BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 65 Days Until Bobcat Football Returns
6/26/2018 1:14:00 PM | Football
John Close was an important part of some of MSU's all-time greatest teams
June 26: Bobcats by the Numbers takes a look at current and past Bobcats that correspond to the number of days remaining before Montana State opens the 2018 football season against Western Illinois in Bobcat Stadium's annual Gold Rush game on August 30.
#65
Brody McKnight, OL: Brody McKnight is no doubt looking forward to showing what he can do, and Montana State's coaches are no doubt looking forward to seeing it. After battling injuries throughout his redshirt season and rehabbing last spring, McKnight enters summer workouts and fall camp ready to compete for time as a redshirt freshman.
Spotlight – John Close: Spokane has historically been strong recruiting territory for Montana State University – not just for athletic programs, but university-wide – but never was that more evident than in the 1970s. John Close was among the many talented players that left three football programs of a similar scope to become Bobcats, arriving from Lewi & Clark High School in the fall of 1975 and immediately impacting the program. A sprinter in high school, Close was a productive defensive end who moved into the starting lineup late in his freshman season and never really left. That he played on teams that finished as low as third in the Big Sky only once in his Bobcat career shouldn't have been surprising, as Close played on title-winning football and basketball teams as a prep star, but he was an important piece of the puzzle on MSU's 1976 National Championship team.
Chronology: Rex Workman (1957), Steve Sobonya (1959-61), Jerry Ross (1964), Wayne Purdom (1965-66), Frank Kalfoss (1967-69), Curt Brandon (1970), Greg Maurer (1971-74), John Close (1975-78), John Blackman (1979-82), Jeff Gorski (1983-84), Jamie Smith (1985), Bryan Ratzburg (1986-89), Jeff Brickert (1990), Cory Brye (1991-93), Mike McGrath (1994), Jon Eckberg (1995), Harold Powers (1998), Matt Horlacher (1999), Mataio Toilolo (2000-03), Adam Brockway (2004-05), Tim Garcia (2006-10), Christian Williams (2012-13), Doug Hanson (2014-15), Patrick Carroll (2016), Brody McKnight (2017-)
Other #65 Notes: Hang around a college football program long enough and things start to run together a little bit. But some images remain forever. For some, the vision of an injured offensive lineman cranking his legs on the stationary bike at halftime of the school's first playoff game in nearly two decades will never fade. The first the thought was that Mataio Toilolo, who suffered an injury in the championship-clinching win in Missoula the week before, was just keeping warm. Except, it was noted, he had shoulder pads on. Sure enough, when the Bobcat offense entered the field in the second half, Toilolo was at center. Injuries and inexperience had thinned the ranks and MSU was without an effective pivot man. With Toilolo snapping in the second half MSU fought the good fight, but dropped a narrow 21-14 decision. Toilolo started for three excellent Bobcat offensive units, most at his natural guard position.
#65
Brody McKnight, OL: Brody McKnight is no doubt looking forward to showing what he can do, and Montana State's coaches are no doubt looking forward to seeing it. After battling injuries throughout his redshirt season and rehabbing last spring, McKnight enters summer workouts and fall camp ready to compete for time as a redshirt freshman.
Spotlight – John Close: Spokane has historically been strong recruiting territory for Montana State University – not just for athletic programs, but university-wide – but never was that more evident than in the 1970s. John Close was among the many talented players that left three football programs of a similar scope to become Bobcats, arriving from Lewi & Clark High School in the fall of 1975 and immediately impacting the program. A sprinter in high school, Close was a productive defensive end who moved into the starting lineup late in his freshman season and never really left. That he played on teams that finished as low as third in the Big Sky only once in his Bobcat career shouldn't have been surprising, as Close played on title-winning football and basketball teams as a prep star, but he was an important piece of the puzzle on MSU's 1976 National Championship team.
Chronology: Rex Workman (1957), Steve Sobonya (1959-61), Jerry Ross (1964), Wayne Purdom (1965-66), Frank Kalfoss (1967-69), Curt Brandon (1970), Greg Maurer (1971-74), John Close (1975-78), John Blackman (1979-82), Jeff Gorski (1983-84), Jamie Smith (1985), Bryan Ratzburg (1986-89), Jeff Brickert (1990), Cory Brye (1991-93), Mike McGrath (1994), Jon Eckberg (1995), Harold Powers (1998), Matt Horlacher (1999), Mataio Toilolo (2000-03), Adam Brockway (2004-05), Tim Garcia (2006-10), Christian Williams (2012-13), Doug Hanson (2014-15), Patrick Carroll (2016), Brody McKnight (2017-)
Other #65 Notes: Hang around a college football program long enough and things start to run together a little bit. But some images remain forever. For some, the vision of an injured offensive lineman cranking his legs on the stationary bike at halftime of the school's first playoff game in nearly two decades will never fade. The first the thought was that Mataio Toilolo, who suffered an injury in the championship-clinching win in Missoula the week before, was just keeping warm. Except, it was noted, he had shoulder pads on. Sure enough, when the Bobcat offense entered the field in the second half, Toilolo was at center. Injuries and inexperience had thinned the ranks and MSU was without an effective pivot man. With Toilolo snapping in the second half MSU fought the good fight, but dropped a narrow 21-14 decision. Toilolo started for three excellent Bobcat offensive units, most at his natural guard position.
Players Mentioned
OL
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