BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 71 Days Until Kickoff
6/25/2021 2:00:00 PM | Football
A look at the No. 71 in Bobcat Football history
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 2021 football season at Wyoming on September 4.
#71
Tommy Sullivan, LS: Long snapper is one of those positions in sports that thrive in anonymity. No notice? No problem, it means that player did his job. By that measurement, Tommy Sullivan had a tremendous fall and spring. The team's long snapper showed the mettle that landed him as a five star prospect in Rubio's national rankings, performing well throughout. Sullivan, a very good student, majors in mechanical engineering technology.
Spotlight – Jerry Jimison: It's hard to imagine exactly whether Jim Sweeney, when he said in Montana State's 1967 media guide that Jerry Jimision "plays more football with less apparent ability than anybody," meant it as a complement or a slight. It's easy to imagine how Jimison took it – likely with his trademark laugh, and some good humor. A three-year starter for the Cats, helping MSU win Big Sky titles in 1966 and '67, Jimison was an All-Big Sky defensive guard in 1967 as a senior. He was one of two key players on those fantastic Bobcat teams from Glendive, and would eventually return to his hometown and serve as its mayor for about as long as anyone can remember.
71 Yards: The longest catch of Kevin Kassis' fine career as a Bobcat receiver, which came from Troy Andersen on MSU's first offensive play of its 2018 playoff loss at North Dakota State.
Chronology: Gene Beekman (1957), Chuck Dallum (1958-59), Curt Farrier (1960-61), Jerry Jimison (1965-57), Hank Sheer (1968), Dave Sharp (1970), Barney Carnagey (1971-72), Steve Mullen (1973-75), Rick Kelsic (1976-78), Jeff Daugherty (1979), Tim Moss (1980), Troy Timmer (1981-84), Todd Kuck (1985), John Goggins (1987), John Schlee (1987-91), Bob Arne (1993), James Hoskins (1994), Will Napier (1995-96), Jonathan Taylor (1997), Ryan Henning (1999-2002), DeShawn Gibbs (2003), Sky Johnson (2004), Joe Rothenberger (2005), Jesse Hoffmann (2006-10), Alex Eekhoff (2011-15), Conner Floden (2016-17), Jack Vering (2019), Tommy Sullivan (2020-).
Bonus Note for #71: It was a good thing for the Bobcats that Troy Timmer ended up with an injury early in his career. It worked out pretty well for the older of the famed Timmer brothers, too, because he put to pretty good use the year of eligibility he received at the end of his career for the 'retroactive redshirt rule.' The rule is akin to what is now the medical hardship process, which allows players who meet certain standards to recover a season lost to injury. The year Timmer received turned out to be one of the most memorable in Bobcat history, 1984, when the team rolled to an unexpected but widely exalted National Championship. Timmer was not only a starting defensive lineman, but he was able to play on the same defense as his brother, Kirk.
#71
Tommy Sullivan, LS: Long snapper is one of those positions in sports that thrive in anonymity. No notice? No problem, it means that player did his job. By that measurement, Tommy Sullivan had a tremendous fall and spring. The team's long snapper showed the mettle that landed him as a five star prospect in Rubio's national rankings, performing well throughout. Sullivan, a very good student, majors in mechanical engineering technology.
Spotlight – Jerry Jimison: It's hard to imagine exactly whether Jim Sweeney, when he said in Montana State's 1967 media guide that Jerry Jimision "plays more football with less apparent ability than anybody," meant it as a complement or a slight. It's easy to imagine how Jimison took it – likely with his trademark laugh, and some good humor. A three-year starter for the Cats, helping MSU win Big Sky titles in 1966 and '67, Jimison was an All-Big Sky defensive guard in 1967 as a senior. He was one of two key players on those fantastic Bobcat teams from Glendive, and would eventually return to his hometown and serve as its mayor for about as long as anyone can remember.
71 Yards: The longest catch of Kevin Kassis' fine career as a Bobcat receiver, which came from Troy Andersen on MSU's first offensive play of its 2018 playoff loss at North Dakota State.
Chronology: Gene Beekman (1957), Chuck Dallum (1958-59), Curt Farrier (1960-61), Jerry Jimison (1965-57), Hank Sheer (1968), Dave Sharp (1970), Barney Carnagey (1971-72), Steve Mullen (1973-75), Rick Kelsic (1976-78), Jeff Daugherty (1979), Tim Moss (1980), Troy Timmer (1981-84), Todd Kuck (1985), John Goggins (1987), John Schlee (1987-91), Bob Arne (1993), James Hoskins (1994), Will Napier (1995-96), Jonathan Taylor (1997), Ryan Henning (1999-2002), DeShawn Gibbs (2003), Sky Johnson (2004), Joe Rothenberger (2005), Jesse Hoffmann (2006-10), Alex Eekhoff (2011-15), Conner Floden (2016-17), Jack Vering (2019), Tommy Sullivan (2020-).
Bonus Note for #71: It was a good thing for the Bobcats that Troy Timmer ended up with an injury early in his career. It worked out pretty well for the older of the famed Timmer brothers, too, because he put to pretty good use the year of eligibility he received at the end of his career for the 'retroactive redshirt rule.' The rule is akin to what is now the medical hardship process, which allows players who meet certain standards to recover a season lost to injury. The year Timmer received turned out to be one of the most memorable in Bobcat history, 1984, when the team rolled to an unexpected but widely exalted National Championship. Timmer was not only a starting defensive lineman, but he was able to play on the same defense as his brother, Kirk.
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
