BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 52 Days Until Kickoff!
7/10/2019 5:06:00 PM | Football
All-time great Sonny Holland wore #52 with great pride and distinction at Montana State
July 10: 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.
#52
Retired: The number 52 has not been worn by a Bobcat since Sonny Holland's last game in 1959. It was retired immediately for the man considered by everyone (except, perhaps, himself) since as the greatest Bobcat ever.
52 – Points scored by Montana State against Utah State on October 17, 1914
If you think you've lived through some tough times as a Bobcat fan, imagine what it must have been like to attend Montana State or live in Bozeman from 1909-12 if football was your thing. The College scored exactly eight points – EIGHT POINTS! – in those four seasons combined, limping to a 2-13-4 record. Thinking about those two wins might conjure the famous shower scene from the brilliant movie Bull Durham, when the manager rhetorically asks, "How'd we ever win eight?" and Robert Wuhl's character deadpans, "It's a miracle." Those two wins mostly were miracles, as the team-that-would-be-known-as-the-Bobcats reat the Butte Columbias 2-0 and Butte High 3-0 in 1910. That was it. Four seasons, two wins, neither against college competition. Eugene F. Bunker's Bobcats won two more games in 1913, so when Bennion arrived from Utah in 1914 there were at least signs of life. The Cats beat Billings High in the opener 21-0, then doubled that total by beating Montana Tech 42-0. But the win that really got people's attention was a stunning 52-3 win at Utah State, which raised the team's record to 3-0. "BLUE AND GOLD ELEVEN EASILY DEFEATS UTAH AGGIES ON THEIR OWN FIELD BY OVERWHELMING SCORE OF 52-3" the Exponent headline screamed. It continued, "Although Montana State's football team is outweighed ten pounds to the man, they give the strong Mormon eleven the worst drubbing they have received for years – line holds firm against the heavier Utah opponents – speed and accuracy of the back field is marvelous – Romney, Travers and Gatton are the big ground gainers – Roubideaux's trusty toe helps to enlarge the score – Utah team is poor on the defensive – Peterson made the lone score for the Mormon Farmers by a clever place kick." That's right, Ott Romney, who had matriculated to Bozeman with Bennion from the University of Utah, was a Bobcat star in 1914, alongside famed Cy Gatton. Another win against Tech preceded a 26-9 loss to the Grizzlies, but Montana State capped a brilliant season with an 18-0 win over North Dakota State to close the 1914 campaign.
Chronology: Francis Wilson (1926), Jesse Bequette (1927), George Sutich (1937), Mike Vuletich (1953), Gene Schilling (1954), Phil Whitner (1956), Dick Ernst (1957), Sonny Holland (1958-59), Retired for Sonny Holland
Spotlight: Those that followed football in the Treasure State seemed to know the fresh-faced center from Butte about to join the Montana State College football program in 1956 was good, but there wasn't talk that Sonny Holland was about to become one of the greatest players produced in Montana's pre-Division I era. The timing was right – the 1956 season dawned not only as head coach Tony Storti returned to the Bobcat program after a one-year absence with a strong core of veteran players, but as the final season for which freshmen would be eligible for more than a decade. That was an important point, as two rookies – Sonny Holland and Navy veteran Charlie Jackson – moved into the middle of the line as starters, joining Ed Ritt and Ron Warzeka (tackles) and Herb Roberts (guard). Behind that group, Montana State became the nation's most explosive offense. Freshman Dave Alt ran the team's Split T attack. Holland was known as a solid center, but drew praise far and wide as "an outstanding linebacker." Throughout his career Holland was viewed not only as a great player, a three-time mid-bracket All-America choice, but as a campus leader and academic standout.
#52
Retired: The number 52 has not been worn by a Bobcat since Sonny Holland's last game in 1959. It was retired immediately for the man considered by everyone (except, perhaps, himself) since as the greatest Bobcat ever.
52 – Points scored by Montana State against Utah State on October 17, 1914
If you think you've lived through some tough times as a Bobcat fan, imagine what it must have been like to attend Montana State or live in Bozeman from 1909-12 if football was your thing. The College scored exactly eight points – EIGHT POINTS! – in those four seasons combined, limping to a 2-13-4 record. Thinking about those two wins might conjure the famous shower scene from the brilliant movie Bull Durham, when the manager rhetorically asks, "How'd we ever win eight?" and Robert Wuhl's character deadpans, "It's a miracle." Those two wins mostly were miracles, as the team-that-would-be-known-as-the-Bobcats reat the Butte Columbias 2-0 and Butte High 3-0 in 1910. That was it. Four seasons, two wins, neither against college competition. Eugene F. Bunker's Bobcats won two more games in 1913, so when Bennion arrived from Utah in 1914 there were at least signs of life. The Cats beat Billings High in the opener 21-0, then doubled that total by beating Montana Tech 42-0. But the win that really got people's attention was a stunning 52-3 win at Utah State, which raised the team's record to 3-0. "BLUE AND GOLD ELEVEN EASILY DEFEATS UTAH AGGIES ON THEIR OWN FIELD BY OVERWHELMING SCORE OF 52-3" the Exponent headline screamed. It continued, "Although Montana State's football team is outweighed ten pounds to the man, they give the strong Mormon eleven the worst drubbing they have received for years – line holds firm against the heavier Utah opponents – speed and accuracy of the back field is marvelous – Romney, Travers and Gatton are the big ground gainers – Roubideaux's trusty toe helps to enlarge the score – Utah team is poor on the defensive – Peterson made the lone score for the Mormon Farmers by a clever place kick." That's right, Ott Romney, who had matriculated to Bozeman with Bennion from the University of Utah, was a Bobcat star in 1914, alongside famed Cy Gatton. Another win against Tech preceded a 26-9 loss to the Grizzlies, but Montana State capped a brilliant season with an 18-0 win over North Dakota State to close the 1914 campaign.
Chronology: Francis Wilson (1926), Jesse Bequette (1927), George Sutich (1937), Mike Vuletich (1953), Gene Schilling (1954), Phil Whitner (1956), Dick Ernst (1957), Sonny Holland (1958-59), Retired for Sonny Holland
Spotlight: Those that followed football in the Treasure State seemed to know the fresh-faced center from Butte about to join the Montana State College football program in 1956 was good, but there wasn't talk that Sonny Holland was about to become one of the greatest players produced in Montana's pre-Division I era. The timing was right – the 1956 season dawned not only as head coach Tony Storti returned to the Bobcat program after a one-year absence with a strong core of veteran players, but as the final season for which freshmen would be eligible for more than a decade. That was an important point, as two rookies – Sonny Holland and Navy veteran Charlie Jackson – moved into the middle of the line as starters, joining Ed Ritt and Ron Warzeka (tackles) and Herb Roberts (guard). Behind that group, Montana State became the nation's most explosive offense. Freshman Dave Alt ran the team's Split T attack. Holland was known as a solid center, but drew praise far and wide as "an outstanding linebacker." Throughout his career Holland was viewed not only as a great player, a three-time mid-bracket All-America choice, but as a campus leader and academic standout.
Leon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
