Photo by: Mike Bashor
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK: Bobcats Hope Full-Team Effort Offsets UC Davis Star Power
11/16/2019 4:00:00 PM | Football
Montana State faces powerful Aggies squad on Saturday at 5 pm MT
Every team is its own entity, develops its own personality, evolves into something unique.
Montana State football coach Jeff Choate preaches the process, talks about the steps individuals take toward becoming a unit, and begins that process before Bobcat football players step foot on campus. But sometimes evaluating the product is more worthwhile than the process, and Choate reached that point this week.
"This is the definition of team," Choate said of the 2019 Bobcats. "The group of kids playing for Team 122 at Montana State University is the definition of team. We have no superstars."
That is a conceptual statement, but it's also quantifiable. "We have 18 different ball carriers, 10 of whom have scored touchdowns, eight of whom have had 20-plus carries, seven of which have over 100 yards rushing on the season," Choate said. "I'm not sure there's a stat line anywhere else in college football. You think about five guys that have thrown touchdown passes for us. Five different human beings have thrown touchdown passes for us. Eight different guys have touchdown catches, and 17 have a reception. That's spreading it out."
The production isn't just about quantity, either. It is rooted in collective value. "We're the no. one rushing offense in the Big Sky Conference and we don't have a guy in the top six in the league in individual rushing," he said. "This is a group of guys that care about each other, and they are going to do what they have to do to win. And in today's day and age, when everybody wants a superstar, a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,500-yard rusher, I think his is unique."
Choate bears no malice toward football stars or the awards that celebrate them. "It's great for college football when you have the individual stars," he said. "And that's why we have the Walter Payton Award and the Heisman Trophy, to celebrate those guys.
"But you know what?" he continues. "This is a team sport, and sometimes we forget that, and it's the ultimate team sport in my opinion. If you've got 10 guys doing it right and one guy doing it wrong, (individual success) doesn't matter. When guys come together and play this game the right way it's rewarding."
For Choate, who has coached at every level from small high schools to Power 5 programs, it all comes back to that one word, and what his current team – his program – does to honor it. "You talk about a team? (This year's Bobcats ask), 'What do we have to do to win?' Let's take our linebacker and put him at quarterback on this down, let's take our safety and put him at linebacker. These guys will do whatever we ask them to do, and I have a ton of respect for them."
* * * * *
Jeff Choate wasn't targeting any particular outfit in the above dissertation, but the superstar label certainly lies like a crown on a couple of UC Davis' offensive players. Senior quarterback Jake Maier is expected by those in the Aggies program to easily surpass the 89 passing yards needed to set the school's all-time record, currently held by JT O'Sullivan (10,745). The Aggies also boast the Big Sky's top ball carrier. Ulonzo Gilliam Jr. has already rushed for 1,055 yards on the season, and nine touchdowns. Defensively, Nick Eaton has 11.5 tackles-for-loss.
* * * * *
Jeff Choate's teams have shown a knack for playing their best football when the games matter the most. Since the 2016 season began, the Cats stand 15-17 from August through October, and 8-3 in November. That includes last week's win at Northern Colorado, the team's second victory in a row.
* * * * *
The running back roulette continues to spin in the Bobcat program. Isaiah Ifanse is expected to be available for the Bobcats, and joins Logan Jones and Lane Sumner in the regular rotation. Shane Perry has battled an injury in recent weeks, and his status will be decided at kickoff. Receiver Travis Jonsen is expected to be available today, as well.
* * * * *
Jeff Choate has insisted since he got the job as Bobcat head coach that running the ball and stopping the run would be priorities in his program. That is especially true today when it comes to the defense's call to arms. "When (UC Davis') run game gets going, that's when they can really get rolling. That opens up so many things for them."
* * * * *
Bobcat head coach Jeff Choate will see a familiar face on the Aggies sideline today. UC Davis defensive line coach Brandon Huppert was Choate's graduate assistant at Washington in 2014-15. "I see a lot of similarities" between Montana State's defensive scheme and what UC Davis runs because of Huppert's influence, Choate said. Huppert began his career at Boise State but transferred to Washington to finish his career. Huppert is from the Seattle area.
