Saturday, September 2
Pullman, WA
8:30 pm
Montana State University
at
#24 Washington State
Chris Murray leads the Bobcats to Washington State Saturday
GAME #1: Bobcats Open 2017 with 'Unbelievable Challenge' at #24 Washington State
8/30/2017 8:00:00 AM | Football
MSU visits Cougars for first time since narrow loss in 2010
– Jeff Choate's message to his least experienced players in advance of Montana State's season opener on Saturday will be simple.
"I think I'll tell them to breathe," Choate said with a smile on Tuesday. His youthful Bobcats play 24th-ranked Washington State of the Pac 12 at 8:35 pm MT (7:35 pm in Pullman) to begin Choate's second season as MSU's head coach. The team he leads to Pullman features 15 returning starters, but also 14 players on Montana State's two-deep who begin their first varsity season with the Cats.
The Cougars posted an 8-5 record last season, finishing second in the Pac 12 North and earning a Holiday Bowl bid. This year's Washington State squad boasts national awards candidates in every position group, highlighted by Heisman Trophy candidate Luke Falk, the Cougars' third-year starting quarterback. Offensive guard Cody O'Connell is a returning unanimous All-America, and defensive lineman Hercules Mata'afa is considered among the top tackles in college football.
"I've been a part of some big first games," Choate said of his time as an FBS assistant that includes stops at Washington and Florida, "playing against Virginia Tech and also against Georgia when I was at Boise State University. But I think as far as an opener goes this is probably one of the more challenging (games) I've been a part of."
Mike Leach brought his famed Air Raid offense to the Palouse in 2012, and Choate was on his initial Cougars' staff. While Leach remembers "an enthusiastic guy, a high-energy guy, highly-motivated" leading his linebackers that first season, Choate's perspective is different. He sees a Washington State program that has been completely transformed in the intervening five years.
"It's amazing to look back and see the progress of that program over that time," he said, lauding Washington State's strength and conditioning staff and the commitment of Leach to his style of football. "Year one when I was there with (Leach) he didn't necessarily have the personnel required to run his system on offense," Choate said, "but he didn't deviate from his system and I think that's paid dividends for him on the long run. He sticks to his plan, and he believes strongly in his system, and he doesn't deviate from it."
Senior quarterback Luke Falk has benefited from Leach's system. The third-year starter averaged 343.7 passing yards a game last season, and his 10,893 career passing yards is just 411 of Washington State's school record. He is on the preseason watch list for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and every national accolade presented to quarterbacks.
While Washington State's offense captures headlines, the Cougars defense stands stout. When asked about the Cougars' defensive identity, MSU running backs coach Michael Pitre, a former UCLA fullback, didn't hesitate. "Nine returning starters," he said through a thin smile. The team allowed 405.9 yards a game last season, but forced 23 turnovers and logged 20 sacks. "One of the things they do great on the defensive side of the ball is create negative plays," Choate said. "I think they led the Pac 12 in tackles-for-loss a year ago, and they have a lot of pre-snap and post-snap movement with their front, which will be a challenge with our offensive line."
Middle linebacker Peyton Pelluer, a third generation Cougar whose strong ties to his school would seem familiar to Bobcat fans used to cheering for familiar names, anchors Washington State's defense. He has 233 career tackles, 24.0 for a loss. He had 7.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage last fall, while Mata'afa logged 13.5.
One of Montana State's primary challenges this season is to build on momentum captured last November with season-ending wins over UC Davis and Montana. The Bobcats ride starting experience on both sides of the ball into the 2017 season, although both the offense and defense will be patching holes on the fly. Starting running back Logan Jones enters the season with only eight career carries, while starting cornerbacks Bryce Alley and Damien Washington have combined for five career starts – all by Alley.
Choate also knows that one element that can work to the advantage of programs in a similar position to MSU this weekend likely won't apply. Many FBS teams play conservatively against FCS opponents, simplifying schemes on both sides of the ball to take advantage of a talent differential while hiding portions of the playbook from future opponents. After Washington State lost home games to Big Sky opponents in each of the last two seasons, Choate said he doesn't expect that to be the case this weekend.
"It's not a situation where we're going to be able to go in there and surprise them," Choate said. "A lot is made of the fact that they've struggled in openers, and I'm sure Coach Leach has their attention. I don't feel like they'll overlook us at all. I think they'll be prepared and ready to go."
Still, Choate looks forward to what he calls an "unbelievable challenge" which he knows his young squad will embrace. "We've talked to them about the performance anxiety curve and making sure they're in the right place mentally, not too high or too low, kind of have that relaxed focus, be able to have the opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere and the environment and the pomp and circumstance of a Pac 12 opponent," Choate said.
