BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 45 Days Until Kickoff!
7/21/2021 3:41:00 PM | Football
A look at the number 45 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.
#45
The number 45 is currently unassigned.
Spotlight – Mike McCafferty: Montana State's defenses around the turn of the century were very good, even as they were developing into something extraordinarily special that would form the heart of the program's return to championship football in 2002, '03 and '05. One player that was for briefly brilliant parts of those defenses was linebacker Mike McCafferty. A product of the Bay area, McCafferty moved to defensive end as a redshirt freshman late in 1999 and in the season's final two games logged eight tackles and two sacks. Considered a linchpin moving into Mike Kramer's tenure as head coach, McCafferty instead couldn't shake the grip of head injuries and missed all of 2000. In 2001 he was again brilliant when healthy, forcing two fumbles with seven tackles in MSU's streak-ending win over Weber State. But he was forced to miss five mid-season games, and retired after the season. McCafferty brought a positive intensity with him every time he pulled on the uniform.
Chronology: Eldon Penfield (1926), JE Pepper (1930), Ed Arnold (1940), Marvin Markuson (1941), Edward Kirsman (1946), James Kane (1947), Harry Perrigo (1948), Marv Kildahl (1949), Dale Boatright (1950), Bob Black (1953-55), Ed Burns (1956), Bob Allen (1959), Bob Wickersham (1969), Bob Wickersham (1970), Gary Michael (1971), Roscoe Schmidt (1973-75), Brian Febach (1976), Britt Freeman (1977-78), Brian Matthews (1979-81), Mike Callaghan (1982-85), Tyler Huber (1986-87), Von Narcisse (1988), Cory Voggesser (1989-93), Rodney Ellis (1994), Errol Rice (1996), Charles Eaton (1997), Mike McCarfferty (1999-2001), Drew Vanderhoff (2002), Zach Wermers (2003), Ty McDonald (2004-07), Jason D'Alba (2008-10), Cody Dopps (2012), Luke Daly (2013-15, 2017), Sean Cooney (2018-), Deryk Snell (2018-)
Other #45 Notes: It's an obvious over-simplification to say that Treasure State products have been the backbone of the Bobcat football program for the century-plus of its existence. The Bobcat program began to really take off early in the 21st century, though, when non-scholarship and low-scholarship players from Montana began matriculating to MSU in larger numbers, and staying their entire careers. One of the greatest examples is Ty McDonald, a Montana High School Heisman winner who picked up the nickname "The Bus Driver" when that's the role a new assistant thought he held in the program on the trip to Great Falls for the Triangle Classic because he was attired in blue jeans and boots rather than team sweats or shorts. McDonald was a solid special teams contributor and reserve tight end, and coming from an agricultural family near Geyser his MSU heritage was strong. Away from the football field is where McDonald really made his mark. He won the University's Torley Award as the senior male who most exemplified the spirit of community service and involvement, he earned an International Stockmen's Education Foundation Travel Fellowship to the 2007 International Livestock Congress in Denver, a Val Glynn Award for leadership and scholarship, was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi agricultural honorary, interned for former U.S. Senator Conrad Burns in Washington D.C., and traveled to Taiwan to study international grain use in the spring of 2006. Ty McDonald was a favorite during his time at MSU, and remains a sterling example that college athletics provides opportunity far beyond the playing field.
#45
The number 45 is currently unassigned.
Spotlight – Mike McCafferty: Montana State's defenses around the turn of the century were very good, even as they were developing into something extraordinarily special that would form the heart of the program's return to championship football in 2002, '03 and '05. One player that was for briefly brilliant parts of those defenses was linebacker Mike McCafferty. A product of the Bay area, McCafferty moved to defensive end as a redshirt freshman late in 1999 and in the season's final two games logged eight tackles and two sacks. Considered a linchpin moving into Mike Kramer's tenure as head coach, McCafferty instead couldn't shake the grip of head injuries and missed all of 2000. In 2001 he was again brilliant when healthy, forcing two fumbles with seven tackles in MSU's streak-ending win over Weber State. But he was forced to miss five mid-season games, and retired after the season. McCafferty brought a positive intensity with him every time he pulled on the uniform.
Chronology: Eldon Penfield (1926), JE Pepper (1930), Ed Arnold (1940), Marvin Markuson (1941), Edward Kirsman (1946), James Kane (1947), Harry Perrigo (1948), Marv Kildahl (1949), Dale Boatright (1950), Bob Black (1953-55), Ed Burns (1956), Bob Allen (1959), Bob Wickersham (1969), Bob Wickersham (1970), Gary Michael (1971), Roscoe Schmidt (1973-75), Brian Febach (1976), Britt Freeman (1977-78), Brian Matthews (1979-81), Mike Callaghan (1982-85), Tyler Huber (1986-87), Von Narcisse (1988), Cory Voggesser (1989-93), Rodney Ellis (1994), Errol Rice (1996), Charles Eaton (1997), Mike McCarfferty (1999-2001), Drew Vanderhoff (2002), Zach Wermers (2003), Ty McDonald (2004-07), Jason D'Alba (2008-10), Cody Dopps (2012), Luke Daly (2013-15, 2017), Sean Cooney (2018-), Deryk Snell (2018-)
Other #45 Notes: It's an obvious over-simplification to say that Treasure State products have been the backbone of the Bobcat football program for the century-plus of its existence. The Bobcat program began to really take off early in the 21st century, though, when non-scholarship and low-scholarship players from Montana began matriculating to MSU in larger numbers, and staying their entire careers. One of the greatest examples is Ty McDonald, a Montana High School Heisman winner who picked up the nickname "The Bus Driver" when that's the role a new assistant thought he held in the program on the trip to Great Falls for the Triangle Classic because he was attired in blue jeans and boots rather than team sweats or shorts. McDonald was a solid special teams contributor and reserve tight end, and coming from an agricultural family near Geyser his MSU heritage was strong. Away from the football field is where McDonald really made his mark. He won the University's Torley Award as the senior male who most exemplified the spirit of community service and involvement, he earned an International Stockmen's Education Foundation Travel Fellowship to the 2007 International Livestock Congress in Denver, a Val Glynn Award for leadership and scholarship, was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi agricultural honorary, interned for former U.S. Senator Conrad Burns in Washington D.C., and traveled to Taiwan to study international grain use in the spring of 2006. Ty McDonald was a favorite during his time at MSU, and remains a sterling example that college athletics provides opportunity far beyond the playing field.
Leon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
