BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: Only 53 Days Remain Until MSU's Season Opener!
7/8/2018 12:39:00 PM | Football
Bobcat basketball legend Brick Breeden was assigned #53 as a Bobcat gridder
July 8: Bobcat 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.
#53
Kyle Finch, DL: A reserve defensive lineman and long snapper, Kyle Finch has progressed steadily since arriving at MSU. He is expected to add depth on kick teams and at the Buck spot this fall while competing for top long snapping honors.
Spotlight: The sudden turnaround of Montana State's football program a decade ago may have seemed to many to come from nowhere. In retrospect, it was the simple matter of a talented core of players – assembled in large part by Cliff Hysell, forged by Mike Kramer – growing up together and receiving the exact infusion of talent needed to push it to the top. And Mike Quast was at the heart of that core of talent. Or at least it seemed he was, because he was always the one that seemed to be having the most fun. Quast never earned All-America honors at MSU, but settled into a role as starting guard, with the rest of a talented offensive front coalescing around him in the winless fall of 2000. He and Brent Swaggert led the way, and when Travis Lulay joined the mix in 2002 the Bobcat program jumped to the top of the standings. A powerful player who was nimble and quick for his size, he performed well in all phases of offensive line play, and helped pave the way for running back Ryan Johnson's record-setting career.
Chronology: Brick Breeden (1926), Jason Preston (1927), Joseph Gaab (1937), Robert Yasger (1953), Bill Salonen (1954), Willie Milliron (1955), Glenn Flatt (1956), Leon Potkay (1971-73), Dan Sebold (1974), Mark DeVore (1975-78), Dale Fink (1979-82), Greg Bennett (1984-85), Shawn Bohannen (1986-87), Chris Duffey (1988), Larry Love (1989), Kerry Pribnow (1990), Dino Sparaco (1992), Jason Sawicki (1993-96), Kyle Ecker (1997), Mike Quast (1999-2002), Peder Jensen (2003-07), Matt Bernard (2008-09), Seth Walton (2010), Matt Davis (2011), Rob Walsh (2012-15), Kyle Finch (2016-)
Bonus Note for #53: Bobcat legend Brick Breeden was assigned jersey #53 during the 1926 season, although what game photos that exist from the era don't show obvious signs of including numbers. Known more for his exploits on the hardwood, first as an All-America for the famed Golden Bobcats and later as a long-time MSU basketball coach and administrator, Breeden was a tackle from 1926-28, one of the most successful three-year runs in Montana State's pre-World War II existence. In 1926, Montana State beat Colorado, Wyoming and BYU, and in the first two of those three seasons finished without a loss in the powerful Rocky Mountain Conference. Montana State's 4-0 record wasn't enough to best 5-0 Utah, as the Utes claimed the league title by virtue of having played more games.
#53
Kyle Finch, DL: A reserve defensive lineman and long snapper, Kyle Finch has progressed steadily since arriving at MSU. He is expected to add depth on kick teams and at the Buck spot this fall while competing for top long snapping honors.
Spotlight: The sudden turnaround of Montana State's football program a decade ago may have seemed to many to come from nowhere. In retrospect, it was the simple matter of a talented core of players – assembled in large part by Cliff Hysell, forged by Mike Kramer – growing up together and receiving the exact infusion of talent needed to push it to the top. And Mike Quast was at the heart of that core of talent. Or at least it seemed he was, because he was always the one that seemed to be having the most fun. Quast never earned All-America honors at MSU, but settled into a role as starting guard, with the rest of a talented offensive front coalescing around him in the winless fall of 2000. He and Brent Swaggert led the way, and when Travis Lulay joined the mix in 2002 the Bobcat program jumped to the top of the standings. A powerful player who was nimble and quick for his size, he performed well in all phases of offensive line play, and helped pave the way for running back Ryan Johnson's record-setting career.
Chronology: Brick Breeden (1926), Jason Preston (1927), Joseph Gaab (1937), Robert Yasger (1953), Bill Salonen (1954), Willie Milliron (1955), Glenn Flatt (1956), Leon Potkay (1971-73), Dan Sebold (1974), Mark DeVore (1975-78), Dale Fink (1979-82), Greg Bennett (1984-85), Shawn Bohannen (1986-87), Chris Duffey (1988), Larry Love (1989), Kerry Pribnow (1990), Dino Sparaco (1992), Jason Sawicki (1993-96), Kyle Ecker (1997), Mike Quast (1999-2002), Peder Jensen (2003-07), Matt Bernard (2008-09), Seth Walton (2010), Matt Davis (2011), Rob Walsh (2012-15), Kyle Finch (2016-)
Bonus Note for #53: Bobcat legend Brick Breeden was assigned jersey #53 during the 1926 season, although what game photos that exist from the era don't show obvious signs of including numbers. Known more for his exploits on the hardwood, first as an All-America for the famed Golden Bobcats and later as a long-time MSU basketball coach and administrator, Breeden was a tackle from 1926-28, one of the most successful three-year runs in Montana State's pre-World War II existence. In 1926, Montana State beat Colorado, Wyoming and BYU, and in the first two of those three seasons finished without a loss in the powerful Rocky Mountain Conference. Montana State's 4-0 record wasn't enough to best 5-0 Utah, as the Utes claimed the league title by virtue of having played more games.
Players Mentioned
DL
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