Bobcat linebacker Ben Vaugh (44) in the 1966 Camellia Bowl
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
BOBCAT CALENDAR: Jody Owens joined teammate Caleb Schreibeis in earning All-America honors today in 2012
12/10/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football
Montana State dropped the 1966 Camellia Bowl to a spectacularly talented San Diego State team
A day-by-day look at Bobcat football history...
December 10
SPOTLIGHT: Rob Ash knew he had the Big Sky's two best defensive players in 2012, and eight years ago today linebacker Jody Owens and defensive end Caleb Schreibeis validated that belief by earning All-America honors.
But a couple of weeks earlier, in the days after Montana State wrapped up its third straight Big Sky title with a second consecutive win over the Grizzlies in Washington-Grizzly Stadium, the two senior stars were central players in a gamble by Ash that paid enormous dividends. Armed with the knowledge that Schreibeis was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honored the top defensive player in the FCS as selected by the subdivision's media and sports information directors, and understanding the enormous respect his peers in the Big Sky held for Owens based on conversations throughout the season, Ash essentially split the vote by nominating Owens for Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year.
It was a calculated risk, but Ash knew what he was doing. Owens was named Big Sky Defensive MVP on November 20, and three days later MSU officials learned that Schreibeis would be honored as the program's first Buchanan winner in December. It was an amazing awards season for the Big Sky champs, who also celebrated quarterback DeNarius McGhee's Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year honors.
We'll look at Schreibeis' amazing season in a couple of days, but Owens' spectacular career demands closer examination as well. Owens came to MSU in the 2008 recruiting class, riding the first wave of Texans joining the Bobcat program. He posted an outstanding sophomore season, finishing second on the team with 80 tackles and 8.5 tackles-for-loss. He also forced two fumbles, and helped lead a brilliant defensive charge that led the Cats to the Big Sky title. In 2011, Owens logged 17 tackles-for-loss and five sacks, earning First Team All-Big Sky and Third Team All-America honors. Then in 2012, Owens registered 15.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and forced five fumbles. He was all over the field in those two seasons, gaining a reputation for a motor that never turned off and a mouth that followed suit. He was known for trash talking, but also as an engaging and bright student-athlete. His 45 career tackles-for-loss was 10th in school history upon the completion of his career.
Owens entered the coaching profession, and after a fantastic 2019 season as defensive coordinator at Briar Cliff in 2019 he is rejoined former MSU offensive coordinator Brian Wright at Pittsburg State, where Owens is co-defensive coordinator.
BOBCAT FOOTBALL TODAY IN HISTORY
2012 - Caleb Schreibeis, Jody Owens earn All-America
1966 - San Diego St 28, MSU 7 at Sacramento
FINIS: For three straight seasons, Montana State - legitimately one of the top small college programs in the nation by 1966 - got an up close look at a true dynamo. Today in 1966, the Bobcats lost the first of those three games 28-7 to San Diego State at the Camellia Bowl in Sacramento. The Aztecs won the California Collegiate Athletic Association (which included Fresno State, Long Beach State and Cal Poly), and after beating MSU was crowned consensus small college national champion. The coaching staff was led by future NFL coach Don Coryell and included defensive coordinator John Madden, who was a couple of years away from becoming an NFL coaching legend. Eight players from that team were selected in the 1967 NFL Draft (including quarterback Don Horn, chosen 25th overall by Green Bay) and a total of 15 members of that team in total were drafted (including Fred Dryer and Haven Moses). After succumbing to MSU's pass rush early in the first quarter Horn found a solution in shotgun formation, connecting with Tom Nettles and Bob Jones for first quarter touchdowns. The Aztecs threw for 335 yards and the Cats didn't find the end zone until the game's final minute.The Bobcats lost at San Diego State 14-3 at the end of the 1967 season, and fell 34-22 at Gatton Field in 1968.
December 10
SPOTLIGHT: Rob Ash knew he had the Big Sky's two best defensive players in 2012, and eight years ago today linebacker Jody Owens and defensive end Caleb Schreibeis validated that belief by earning All-America honors.
But a couple of weeks earlier, in the days after Montana State wrapped up its third straight Big Sky title with a second consecutive win over the Grizzlies in Washington-Grizzly Stadium, the two senior stars were central players in a gamble by Ash that paid enormous dividends. Armed with the knowledge that Schreibeis was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honored the top defensive player in the FCS as selected by the subdivision's media and sports information directors, and understanding the enormous respect his peers in the Big Sky held for Owens based on conversations throughout the season, Ash essentially split the vote by nominating Owens for Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year.
It was a calculated risk, but Ash knew what he was doing. Owens was named Big Sky Defensive MVP on November 20, and three days later MSU officials learned that Schreibeis would be honored as the program's first Buchanan winner in December. It was an amazing awards season for the Big Sky champs, who also celebrated quarterback DeNarius McGhee's Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year honors.
We'll look at Schreibeis' amazing season in a couple of days, but Owens' spectacular career demands closer examination as well. Owens came to MSU in the 2008 recruiting class, riding the first wave of Texans joining the Bobcat program. He posted an outstanding sophomore season, finishing second on the team with 80 tackles and 8.5 tackles-for-loss. He also forced two fumbles, and helped lead a brilliant defensive charge that led the Cats to the Big Sky title. In 2011, Owens logged 17 tackles-for-loss and five sacks, earning First Team All-Big Sky and Third Team All-America honors. Then in 2012, Owens registered 15.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and forced five fumbles. He was all over the field in those two seasons, gaining a reputation for a motor that never turned off and a mouth that followed suit. He was known for trash talking, but also as an engaging and bright student-athlete. His 45 career tackles-for-loss was 10th in school history upon the completion of his career.
Owens entered the coaching profession, and after a fantastic 2019 season as defensive coordinator at Briar Cliff in 2019 he is rejoined former MSU offensive coordinator Brian Wright at Pittsburg State, where Owens is co-defensive coordinator.
BOBCAT FOOTBALL TODAY IN HISTORY
2012 - Caleb Schreibeis, Jody Owens earn All-America
1966 - San Diego St 28, MSU 7 at Sacramento
FINIS: For three straight seasons, Montana State - legitimately one of the top small college programs in the nation by 1966 - got an up close look at a true dynamo. Today in 1966, the Bobcats lost the first of those three games 28-7 to San Diego State at the Camellia Bowl in Sacramento. The Aztecs won the California Collegiate Athletic Association (which included Fresno State, Long Beach State and Cal Poly), and after beating MSU was crowned consensus small college national champion. The coaching staff was led by future NFL coach Don Coryell and included defensive coordinator John Madden, who was a couple of years away from becoming an NFL coaching legend. Eight players from that team were selected in the 1967 NFL Draft (including quarterback Don Horn, chosen 25th overall by Green Bay) and a total of 15 members of that team in total were drafted (including Fred Dryer and Haven Moses). After succumbing to MSU's pass rush early in the first quarter Horn found a solution in shotgun formation, connecting with Tom Nettles and Bob Jones for first quarter touchdowns. The Aztecs threw for 335 yards and the Cats didn't find the end zone until the game's final minute.The Bobcats lost at San Diego State 14-3 at the end of the 1967 season, and fell 34-22 at Gatton Field in 1968.
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