BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 79 Days til Kickoff, and a Look at a Former Great Bobcat O-Lineman and the Current Occupant of 79
6/18/2020 3:00:00 PM | Football
It's never a bad day to talk about the Decrepit Bobcats
June 18: Bobcats by the Numbers takes a look at current and past Bobcats whose jersey numbers correspond to the number of days remaining before Montana State opens the 2020 football season against Long Island Post in Bobcat Stadium's annual Gold Rush game in September.
#79
Jack Harlow, OL: The son of former NFL standout Pat Harlow, for whom Jack Harlow played at J Serra High School in southern California, turned heads during his redshirt season at Montana State as an offensive line prospect with a head start in terms of size and strength. He was a 1st Team All-Trinity, All-Orange County and All-SoCal selection as a senior, and is expected to challenge for playing time early in his Bobcat career.
Spotlight: If you hang around Montana State football long enough you'll hear about a nearly-mythical group of guys called The Decrepit Bobcats. This is a group of players, mostly from the '60s, who get together every year, usually in the Flathead, and laugh about old times, and each other, and toast their members who are no longer around, tell a few stories, some of which are undoubtedly true. Kayo Trepanier is one of the ringleaders of this group, a junior college transfer in 1966 who wore #79 on the first two of three straight Montana State Big Sky title teams. He was a part-time starter after transferring in 1966 from Yakima Junior College, and a year later earned All-Big Sky Conference honors. More than a terrific player on multiple championship-winning teams, Trepanier and his friends are testimony to what's great about college athletics. Teammates are forever. Regardless the era, regardless the sport, that is always true. But nothing forms that bond more strongly than success, and nothing preserves the concept more strongly than a program of great tradition. Those Decrepit Bobcats enjoyed great success, and the Montana State teams from the mid-1950s to the mid-1980s enjoyed a run of greatness – including three National Championships – rare in college football. That they celebrate their friendship, their teams and their school is a wonderful thing.
One of Montana State's all-time most-decorated No. 79s is Quinn Catalano, a versatile and athletic offensive lineman who blocked for some of Montana State's best offensive skill players in history. He arrived from San Diego, California, as the Bobcats began a string of three straight Big Sky Championships. After redshirting during his first season Catalano played in all 13 games in 2011 then became one of the Big Sky's best and most versatile O-linemen as a sophomore in 2012. He started every game as a sophomore and junior, earning All-Big Sky Honorable Mention honors both seasons, then became a second team all-league choice as a senior. As a junior he transitioned from left guard to right tackle due to in-season injuries, then earned all-conference honors at right guard during his final season. The beautiful thing about offensive linemen is that they're always in the picture but don't always draw much focus. But Catalano's work made the picture way, way easier to look at from 2011-14.
Chronology: Chuck Klunder (1956), Kayo Trepanier (1966-67), Kerry Pickett (1970), Wally Bailey (1971), Jim Boyle (1972-74), Mark Sullivan (1975), John Beach (1976), Jay Jackman (1977-80), Tate Kopp (1982), Tim Northway (1983-84), Robert Kowalski (1985-87), Mike Burns (1988-89), Dave Dukart (1992), James Hoskins (1993), Justin Marthaller (1994-96), Josh Leigh (1998-2000), Kimball Bowden (2001-02), Adam DeCock (2003-06), Michael Erickson (2007-09), Quinn Catalano (2010-14), Chris Robinson (2015), Wilson Brott (2016-17), Donny Long (2018), Jack Harlow (2019-).
#79
Jack Harlow, OL: The son of former NFL standout Pat Harlow, for whom Jack Harlow played at J Serra High School in southern California, turned heads during his redshirt season at Montana State as an offensive line prospect with a head start in terms of size and strength. He was a 1st Team All-Trinity, All-Orange County and All-SoCal selection as a senior, and is expected to challenge for playing time early in his Bobcat career.
Spotlight: If you hang around Montana State football long enough you'll hear about a nearly-mythical group of guys called The Decrepit Bobcats. This is a group of players, mostly from the '60s, who get together every year, usually in the Flathead, and laugh about old times, and each other, and toast their members who are no longer around, tell a few stories, some of which are undoubtedly true. Kayo Trepanier is one of the ringleaders of this group, a junior college transfer in 1966 who wore #79 on the first two of three straight Montana State Big Sky title teams. He was a part-time starter after transferring in 1966 from Yakima Junior College, and a year later earned All-Big Sky Conference honors. More than a terrific player on multiple championship-winning teams, Trepanier and his friends are testimony to what's great about college athletics. Teammates are forever. Regardless the era, regardless the sport, that is always true. But nothing forms that bond more strongly than success, and nothing preserves the concept more strongly than a program of great tradition. Those Decrepit Bobcats enjoyed great success, and the Montana State teams from the mid-1950s to the mid-1980s enjoyed a run of greatness – including three National Championships – rare in college football. That they celebrate their friendship, their teams and their school is a wonderful thing.
One of Montana State's all-time most-decorated No. 79s is Quinn Catalano, a versatile and athletic offensive lineman who blocked for some of Montana State's best offensive skill players in history. He arrived from San Diego, California, as the Bobcats began a string of three straight Big Sky Championships. After redshirting during his first season Catalano played in all 13 games in 2011 then became one of the Big Sky's best and most versatile O-linemen as a sophomore in 2012. He started every game as a sophomore and junior, earning All-Big Sky Honorable Mention honors both seasons, then became a second team all-league choice as a senior. As a junior he transitioned from left guard to right tackle due to in-season injuries, then earned all-conference honors at right guard during his final season. The beautiful thing about offensive linemen is that they're always in the picture but don't always draw much focus. But Catalano's work made the picture way, way easier to look at from 2011-14.
Chronology: Chuck Klunder (1956), Kayo Trepanier (1966-67), Kerry Pickett (1970), Wally Bailey (1971), Jim Boyle (1972-74), Mark Sullivan (1975), John Beach (1976), Jay Jackman (1977-80), Tate Kopp (1982), Tim Northway (1983-84), Robert Kowalski (1985-87), Mike Burns (1988-89), Dave Dukart (1992), James Hoskins (1993), Justin Marthaller (1994-96), Josh Leigh (1998-2000), Kimball Bowden (2001-02), Adam DeCock (2003-06), Michael Erickson (2007-09), Quinn Catalano (2010-14), Chris Robinson (2015), Wilson Brott (2016-17), Donny Long (2018), Jack Harlow (2019-).
Players Mentioned
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