BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 40 Days Until Kickoff
7/26/2021 4:26:00 PM | Football
A look at no. 40 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.
#40
Alex Johnson, LB: Alex Johnson enters his first varsity season as a Bobcat as an athletic linebacker who has gained size and speed during his time at MSU. The former Helena High star is a likely contributor on kick teams this year.
Spotlight – Bill Roney: It's hard not to feel a little sympathy for Montana State football's 1953 senior class. As was the case throughout college football, that group was a hodge-podge. Bill Roney and Tom Parac captained the team, and Roney was an exceptional player who returned for 1953 as the team's MVP and an all-conference choice. Northern Wyoming served as a fruitful recruiting region for the Cats in the years after World War II, and Roney and classmate Willie Baugh, a 27-year old tackle in 1953 each hailed from the Equality State. Parac, from Lewistown, moved to quarterback for his senior season and as a two-sport standout packed some star power. Fullback Robert Pewitt rounded out the senior class. Roney served a two-year military stint after high school, as did Baugh, while Parac and Pewitt each belonged to Montana State's ROTC unit. That season's seniors survived a 1-8 season in 1950 and an 0-7 season in 1951. But the 1953 season brought Tony Storti to Bozeman, and the Cats responded with a 2-5 record. In 1953 Montana State roared to a 4-4 campaign, the school's best since 1946, and laid the foundation for the sensational success that followed. The 1954 Cats finished 8-1, and following that with a 4-4-1 campaign Montana State won the 1956 National Championship. Many of that title team's important players began their careers in 1953, when a four-man senior class helped Coach Storti set the expectations and foundation for what was to come.
Chronology: Ray Ball (1926), Russell Wills (1937), George Sutich (1940), John Barrow (1941), Charles Masten (1946-49), Ray Gallik (1950), Bill Roney (1953), Chuck Peters (1954), Greg Dufek (1955), Bob Rudio (1956), Don Brinkman(1958), Jim McLeod (1957, '59), Steve Good (1960-61), Jim Wilson (1963), Dale Haver (1966), Earl Hanson (1966-67), Dean Winder (1968-69),Brad Brisbin (1971-73), Greg Wiggs (1975-77), Tim Sturdevant (1978-81), Clete Linebarger (1982), Shane Quilling (1983), Bob Burney (1984), Shane Quilling (1984-87), Mike Liebelt (1988), Felton Maxie (1989), Clint Morton (1990-94), Cedric Cooper (1995-98), Phil Wright (1999), Chad Gluhm (2000-04), Cody Kendall (2005), Kevin Ah-Hi (2006), Trenton Thelen (2007-08), Dalton Bright (2009), Donald Tudahl (2010-12), Cody Vitt (2013), Blake Sylvester (2014-16), Jered Padmos (2016-), Jaxen Hashley (2017), Alex Johnson (2019-)
#40
Alex Johnson, LB: Alex Johnson enters his first varsity season as a Bobcat as an athletic linebacker who has gained size and speed during his time at MSU. The former Helena High star is a likely contributor on kick teams this year.
Spotlight – Bill Roney: It's hard not to feel a little sympathy for Montana State football's 1953 senior class. As was the case throughout college football, that group was a hodge-podge. Bill Roney and Tom Parac captained the team, and Roney was an exceptional player who returned for 1953 as the team's MVP and an all-conference choice. Northern Wyoming served as a fruitful recruiting region for the Cats in the years after World War II, and Roney and classmate Willie Baugh, a 27-year old tackle in 1953 each hailed from the Equality State. Parac, from Lewistown, moved to quarterback for his senior season and as a two-sport standout packed some star power. Fullback Robert Pewitt rounded out the senior class. Roney served a two-year military stint after high school, as did Baugh, while Parac and Pewitt each belonged to Montana State's ROTC unit. That season's seniors survived a 1-8 season in 1950 and an 0-7 season in 1951. But the 1953 season brought Tony Storti to Bozeman, and the Cats responded with a 2-5 record. In 1953 Montana State roared to a 4-4 campaign, the school's best since 1946, and laid the foundation for the sensational success that followed. The 1954 Cats finished 8-1, and following that with a 4-4-1 campaign Montana State won the 1956 National Championship. Many of that title team's important players began their careers in 1953, when a four-man senior class helped Coach Storti set the expectations and foundation for what was to come.
Chronology: Ray Ball (1926), Russell Wills (1937), George Sutich (1940), John Barrow (1941), Charles Masten (1946-49), Ray Gallik (1950), Bill Roney (1953), Chuck Peters (1954), Greg Dufek (1955), Bob Rudio (1956), Don Brinkman(1958), Jim McLeod (1957, '59), Steve Good (1960-61), Jim Wilson (1963), Dale Haver (1966), Earl Hanson (1966-67), Dean Winder (1968-69),Brad Brisbin (1971-73), Greg Wiggs (1975-77), Tim Sturdevant (1978-81), Clete Linebarger (1982), Shane Quilling (1983), Bob Burney (1984), Shane Quilling (1984-87), Mike Liebelt (1988), Felton Maxie (1989), Clint Morton (1990-94), Cedric Cooper (1995-98), Phil Wright (1999), Chad Gluhm (2000-04), Cody Kendall (2005), Kevin Ah-Hi (2006), Trenton Thelen (2007-08), Dalton Bright (2009), Donald Tudahl (2010-12), Cody Vitt (2013), Blake Sylvester (2014-16), Jered Padmos (2016-), Jaxen Hashley (2017), Alex Johnson (2019-)
Players Mentioned
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