* * * * *
Bobcat fans of a certain age will hold strong memories of UC Davis head coach Dan Hawkins. He was played the antagonist in one of the most glorious and improbable moments in Bobcat history.
That occurred September 2, 2006, when the Bobcats stunned Dan Hawkins' University of Colorado team 19-10 in his first games as the Buffaloes' head coach. The Cats held Colorado of the Big 12 to just 12 first downs and 216 total yards. Cory Carpenter threw for 229 yards to lead the Bobcats, 87 of them to receiver Michael Jefferson.
MSU trailed 10-6 coming out of the locker room at halftime, when the Bobcats forced a three-and-out then staged the day's most important drive. A good punt return by Kory Austin set the Cats up at their own 42-yard line. After a short run by Carpenter, he found Jefferson for a 30-yard gain that pushed Montana State to the Buffs' 24. A seven-yard pass to Donnell Wheaton and a six-yarder to Jefferson sandwiched a short run by Groves, then Carpenter found Jefferson on a 10-yard pass for the only Bobcat touchdown of the day. MSU led 13-10, and it would never trail again.
Of all the unlikely matchups on the day, the least likely may have been between field goal kickers. Colorado's Mason Crosby was already known as one of the nation's top kickers, and he is still booting field goals for the Green Bay Packers 13 years later. He made a 24-yarder that day, but missed a 63-yarder with 1:14 to play that would have give Colorado a flicker of hope. But Montana State's Jeff Hastings was marvelous. He converted all four of his field goals – from 35, 44, 19 and 41 yards, the last two coming in the game's final six minutes – to propel the Bobcats to victory.
It was a remarkable day, as surreal then as it remains to those present. The perfect ending came when the Bobcat team buses waited to enter the tarmac area at Denver International Airport for the short, joyous flight home. On bus one, Mike Kramer waited. At an opportune moment he was handed cell phone, with ESPN Radio on the other end. When the studio hosts came out of break and introduced Kramer, Montana State's still-legendary head coach had a response for the ages.
"Hi guys," he said in his most deadpan voice. "Long-time listener, first-time caller."
Montana State football coach Jeff Choate preaches the process, talks about the steps individuals take toward becoming a unit, and begins that process before Bobcat football players step foot on campus. But sometimes evaluating the product is more worthwhile than the process, and Choate reached that point this week.
"This is the definition of team," Choate said of the 2019 Bobcats. "The group of kids playing for Team 122 at Montana State University is the definition of team. We have no superstars."
That is a conceptual statement, but it's also quantifiable. "We have 18 different ball carriers, 10 of whom have scored touchdowns, eight of whom have had 20-plus carries, seven of which have over 100 yards rushing on the season," Choate said. "I'm not sure there's a stat line anywhere else in college football. You think about five guys that have thrown touchdown passes for us. Five different human beings have thrown touchdown passes for us. Eight different guys have touchdown catches, and 17 have a reception. That's spreading it out."
The production isn't just about quantity, either. It is rooted in collective value. "We're the no. one rushing offense in the Big Sky Conference and we don't have a guy in the top six in the league in individual rushing," he said. "This is a group of guys that care about each other, and they are going to do what they have to do to win. And in today's day and age, when everybody wants a superstar, a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,500-yard rusher, I think his is unique."
Choate bears no malice toward football stars or the awards that celebrate them. "It's great for college football when you have the individual stars," he said. "And that's why we have the Walter Payton Award and the Heisman Trophy, to celebrate those guys.
"But you know what?" he continues. "This is a team sport, and sometimes we forget that, and it's the ultimate team sport in my opinion. If you've got 10 guys doing it right and one guy doing it wrong, (individual success) doesn't matter. When guys come together and play this game the right way it's rewarding."
For Choate, who has coached at every level from small high schools to Power 5 programs, it all comes back to that one word, and what his current team – his program – does to honor it. "You talk about a team? (This year's Bobcats ask), 'What do we have to do to win?' Let's take our linebacker and put him at quarterback on this down, let's take our safety and put him at linebacker. These guys will do whatever we ask them to do, and I have a ton of respect for them."
