State, Northern Colorado, Portland State
Big Sky schedule ranking: 2nd most difficult
Head Coach: Dan Hawkins, a UC Davis grad who previously coached at Boise State and Colorado
* Dan Hawkins' first game as Colorado's head coach was a loss to the Bobcats
* The Aggies play five teams in 2017 that qualified for the FCS Playoffs in 2016
* UCD's opener at San Diego State marks the fourth straight year the team has faced Mountain West foes
WEBER STATE
Non-conference opponents: Montana Western, at California, at Sacramento State
Big Sky teams missed: Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, North Dakota, Sacramento State
Big Sky schedule ranking: 8th most difficult schedule
Head Coach: Jay Hill, who spent 13 seasons coaching and two playing at the University of Utah
* Weber State's 7-4 season in 2016 landed the Wildcats their first FCS Playoff berth since 2009
* The Wildcats allowed just 193.5 passing yards per game, best in the Big Sky
* When Weber State opens 2017 against UM Western it will mark the first season it has opened at home since 2013
MONTANA STATE
Non-conference opponents: at Washington State, South Dakota State, Kennesaw State
Big Sky teams missed: Cal Poly, Sacramento State, Southern Utah, UC Davis
Big Sky schedule ranking: 4th most difficult
Head Coach: Jeff Choate, who became the first Bobcat head coach since 1968 to beat the Grizzlies in Missoula during his first season
* Chris Murray set an MSU freshman rushing record last season
* Mitchell Herbert is tied for 5th in school history in touchdown catches
* Mac Bignell is tied for 1st in Bobcat history in forced fumbles
CAL POLY
Non-conference opponents: Colgate, at San Jose State, at Northern Iowa
Big Sky teams missed: Eastern Washington, Montana, Montana State, North Dakota
Big Sky schedule ranking: 13th most difficult
Head Coach: Tim Walsh, who is 167-124 in 26 years as a head coach and 115-99 at PSU and CP
* Cal Poly opens the FCS slate against Colgate on ESPN2 on August 26
* Dano Graves, the Mustangs' quarterback in 2016, is the team's quarterbacks coach in 2017
* Cal Poly has led the FCS in rushing for four straight seasons
EASTERN WASHINGTON
Non-conference opponents: at Texas Tech, North Dakota State, at Fordham
Big Sky teams missed: Cal Poly, Idaho State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado
Big Sky schedule ranking: 9th most difficult
Head Coach: Aaron Best, who enters his first season as EWU's head coach but his 21st in the Eagles' program
* Eastern Washington advanced to the FCS semifinals three of the last five seasons
* The Eagles have won or shared five of the last seven Big Sky titles
* Eastern averaged 416.0 passing yards in 2016 to lead the FCS
IDAHO STATE
Non-conference opponents: Western Oregon, at Utah State, at Nevada
Big Sky teams missed: Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona, North Dakota, Southern Utah
Big Sky schedule ranking: Tied for 10th most difficult
Head Coach: Rob Phenicie, a former UM, ISU and Cal State Northridge assistant, is in his first season as a head coach
* Idaho State is 2-17 at home against ranked teams since 2005
* The team's 2,689 passing yards last fall was its fewest since 2010
* The Bengals had two offensive plays of 75 yards or more in 2016
MONTANA
Non-conference opponents: Valparaiso, at Washington, Savannah State
Big Sky teams missed: Cal Poly, Sacramento State, Southern Utah, UC Davis
Big Sky schedule ranking: 6th most difficult
Head Coach: Bob Stitt, who invented the fly sweep, is 9-7 in Big Sky games at UM
* Montana's vaunted passing attack accounted for 327 yards a game last fall, second in the Big Sky, including 192 against the Cats
* Kentucky transfer Reese Phillips is expected to contend for starting quarterback honors
* Junior RB Jeremy Calhoun has scored 18 rushing touchdowns in two seasons of part-time duty
NORTH DAKOTA
Non-conference opponents: at Utah, Missouri State, at South Dakota
Big Sky teams missed: Cal Poly, Idaho State, Northern Arizona, Weber State
Big Sky schedule ranking: Tied for 10th most difficult
Head Coach: Bubba Schweigert, who is 2-1 vs. MSU
