BOBCAT CALENDAR: The Bobcats Opened Reno H. Sales Stadium in Style Today in 1973
9/8/2020 2:00:00 PM | Football
A rare non-conference contest against Big Sky rival Idaho State helped MSU usher in a new era of Bobcat football
A look at Bobcat football history on today's date...
September 8
SPOTLIGHT: Montana State's football history is divided into three distinct eras. From the program's inception in 1897 through the 1929 season, the team played on a patchwork of different fields which included three different spots on campus and two different stadiums in the vicinity of the current Gallatin County Fairgrounds. From 1930 until the end of the 1971 campaign, Montana State called the permanent Gatton Field - across Lincoln Street to the south from Romney Gym. Since playing the 1972 season at Bozeman High's Van Winkle Stadium, the Bobcats have resided just off of 11th and Kagy. That era began on this day in 1973, when Montana State beat Idaho State 42-7. The Bengals - no strangers to the excitement of new stadiums after moving into the Fabulous Mini-Dome (now Holt Arena) in 1970 - helped the Bobcats move into their new digs three years later, and were the most accommodating guests. In the first non-conference game between the two regional rivals since 1962, Montana State scored on its first two possessions ever in Reno H. Sales Stadium and was never threatened in a 42-7 thrashing of the Bengals. Quarterback Mike Dunbar scored on a 32-yard run for the first score in stadium history, then tossed a four-yard pass to John McCaffrey for a 14-0 lead after one quarter. The Cats piled up 401 yards on the day, led by Wayne Edwards' 122, and Bill Kollar led the defense with 10 tackles.Because of the unusual circumstances of hosting a league opponent in a non-conference tilt the teams met again five weeks later, and the result was largely the same. Montana State's offense shredded the Bengals for a 43-21 win. The Bobcats finished the league season 5-1 in 1973 but failed to defend their Big Sky title because of a 27-17 defeat at Boise State in week three.
BONUS: Even with the third of Montana State's three team buses blowing a tire and spending some quality middle-of-the-night time on the side of the road between Ogden and Pocatello, it was a pretty good ride home on this day in 2001. Montana State ended its 18-game losing streak by whipping Weber State 32-17 under the lights in Stewart Stadium. After enduring an 0-11 season in 2000, this game was Mike Kramer's first win as the Bobcats' head coach. The Cats fell behind 17-7 in the second quarter, but a 51-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Thomas to Junior Adams late in the second quarter gave the Bobcats life. Trailing 17-13 in the fourth quarter, Ryan Johnson scored from eight yards out, then Adams returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown, and Johnson scored on a 24-yard run late in the game to seal Montana State's win. Johnson rushed for 243 yards, and MSU held the Wildcats to just 212 total yards. The relief-tinged jubilation carried throughout the night, as the MSU team trucked home with its first victory since 1999.
GAMES ON TODAY'S DATE
2018 - #3 South Dakota State 45, MSU 14
2012 - MSU 34, Drake 24
2001 - MSU 32, at Weber St 17
1990 - at CSU 41, MSU 5
1984 - MSU 30, Mesa St 14
1979 - North Dakota 20, MSU 16: This was MSU's first season-opening loss since UND beat the Cats in Grand Forks in 1972, and MSU's first without Paul Dennehy at quarterback since 1975
1973 - MSU 42, Idaho St 7: The first game in Reno H. Sales Stadium
September 8
SPOTLIGHT: Montana State's football history is divided into three distinct eras. From the program's inception in 1897 through the 1929 season, the team played on a patchwork of different fields which included three different spots on campus and two different stadiums in the vicinity of the current Gallatin County Fairgrounds. From 1930 until the end of the 1971 campaign, Montana State called the permanent Gatton Field - across Lincoln Street to the south from Romney Gym. Since playing the 1972 season at Bozeman High's Van Winkle Stadium, the Bobcats have resided just off of 11th and Kagy. That era began on this day in 1973, when Montana State beat Idaho State 42-7. The Bengals - no strangers to the excitement of new stadiums after moving into the Fabulous Mini-Dome (now Holt Arena) in 1970 - helped the Bobcats move into their new digs three years later, and were the most accommodating guests. In the first non-conference game between the two regional rivals since 1962, Montana State scored on its first two possessions ever in Reno H. Sales Stadium and was never threatened in a 42-7 thrashing of the Bengals. Quarterback Mike Dunbar scored on a 32-yard run for the first score in stadium history, then tossed a four-yard pass to John McCaffrey for a 14-0 lead after one quarter. The Cats piled up 401 yards on the day, led by Wayne Edwards' 122, and Bill Kollar led the defense with 10 tackles.Because of the unusual circumstances of hosting a league opponent in a non-conference tilt the teams met again five weeks later, and the result was largely the same. Montana State's offense shredded the Bengals for a 43-21 win. The Bobcats finished the league season 5-1 in 1973 but failed to defend their Big Sky title because of a 27-17 defeat at Boise State in week three.
BONUS: Even with the third of Montana State's three team buses blowing a tire and spending some quality middle-of-the-night time on the side of the road between Ogden and Pocatello, it was a pretty good ride home on this day in 2001. Montana State ended its 18-game losing streak by whipping Weber State 32-17 under the lights in Stewart Stadium. After enduring an 0-11 season in 2000, this game was Mike Kramer's first win as the Bobcats' head coach. The Cats fell behind 17-7 in the second quarter, but a 51-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Thomas to Junior Adams late in the second quarter gave the Bobcats life. Trailing 17-13 in the fourth quarter, Ryan Johnson scored from eight yards out, then Adams returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown, and Johnson scored on a 24-yard run late in the game to seal Montana State's win. Johnson rushed for 243 yards, and MSU held the Wildcats to just 212 total yards. The relief-tinged jubilation carried throughout the night, as the MSU team trucked home with its first victory since 1999.
GAMES ON TODAY'S DATE
2018 - #3 South Dakota State 45, MSU 14
2012 - MSU 34, Drake 24
2001 - MSU 32, at Weber St 17
1990 - at CSU 41, MSU 5
1984 - MSU 30, Mesa St 14
1979 - North Dakota 20, MSU 16: This was MSU's first season-opening loss since UND beat the Cats in Grand Forks in 1972, and MSU's first without Paul Dennehy at quarterback since 1975
1973 - MSU 42, Idaho St 7: The first game in Reno H. Sales Stadium
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