Ace Cacciatore
BOBCAT HISTORY LESSON: As MSU Faces Wagner for the First Time, We Look at a Long-Ago Bobcat from New York State
9/15/2018 8:11:00 AM | Football
Montana State and Wagner don't share much football history
Here's a look at the history of Montana State's series with this week's opponent...
All-Time Series: 0-0
In Bozeman: first meeting
At Opponent: none
Streaks and Stuff
A first meeting between two intersectional opponents doesn't offer much in the way of streaks, but the Cats have won their only meeting with a Northeast Conference team (Bryant, 27-24 in Jeff Choate's first game as head coach in Bobcat Stadium), and its only game against a team from New York state (Stony Brook, a 16-10 home win in the 2012 FCS Playoffs).
Here's a Good Story
It took Wagner from the founding of its football program in 1927 until the 1971 season to venture away from the nation's eastern seaboard. The Seahawks lost on that day at Valparaiso, 34-18. The Seahawks also lost 56-16 at Rice in 2015 and 49-14 at Western Michigan last season, but in terms of trips to the true west there have only been a handful. Wagner played a lengthy series with San Diego, playing the Toreros five times between 1993 and 2004, winning once. Wagner also played Eastern Washington in the 2012 FCS Playoffs (losing 29-19) and at BYU in Jason Houghtaling's first season as head coach, 2015, dropping a 70-6 decision. Today's game marks the fourth-longest road trip in program history. San Diego (2,764 miles from Staten Island), Cheney (2,588 miles) and Provo (2,199) are each longer than the 2,175 miles Wagner traveled for today's game.
Memory
Armand "Ace" Cacciatore may not have gained great fame as a student-athlete at Montana State, but he certainly used his experience in Bozeman as a springboard to great accomplishments. A journeyman quarterback for the Bobcats from 1953-55, the Niagara Falls, New York, native was also a standout wrestler for the Cats. Returning home to upstate New York after graduating from Montana State, Cacciatore became a legendary coach in his home area. He compiled 330 dual wins as Niagara Wheatfield's wrestling coach and also coached prep football. He was elected to the New York State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame and the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame after a long, distinguished career.
All-Time Series: 0-0
In Bozeman: first meeting
At Opponent: none
Streaks and Stuff
A first meeting between two intersectional opponents doesn't offer much in the way of streaks, but the Cats have won their only meeting with a Northeast Conference team (Bryant, 27-24 in Jeff Choate's first game as head coach in Bobcat Stadium), and its only game against a team from New York state (Stony Brook, a 16-10 home win in the 2012 FCS Playoffs).
Here's a Good Story
It took Wagner from the founding of its football program in 1927 until the 1971 season to venture away from the nation's eastern seaboard. The Seahawks lost on that day at Valparaiso, 34-18. The Seahawks also lost 56-16 at Rice in 2015 and 49-14 at Western Michigan last season, but in terms of trips to the true west there have only been a handful. Wagner played a lengthy series with San Diego, playing the Toreros five times between 1993 and 2004, winning once. Wagner also played Eastern Washington in the 2012 FCS Playoffs (losing 29-19) and at BYU in Jason Houghtaling's first season as head coach, 2015, dropping a 70-6 decision. Today's game marks the fourth-longest road trip in program history. San Diego (2,764 miles from Staten Island), Cheney (2,588 miles) and Provo (2,199) are each longer than the 2,175 miles Wagner traveled for today's game.
Memory
Armand "Ace" Cacciatore may not have gained great fame as a student-athlete at Montana State, but he certainly used his experience in Bozeman as a springboard to great accomplishments. A journeyman quarterback for the Bobcats from 1953-55, the Niagara Falls, New York, native was also a standout wrestler for the Cats. Returning home to upstate New York after graduating from Montana State, Cacciatore became a legendary coach in his home area. He compiled 330 dual wins as Niagara Wheatfield's wrestling coach and also coached prep football. He was elected to the New York State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame and the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame after a long, distinguished career.
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