BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: Looking for a Bobcat Star to Remember Today? Try Bobby Daly. Looking for MSU Football? Only 54 More Days!
7/7/2018 12:35:00 PM | Football
Todd Graves was also an extremely productive linebacker for the Bobcats
July 7: 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.
#54
Chad Kanow, LB: If you want to identify young, emerging defensive football players there are worse markers that special teams excellence. Chad Kanow led the Cats in special teams tackles as a true freshman a year ago. He also forced a fumble and recovered one, and saw action as a reserve linebacker as the season progressed. He brings considerable tools to the table – length and athleticism, explosiveness and instincts – and mixed with the experience he gained in 2017 could put Chad Kanow in position to make strong contributions as a sophomore.
Spotlight: Evaluating the future impact of new or young college football players is uncertain under any circumstance, but there are some good benchmarks. And in the mid-2000s, Bobby Daly hit them all. A notable work ethic and positive attitude? Check. Athleticism that, even in a successful Division I football program, stands out? Check. Productivity on special teams? Big-time check. Daly became a second generation team captain, First Team All-America, and finished fourth in school history in tackles. He is presently an assistant coach at Idaho.
Chronology: Ernest Mares (1926), Earl Semingsen (1927), Ted Wirak (1937), Mike Zunchich (1954), Jim Rogers (1955), Gary Giannini (1960-61), Bob Seiler (1965), Jim Kutzman (1966-67), Larry McCormick (1968), Rick Larsen (1969), Rick Larsen (1970), Dave Myers (1971-73), Dan Sweeney (1974), Kelly Darr (1975), Brian McFaul (1976-78), Larry Rubens (1979-80), Ted Modena (1982), Gary Sturm (1984), Ernie Ratzburg (1985), Greg Guza (1986), Stacy Coffin (1987), Todd Graves (1988-90), Dino Sparaco (1991-92), Brawn Lausen (1992-93), Chris Sobonya (1994), Jerry Vekved (1995), Matt Smith (1996-97), Walter Glover (1998-99), Mailo Fulutisi (2000), Matt Yocam (2001), Brandon Olson (2002), Chris Young (2003), Bobby Daly (2004-08), Aleksei Grosulak (2009), Josh Curry (2011), Wyatt Christensen (2013), Austin Oldenburger (2014-), Monte Folsom (2015-16), Chad Kanow (2017-)
Bonus Note for #54: Dino Sparaco was a tough, hard-working linebacker for the Cats in the early '90s, arriving as an unheralded junior college transfer and working his way into more progressively important roles in 1991 and '92. By his senior season he was a reserve linebacker and key special teams contributor. His impact to the Bobcat program didn't end with a solid playing career – this year Sparaco's son Dante joins the team as a transfer from Colorado.
More on #54: Montana State's football teams from the 1984 National Championship until the stirrings of the late 1990s occupy kind of a blind spot when discussing the Bobcat program's legacy, and that's too bad. The Cats compiled only one winning season from 1985 and 1995, but the program continued to produce excellent players, especially on defense. If a parade is ever thrown with that in mind, Todd Graves could be the banner bearer. A two-time All-Big Sky choice (second team as a senior, first team as a junior), he formed the heart of an excellent defense with Corey Widmer, Jason Hakert, Morgan Ryan, Ernie Boyd, Sean Hill… some really outstanding players. And Graves led the team in tackles as a junior and senior, racking up 273 total in those two seasons.
#54
Chad Kanow, LB: If you want to identify young, emerging defensive football players there are worse markers that special teams excellence. Chad Kanow led the Cats in special teams tackles as a true freshman a year ago. He also forced a fumble and recovered one, and saw action as a reserve linebacker as the season progressed. He brings considerable tools to the table – length and athleticism, explosiveness and instincts – and mixed with the experience he gained in 2017 could put Chad Kanow in position to make strong contributions as a sophomore.
Spotlight: Evaluating the future impact of new or young college football players is uncertain under any circumstance, but there are some good benchmarks. And in the mid-2000s, Bobby Daly hit them all. A notable work ethic and positive attitude? Check. Athleticism that, even in a successful Division I football program, stands out? Check. Productivity on special teams? Big-time check. Daly became a second generation team captain, First Team All-America, and finished fourth in school history in tackles. He is presently an assistant coach at Idaho.
Chronology: Ernest Mares (1926), Earl Semingsen (1927), Ted Wirak (1937), Mike Zunchich (1954), Jim Rogers (1955), Gary Giannini (1960-61), Bob Seiler (1965), Jim Kutzman (1966-67), Larry McCormick (1968), Rick Larsen (1969), Rick Larsen (1970), Dave Myers (1971-73), Dan Sweeney (1974), Kelly Darr (1975), Brian McFaul (1976-78), Larry Rubens (1979-80), Ted Modena (1982), Gary Sturm (1984), Ernie Ratzburg (1985), Greg Guza (1986), Stacy Coffin (1987), Todd Graves (1988-90), Dino Sparaco (1991-92), Brawn Lausen (1992-93), Chris Sobonya (1994), Jerry Vekved (1995), Matt Smith (1996-97), Walter Glover (1998-99), Mailo Fulutisi (2000), Matt Yocam (2001), Brandon Olson (2002), Chris Young (2003), Bobby Daly (2004-08), Aleksei Grosulak (2009), Josh Curry (2011), Wyatt Christensen (2013), Austin Oldenburger (2014-), Monte Folsom (2015-16), Chad Kanow (2017-)
Bonus Note for #54: Dino Sparaco was a tough, hard-working linebacker for the Cats in the early '90s, arriving as an unheralded junior college transfer and working his way into more progressively important roles in 1991 and '92. By his senior season he was a reserve linebacker and key special teams contributor. His impact to the Bobcat program didn't end with a solid playing career – this year Sparaco's son Dante joins the team as a transfer from Colorado.
More on #54: Montana State's football teams from the 1984 National Championship until the stirrings of the late 1990s occupy kind of a blind spot when discussing the Bobcat program's legacy, and that's too bad. The Cats compiled only one winning season from 1985 and 1995, but the program continued to produce excellent players, especially on defense. If a parade is ever thrown with that in mind, Todd Graves could be the banner bearer. A two-time All-Big Sky choice (second team as a senior, first team as a junior), he formed the heart of an excellent defense with Corey Widmer, Jason Hakert, Morgan Ryan, Ernie Boyd, Sean Hill… some really outstanding players. And Graves led the team in tackles as a junior and senior, racking up 273 total in those two seasons.
Players Mentioned
DE
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