BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 93 Days Until Montana State Visits Texas Tech
5/30/2019 3:52:00 PM | Football
It's always worth the time to take a quick look back at MSU's memorable '93 season
May 30: In addition to a quick look at players wearing the jersey number corresponding to the number of days remaining until Montana State's season opener at Texas Tech on August 31, Bobcats by the Numbers brings you another tidbit or two aligning with that number.
#93
Kyle Rygg, DL: Another young player likely to participate in the rejuvenation of MSU's interior defensive line, Kyle Rygg has shown promise during his two seasons at Montana State. He didn't play last season, but has shown promise as a prospect. He was an all-conference and all-state performer at Sheldon High in Eugene, Oregon, where former Bobcat star receiver Mitchell Herbert played.
93 – The '93 season was, in many ways, magical for the Bobcat football team. A program that had floundered below break-even since the 1984 National Championship caught lightning in a bottle early and rode the energy to a seven-win season, which no MSU team bettered until 2006. Cliff Hysell's second season opened brilliantly, with Fred Moore and Clint Morton running wild on the Great Plains as the Bobcats bounced Western Illinois 29-16. After an expected loss at Washington State and a home win over overmatched Fort Lewis, the Bobcats gashed Weber State for 353 rushing yards in a 14-10 upset of the Wildcats on Homecoming. A narrow loss at NAU set up one of the dramatic stretches for the Blue and Gold in the 1990s. In consecutive weeks the Cats won a home thriller against Southern Utah, beat Idaho State on an interception return by Chris Steinbeisser in the closing seconds, topped #1 Idaho 40-35, then earned Montana State's first – and only – win in Bronco Stadium, drilling Boise State 42-21. The Bobcats wouldn't quite be able to squeeze out the win against Eastern Washington or Montana that it would have taken to boost the team into the I-AA Playoffs, but nonetheless it is remembered as a time of rekindling the passion of a proud program.
Chronology: Jerry Tomal (1980), Steve Niksich (1982), Mark Baker (1983), Mark Gibson (1984), Matt Spain (1985-86), John Galland (1988-90), Chris Steinbeisser (1991-94), AJ Stoneburner (1997), Nick Gerhard (2000), Eric Axlund (2001), Jason Nicastro (2002), Mike Feist (2003), Andy Matakis (2004-05), Dan Ogden (2007-08), Lee Perkins (2010-14), Matt Brownlow (2015-16), Kyle Rygg (2017-)
Other 93 Notes: One of the key moments of the '93 season came down to an amazing play by #93. It was Chris Steinbeisser, a one-time walk-on from Sidney who the coaches always described as possessing a "pit-bull mentality." Steinbeisser made a brilliant read and stepped in front of an Idaho State pass with just seconds remaining and the Bengals holding a narrow lead, and gave Montana State the win by racing the other way for a touchdown. Steinbeisser was a coach's dream. "We always tried to recruit over him," Cliff Hysell said privately several times, "and never could." … Jason Nicastro wasn't one of the headliners on Montana State's 2002 Big Sky-winning defense, but his arrival for one season was a tremendous spark. He transferred to MSU when Cal State Northridge dropped football, and started most of the season at nose tackle. His 48 tackles, nine for a loss, with 4.5 sacks, was important, but so too was his passion, his swagger, his flare. Jason Nicastro was a big part of that unforgettable 2002 Big Sky Championship.
#93
Kyle Rygg, DL: Another young player likely to participate in the rejuvenation of MSU's interior defensive line, Kyle Rygg has shown promise during his two seasons at Montana State. He didn't play last season, but has shown promise as a prospect. He was an all-conference and all-state performer at Sheldon High in Eugene, Oregon, where former Bobcat star receiver Mitchell Herbert played.
93 – The '93 season was, in many ways, magical for the Bobcat football team. A program that had floundered below break-even since the 1984 National Championship caught lightning in a bottle early and rode the energy to a seven-win season, which no MSU team bettered until 2006. Cliff Hysell's second season opened brilliantly, with Fred Moore and Clint Morton running wild on the Great Plains as the Bobcats bounced Western Illinois 29-16. After an expected loss at Washington State and a home win over overmatched Fort Lewis, the Bobcats gashed Weber State for 353 rushing yards in a 14-10 upset of the Wildcats on Homecoming. A narrow loss at NAU set up one of the dramatic stretches for the Blue and Gold in the 1990s. In consecutive weeks the Cats won a home thriller against Southern Utah, beat Idaho State on an interception return by Chris Steinbeisser in the closing seconds, topped #1 Idaho 40-35, then earned Montana State's first – and only – win in Bronco Stadium, drilling Boise State 42-21. The Bobcats wouldn't quite be able to squeeze out the win against Eastern Washington or Montana that it would have taken to boost the team into the I-AA Playoffs, but nonetheless it is remembered as a time of rekindling the passion of a proud program.
Chronology: Jerry Tomal (1980), Steve Niksich (1982), Mark Baker (1983), Mark Gibson (1984), Matt Spain (1985-86), John Galland (1988-90), Chris Steinbeisser (1991-94), AJ Stoneburner (1997), Nick Gerhard (2000), Eric Axlund (2001), Jason Nicastro (2002), Mike Feist (2003), Andy Matakis (2004-05), Dan Ogden (2007-08), Lee Perkins (2010-14), Matt Brownlow (2015-16), Kyle Rygg (2017-)
Other 93 Notes: One of the key moments of the '93 season came down to an amazing play by #93. It was Chris Steinbeisser, a one-time walk-on from Sidney who the coaches always described as possessing a "pit-bull mentality." Steinbeisser made a brilliant read and stepped in front of an Idaho State pass with just seconds remaining and the Bengals holding a narrow lead, and gave Montana State the win by racing the other way for a touchdown. Steinbeisser was a coach's dream. "We always tried to recruit over him," Cliff Hysell said privately several times, "and never could." … Jason Nicastro wasn't one of the headliners on Montana State's 2002 Big Sky-winning defense, but his arrival for one season was a tremendous spark. He transferred to MSU when Cal State Northridge dropped football, and started most of the season at nose tackle. His 48 tackles, nine for a loss, with 4.5 sacks, was important, but so too was his passion, his swagger, his flare. Jason Nicastro was a big part of that unforgettable 2002 Big Sky Championship.
Players Mentioned
WR
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DL
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