Long-time Montana State Athletic Trainer Doc Herwig played a role in the Bobcats win at UNC in 1950
BOBCAT HISTORY LESSON: Montana State Found its Lone 1950 Win in Greeley
11/10/2018 8:24:00 AM | Football
Troy Andersen posted a big game last fall at Northren Colorado
A look back at the history of Montana State's series against Northern Colorado, which began in 1923 when the teams belonged to the Rocky Mountain Conference...
HISTORY LESSON – Northern Colorado
All-Time Series: MSU 20-10-1
In Bozeman: MSU 11-4-1
At Opponent: MSU 9-6
Streaks and Stuff
Montana State owns seven straight wins against the Bears, and since the series was revived in 2003 after a 47-year absence the Cats own eight wins in 10 tries against Northern Colorado. Those two losses are particularly bitter memories for Bobcat fans. In 2003, future NFL receiver Vincent Jackson and the Bears came to Bobcat Stadium and left with a 14-10 win. Four years later Montana State made its first trip to Greeley as a Big Sky rival. Zak Bigelow kicked two fourth-quarter field goals, including one with four seconds to play, to beat the Bobcats for UNC's first-ever Big Sky win. A small but enthusiastic group of students stormed the field to celebrate, and the Cats fell to 5-3 and watched their league title hopes slip away.
Here's a Good Story
In last year's 27-24 Bobcat win at Nottingham Field, a star was, well, not born necessarily, but perhaps more greatly appreciated and understood in the aftermath of one of the more bizarre plays anyone can remember. Nick LaSane took the handoff on routine play, apparently fumbled, the ball was recovered by UNC, and the resulting return ended with a bitterly-contested personal foul call on LaSane that remains a very sore point in the Bobcat program still. It resulted in the senior running back's expulsion from the game. Stunningly, instant replay proved what nearly everyone on the playing field knew – LaSane was down when the fumble occurred, the play should have been blown dead, and LaSane's ejection should not have happened. As it was, while costing a senior a precious chunk of his career, it opened the way for Troy Andersen. The freshman joined quarterback Chris Murray to take control of the game. Murray ran for 150 yards, Andersen 75 and a touchdown, and the Bobcats won on a walkoff field goal into a whipping wind by Gabe Peppenger.
Memory
Every college sports programs have stories that have faded into history, lost except for the re-telling of some old-timer to a person interested enough to laugh, ask a few questions, and remember. One such unforgettable character in Montana State's history is Gordon "Doc" Herwig, a World War II veteran who settled in Bozeman after helping free Europe of Nazi rule and with his background in physical therapy became possibly the Bobcats' first professionally-trained athletic trainer. Herwig once told the story of the team's trip to Greeley in 1950 under head coach John Mason. Between the tremendous 1946 and '47 seasons and the glory years ushered in by Tony Storti a few years later, Bobcat football was a slog. From 1948-52, Montana State won just seven games against 32 losses. John Mason's first season, 1950, brought hope, but that faded quickly. The 0-5 Bobcats had been out-scored 141-38 when they boarded the train to Greeley. The team arrived Friday afternoon and went through its normal routine. But on Saturday morning, when the team departed for Jackson Field on town cars, Mason was nowhere to be found. He had come down with an undisclosed illness, and Herwig got him situated in his room before he and Max Kimberly – the team's lone assistant and a former Bobcat star himself – led the squad to the field. And the Bobcats responded, riding what the Exponent described as a "dazzling aerial attack" to an 18-7 win. That game was Northern Colorado's first loss of the season. Halfback Jim Brown threw two touchdown passes to Don Grabow to key the victory. And in the heady haze of victory, the team returned to the hotel for a quick shower, collected the head coach, and returned to Bozeman to prepare for the Copper Bowl in Butte against the Grizzlies.
HISTORY LESSON – Northern Colorado
All-Time Series: MSU 20-10-1
In Bozeman: MSU 11-4-1
At Opponent: MSU 9-6
Streaks and Stuff
Montana State owns seven straight wins against the Bears, and since the series was revived in 2003 after a 47-year absence the Cats own eight wins in 10 tries against Northern Colorado. Those two losses are particularly bitter memories for Bobcat fans. In 2003, future NFL receiver Vincent Jackson and the Bears came to Bobcat Stadium and left with a 14-10 win. Four years later Montana State made its first trip to Greeley as a Big Sky rival. Zak Bigelow kicked two fourth-quarter field goals, including one with four seconds to play, to beat the Bobcats for UNC's first-ever Big Sky win. A small but enthusiastic group of students stormed the field to celebrate, and the Cats fell to 5-3 and watched their league title hopes slip away.
Here's a Good Story
In last year's 27-24 Bobcat win at Nottingham Field, a star was, well, not born necessarily, but perhaps more greatly appreciated and understood in the aftermath of one of the more bizarre plays anyone can remember. Nick LaSane took the handoff on routine play, apparently fumbled, the ball was recovered by UNC, and the resulting return ended with a bitterly-contested personal foul call on LaSane that remains a very sore point in the Bobcat program still. It resulted in the senior running back's expulsion from the game. Stunningly, instant replay proved what nearly everyone on the playing field knew – LaSane was down when the fumble occurred, the play should have been blown dead, and LaSane's ejection should not have happened. As it was, while costing a senior a precious chunk of his career, it opened the way for Troy Andersen. The freshman joined quarterback Chris Murray to take control of the game. Murray ran for 150 yards, Andersen 75 and a touchdown, and the Bobcats won on a walkoff field goal into a whipping wind by Gabe Peppenger.
Memory
Every college sports programs have stories that have faded into history, lost except for the re-telling of some old-timer to a person interested enough to laugh, ask a few questions, and remember. One such unforgettable character in Montana State's history is Gordon "Doc" Herwig, a World War II veteran who settled in Bozeman after helping free Europe of Nazi rule and with his background in physical therapy became possibly the Bobcats' first professionally-trained athletic trainer. Herwig once told the story of the team's trip to Greeley in 1950 under head coach John Mason. Between the tremendous 1946 and '47 seasons and the glory years ushered in by Tony Storti a few years later, Bobcat football was a slog. From 1948-52, Montana State won just seven games against 32 losses. John Mason's first season, 1950, brought hope, but that faded quickly. The 0-5 Bobcats had been out-scored 141-38 when they boarded the train to Greeley. The team arrived Friday afternoon and went through its normal routine. But on Saturday morning, when the team departed for Jackson Field on town cars, Mason was nowhere to be found. He had come down with an undisclosed illness, and Herwig got him situated in his room before he and Max Kimberly – the team's lone assistant and a former Bobcat star himself – led the squad to the field. And the Bobcats responded, riding what the Exponent described as a "dazzling aerial attack" to an 18-7 win. That game was Northern Colorado's first loss of the season. Halfback Jim Brown threw two touchdown passes to Don Grabow to key the victory. And in the heady haze of victory, the team returned to the hotel for a quick shower, collected the head coach, and returned to Bozeman to prepare for the Copper Bowl in Butte against the Grizzlies.
Players Mentioned
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