BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: Balue Chapman Tells Us that it's 35 Days til Gold Rush!
7/26/2018 12:49:00 PM | Football
Another day, another look at a Cliff Hysell fullback... this time, T.T. Ryan
July 26: Bobcats by the Numbers takes a look at current and past Bobcats whose jersey numbers 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.
#35
Balue Chapman, LB: Balue Chapman had worked his way into regular playing time by the time his season was ended early by an injury in 2017, but that set expectations high for his sophomore season. Chapman brings an impeccable resume and strong bloodlines to Bobcat football. The former Montana Gatorade Player of the Year (2015) led Bozeman high to a state championship, and follows in the footsteps of his father Bret, who a Bobcat standout from 1978-81. Balue Chapman enters the fall as the possible starter at Sam linebacker, but the presence of Jacob Hadley, whose season was ended by injury before it began last year, and transfer Daniel Hardy create both tremendous competition and excellent depth at that spot this year. In a beautiful twist, Bret Chapman also wore #35 during his days as a Bobcat safety.
Spotlight – TT Ryan: Almost defiantly, Cliff Hysell would make public proclamations that even though it went against conventional thinking he had his favorites as players. And when he was in a mood to name names, T.T. Ryan was the one that most easily rolled off his tongue. Timothy Ty Ryan (Hysell's love of blocking backs and Ryan's initials always made one wonder if Cliff didn't think T.T. stood for Tim Terrific) transferred to Montana State from Cal State Fullerton in 1993 after the Titans dropped football. In 1993 he was third on the team with 33 carries and 138 yards, but his arrival coincided with a rushing renaissance at MSU. Fred Moore gained 1,005 yards as a JC transfer, and Clint Morton ran for 743, and most of those 1,748 yards were behind Ryan. Ryan was also a wrestler at CSF, and was a linebacker in high school. In his three seasons at MSU, Bobcat tailbacks averaged well over 100 rushing yards a game.
Chronology: Fred Keenan (1931), Dick Little (1937), Clifford Vaughn (1940), Alton Zempel (1941), Mike McCormick (1946-47), Gene Stergar (1948), Fred Peres (1953), Jerry Miller (1954-55), Darrell Garoutte (1970-71), Scott Shriver (1972-74), Mike Vidmar (1975-77), Bret Chapman (1978-81), Skip Morten (1982), Rodney Holland (1983-85), Brett Davis (1986), Bob Wilkinson (1987-90), TT Ryan (1993-95), Shon Flores (1997), Carson Souter (1998), Adam Cordeiro (1999), Vernon Williams (2000-01), David Mayfield (2002-03), Travis Doroski (2004), Isaiah Taito (2005-06), Michael Boran (2007), Tyler Volkman (2008), Preston Gale (2009), Morris Gates-Mouton (2012-13, 15), Balue Chapman (2016-)
#35
Balue Chapman, LB: Balue Chapman had worked his way into regular playing time by the time his season was ended early by an injury in 2017, but that set expectations high for his sophomore season. Chapman brings an impeccable resume and strong bloodlines to Bobcat football. The former Montana Gatorade Player of the Year (2015) led Bozeman high to a state championship, and follows in the footsteps of his father Bret, who a Bobcat standout from 1978-81. Balue Chapman enters the fall as the possible starter at Sam linebacker, but the presence of Jacob Hadley, whose season was ended by injury before it began last year, and transfer Daniel Hardy create both tremendous competition and excellent depth at that spot this year. In a beautiful twist, Bret Chapman also wore #35 during his days as a Bobcat safety.
Spotlight – TT Ryan: Almost defiantly, Cliff Hysell would make public proclamations that even though it went against conventional thinking he had his favorites as players. And when he was in a mood to name names, T.T. Ryan was the one that most easily rolled off his tongue. Timothy Ty Ryan (Hysell's love of blocking backs and Ryan's initials always made one wonder if Cliff didn't think T.T. stood for Tim Terrific) transferred to Montana State from Cal State Fullerton in 1993 after the Titans dropped football. In 1993 he was third on the team with 33 carries and 138 yards, but his arrival coincided with a rushing renaissance at MSU. Fred Moore gained 1,005 yards as a JC transfer, and Clint Morton ran for 743, and most of those 1,748 yards were behind Ryan. Ryan was also a wrestler at CSF, and was a linebacker in high school. In his three seasons at MSU, Bobcat tailbacks averaged well over 100 rushing yards a game.
Chronology: Fred Keenan (1931), Dick Little (1937), Clifford Vaughn (1940), Alton Zempel (1941), Mike McCormick (1946-47), Gene Stergar (1948), Fred Peres (1953), Jerry Miller (1954-55), Darrell Garoutte (1970-71), Scott Shriver (1972-74), Mike Vidmar (1975-77), Bret Chapman (1978-81), Skip Morten (1982), Rodney Holland (1983-85), Brett Davis (1986), Bob Wilkinson (1987-90), TT Ryan (1993-95), Shon Flores (1997), Carson Souter (1998), Adam Cordeiro (1999), Vernon Williams (2000-01), David Mayfield (2002-03), Travis Doroski (2004), Isaiah Taito (2005-06), Michael Boran (2007), Tyler Volkman (2008), Preston Gale (2009), Morris Gates-Mouton (2012-13, 15), Balue Chapman (2016-)
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
