BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 23 Days Until Kickoff, and a Strong-Legged Kicker Who's Getting Better!
8/8/2019 10:14:00 AM | Football
Mark Fellows had 23 sacks in 11 regular season games in 1984
August 8: 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.
#23
Tristan Bailey, K: Tristan Bailey is no stranger to big changes. In just the last four years he impacted a Wyoming team as a true freshman, spent his second year at UW's arch-rival, Colorado State, apart from football, then revived his kicking career with a brilliant season at Coffeyville, Kansas, Junior College. So when Bailey says his off-season involved some small but important upgrades, you can bet he knows what he's talking about. The Colorado Springs native worked on becoming leaner, converting eight percent of body fat to muscle, and improving his leg strength. Jeff Choate has lauded Bailey's booming leg, but Bailey was even better than advertised last fall. He finished 14-for-19 on field goals, including 11-for-11 inside the 40-yard line, and after struggling early on point-after tries he made his last 29. Bailey has acknowledges that his winding path to Bozeman has made him better, and appreciates where it has led him. Bailey's 14 field goals last season is tied for fifth in MSU history, and his 73.7% success rate just missed MSU's top five for a season.
23 – Sacks by Mark Fellows in 1984
How magnificent was Mark Fellows' total of 23 sacks in Montana State's 1984 National Championship season? Even today, after the program's run of brilliant defensive ends, after all the pass-happy teams MSU has faced through the years, and after 35 years, that total would still sneak into the program's all-time top 10… for a career. And would you like the rest of the story? He had seven in the I-AA Playoffs (post-season stats were not counted as 'official' in that era), including six against Louisiana Tech in the championship game.
Chronology: Earl Hansen (1931), Eli Doyra (1934), Jule Gustafson (1937), Don Wold (1940), Conrad LaSalle (1941), Allen Hutchinson (1946), Ed Gorrilla (1947-49), Gene Stergar (1950), Bruce Lund (1953), Dan Hames (1954), James Cook (1955), Bob Jenkins (1956), Tom Jones (1957), Bob Rudio (1958), George Lucas (1959), Russ Powers (1961), Leon Hartman (1963), Gary Popiel (1965-67), Ron Bain (1968), Mike Greene (1969), Larry Bonner (1970), John Hotchkiss (1971-72), Vince Dodds (1974-76), Corey Johnson (1977), Paul Dilley (1978-82), Todd Sheppard (1983), Lou Antoine (1984-85), TJ Regan (1986), Lance Sullivan (1987-89), Keith Furnas (1990-91), John Gregory (1992-93), Scoey Peters (1994), Kwame Dewberry (1995), Jared Lucero (1996), Isaac Hatley (1997-98), Mitch Jones (1999), David Smith (2000-02), Jason Gathing (2003-05), Brad Steffen (2006), Jody Owens (2008-12), Nick LaSane (2013-17), Tristan Bailey (2018-)
Other #23 Notes: Montana State allowed 23 touchdowns during the 2003 season. In 13 games. Twenty three. Read that again – 23 touchdowns allowed in 13 games. That led the Big Sky, five fewer than Montana and way ahead of the rest of the league, most of which played either 11 or 12 games… Linebacker Jody Owens was a brilliant, all-time Bobcat in #23 from 2008-12. Owens earned Big Sky Conference MVP and All-America honors as a senior in 2012 after leading MSU to three straight Big Sky titles. Owens was a hard hitter and a trash talker on the field, and off the field was a 'yes sir' 'no sir' gentleman who was a pleasure to have around. Owens is now defensive coordinator at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa… Another all-time Bobcat wore 23 as a senior in 1968, when Ron Bain did what had to have seemed impossible for most of the 20th century. Catching passes from Dennis Erickson, Bain recorded 1,110 receiving yards, the first-ever 1,000-yard season by a Bobcat… Turning a college football around requires considerable energy and tremendous effort. It requires a plan, and execution. But mostly it involves good players. Among the first players to join the Cats after Mike Kramer was hired, David Smith infused the middle of the MSU defense with athleticism and personality when he arrived in 2000. He played in all 11 games during his first season and started in 2001. Granted an extra year of eligibility because he hadn't competed during one of his junior college years, Smith was a key member of Montana State's defense in 2002, the school's first championship in 18 years. Smith was the perfect complement to MSU's tough and physical safeties, with ability to defend all phases of opposing offenses. He earned Second Team All-Big Sky honors as a senior, and after working in Las Vegas for many years returne to Montana recently… Mitch Jones spent two seasons in the Bobcat football program without making much of an impact. The running back from Reno redshirted in 1998, then saw little varsity action after switching to receiver in 1999. When Mike Kramer took the head coaching job after the '99 campaign Jones was one of many departures, and he landed at Division II Humboldt State in northern California. His first game for the Lumberjacks is one neither he nor Bobcat fans will ever forget. Jones gashed the Bobcats for 213 yards, scored two touchdowns, and led his new squad to a 23-14 win over his old one.