* North Dakota won a share of the Big Sky title last season with an 8-0 mark, but did not play FCS semifinalist Eastern Washington
* The Fighting Hawks lost their first FCS Playoff game last fall, a second round defeat by Richmond
* The 2017 North Dakota squad is led by 17 returning starters into the school's final Big Sky campaign
NORTHERN ARIZONA
Non-conference opponents: at Arizona, Western Illinois, Illinois State
Big Sky teams missed: Eastern Washington, Idaho State, North Dakota, Weber State
Big Sky schedule ranking: 12th most difficult
Head Coach: Jerome Souers, the Big Sky's all-time winningest coach
* Senior receiver Emmanuel Butler is the first Lumberjack to return with two 1,000-yard seasons
* Quarterback Case Cookus returns after throwing for 3,117 yards in 2015
* Joe Logan rushed for 726 yards as a freshman
NORTHERN COLORADO
Non-conference opponents: College of Idaho, at Florida, at Colorado
Big Sky teams missed: Eastern Washington, Portland State, UC Davis, Weber State
Big Sky schedule ranking: 7th most difficult
Head Coach: Earnest Collins, still one of UNC's all-time leaders in punt return yards
* Northern Colorado's 34.3 points per game in 2016 was the program's most in the Division I era
* Three starters return in the team's secondary
* UNC plays Colorado for the first time since 1934
PORTLAND STATE
Non-conference opponents: at BYU, at Oregon State, UC Davis
Big Sky teams missed: Northern Colorado, Sacramento State, Southern Utah, UC Davis
Big Sky schedule ranking: 1st most difficult
Head Coach: Bruce Barnum, whose son begins his career as a Washington State pitcher this fall
* PSU plays two FBS opponents in the same season for the eighth time
* Five of Portland State's 2016 losses came when the team had a chance to tie or win in the closing minutes
* Like MSU's Chris Murray and Mitch Brott, Vikings offensive lineman Anthony Del Toro was a Hero Sports Freshman All-America in 2016
SACRAMENTO STATE
Non-conference opponents: at Idaho, Incarnate Word, Weber State
Big Sky teams missed: Montana, Montana State, Portland State, Southern Utah
Big Sky schedule ranking: 5th most difficult
Head Coach: Jody Sears, who was also head coach at Weber State
* The Hornets return 20 starters from last year's squad
* Three of Sacramento State's five road games occur indoors (at Idaho, at North Dakota, at NAU)
* Two Sac State players return after logging at least 100 tackles a season ago
SOUTHERN UTAH
Non-conference opponents: at Oregon, at Stephen F. Austin, Northern Iowa
Big Sky teams missed: Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, Portland State
Big Sky schedule ranking: 3rd most difficult
Head Coach: Demario Warren, who has coached at Southern Utah for the past decade
* Demario Warren has coached three draft picks at SUU
* Southern Utah's 20 interceptions led the Big Sky in 2016
* SUU opens at Oregon this year, the second straight season which begins in a Pac 12 stadium
UC DAVIS
Non-conference opponents: at San Diego State, San Diego, at Portland State
Big Sky teams missed: Montana, Montana State, Northern Colorado, Portland State
Big Sky schedule ranking: 2nd most difficult
Head Coach: Dan Hawkins, a UC Davis grad who previously coached at Boise State and Colorado
* Dan Hawkins' first game as Colorado's head coach was a loss to the Bobcats
* The Aggies play five teams in 2017 that qualified for the FCS Playoffs in 2016
* UCD's opener at San Diego State marks the fourth straight year the team has faced Mountain West foes
WEBER STATE
Non-conference opponents: Montana Western, at California, at Sacramento State
Big Sky teams missed: Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, North Dakota, Sacramento State
Big Sky schedule ranking: 8th most difficult schedule
Head Coach: Jay Hill, who spent 13 seasons coaching and two playing at the University of Utah
* Weber State's 7-4 season in 2016 landed the Wildcats their first FCS Playoff berth since 2009
* The Wildcats allowed just 193.5 passing yards per game, best in the Big Sky
* When Weber State opens 2017 against UM Western it will mark the first season it has opened at home since 2013
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
