BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: Only 54 Days Left Until Kickoff!
7/12/2021 12:45:00 PM | Football
A look at the number 54 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.
#54
Cooper Thomas, LB: Cooper Thomas may not be a well-known name to Bobcat fans, but Brent Vigen is happy to have him on board. A former walk-on linebacker from the Houston area, Thomas brings versatility to MSU football. He is a linebacker who flashed talent in the spring, and will compete for playing time this fall. He also profiles as a strong special teams contributor, and could emerge as a long snapper. Thomas may not have a defined role, but his broad base of abilities offers a wide range of ways for him to help.
Spotlight: Evaluating the future impact of new or young college football players is uncertain under any circumstance, but there are some good benchmarks. And in the mid-2000s, Bobby Daly hit them all. A notable work ethic and positive attitude? Check. Athleticism that, even in a successful Division I football program, stands out? Check. Productivity on special teams? Big-time check. Daly became a second generation team captain, First Team All-America, and finished fourth in school history in tackles. He is presently MSU's linebackers coach.
Chronology: Ernest Mares (1926), Earl Semingsen (1927), Ted Wirak (1937), Mike Zunchich (1954), Jim Rogers (1955), Gary Giannini (1960-61), Bob Seiler (1965), Jim Kutzman (1966-67), Larry McCormick (1968), Rick Larsen (1969), Rick Larsen (1970), Dave Myers (1971-73), Dan Sweeney (1974), Kelly Darr (1975), Brian McFaul (1976-78), Larry Rubens (1979-80), Ted Modena (1982), Gary Sturm (1984), Ernie Ratzburg (1985), Greg Guza (1986), Stacy Coffin (1987), Todd Graves (1988-90), Dino Sparaco (1991-92), Brawn Lausen (1992-93), Chris Sobonya (1994), Jerry Vekved (1995), Matt Smith (1996-97), Walter Glover (1998-99), Mailo Fulutisi (2000), Matt Yocam (2001), Brandon Olson (2002), Chris Young (2003), Bobby Daly (2004-08), Aleksei Grosulak (2009), Josh Curry (2011), Wyatt Christensen (2013), Austin Oldenburger (2014-), Monte Folsom (2015-16), Chad Kanow (2017-19), Cooper Thomas (2020-).
Bonus Note for #54: Dino Sparaco was a tough, hard-working linebacker for the Cats in the early '90s, arriving as an unheralded junior college transfer and working his way into more progressively important roles in 1991 and '92. By his senior season he was a reserve linebacker and key special teams contributor. His impact to the Bobcat program didn't end with a solid playing career – this year Sparaco's son Dante joins the team as a transfer from Colorado.
More on #54: Montana State's football teams from the 1984 National Championship until the stirrings of the late 1990s occupy kind of a blind spot when discussing the Bobcat program's legacy, and that's too bad. The Cats compiled only one winning season from 1985 and 1995, but the program continued to produce excellent players, especially on defense. If a parade is ever thrown with that in mind, Todd Graves could be the banner bearer. A two-time All-Big Sky choice (second team as a senior, first team as a junior), he formed the heart of an excellent defense with Corey Widmer, Jason Hakert, Morgan Ryan, Ernie Boyd, Sean Hill… some really outstanding players. And Graves led the team in tackles as a junior and senior, racking up 273 total in those two seasons.
#54
Cooper Thomas, LB: Cooper Thomas may not be a well-known name to Bobcat fans, but Brent Vigen is happy to have him on board. A former walk-on linebacker from the Houston area, Thomas brings versatility to MSU football. He is a linebacker who flashed talent in the spring, and will compete for playing time this fall. He also profiles as a strong special teams contributor, and could emerge as a long snapper. Thomas may not have a defined role, but his broad base of abilities offers a wide range of ways for him to help.
Spotlight: Evaluating the future impact of new or young college football players is uncertain under any circumstance, but there are some good benchmarks. And in the mid-2000s, Bobby Daly hit them all. A notable work ethic and positive attitude? Check. Athleticism that, even in a successful Division I football program, stands out? Check. Productivity on special teams? Big-time check. Daly became a second generation team captain, First Team All-America, and finished fourth in school history in tackles. He is presently MSU's linebackers coach.
Chronology: Ernest Mares (1926), Earl Semingsen (1927), Ted Wirak (1937), Mike Zunchich (1954), Jim Rogers (1955), Gary Giannini (1960-61), Bob Seiler (1965), Jim Kutzman (1966-67), Larry McCormick (1968), Rick Larsen (1969), Rick Larsen (1970), Dave Myers (1971-73), Dan Sweeney (1974), Kelly Darr (1975), Brian McFaul (1976-78), Larry Rubens (1979-80), Ted Modena (1982), Gary Sturm (1984), Ernie Ratzburg (1985), Greg Guza (1986), Stacy Coffin (1987), Todd Graves (1988-90), Dino Sparaco (1991-92), Brawn Lausen (1992-93), Chris Sobonya (1994), Jerry Vekved (1995), Matt Smith (1996-97), Walter Glover (1998-99), Mailo Fulutisi (2000), Matt Yocam (2001), Brandon Olson (2002), Chris Young (2003), Bobby Daly (2004-08), Aleksei Grosulak (2009), Josh Curry (2011), Wyatt Christensen (2013), Austin Oldenburger (2014-), Monte Folsom (2015-16), Chad Kanow (2017-19), Cooper Thomas (2020-).
Bonus Note for #54: Dino Sparaco was a tough, hard-working linebacker for the Cats in the early '90s, arriving as an unheralded junior college transfer and working his way into more progressively important roles in 1991 and '92. By his senior season he was a reserve linebacker and key special teams contributor. His impact to the Bobcat program didn't end with a solid playing career – this year Sparaco's son Dante joins the team as a transfer from Colorado.
More on #54: Montana State's football teams from the 1984 National Championship until the stirrings of the late 1990s occupy kind of a blind spot when discussing the Bobcat program's legacy, and that's too bad. The Cats compiled only one winning season from 1985 and 1995, but the program continued to produce excellent players, especially on defense. If a parade is ever thrown with that in mind, Todd Graves could be the banner bearer. A two-time All-Big Sky choice (second team as a senior, first team as a junior), he formed the heart of an excellent defense with Corey Widmer, Jason Hakert, Morgan Ryan, Ernie Boyd, Sean Hill… some really outstanding players. And Graves led the team in tackles as a junior and senior, racking up 273 total in those two seasons.
Players Mentioned
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