But he added that on Saturday night in Martin Stadium, nine months of strength work, early morning meetings and countless hours of video work, practice and preparation, boil down to one opportunity.
"Just go play," he said. "It's time to play."
"I think I'll tell them to breathe," Choate said with a smile on Tuesday. His youthful Bobcats play 24th-ranked Washington State of the Pac 12 at 8:35 pm MT (7:35 pm in Pullman) to begin Choate's second season as MSU's head coach. The team he leads to Pullman features 15 returning starters, but also 14 players on Montana State's two-deep who begin their first varsity season with the Cats.
The Cougars posted an 8-5 record last season, finishing second in the Pac 12 North and earning a Holiday Bowl bid. This year's Washington State squad boasts national awards candidates in every position group, highlighted by Heisman Trophy candidate Luke Falk, the Cougars' third-year starting quarterback. Offensive guard Cody O'Connell is a returning unanimous All-America, and defensive lineman Hercules Mata'afa is considered among the top tackles in college football.
"I've been a part of some big first games," Choate said of his time as an FBS assistant that includes stops at Washington and Florida, "playing against Virginia Tech and also against Georgia when I was at Boise State University. But I think as far as an opener goes this is probably one of the more challenging (games) I've been a part of."
Mike Leach brought his famed Air Raid offense to the Palouse in 2012, and Choate was on his initial Cougars' staff. While Leach remembers "an enthusiastic guy, a high-energy guy, highly-motivated" leading his linebackers that first season, Choate's perspective is different. He sees a Washington State program that has been completely transformed in the intervening five years.
"It's amazing to look back and see the progress of that program over that time," he said, lauding Washington State's strength and conditioning staff and the commitment of Leach to his style of football. "Year one when I was there with (Leach) he didn't necessarily have the personnel required to run his system on offense," Choate said, "but he didn't deviate from his system and I think that's paid dividends for him on the long run. He sticks to his plan, and he believes strongly in his system, and he doesn't deviate from it."
Senior quarterback Luke Falk has benefited from Leach's system. The third-year starter averaged 343.7 passing yards a game last season, and his 10,893 career passing yards is just 411 of Washington State's school record. He is on the preseason watch list for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and every national accolade presented to quarterbacks.
While Washington State's offense captures headlines, the Cougars defense stands stout. When asked about the Cougars' defensive identity, MSU running backs coach Michael Pitre, a former UCLA fullback, didn't hesitate. "Nine returning starters," he said through a thin smile. The team allowed 405.9 yards a game last season, but forced 23 turnovers and logged 20 sacks. "One of the things they do great on the defensive side of the ball is create negative plays," Choate said. "I think they led the Pac 12 in tackles-for-loss a year ago, and they have a lot of pre-snap and post-snap movement with their front, which will be a challenge with our offensive line."
Middle linebacker Peyton Pelluer, a third generation Cougar whose strong ties to his school would seem familiar to Bobcat fans used to cheering for familiar names, anchors Washington State's defense. He has 233 career tackles, 24.0 for a loss. He had 7.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage last fall, while Mata'afa logged 13.5.
One of Montana State's primary challenges this season is to build on momentum captured last November with season-ending wins over UC Davis and Montana. The Bobcats ride starting experience on both sides of the ball into the 2017 season, although both the offense and defense will be patching holes on the fly. Starting running back Logan Jones enters the season with only eight career carries, while starting cornerbacks Bryce Alley and Damien Washington have combined for five career starts – all by Alley.
Choate also knows that one element that can work to the advantage of programs in a similar position to MSU this weekend likely won't apply. Many FBS teams play conservatively against FCS opponents, simplifying schemes on both sides of the ball to take advantage of a talent differential while hiding portions of the playbook from future opponents. After Washington State lost home games to Big Sky opponents in each of the last two seasons, Choate said he doesn't expect that to be the case this weekend.
"It's not a situation where we're going to be able to go in there and surprise them," Choate said. "A lot is made of the fact that they've struggled in openers, and I'm sure Coach Leach has their attention. I don't feel like they'll overlook us at all. I think they'll be prepared and ready to go."
Still, Choate looks forward to what he calls an "unbelievable challenge" which he knows his young squad will embrace. "We've talked to them about the performance anxiety curve and making sure they're in the right place mentally, not too high or too low, kind of have that relaxed focus, be able to have the opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere and the environment and the pomp and circumstance of a Pac 12 opponent," Choate said.
But he added that on Saturday night in Martin Stadium, nine months of strength work, early morning meetings and countless hours of video work, practice and preparation, boil down to one opportunity.
"Just go play," he said. "It's time to play."
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
