Logan Jones (with ball) and the Bobcat offense
Photo by: Andrew Pedersen
CATS IN CAMP DAY ONE: Excitement Abounds on 'Disjointed' Day in MSU Preseason Camp
8/2/2019 8:14:00 PM | Football
Quarterback battle begins with Tucker Rovig, Casey Bauman at the center of the competition
BOZEMAN, Montana – Jeff Choate knew the first practice of his fourth preseason camp as Montana State's head football coach would be something a little different right off the bat on Friday.
"I walked by the bikes and they were empty (at the start of practice)," he said, "and I was like, 'That's a first.' This is the first time we've really had 104 healthy bodies out there (at the start of preseason practices)."
Choate said his team's general depth and the physical improvements of many of his players were items that stood out during an initial session that was interrupted early because the team needed to attend to details of locker room management and late because of lightning. "It was a bit of a disjointed day," he said. "I think our guys look really good, that's probably my takeaway when I get up next to them and look at how a lot of them have changed their bodies."
The most noteworthy competition of fall camp took center stage Friday when sophomore Tucker Rovig and redshirt freshman Casey Bauman began as primary competitors in the battle for starting quarterback honors. "I think it's going to be a very interesting deal," Choate said. "In a perfect world I'd like to make a decision on the starter after the first scrimmage. I want to tighten up the timeline, but the competition will play itself out and we'll evaluate it as a staff and I think it will come together the way that it's supposed to. I think both of them had good moments today and both of them had things they'd like back, but that's the first day of fall camp."
On the other side of the line of scrimmage, last year's starting quarterback Troy Andersen settled in at the Sam linebacker spot. Choate said that eyes tend to gravitate to the junior. "He's a very unique young man. I think he was the most excited guy out there. He's kind of a reserved kid, but he was out there hootin' and hollerin', it was like Christmas morning for him. He's a very unique young man. I've said this a number of time, but his athleticism is on par with the very best football players I've been around."
Between Friday's stops and starts, and the rust always present on the first day of fall camp, Choate knew there weren't deep insights to be gained. But he said it was, for his players and himself, a lot of fun. "I didn't have any problem sleeping last night, I've been doing this a long time, but then when you walk out (to practice) the kids' energy is there, the field's set up, the music's playing, it's like, 'Yeah,'" Choate said with a smile. "The hair on the back of your neck stands up. Our guys were really excited to be out there. The execution wasn't as crisp as you'd like it to be, but there were a lot of positive things to build on."
Montana State's next practice is 11 am on Saturday on the Dyche practice field southeast of Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.
#GoCatsGo
"I walked by the bikes and they were empty (at the start of practice)," he said, "and I was like, 'That's a first.' This is the first time we've really had 104 healthy bodies out there (at the start of preseason practices)."
Choate said his team's general depth and the physical improvements of many of his players were items that stood out during an initial session that was interrupted early because the team needed to attend to details of locker room management and late because of lightning. "It was a bit of a disjointed day," he said. "I think our guys look really good, that's probably my takeaway when I get up next to them and look at how a lot of them have changed their bodies."
The most noteworthy competition of fall camp took center stage Friday when sophomore Tucker Rovig and redshirt freshman Casey Bauman began as primary competitors in the battle for starting quarterback honors. "I think it's going to be a very interesting deal," Choate said. "In a perfect world I'd like to make a decision on the starter after the first scrimmage. I want to tighten up the timeline, but the competition will play itself out and we'll evaluate it as a staff and I think it will come together the way that it's supposed to. I think both of them had good moments today and both of them had things they'd like back, but that's the first day of fall camp."
On the other side of the line of scrimmage, last year's starting quarterback Troy Andersen settled in at the Sam linebacker spot. Choate said that eyes tend to gravitate to the junior. "He's a very unique young man. I think he was the most excited guy out there. He's kind of a reserved kid, but he was out there hootin' and hollerin', it was like Christmas morning for him. He's a very unique young man. I've said this a number of time, but his athleticism is on par with the very best football players I've been around."
Between Friday's stops and starts, and the rust always present on the first day of fall camp, Choate knew there weren't deep insights to be gained. But he said it was, for his players and himself, a lot of fun. "I didn't have any problem sleeping last night, I've been doing this a long time, but then when you walk out (to practice) the kids' energy is there, the field's set up, the music's playing, it's like, 'Yeah,'" Choate said with a smile. "The hair on the back of your neck stands up. Our guys were really excited to be out there. The execution wasn't as crisp as you'd like it to be, but there were a lot of positive things to build on."
Montana State's next practice is 11 am on Saturday on the Dyche practice field southeast of Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
