BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 25 Days Before Kickoff, and Tyrel Burgess is Back in the Backfield
8/5/2018 11:31:00 AM | Football
Jay Groepper was a homegrown Bobcat who found a lot of ways to help MSU
August 5: 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.
#25
Tyrel Burgess, WR: Watching Tyrel Burgess' development as an offensive weapon, and taking stock of how Brian Armstrong and Bob Cole fit his speed and elusiveness into MSU's offense, stand as one of the interesting facets of preseason camp and the 2018 season. Burgess played as a reserve running back and a return specialist last year, transitioning to receiver in the spring. But since preseason camp began, Burgess has returned to his natural position – running back – and appears at home. He has drawn praise from offensive coaches for his ability to operate in space and make defenders miss..
Spotlight – Jay Groepper: For any college football program, a positive relationship with its home region is important. From the beginning the Bobcats have benefitted from homegrown talent – from Cy Gatton over 100 years ago to Dane Fletcher and Nick Marudas and Corey Widmer, Bozeman High (or Gallatin High, if you go back far enough) has always matriculated talent down 11th Street. Jay Groepper was a former Bozeman Hawk undoubtedly attracted to MSU not just for the football but for the academic excellence. From his days playing for Bobcat legend Tom LeProwse at Bozeman High he was known as an excellent student, and Groepper later in his college years zeroed in on a career in medicine. That came into clearer focus in the winter after his senior season, 1970, when he was awarded an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship. As a Bobcat gridder, Groepper was nothing if not versatile. He was one of the team's top flankers in 1968, became a starting safety in 1969, and then started several games at quarterback as a senior in 1970. He is a long-time Spokane physician.
Chronology: Albert Allen (1926), Ray Buzzetti (1931), Kenneth McBride (1934), Clifford Vaughn (1937), Arthur Lovera (1940-41), Bill Boston (1946-49), George McCormick (1950), Frank Landon (1953-55), Bob Given (1964-65), Steve Rundle (1966-67), Jay Groepper (1968-69), Larry Hiller (1970), Larry Hiller (1970), Ken Williams (1971), Henry Olmstead (1972), Don Ueland (1973-76), Steve Roderick (1978-81), Pete O'Keefe (1982-83), Eric Miller (1984-85), Scott McFarland (1986), Pat Dringman (1987-88), Clint Bryan (1989-92), Kenyatte Morgan (1993), Charles Ephraim (1995), Steve Salo (1996-99), Jermaine Allen (20000), Cedric Baker (2001), CJ Adkins (2002), Demontae Fitzgerald (2003), Toph Grengell (2004-05), Aaron Mason (2006-07), Colby Kinna (2008), Cody Kirk (2009-13), James Nelson (2014), Zach Stern (2015-16)
Other #25 Notes: If you care about such things, which we here at BBTN clearly do, the absence of accessible statistics before 1956 is a bummer. But when stories of yore truly pique the interest, it can drive you nuts. Such is the case with post-WW II star Bill Boston, a center for the good (and less than good) Bobcat teams that immediately followed World War II. The Montanan and issues of the Exponent both refer to Boston's punting prowess. "Boston's long high punts earned him a place with the nation's best," the Exponent reported in its 1947 season wrapup. Little statistical evidence of Boston's heroics survive, but among the anecdotes and incidents can be mined. For instance, this from The Montanan's capsule of a 12-6 Homecoming win over North Dakota in 1948: "Montana (State) picked up their first touchdown after brilliant Bill Boston ruffled the Sioux feathers with a 52 yard punt to the Savages 4-yard line." Such observations about Boston's punting pepper almost every Bobcat game story for four seasons, and he was undoubtedly a weapon whose punting would be noteworthy even today.
#25
Tyrel Burgess, WR: Watching Tyrel Burgess' development as an offensive weapon, and taking stock of how Brian Armstrong and Bob Cole fit his speed and elusiveness into MSU's offense, stand as one of the interesting facets of preseason camp and the 2018 season. Burgess played as a reserve running back and a return specialist last year, transitioning to receiver in the spring. But since preseason camp began, Burgess has returned to his natural position – running back – and appears at home. He has drawn praise from offensive coaches for his ability to operate in space and make defenders miss..
Spotlight – Jay Groepper: For any college football program, a positive relationship with its home region is important. From the beginning the Bobcats have benefitted from homegrown talent – from Cy Gatton over 100 years ago to Dane Fletcher and Nick Marudas and Corey Widmer, Bozeman High (or Gallatin High, if you go back far enough) has always matriculated talent down 11th Street. Jay Groepper was a former Bozeman Hawk undoubtedly attracted to MSU not just for the football but for the academic excellence. From his days playing for Bobcat legend Tom LeProwse at Bozeman High he was known as an excellent student, and Groepper later in his college years zeroed in on a career in medicine. That came into clearer focus in the winter after his senior season, 1970, when he was awarded an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship. As a Bobcat gridder, Groepper was nothing if not versatile. He was one of the team's top flankers in 1968, became a starting safety in 1969, and then started several games at quarterback as a senior in 1970. He is a long-time Spokane physician.
Chronology: Albert Allen (1926), Ray Buzzetti (1931), Kenneth McBride (1934), Clifford Vaughn (1937), Arthur Lovera (1940-41), Bill Boston (1946-49), George McCormick (1950), Frank Landon (1953-55), Bob Given (1964-65), Steve Rundle (1966-67), Jay Groepper (1968-69), Larry Hiller (1970), Larry Hiller (1970), Ken Williams (1971), Henry Olmstead (1972), Don Ueland (1973-76), Steve Roderick (1978-81), Pete O'Keefe (1982-83), Eric Miller (1984-85), Scott McFarland (1986), Pat Dringman (1987-88), Clint Bryan (1989-92), Kenyatte Morgan (1993), Charles Ephraim (1995), Steve Salo (1996-99), Jermaine Allen (20000), Cedric Baker (2001), CJ Adkins (2002), Demontae Fitzgerald (2003), Toph Grengell (2004-05), Aaron Mason (2006-07), Colby Kinna (2008), Cody Kirk (2009-13), James Nelson (2014), Zach Stern (2015-16)
Other #25 Notes: If you care about such things, which we here at BBTN clearly do, the absence of accessible statistics before 1956 is a bummer. But when stories of yore truly pique the interest, it can drive you nuts. Such is the case with post-WW II star Bill Boston, a center for the good (and less than good) Bobcat teams that immediately followed World War II. The Montanan and issues of the Exponent both refer to Boston's punting prowess. "Boston's long high punts earned him a place with the nation's best," the Exponent reported in its 1947 season wrapup. Little statistical evidence of Boston's heroics survive, but among the anecdotes and incidents can be mined. For instance, this from The Montanan's capsule of a 12-6 Homecoming win over North Dakota in 1948: "Montana (State) picked up their first touchdown after brilliant Bill Boston ruffled the Sioux feathers with a 52 yard punt to the Savages 4-yard line." Such observations about Boston's punting pepper almost every Bobcat game story for four seasons, and he was undoubtedly a weapon whose punting would be noteworthy even today.
Players Mentioned
RB
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