BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: Only 23 Days Until Montana State Returns to the Gridiron
8/7/2018 5:12:00 PM | Football
Ron Bain was among the standouts who made history in #23 at MSU
August 7: 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.
#23
Tristan Bailey, K: Tristan Bailey has traveled a twisted path to Montana State, kicking for Wyoming as a true freshman before spending the next year away from football at Colorado State. He then revived his career at Coffeyville College in Kansas last fall, drilling 11 of his 17 field goal attempts before signing with the Cats last winter. He has impressed with his strong leg since arriving in Bozeman, and in addition to his work on place kicks and kickoffs is MSU's backup punter, as well.
Spotlight – David Smith: Turning a college football around requires considerable energy and tremendous effort. It requires a plan, and execution. But mostly it involves good players. Among the first players to join the Cats after Mike Kramer was hired, David Smith infused the middle of the MSU defense with athleticism and personality when he arrived in 2000. He played in all 11 games during his first season and started in 2001. Granted an extra year of eligibility because he hadn't competed during one of his junior college years, Smith was a key member of Montana State's defense in 2002, the school's first championship in 18 years. Smith was the perfect complement to MSU's tough and physical safeties, with ability to defend all phases of opposing offenses. He earned Second Team All-Big Sky honors as a senior, and after working in Las Vegas for many years returne to Montana recently.
Chronology: Earl Hansen (1931), Eli Doyra (1934), Jule Gustafson (1937), Don Wold (1940), Conrad LaSalle (1941), Allen Hutchinson (1946), Ed Gorrilla (1947-49), Gene Stergar (1950), Bruce Lund (1953), Dan Hames (1954), James Cook (1955), Bob Jenkins (1956), Tom Jones (1957), Bob Rudio (1958), George Lucas (1959), Russ Powers (1961), Leon Hartman (1963), Gary Popiel (1965-67), Ron Bain (1968), Mike Greene (1969), Larry Bonner (1970), John Hotchkiss (1971-72), Vince Dodds (1974-76), Corey Johnson (1977), Paul Dilley (1978-82), Todd Sheppard (1983), Lou Antoine (1984-85), TJ Regan (1986), Lance Sullivan (1987-89), Keith Furnas (1990-91), John Gregory (1992-93), Scoey Peters (1994), Kwame Dewberry (1995), Jared Lucero (1996), Isaac Hatley (1997-98), Mitch Jones (1999), David Smith (2000-02), Jason Gathing (2003-05), Brad Steffen (2006), Jody Owens (2008-12), Nick LaSane (2013-17), Tristan Bailey (2018-)
Other #23 Notes: Linebacker Jody Owens was a brilliant, all-time Bobcat in #23 from 2008-12. Owens earned Big Sky Conference MVP and All-America honors as a senior in 2012 after leading MSU to three straight Big Sky titles. Owens was a hard hitter and a trash talker on the field, and off the field was a 'yes sir' 'no sir' gentleman who was a pleasure to have around. Another all-time Bobcat wore 23 as a senior in 1968, when Ron Bain did what had to have seemed impossible for most of the 20th century. Catching passes from Dennis Erickson, Bain recorded 1,110 receiving yards, the first-ever 1,000-yard season by a Bobcat.
#23
Tristan Bailey, K: Tristan Bailey has traveled a twisted path to Montana State, kicking for Wyoming as a true freshman before spending the next year away from football at Colorado State. He then revived his career at Coffeyville College in Kansas last fall, drilling 11 of his 17 field goal attempts before signing with the Cats last winter. He has impressed with his strong leg since arriving in Bozeman, and in addition to his work on place kicks and kickoffs is MSU's backup punter, as well.
Spotlight – David Smith: Turning a college football around requires considerable energy and tremendous effort. It requires a plan, and execution. But mostly it involves good players. Among the first players to join the Cats after Mike Kramer was hired, David Smith infused the middle of the MSU defense with athleticism and personality when he arrived in 2000. He played in all 11 games during his first season and started in 2001. Granted an extra year of eligibility because he hadn't competed during one of his junior college years, Smith was a key member of Montana State's defense in 2002, the school's first championship in 18 years. Smith was the perfect complement to MSU's tough and physical safeties, with ability to defend all phases of opposing offenses. He earned Second Team All-Big Sky honors as a senior, and after working in Las Vegas for many years returne to Montana recently.
Chronology: Earl Hansen (1931), Eli Doyra (1934), Jule Gustafson (1937), Don Wold (1940), Conrad LaSalle (1941), Allen Hutchinson (1946), Ed Gorrilla (1947-49), Gene Stergar (1950), Bruce Lund (1953), Dan Hames (1954), James Cook (1955), Bob Jenkins (1956), Tom Jones (1957), Bob Rudio (1958), George Lucas (1959), Russ Powers (1961), Leon Hartman (1963), Gary Popiel (1965-67), Ron Bain (1968), Mike Greene (1969), Larry Bonner (1970), John Hotchkiss (1971-72), Vince Dodds (1974-76), Corey Johnson (1977), Paul Dilley (1978-82), Todd Sheppard (1983), Lou Antoine (1984-85), TJ Regan (1986), Lance Sullivan (1987-89), Keith Furnas (1990-91), John Gregory (1992-93), Scoey Peters (1994), Kwame Dewberry (1995), Jared Lucero (1996), Isaac Hatley (1997-98), Mitch Jones (1999), David Smith (2000-02), Jason Gathing (2003-05), Brad Steffen (2006), Jody Owens (2008-12), Nick LaSane (2013-17), Tristan Bailey (2018-)
Other #23 Notes: Linebacker Jody Owens was a brilliant, all-time Bobcat in #23 from 2008-12. Owens earned Big Sky Conference MVP and All-America honors as a senior in 2012 after leading MSU to three straight Big Sky titles. Owens was a hard hitter and a trash talker on the field, and off the field was a 'yes sir' 'no sir' gentleman who was a pleasure to have around. Another all-time Bobcat wore 23 as a senior in 1968, when Ron Bain did what had to have seemed impossible for most of the 20th century. Catching passes from Dennis Erickson, Bain recorded 1,110 receiving yards, the first-ever 1,000-yard season by a Bobcat.
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