BOBCAT CALENDAR: On This Day in 1983 Montana State Put Up a Fight Against Washington State... For 30 Minutes
9/3/2020 3:43:00 PM | Football
Emmitt Smith made easy work of the Bobcats today in 1988
A look at what happened on September 3 throughout Bobcat football history...
September 3
SPOTLIGHT: He only had to beat the kicker. That long-lamented line belonged to the Bobcats on September 3, 1983 as the afternoon faded into evening in Spokane's Joe Albi Stadium. Head Coach Dave Arnold's first Montana State team held explosive Washington State to one field goal each in the game's first two quarters, the second of which came two seconds before halftime. Future Super Bowl Champion quarterback Mark Rypien directed a balanced Cougars offense that piled up 350 yards a game split almost equally between the run and pass. Running backs Rueben Mayes and Kerry Porter (from Great Falls High) each joined their quarterback in the NFL. After the Cougars settled for a field goal the Bobcat sideline exhaled in relief to trail only 6-0, but that would turn to something quite different in a flash. John Traut kicked off for WSU, and Bobcat junior Stephon Wilson fielded the ball at the MSU 1. He headed upfield and found himself in the open, with only Traut between him and a Montana State halftime lead. But Traut made the tackle, MSU entered the intermission scoreless, and Washington State scored on its first two drives of the second half to dissuade the Cats of any upset thoughts. MSU held Washington State to 302 yards on the afternoon, but the Cougars limited MSU to just 179 yards and eight first downs. Washington State finished the season 7-4, including five straight wins to close season capped by an Apple Cup win against the 15th-ranked Huskies in Seattle. Mayes rushed for 35 yards and Rypien threw for 93.
BONUS: Speaking of top-flight running backs, one of the best ever rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns against the Bobcats today in 1988. Florida's Emmitt Smith used only 19 carries to pile up those numbers, and soon enough he would be doing similar things to NFL defenses. Smith was one of many future NFL stars on Galen Hall's team that season, including Stacey Simmons, Trace Armstrong and Louis Oliver. Gene Chizik played on that team, and Charlie Strong was an assistant coach. The Gators finished 7-5 that season and beat Illinois in the All-American Bowl.
GAMES AND NEWS ON TODAY'S DATE
2015 - MSU 45, Ft Lewis 14
2005 - at Okla St 15, MSU 10
1994 - MSU 37, UM Duluth 7
1988 - at Florida 69, MSU 0
1983 - Wash State 27, MSU 7
1981 - Defensive back Bret Chapman, center Larry Rubens, and safety Tim Sturdevant were voted captains by their teammates. On the same day, former Bobcat Mark McGrath made the final cut with the Seattle Seahawks. He joined former Bobcats Bill Kollar, Jan Stenerud and Jon Borchardt on NFL rosters.
September 3
SPOTLIGHT: He only had to beat the kicker. That long-lamented line belonged to the Bobcats on September 3, 1983 as the afternoon faded into evening in Spokane's Joe Albi Stadium. Head Coach Dave Arnold's first Montana State team held explosive Washington State to one field goal each in the game's first two quarters, the second of which came two seconds before halftime. Future Super Bowl Champion quarterback Mark Rypien directed a balanced Cougars offense that piled up 350 yards a game split almost equally between the run and pass. Running backs Rueben Mayes and Kerry Porter (from Great Falls High) each joined their quarterback in the NFL. After the Cougars settled for a field goal the Bobcat sideline exhaled in relief to trail only 6-0, but that would turn to something quite different in a flash. John Traut kicked off for WSU, and Bobcat junior Stephon Wilson fielded the ball at the MSU 1. He headed upfield and found himself in the open, with only Traut between him and a Montana State halftime lead. But Traut made the tackle, MSU entered the intermission scoreless, and Washington State scored on its first two drives of the second half to dissuade the Cats of any upset thoughts. MSU held Washington State to 302 yards on the afternoon, but the Cougars limited MSU to just 179 yards and eight first downs. Washington State finished the season 7-4, including five straight wins to close season capped by an Apple Cup win against the 15th-ranked Huskies in Seattle. Mayes rushed for 35 yards and Rypien threw for 93.
BONUS: Speaking of top-flight running backs, one of the best ever rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns against the Bobcats today in 1988. Florida's Emmitt Smith used only 19 carries to pile up those numbers, and soon enough he would be doing similar things to NFL defenses. Smith was one of many future NFL stars on Galen Hall's team that season, including Stacey Simmons, Trace Armstrong and Louis Oliver. Gene Chizik played on that team, and Charlie Strong was an assistant coach. The Gators finished 7-5 that season and beat Illinois in the All-American Bowl.
GAMES AND NEWS ON TODAY'S DATE
2015 - MSU 45, Ft Lewis 14
2005 - at Okla St 15, MSU 10
1994 - MSU 37, UM Duluth 7
1988 - at Florida 69, MSU 0
1983 - Wash State 27, MSU 7
1981 - Defensive back Bret Chapman, center Larry Rubens, and safety Tim Sturdevant were voted captains by their teammates. On the same day, former Bobcat Mark McGrath made the final cut with the Seattle Seahawks. He joined former Bobcats Bill Kollar, Jan Stenerud and Jon Borchardt on NFL rosters.
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