BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: Every Day is a Good Day to Mention Sonny Holland
7/9/2018 12:49:00 PM | Football
Also, 52 days remain until Montana State's season opener
July 9: 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.
#52
Retired: The number 52 has not been worn by a Bobcat since Sonny Holland's last game in 1959. It was retired immediately for the man considered by everyone (except, perhaps, himself) since as the greatest Bobcat ever.
Spotlight: Those that followed football in the Treasure State seemed to know the fresh-faced center from Butte about to join the Montana State College football program in 1956 was good, but there wasn't talk that Sonny Holland was about to become one of the greatest players produced in Montana's pre-Division I era. The timing was right – the 1956 season dawned not only as head coach Tony Storti returned to the Bobcat program after a one-year absence with a strong core of veteran players, but as the final season for which freshmen would be eligible for more than a decade. That was an important point, as two rookies – Sonny Holland and Navy veteran Charlie Jackson – moved into the middle of the line as starters, joining Ed Ritt and Ron Warzeka (tackles) and Herb Roberts (guard). Behind that group, Montana State became the nation's most explosive offense. Freshman Dave Alt ran the team's Split T attack. Holland was known as a solid center, but drew praise far and wide as "an outstanding linebacker." Throughout his career Holland was viewed not only as a great player, a three-time mid-bracket All-America choice, but as a campus leader and academic standout.
Chronology: Francis Wilson (1926), Jesse Bequette (1927), George Sutich (1937), Mike Vuletich (1953), Gene Schilling (1954), Phil Whitner (1956), Dick Ernst (1957), Sonny Holland (1958-59), Retired for Sonny Holland
#52
Retired: The number 52 has not been worn by a Bobcat since Sonny Holland's last game in 1959. It was retired immediately for the man considered by everyone (except, perhaps, himself) since as the greatest Bobcat ever.
Spotlight: Those that followed football in the Treasure State seemed to know the fresh-faced center from Butte about to join the Montana State College football program in 1956 was good, but there wasn't talk that Sonny Holland was about to become one of the greatest players produced in Montana's pre-Division I era. The timing was right – the 1956 season dawned not only as head coach Tony Storti returned to the Bobcat program after a one-year absence with a strong core of veteran players, but as the final season for which freshmen would be eligible for more than a decade. That was an important point, as two rookies – Sonny Holland and Navy veteran Charlie Jackson – moved into the middle of the line as starters, joining Ed Ritt and Ron Warzeka (tackles) and Herb Roberts (guard). Behind that group, Montana State became the nation's most explosive offense. Freshman Dave Alt ran the team's Split T attack. Holland was known as a solid center, but drew praise far and wide as "an outstanding linebacker." Throughout his career Holland was viewed not only as a great player, a three-time mid-bracket All-America choice, but as a campus leader and academic standout.
Chronology: Francis Wilson (1926), Jesse Bequette (1927), George Sutich (1937), Mike Vuletich (1953), Gene Schilling (1954), Phil Whitner (1956), Dick Ernst (1957), Sonny Holland (1958-59), Retired for Sonny Holland
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