BOBCAT CALENDAR: Joe Bignell Set a Couple of Records in MSU's Final Game at Dornblaser Stadium in 1984
11/3/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football
Today in 1928, Ott Romney led his BYU team to Bozeman in a matchup between a head coach and his former squad
A day-by-day look at Bobcat football history...
November 3
SPOTLIGHT: It wasn't exactly "man bites dog" news when the Bobcats beat the Grizzlies 34-24 at Dornblaser Stadium in 1984. That win was MSU's second straight over the University, and the 21st triumph in the previous 28 neighborly get-togethers. One season later those numbers increased by one, although with that win ushered in a long, miserable winter. But that's a story for a different time.
Today, 26 years ago, as the Bobcats extended their dominance with a come-from-behind win against their ancient rivals, overcoming a 24-13 third quarter deficit by on the strength of three straight Kelly Bradley touchdown passes to three different receivers. The first of those, which started Montana State on the comeback trail, was to Joe Bignell.
Bignell was a familiar name to all Bobcats even by the fall of 1984 - buttressed by the success of future generations in the years since - and on this day he lived up to his heady reputation. On this day, which helped boost the Bobcats to a fourth Big Sky title in the previous nine years, Montana State's offense dominated.
The Bobcats piled up 581 total yards, including 379 through the air, and were hindrered only by five interceptions.
Among quarterback Kelly Bradley's 29 pass completions, 13 went to Bignell. That was a school record at the time, which stood for all of one season. David Pandt caught 21 passes the next season against Eastern Washington. Bignell's 179 receiving yards stood the test of time better, lasting atop the MSU record list until Rob Tesch's 195 against Eastern Washington in 1990.
BONUS: There are many things we don't know about life as Bobcats in 1928. We don't know what it was like to see a game at temporary Gatton Field, or what it was like to like to watch all-time greats such as Max Worthington and Fred Chez play, or what the exact feeling was to welcome back an opposing coach who had built Montana State Athletics into a its most powerful pre-World War II form.
But all of those things happened today in 1928, when Ott Romney led his BYU Cougars into Gatton Field to face his former assistant Schubert Dyche, the first-year coach of the Bobcats. One week after battling the Grizzlies to a scoreless tie, the Blue and Gold stymied Romney's Cougars 19-7.
Previewed by the Exponent: "The 'Y' game always arouses the interest of the fans, but this year the feeling will run higher, as Ott Romney, former Montana mentor, is coaching the Mormons. The game should brea kall attendance records for towns people, students, and all others, who know Romney will be there to compare the two different styles of play."
Using conventional "straight football" for most of the first quarter, late in the period a couple of forward passes put the Bobcats in scoring position late in the first quarter and Gus Wylie scored - George Vogt added the extra point - for a 7-0 Bobcat lead. "Spectacular runs coupled with trick plays netted the Utah aggregation a touchdown and point for goal" in the third quarter, and the teams entered the final period tied at 7.
Early in the fourth quarter, Montana State took charge. A long pass from Elwin Richards to Max Worthington pushed the Bobcats deep into BYU territory, and the drive turned from promising into points when Ott Gardner's third line plunge resulted in a touchdown. The PAT was blocked, but Montana State held the lead. On its next drive Eldon Penfield tore off several long runs, then made it into the end zone for to give the Cats their 19-7 win.
The record-breaking crowd of 2,500 were delighted with the victory in Montana State's final home game of 1928, but were equally pleased to reconnect with an old friend.
From the Exponent: "An unusually high interest was created for this battle as Ott Romney, former Bobcat mentor, is pilot at B. Y. U. this year and everyone was anxious to see his new squad in action. Romney is doing well at Provo and he has won a place of high esteem there, as he did at Montana State College. The many friends and admirers of Mr. Romney gave him a hearty welcome on his arrival at Bozeman."
GAMES ON TODAY'S DATE
2018 - MSU 49, Cal Poly 42
2012 - MSU 20, at Sacramento State 17
2007 - Northern Arizona 29, MSU 14
2001 - at Portland State 33, MSU 21
1990 - Boise State 31, MSU 27
1987 - UM 55, MSU 7
1984 - MSU 34, at UM 24
1979 - MSU 38, UM 21
1973 - MSU 45, at Northern Arizona 0
1962 - MSU 16, North Dakota 3
1956 - MSU 33, at UM 14
1939 - at Northern Colorado 12, MSU 3
1928 - MSU 19, BYU 7
1901 - at Butte High 5, MSU 0
FINIS: Montana State's 11-point comeback closed the Cat-Griz chapter of UM's temporary Dornblaser Stadium (which the Grizzlies called home into the 1986 season). It was a dramatic way for Montana State to close its experience in the stadium that still serves the UM track and field squad, but not as dramatic an experience as the Cats enjoyed 16 years earlier when making their debut in that stadium. That was the famed Paul Schafer Game, a 15-point comeback in the game's final 10 minutes.