#23
Tristan Bailey, K: Tristan Bailey is no stranger to big changes. In just the last four years he impacted a Wyoming team as a true freshman, spent his second year at UW's arch-rival, Colorado State, apart from football, then revived his kicking career with a brilliant season at Coffeyville, Kansas, Junior College. So when Bailey says his off-season involved some small but important upgrades, you can bet he knows what he's talking about. The Colorado Springs native worked on becoming leaner, converting eight percent of body fat to muscle, and improving his leg strength. Jeff Choate has lauded Bailey's booming leg, but Bailey was even better than advertised last fall. He finished 14-for-19 on field goals, including 11-for-11 inside the 40-yard line, and after struggling early on point-after tries he made his last 29. Bailey has acknowledges that his winding path to Bozeman has made him better, and appreciates where it has led him. Bailey's 14 field goals last season is tied for fifth in MSU history, and his 73.7% success rate just missed MSU's top five for a season.
23 – Sacks by Mark Fellows in 1984
How magnificent was Mark Fellows' total of 23 sacks in Montana State's 1984 National Championship season? Even today, after the program's run of brilliant defensive ends, after all the pass-happy teams MSU has faced through the years, and after 35 years, that total would still sneak into the program's all-time top 10… for a career. And would you like the rest of the story? He had seven in the I-AA Playoffs (post-season stats were not counted as 'official' in that era), including six against Louisiana Tech in the championship game.
Chronology: Earl Hansen (1931), Eli Doyra (1934), Jule Gustafson (1937), Don Wold (1940), Conrad LaSalle (1941), Allen Hutchinson (1946), Ed Gorrilla (1947-49), Gene Stergar (1950), Bruce Lund (1953), Dan Hames (1954), James Cook (1955), Bob Jenkins (1956), Tom Jones (1957), Bob Rudio (1958), George Lucas (1959), Russ Powers (1961), Leon Hartman (1963), Gary Popiel (1965-67), Ron Bain (1968), Mike Greene (1969), Larry Bonner (1970), John Hotchkiss (1971-72), Vince Dodds (1974-76), Corey Johnson (1977), Paul Dilley (1978-82), Todd Sheppard (1983), Lou Antoine (1984-85), TJ Regan (1986), Lance Sullivan (1987-89), Keith Furnas (1990-91), John Gregory (1992-93), Scoey Peters (1994), Kwame Dewberry (1995), Jared Lucero (1996), Isaac Hatley (1997-98), Mitch Jones (1999), David Smith (2000-02), Jason Gathing (2003-05), Brad Steffen (2006), Jody Owens (2008-12), Nick LaSane (2013-17), Tristan Bailey (2018-)
Other #23 Notes: Montana State allowed 23 touchdowns during the 2003 season. In 13 games. Twenty three. Read that again – 23 touchdowns allowed in 13 games. That led the Big Sky, five fewer than Montana and way ahead of the rest of the league, most of which played either 11 or 12 games… Linebacker Jody Owens was a brilliant, all-time Bobcat in #23 from 2008-12. Owens earned Big Sky Conference MVP and All-America honors as a senior in 2012 after leading MSU to three straight Big Sky titles. Owens was a hard hitter and a trash talker on the field, and off the field was a 'yes sir' 'no sir' gentleman who was a pleasure to have around. Owens is now defensive coordinator at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa… Another all-time Bobcat wore 23 as a senior in 1968, when Ron Bain did what had to have seemed impossible for most of the 20th century. Catching passes from Dennis Erickson, Bain recorded 1,110 receiving yards, the first-ever 1,000-yard season by a Bobcat… Turning a college football around requires considerable energy and tremendous effort. It requires a plan, and execution. But mostly it involves good players. Among the first players to join the Cats after Mike Kramer was hired, David Smith infused the middle of the MSU defense with athleticism and personality when he arrived in 2000. He played in all 11 games during his first season and started in 2001. Granted an extra year of eligibility because he hadn't competed during one of his junior college years, Smith was a key member of Montana State's defense in 2002, the school's first championship in 18 years. Smith was the perfect complement to MSU's tough and physical safeties, with ability to defend all phases of opposing offenses. He earned Second Team All-Big Sky honors as a senior, and after working in Las Vegas for many years returne to Montana recently… Mitch Jones spent two seasons in the Bobcat football program without making much of an impact. The running back from Reno redshirted in 1998, then saw little varsity action after switching to receiver in 1999. When Mike Kramer took the head coaching job after the '99 campaign Jones was one of many departures, and he landed at Division II Humboldt State in northern California. His first game for the Lumberjacks is one neither he nor Bobcat fans will ever forget. Jones gashed the Bobcats for 213 yards, scored two touchdowns, and led his new squad to a 23-14 win over his old one.
Players Mentioned
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