BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 19 Days Left, and a Pair of Promising Youngsters Wear #19
8/11/2018 12:31:00 PM | Football
If you're looking for off-the-radar youngsters to contribute in 2018, Ty Okada and Koby Duru aren't bad starting points
August 11: 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.
#19
Ty Okada, DB: Ty Okada redshirted as a defensive back a season ago. A former standout quarterback at East Ridge High in Woodbury, Minnesota, Okada was named MSU's Young Gun Award winner in the off-season, and enters the fall as a favorite to emerge as one of the team's special teams aces.
Koby Duru, WR: Koby Duru is a rangy receiver who caught 23 passes for a talented Bishop Amat program last year. He could challenge for playing time this fall. When given the opportunity to visit with members of the Bobcat secondary, the name Koby Duru often arises as a top young prospect among the team's young receivers.
Spotlight – Johnny Gardiner: A bomber in both the literal and football sense, Johnny Gardiner followed quite a path to get to Montana State and an even more interesting one in the years after his season in Bozeman. The Minneapolis native played left halfback for the Golden Gophers in 1941 and '42, but enlisted in the air corps and flew bomber missions over Europe with distinction, receiving two Distinguished Flying Crosses. Following the war Gardiner first traveled east, playing one season at Purdue, then headed west to finish his career at Montana State. After his season with the Cats he signed as an import with Winnipeg of the CFL, called a "fine passer, fast, nifty and has a fighting heart" by a teammate, but after enduring a season of injuries and on-field misfortune Gardiner retired from football and began putting to use his commercial sciences degree. Gardiner accepted a position with the Parker Pen Company in Janesville, Wisconsin, before beginning his own business services company in California a short time later. He spent the rest of his days as a successful businessman in California, passing away in 2015 at the age of 92.
Chronology: James Gennary (1930), William Greer (1931), Bill Penttila (1934), Floyd Roth (1937), Robert Olson (1940), James O'Loughlin (1946-47), John Gardiner (1948), Bob Weast (1949), Kurt Ueland (1950), Joe Liesses (1953), Bernie Ellingson (1955), James Cowan (1983), Jeff Mayfield (1984-85), Scott Surby (1986), Robert LaPlant (1987), Quinn Falk (1988), Steve Fried (1989-92), Kalonji Watts (1994), Kasey Harte (1995), Marc Lubick (1996), Ken Amato (1998), JB Kellogg (1999-00), Nate Cook (2001-03), Chaz Guinn (2004-05), Jamelle Banks (2006-07), Rick Haluszka (2008-12), Jayshawn Gates (2013-16), Callahan O'Reilly (2017), Ty Okada (2017-)
Other #19 Notes: Nate Cook was a fine punter and kicker for the Bobcats from 2001-03, but he will long be remembered for one glorious moment in his MSU career – with Montana State's season literally hanging in the balance and the most miraculous comeback in recent memory in his grasp, Cook nailed a 36-yard field goal with no time on the clock (courtesy of a defensive penalty on the game's final play) to boost the Cats to a stunning 31-30 win at Sacramento State.
#19
Ty Okada, DB: Ty Okada redshirted as a defensive back a season ago. A former standout quarterback at East Ridge High in Woodbury, Minnesota, Okada was named MSU's Young Gun Award winner in the off-season, and enters the fall as a favorite to emerge as one of the team's special teams aces.
Koby Duru, WR: Koby Duru is a rangy receiver who caught 23 passes for a talented Bishop Amat program last year. He could challenge for playing time this fall. When given the opportunity to visit with members of the Bobcat secondary, the name Koby Duru often arises as a top young prospect among the team's young receivers.
Spotlight – Johnny Gardiner: A bomber in both the literal and football sense, Johnny Gardiner followed quite a path to get to Montana State and an even more interesting one in the years after his season in Bozeman. The Minneapolis native played left halfback for the Golden Gophers in 1941 and '42, but enlisted in the air corps and flew bomber missions over Europe with distinction, receiving two Distinguished Flying Crosses. Following the war Gardiner first traveled east, playing one season at Purdue, then headed west to finish his career at Montana State. After his season with the Cats he signed as an import with Winnipeg of the CFL, called a "fine passer, fast, nifty and has a fighting heart" by a teammate, but after enduring a season of injuries and on-field misfortune Gardiner retired from football and began putting to use his commercial sciences degree. Gardiner accepted a position with the Parker Pen Company in Janesville, Wisconsin, before beginning his own business services company in California a short time later. He spent the rest of his days as a successful businessman in California, passing away in 2015 at the age of 92.
Chronology: James Gennary (1930), William Greer (1931), Bill Penttila (1934), Floyd Roth (1937), Robert Olson (1940), James O'Loughlin (1946-47), John Gardiner (1948), Bob Weast (1949), Kurt Ueland (1950), Joe Liesses (1953), Bernie Ellingson (1955), James Cowan (1983), Jeff Mayfield (1984-85), Scott Surby (1986), Robert LaPlant (1987), Quinn Falk (1988), Steve Fried (1989-92), Kalonji Watts (1994), Kasey Harte (1995), Marc Lubick (1996), Ken Amato (1998), JB Kellogg (1999-00), Nate Cook (2001-03), Chaz Guinn (2004-05), Jamelle Banks (2006-07), Rick Haluszka (2008-12), Jayshawn Gates (2013-16), Callahan O'Reilly (2017), Ty Okada (2017-)
Other #19 Notes: Nate Cook was a fine punter and kicker for the Bobcats from 2001-03, but he will long be remembered for one glorious moment in his MSU career – with Montana State's season literally hanging in the balance and the most miraculous comeback in recent memory in his grasp, Cook nailed a 36-yard field goal with no time on the clock (courtesy of a defensive penalty on the game's final play) to boost the Cats to a stunning 31-30 win at Sacramento State.
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