BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 8 Days Before Kickoff, You Should Take this Chance to Learn About Fred Chez
8/22/2018 1:48:00 PM | Football
What do Pat Bolton, Chip Hobbs and Chris Murray have in common? Read about #8 and find out.
August 22: 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.
#8
Jalen Cole, CB: Another bright, young cornerback that will play a key role for the Cats in 2018, Jalen Cole who played excellent football in 2017. He started once, playing in the final seven games, and helped stabilize the MSU secondary when it was rocked by injury. One of the Thundercats (with Tyrel Thomas), Jalen Cole is a rising star in the Bobcat program.
Chris Murray, QB: A bomb was dropped on Bobcat Nation in July, when MSU fans learned what those inside the program had braced for – that starting quarterback Chris Murray would be an academic casualty for the 2018 season. He will redshirt while getting his schoolwork in order.
Spotlight – Fred Chez: Fred Chez is one of those names that pop up Bobcat Athletics history once in a while, usually when greats of a bygone era are discussed. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone on the streets of Bozeman who actually saw him play at the 'old field' on campus (approximately where the spectacular new Rendezvous dining hall sits), but he made quite an impact on those who did. He was chosen as Montana State's all-time left guard in 1933, and according to the Exponent: "Fred graduated from Montana State College with the reputation of being one of the smartest and hardest hitting linemen of all. He was captain of the 1927 team and a more consistent player could not be found. Although not as heavy as a line man should be he made up in speed and fighting spirit what he lacked in beef." Chez was not only landed on the all-time team in 1933, he did so again in 2000(alongside Ron Warzeka, Sonny Holland, Jon Borchardt and Joe Tiller). Chez was twice chosen all-league in the old and powerful Rocky Mountain Conference, and was an honorable mention All-America in 1928. A physical education major originally from Ogden, Utah, Chez belong to Beta Theta Pi, was a member of the social fraternity Les Bouffons, consisting of the top 10 senior men each year, was junior and senior class president, belonged to the M Club, captained the football team, and was a ROTC Captain.
Chronology: Fred Chez (1927), Howard Nelson (1930), Orville Bauer (1930), Charles Skinner (1930), George Parke (1931), Gordon Eastman (1934), Owen Murphy (1937), Oyvind Torp (1970), Bill Wier (1971), Pat Bolton (1972-75), Mark McGrath (1976-79), Pat McLeod (1980-82), Bentley Williams (1983), Scott Kimball (1984-86), Jon Skelton (1987), Earl Melebeck (1988-90), Maurice Baldwin (1991), Scott Bond (1992), Brock Spencer (1993-94), Chip Hobbs (1998-99), Brian McNeal (2004-05), Justin Domineck (2004-05), Jeff Brown (2006-08), Zach Coleman (2009-11), Orenzo Davis (2010, '12), Manny Kalfell (2014-15), Chris Harris (2016), Chris Murray (2016-), Jalen Cole (2017-)
Other #8 Notes: While wearing jersey #8: Pat Bolton kicked from 1972-75, an MSU record that stood until 1984… Chip Hobbs became the first Bobcat to surpass the 2,000-yard receiving mark in his career in 1999, and his 2,070 stand until 2011… Orenzo Davis rushed for 1,126 yards in 2010, the 10th-most in school history to that point… Chris Murray rushed for 1,124 yards a season ago, most ever by a Bobcat quarterback.
#8
Jalen Cole, CB: Another bright, young cornerback that will play a key role for the Cats in 2018, Jalen Cole who played excellent football in 2017. He started once, playing in the final seven games, and helped stabilize the MSU secondary when it was rocked by injury. One of the Thundercats (with Tyrel Thomas), Jalen Cole is a rising star in the Bobcat program.
Chris Murray, QB: A bomb was dropped on Bobcat Nation in July, when MSU fans learned what those inside the program had braced for – that starting quarterback Chris Murray would be an academic casualty for the 2018 season. He will redshirt while getting his schoolwork in order.
Spotlight – Fred Chez: Fred Chez is one of those names that pop up Bobcat Athletics history once in a while, usually when greats of a bygone era are discussed. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone on the streets of Bozeman who actually saw him play at the 'old field' on campus (approximately where the spectacular new Rendezvous dining hall sits), but he made quite an impact on those who did. He was chosen as Montana State's all-time left guard in 1933, and according to the Exponent: "Fred graduated from Montana State College with the reputation of being one of the smartest and hardest hitting linemen of all. He was captain of the 1927 team and a more consistent player could not be found. Although not as heavy as a line man should be he made up in speed and fighting spirit what he lacked in beef." Chez was not only landed on the all-time team in 1933, he did so again in 2000(alongside Ron Warzeka, Sonny Holland, Jon Borchardt and Joe Tiller). Chez was twice chosen all-league in the old and powerful Rocky Mountain Conference, and was an honorable mention All-America in 1928. A physical education major originally from Ogden, Utah, Chez belong to Beta Theta Pi, was a member of the social fraternity Les Bouffons, consisting of the top 10 senior men each year, was junior and senior class president, belonged to the M Club, captained the football team, and was a ROTC Captain.
Chronology: Fred Chez (1927), Howard Nelson (1930), Orville Bauer (1930), Charles Skinner (1930), George Parke (1931), Gordon Eastman (1934), Owen Murphy (1937), Oyvind Torp (1970), Bill Wier (1971), Pat Bolton (1972-75), Mark McGrath (1976-79), Pat McLeod (1980-82), Bentley Williams (1983), Scott Kimball (1984-86), Jon Skelton (1987), Earl Melebeck (1988-90), Maurice Baldwin (1991), Scott Bond (1992), Brock Spencer (1993-94), Chip Hobbs (1998-99), Brian McNeal (2004-05), Justin Domineck (2004-05), Jeff Brown (2006-08), Zach Coleman (2009-11), Orenzo Davis (2010, '12), Manny Kalfell (2014-15), Chris Harris (2016), Chris Murray (2016-), Jalen Cole (2017-)
Other #8 Notes: While wearing jersey #8: Pat Bolton kicked from 1972-75, an MSU record that stood until 1984… Chip Hobbs became the first Bobcat to surpass the 2,000-yard receiving mark in his career in 1999, and his 2,070 stand until 2011… Orenzo Davis rushed for 1,126 yards in 2010, the 10th-most in school history to that point… Chris Murray rushed for 1,124 yards a season ago, most ever by a Bobcat quarterback.
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