Photo by: Garrett Becker
BOBCAT FOOTBALL GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #3: Bobcats, Choate Look for Return to Normalcy Against Wagner
9/15/2018 12:02:00 PM | Football
Grant Collins returns to the starting lineup today, while Tyler Natee makes his Bobcat debut
Football coaches value few things more than regimen and routine, and today's game marks a return to some version of normalcy for Bobcat coach Jeff Choate after a long, bizarre week.
Choate underwent an emergency appendectomy in the early hours of Sunday morning after he returned with the Bobcat football team from its game at South Dakota State. His recovery last week included paring back his normal schedule, but by today – Game Day – Choate said he's back to at least some version of normal.
"I'm yelling and cussing (in practice), if that's what you mean by normal," he said with a laugh on Saturday morning. Choate will lead the Cats into Bobcat Stadium for today's non-conference finale against Wagner. Kickoff is 1 pm.
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Every head coach likes experience, which makes this year's Wagner team a dream for fourth-year head coach Jason Houghtaling. Every single offensive and defensive player projected to start today's game is either a junior, senior, or graduate transfer. For comparison's sake, the Cats start two sophomores on defense and three sophomores and a freshman on offense.
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Today's game marks Wagner's second game against a Big Sky opponent. The same season Montana State played its only opponent from the state of New York, the Seahawks played its only Big Sky opponent. Wagner lost to Eastern Washington 19-19 in the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
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Today marks the Bobcat debut for Big Bacon. Running back Tyler Natee is cleared to play today after an injury slowed him during fall camp. Natee is expected to see limited reps at running back, and Jeff Choate mentioned him several times before the season as a preferred short-yardage option.
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Grant Collins' return to the starting lineup at middle linebacker has precipitated a slight amount of shuffling in the linebacker corps. Sophomore Michael Jobman, who has started at Mike the first two games, moves to Will linebacker for today's contest.
* * * * *
Montana State's late-game defensive performance remains impressive. In the past two seasons, the Cats have allowed just 5.7 points in the fourth quarter, including 10 in the first two games of 2018.
Choate underwent an emergency appendectomy in the early hours of Sunday morning after he returned with the Bobcat football team from its game at South Dakota State. His recovery last week included paring back his normal schedule, but by today – Game Day – Choate said he's back to at least some version of normal.
"I'm yelling and cussing (in practice), if that's what you mean by normal," he said with a laugh on Saturday morning. Choate will lead the Cats into Bobcat Stadium for today's non-conference finale against Wagner. Kickoff is 1 pm.
* * * * *
Every head coach likes experience, which makes this year's Wagner team a dream for fourth-year head coach Jason Houghtaling. Every single offensive and defensive player projected to start today's game is either a junior, senior, or graduate transfer. For comparison's sake, the Cats start two sophomores on defense and three sophomores and a freshman on offense.
* * * * *
Today's game marks Wagner's second game against a Big Sky opponent. The same season Montana State played its only opponent from the state of New York, the Seahawks played its only Big Sky opponent. Wagner lost to Eastern Washington 19-19 in the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
* * * * *
Today marks the Bobcat debut for Big Bacon. Running back Tyler Natee is cleared to play today after an injury slowed him during fall camp. Natee is expected to see limited reps at running back, and Jeff Choate mentioned him several times before the season as a preferred short-yardage option.
* * * * *
Grant Collins' return to the starting lineup at middle linebacker has precipitated a slight amount of shuffling in the linebacker corps. Sophomore Michael Jobman, who has started at Mike the first two games, moves to Will linebacker for today's contest.
* * * * *
Montana State's late-game defensive performance remains impressive. In the past two seasons, the Cats have allowed just 5.7 points in the fourth quarter, including 10 in the first two games of 2018.
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