* * * * *
Jeff Choate wasn't targeting any particular outfit in the above dissertation, but the superstar label certainly lies like a crown on a couple of UC Davis' offensive players. Senior quarterback Jake Maier is expected by those in the Aggies program to easily surpass the 89 passing yards needed to set the school's all-time record, currently held by JT O'Sullivan (10,745). The Aggies also boast the Big Sky's top ball carrier. Ulonzo Gilliam Jr. has already rushed for 1,055 yards on the season, and nine touchdowns. Defensively, Nick Eaton has 11.5 tackles-for-loss.
* * * * *
Jeff Choate's teams have shown a knack for playing their best football when the games matter the most. Since the 2016 season began, the Cats stand 15-17 from August through October, and 8-3 in November. That includes last week's win at Northern Colorado, the team's second victory in a row.
* * * * *
The running back roulette continues to spin in the Bobcat program. Isaiah Ifanse is expected to be available for the Bobcats, and joins Logan Jones and Lane Sumner in the regular rotation. Shane Perry has battled an injury in recent weeks, and his status will be decided at kickoff. Receiver Travis Jonsen is expected to be available today, as well.
* * * * *
Jeff Choate has insisted since he got the job as Bobcat head coach that running the ball and stopping the run would be priorities in his program. That is especially true today when it comes to the defense's call to arms. "When (UC Davis') run game gets going, that's when they can really get rolling. That opens up so many things for them."
* * * * *
Bobcat head coach Jeff Choate will see a familiar face on the Aggies sideline today. UC Davis defensive line coach Brandon Huppert was Choate's graduate assistant at Washington in 2014-15. "I see a lot of similarities" between Montana State's defensive scheme and what UC Davis runs because of Huppert's influence, Choate said. Huppert began his career at Boise State but transferred to Washington to finish his career. Huppert is from the Seattle area.
* * * * *
Bobcat fans of a certain age will hold strong memories of UC Davis head coach Dan Hawkins. He was played the antagonist in one of the most glorious and improbable moments in Bobcat history.
That occurred September 2, 2006, when the Bobcats stunned Dan Hawkins' University of Colorado team 19-10 in his first games as the Buffaloes' head coach. The Cats held Colorado of the Big 12 to just 12 first downs and 216 total yards. Cory Carpenter threw for 229 yards to lead the Bobcats, 87 of them to receiver Michael Jefferson.
MSU trailed 10-6 coming out of the locker room at halftime, when the Bobcats forced a three-and-out then staged the day's most important drive. A good punt return by Kory Austin set the Cats up at their own 42-yard line. After a short run by Carpenter, he found Jefferson for a 30-yard gain that pushed Montana State to the Buffs' 24. A seven-yard pass to Donnell Wheaton and a six-yarder to Jefferson sandwiched a short run by Groves, then Carpenter found Jefferson on a 10-yard pass for the only Bobcat touchdown of the day. MSU led 13-10, and it would never trail again.
Of all the unlikely matchups on the day, the least likely may have been between field goal kickers. Colorado's Mason Crosby was already known as one of the nation's top kickers, and he is still booting field goals for the Green Bay Packers 13 years later. He made a 24-yarder that day, but missed a 63-yarder with 1:14 to play that would have give Colorado a flicker of hope. But Montana State's Jeff Hastings was marvelous. He converted all four of his field goals – from 35, 44, 19 and 41 yards, the last two coming in the game's final six minutes – to propel the Bobcats to victory.
It was a remarkable day, as surreal then as it remains to those present. The perfect ending came when the Bobcat team buses waited to enter the tarmac area at Denver International Airport for the short, joyous flight home. On bus one, Mike Kramer waited. At an opportune moment he was handed cell phone, with ESPN Radio on the other end. When the studio hosts came out of break and introduced Kramer, Montana State's still-legendary head coach had a response for the ages.
"Hi guys," he said in his most deadpan voice. "Long-time listener, first-time caller."
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