BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 18 Days Until Kickoff!
8/13/2019 9:38:00 AM | Football
A look back at one of the program's best receivers, Chip Hobbs
August 13: 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.
#18
Blake Thelen, QB: Blake Thelen was one of the most productive players in the Montana prep ranks last fall, and he's impressed early in preseason camp. He threw for over 3,000 yards for Great Falls High, and follows Blue and Gold bloodlines to Bozeman. His father Terry Thelen played for the Cats in the mid-1980s.
Elijah King, DB: A talented young defensive back from the Sacramento area, Elijah King was an all-purpose star at Consumnes Oaks High at both DB and receiver. He is in a wave of young players waiting their turn behind a veteran, talented secondary which returns five players in 2019 with starting experience.
18 – Career touchdown catches by Chip Hobbs
The collective memory of Bobcat fans tends to recall the 1990s, Cliff Hysell's time as head coach in particular, as a conservative, run-oriented era. While that is mostly true, the Bobcats of the late 1990s generated several passing game stars. That is mostly because of two men – offensive coordinator Jim McElwain, whose offense drew visitors from across college football to study his advanced pass game design – and quarterback Rob Compson, who while not a star was workmanlike, tough, and smart. There were several beneficiaries on the receiving end of Compson's deliveries. Eric Hopkins, Tony Vallez, and Oscar Caballero each posted tremendous careers. But no one shined like Chip Hobbs. His 2,070 career receiving yards was a Bobcat record for more than a decade, his 144 catches remains fourth in school history, and his 18 touchdown catches remains tied for third among all Bobcats. Hobbs, a native Oklahoman, remains one of only five Bobcats (with Joe Bignell, Elvis Akpla, Ron Bain and Mike Jefferson) with 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Chronology: Paul McLean (1931), Kendall Pickens (1934), George Bailey (1937), Bob Whalen (1941), Dave Smith (1946), Frank Kinney (1947), Bill Kenney (1948), Dave Smith (1949), Don Sivertson (1950), John Digirolomo (1953-54), Favre Eaton (1955), Julian Albrecht (1957), George Lucas (1958), Harry Lopsonzski (1959-61), Tom Coombs (1962), Marv Tiller (1964-66), Jerry Pitzer (1967-69), Zoonie McLean (1970-72), Mike Holder (1973-75), Don Walsh (1976-78), Britt Freeman (1980), Kelly Davis (1982-86), Scott Neuman (1987), Chris Saenz (1988), Mark Fisher (1990-93), Rob Compson (1994-98), Nate Cook (2000), Cody Samuelson (2002), Gordon Hawley (2003), Eddie Smith (2004-05), Blayde Beckstead (2006), Willie Sullivan (2007), Chris Wilson (2009), Rory Perez (2010-13), Bo Hughes (2013), Casey Schwertfeger (2014), Wyatt Christensen (2014-15), Devon Tandberg (2015), Brayden Konkol (2016-18), Blake Thelen (2019-), Elijah King (2019-)
Other #18 Notes: A tough and fast receiver out of Butte, Kelly Davis caught five passes as a freshman in 1983 and really took off from there. He finished his career with eight touchdown catches, a Big Sky and National Championship on the football team, and a conference 110 m high hurdle championship on the track. The construction engineering technology major helps run a construction firm in Denver. On the other end of the pass-catch spectrum, Rob Compson moved pretty well in a day and age before there was such a thing as a dual-threat quarterback, but he was never a threat to win a Big Sky hurdles race. He started at quarterback for the Cats for three seasons, but never possessed an arm that people bragged about. He's not necessarily remembered as an all-time Bobcat great, but remains fourth in school history in passing yards. He was flat-out a winner, presiding over MSU's best three-season stretch (19 wins) between the 1984 National Championship and the run of success that began in 2002. Compson gave Bobcat fans lots of thrills, and no less an connoisseur of brilliant quarterback play than Jim McElwain considers Compson to this day one of his favorite players… In quiet moments during what proved to be a fine and productive career as a Bobcat football player, Mark Fisher had to occasionally wonder what the heck was going on. He began his career in the most surprising way imaginable, debuting in game 9 of a season during which he appeared to be redshirting, completing 6-of-13 passes in the fourth quarter of a home loss to Boise State, but suffered a season-ending injury that day. He began 1991 as the team's third quarterback, but by the fourth game he was its starter. He threw for 1,700 yards that season, and entered his junior campaign as the starting quarterback. Just before halftime in the season opener at Sacramento State, though, and took his medical hardship season. By the dawn of the 1993 campaign he had switched to fullback and played the remainder of his career at that position. Mark Fisher was a smart, tough kid throughout his tumultuous Bobcat career, and none of the drama he endured was of his own making. He is a long-time high school football coach and counselor in Colorado.