November 3
SPOTLIGHT: It wasn't exactly "man bites dog" news when the Bobcats beat the Grizzlies 34-24 at Dornblaser Stadium in 1984. That win was MSU's second straight over the University, and the 21st triumph in the previous 28 neighborly get-togethers. One season later those numbers increased by one, although with that win ushered in a long, miserable winter. But that's a story for a different time.
Today, 26 years ago, as the Bobcats extended their dominance with a come-from-behind win against their ancient rivals, overcoming a 24-13 third quarter deficit by on the strength of three straight Kelly Bradley touchdown passes to three different receivers. The first of those, which started Montana State on the comeback trail, was to Joe Bignell.
Bignell was a familiar name to all Bobcats even by the fall of 1984 - buttressed by the success of future generations in the years since - and on this day he lived up to his heady reputation. On this day, which helped boost the Bobcats to a fourth Big Sky title in the previous nine years, Montana State's offense dominated.
The Bobcats piled up 581 total yards, including 379 through the air, and were hindrered only by five interceptions.
Among quarterback Kelly Bradley's 29 pass completions, 13 went to Bignell. That was a school record at the time, which stood for all of one season. David Pandt caught 21 passes the next season against Eastern Washington. Bignell's 179 receiving yards stood the test of time better, lasting atop the MSU record list until Rob Tesch's 195 against Eastern Washington in 1990.
BONUS: There are many things we don't know about life as Bobcats in 1928. We don't know what it was like to see a game at temporary Gatton Field, or what it was like to like to watch all-time greats such as Max Worthington and Fred Chez play, or what the exact feeling was to welcome back an opposing coach who had built Montana State Athletics into a its most powerful pre-World War II form.
But all of those things happened today in 1928, when Ott Romney led his BYU Cougars into Gatton Field to face his former assistant Schubert Dyche, the first-year coach of the Bobcats. One week after battling the Grizzlies to a scoreless tie, the Blue and Gold stymied Romney's Cougars 19-7.
Previewed by the Exponent: "The 'Y' game always arouses the interest of the fans, but this year the feeling will run higher, as Ott Romney, former Montana mentor, is coaching the Mormons. The game should brea kall attendance records for towns people, students, and all others, who know Romney will be there to compare the two different styles of play."
Using conventional "straight football" for most of the first quarter, late in the period a couple of forward passes put the Bobcats in scoring position late in the first quarter and Gus Wylie scored - George Vogt added the extra point - for a 7-0 Bobcat lead. "Spectacular runs coupled with trick plays netted the Utah aggregation a touchdown and point for goal" in the third quarter, and the teams entered the final period tied at 7.
Early in the fourth quarter, Montana State took charge. A long pass from Elwin Richards to Max Worthington pushed the Bobcats deep into BYU territory, and the drive turned from promising into points when Ott Gardner's third line plunge resulted in a touchdown. The PAT was blocked, but Montana State held the lead. On its next drive Eldon Penfield tore off several long runs, then made it into the end zone for to give the Cats their 19-7 win.
The record-breaking crowd of 2,500 were delighted with the victory in Montana State's final home game of 1928, but were equally pleased to reconnect with an old friend.
From the Exponent: "An unusually high interest was created for this battle as Ott Romney, former Bobcat mentor, is pilot at B. Y. U. this year and everyone was anxious to see his new squad in action. Romney is doing well at Provo and he has won a place of high esteem there, as he did at Montana State College. The many friends and admirers of Mr. Romney gave him a hearty welcome on his arrival at Bozeman."
GAMES ON TODAY'S DATE
2018 - MSU 49, Cal Poly 42
2012 - MSU 20, at Sacramento State 17
2007 - Northern Arizona 29, MSU 14
2001 - at Portland State 33, MSU 21
1990 - Boise State 31, MSU 27
1987 - UM 55, MSU 7
1984 - MSU 34, at UM 24
1979 - MSU 38, UM 21
1973 - MSU 45, at Northern Arizona 0
1962 - MSU 16, North Dakota 3
1956 - MSU 33, at UM 14
1939 - at Northern Colorado 12, MSU 3
1928 - MSU 19, BYU 7
1901 - at Butte High 5, MSU 0
FINIS: Montana State's 11-point comeback closed the Cat-Griz chapter of UM's temporary Dornblaser Stadium (which the Grizzlies called home into the 1986 season). It was a dramatic way for Montana State to close its experience in the stadium that still serves the UM track and field squad, but not as dramatic an experience as the Cats enjoyed 16 years earlier when making their debut in that stadium. That was the famed Paul Schafer Game, a 15-point comeback in the game's final 10 minutes.
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