Photo by: Garrett Becker
BOBCAT FOOTBALL GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #6: Montana State at Cal Poly
10/5/2019 5:00:00 PM | Football
A look at this evening's matchup against the Mustangs
Jeff Choate had an instant, visceral reaction when asked about his team's first game on natural grass since a win at Northern Colorado in 2017.
"Isn't that how football's meant to be played?"
The answer to that question is way more complicated than a superficial glance might offer, especially in the northern Rocky Mountains, but there is absolutely something aesthetically pleasing about playing football on grass.
To Choate's way of thinking, though, aesthetics and quips – former baseball slugger Richie Allen famously once said, "If a horse can't eat it I don't want to play on it" – are about where the impact of the playing surface ends. "I haven't been there but I'm told it's a good surface. There's no rain in the forecast, so I don't think the field will matter."
For whatever it's worth, Montana State played 23 games on grass in the first decade of this century. Saturday's contest will mark the fifth game the Cats have played on the real stuff since 2010, and November game at Northern Colorado will be the sixth. The 2019 season is the first since 2009 that Montana State plays two games on the stuff horses can eat.
Here is a list of the games Montana State has played on natural grass in the 21st Century: 2017 – MSU 27, Northern Colorado 24; 2014 – Cal Poly 35, MSU 27; 2013 – MSU 35, Northern Colorado 28; 2011 – MSU 44, Weber State 24; 2009 – Eastern Washington 35, MSU 24; MSU 26, Weber State 21; MSU 25, Northern Colorado 7; 2008 – MSU 31, Sacramento State 20; 2007 – Northern Colorado 16, MSU 13; Eastern Washington 35, MSU 13; MSU 21, Weber State 5; 2006 – MSU 21, Sacramento State 18; 2005 – Eastern Washington 35, MSU 14; MSU 27, Weber State 24; Cal Poly 38, MSU 10; 2004 – Sacramento State 38, MSU 28; CSU 39, MSU 14; 2003 – Eastern Washington 34, MSU 25; MSU 26, Weber State 3; MSU 40, Saint Mary's 0; Cal Poly 24, MSU 21; Wyoming 21, MSU 10; 2002 – McNeese State 21, MSU 14; MSU 31, Sacramento State 30; 2001 –MSU 32, Weber State 17; UAB 41, MSU 13; 2000 – Montana 28, MSU 3; Sacramento State 24, MSU 13.
* * * * *
The reinforcements are coming.
The couple of injury returners arrive today, when running backs Isaiah Ifanse and Karl Tucker II are expected to return. Both practiced this week, and warm up for tonight's game with the idea of playing.
Elsewhere on the injury front, several Bobcats remain on the mend. CB Munchie Filer, WR Willie Patterson, CB Ty Okada and TE Jacob Hadley are each eyeing returns sometime in the coming weeks.
* * * * *
An all-time Bobcat with strong ties to the Cal Poly program will be on the sideline opposite MSU's tonight. Steve Kracher, whose 2,979 career rushing yards was a school record at the completion of his brilliant career in 1975, is a defensive analyst for Cal Poly. He served as the school's football equipment manager for several years, retiring after the 2015 season.
* * * * *
Cal Poly coach Tim Walsh is one of three men to coach at more than one Big Sky school. Mike Kramer, of course, coached Eastern Washington and Montana State both to Big Sky titles, and also led the Idaho State program. Jody Sears worked as head coach at Weber State and Sacramento State, and Walsh also coached Portland State.
* * * * *
Much has been made of Cal Poly's dynamic option attack, but the Mustangs defense has struggled at times to stop the run. Cal Poly allows 194.2 yards a game on the ground, 84th in the FCS and 10th in the Big Sky. Montana State rushes for 258.8 yards a game, 1st in the Big Sky and 6th in the FCS.
"Isn't that how football's meant to be played?"
The answer to that question is way more complicated than a superficial glance might offer, especially in the northern Rocky Mountains, but there is absolutely something aesthetically pleasing about playing football on grass.
To Choate's way of thinking, though, aesthetics and quips – former baseball slugger Richie Allen famously once said, "If a horse can't eat it I don't want to play on it" – are about where the impact of the playing surface ends. "I haven't been there but I'm told it's a good surface. There's no rain in the forecast, so I don't think the field will matter."
For whatever it's worth, Montana State played 23 games on grass in the first decade of this century. Saturday's contest will mark the fifth game the Cats have played on the real stuff since 2010, and November game at Northern Colorado will be the sixth. The 2019 season is the first since 2009 that Montana State plays two games on the stuff horses can eat.
Here is a list of the games Montana State has played on natural grass in the 21st Century: 2017 – MSU 27, Northern Colorado 24; 2014 – Cal Poly 35, MSU 27; 2013 – MSU 35, Northern Colorado 28; 2011 – MSU 44, Weber State 24; 2009 – Eastern Washington 35, MSU 24; MSU 26, Weber State 21; MSU 25, Northern Colorado 7; 2008 – MSU 31, Sacramento State 20; 2007 – Northern Colorado 16, MSU 13; Eastern Washington 35, MSU 13; MSU 21, Weber State 5; 2006 – MSU 21, Sacramento State 18; 2005 – Eastern Washington 35, MSU 14; MSU 27, Weber State 24; Cal Poly 38, MSU 10; 2004 – Sacramento State 38, MSU 28; CSU 39, MSU 14; 2003 – Eastern Washington 34, MSU 25; MSU 26, Weber State 3; MSU 40, Saint Mary's 0; Cal Poly 24, MSU 21; Wyoming 21, MSU 10; 2002 – McNeese State 21, MSU 14; MSU 31, Sacramento State 30; 2001 –MSU 32, Weber State 17; UAB 41, MSU 13; 2000 – Montana 28, MSU 3; Sacramento State 24, MSU 13.
* * * * *
The reinforcements are coming.
The couple of injury returners arrive today, when running backs Isaiah Ifanse and Karl Tucker II are expected to return. Both practiced this week, and warm up for tonight's game with the idea of playing.
Elsewhere on the injury front, several Bobcats remain on the mend. CB Munchie Filer, WR Willie Patterson, CB Ty Okada and TE Jacob Hadley are each eyeing returns sometime in the coming weeks.
* * * * *
An all-time Bobcat with strong ties to the Cal Poly program will be on the sideline opposite MSU's tonight. Steve Kracher, whose 2,979 career rushing yards was a school record at the completion of his brilliant career in 1975, is a defensive analyst for Cal Poly. He served as the school's football equipment manager for several years, retiring after the 2015 season.
* * * * *
Cal Poly coach Tim Walsh is one of three men to coach at more than one Big Sky school. Mike Kramer, of course, coached Eastern Washington and Montana State both to Big Sky titles, and also led the Idaho State program. Jody Sears worked as head coach at Weber State and Sacramento State, and Walsh also coached Portland State.
* * * * *
Much has been made of Cal Poly's dynamic option attack, but the Mustangs defense has struggled at times to stop the run. Cal Poly allows 194.2 yards a game on the ground, 84th in the FCS and 10th in the Big Sky. Montana State rushes for 258.8 yards a game, 1st in the Big Sky and 6th in the FCS.
Players Mentioned
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