#18
Blake Thelen, QB: Blake Thelen was one of the most productive players in the Montana prep ranks last fall, and he's impressed early in preseason camp. He threw for over 3,000 yards for Great Falls High, and follows Blue and Gold bloodlines to Bozeman. His father Terry Thelen played for the Cats in the mid-1980s.
Elijah King, DB: A talented young defensive back from the Sacramento area, Elijah King was an all-purpose star at Consumnes Oaks High at both DB and receiver. He is in a wave of young players waiting their turn behind a veteran, talented secondary which returns five players in 2019 with starting experience.
18 – Career touchdown catches by Chip Hobbs
The collective memory of Bobcat fans tends to recall the 1990s, Cliff Hysell's time as head coach in particular, as a conservative, run-oriented era. While that is mostly true, the Bobcats of the late 1990s generated several passing game stars. That is mostly because of two men – offensive coordinator Jim McElwain, whose offense drew visitors from across college football to study his advanced pass game design – and quarterback Rob Compson, who while not a star was workmanlike, tough, and smart. There were several beneficiaries on the receiving end of Compson's deliveries. Eric Hopkins, Tony Vallez, and Oscar Caballero each posted tremendous careers. But no one shined like Chip Hobbs. His 2,070 career receiving yards was a Bobcat record for more than a decade, his 144 catches remains fourth in school history, and his 18 touchdown catches remains tied for third among all Bobcats. Hobbs, a native Oklahoman, remains one of only five Bobcats (with Joe Bignell, Elvis Akpla, Ron Bain and Mike Jefferson) with 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Chronology: Paul McLean (1931), Kendall Pickens (1934), George Bailey (1937), Bob Whalen (1941), Dave Smith (1946), Frank Kinney (1947), Bill Kenney (1948), Dave Smith (1949), Don Sivertson (1950), John Digirolomo (1953-54), Favre Eaton (1955), Julian Albrecht (1957), George Lucas (1958), Harry Lopsonzski (1959-61), Tom Coombs (1962), Marv Tiller (1964-66), Jerry Pitzer (1967-69), Zoonie McLean (1970-72), Mike Holder (1973-75), Don Walsh (1976-78), Britt Freeman (1980), Kelly Davis (1982-86), Scott Neuman (1987), Chris Saenz (1988), Mark Fisher (1990-93), Rob Compson (1994-98), Nate Cook (2000), Cody Samuelson (2002), Gordon Hawley (2003), Eddie Smith (2004-05), Blayde Beckstead (2006), Willie Sullivan (2007), Chris Wilson (2009), Rory Perez (2010-13), Bo Hughes (2013), Casey Schwertfeger (2014), Wyatt Christensen (2014-15), Devon Tandberg (2015), Brayden Konkol (2016-18), Blake Thelen (2019-), Elijah King (2019-)
Other #18 Notes: A tough and fast receiver out of Butte, Kelly Davis caught five passes as a freshman in 1983 and really took off from there. He finished his career with eight touchdown catches, a Big Sky and National Championship on the football team, and a conference 110 m high hurdle championship on the track. The construction engineering technology major helps run a construction firm in Denver. On the other end of the pass-catch spectrum, Rob Compson moved pretty well in a day and age before there was such a thing as a dual-threat quarterback, but he was never a threat to win a Big Sky hurdles race. He started at quarterback for the Cats for three seasons, but never possessed an arm that people bragged about. He's not necessarily remembered as an all-time Bobcat great, but remains fourth in school history in passing yards. He was flat-out a winner, presiding over MSU's best three-season stretch (19 wins) between the 1984 National Championship and the run of success that began in 2002. Compson gave Bobcat fans lots of thrills, and no less an connoisseur of brilliant quarterback play than Jim McElwain considers Compson to this day one of his favorite players… In quiet moments during what proved to be a fine and productive career as a Bobcat football player, Mark Fisher had to occasionally wonder what the heck was going on. He began his career in the most surprising way imaginable, debuting in game 9 of a season during which he appeared to be redshirting, completing 6-of-13 passes in the fourth quarter of a home loss to Boise State, but suffered a season-ending injury that day. He began 1991 as the team's third quarterback, but by the fourth game he was its starter. He threw for 1,700 yards that season, and entered his junior campaign as the starting quarterback. Just before halftime in the season opener at Sacramento State, though, and took his medical hardship season. By the dawn of the 1993 campaign he had switched to fullback and played the remainder of his career at that position. Mark Fisher was a smart, tough kid throughout his tumultuous Bobcat career, and none of the drama he endured was of his own making. He is a long-time high school football coach and counselor in Colorado.
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