BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 34 Days Until Kickoff
8/1/2021 1:59:00 PM | Football
A look at the no. 34 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.
#34
Nolan Askelson, LB: Nolan Askelson quietly posted an excellent freshman season in 2019, logging 32 tackles with two pass breakups. He is a physical presence in the middle of the Bobcat defense, a fearless tackler who plays sideline to sideline. Before arriving at Montana State he helped anchor the defense for Billings Senior's recent dynasty, earning Class AA Defensive MVP honors in 2017. He also played running back and quarterback for the Broncs.
Spotlight – Mark D'Agostino: Every once in a while a player comes along who seems wildly underappreciated outside of his own program. Mac Bignell was that kind of player, and so were Ryan Johnson and Chip Hobbs and Kevin Lundstrom in their day, guys whose performance and statistics far out-stripped the level of attention they received outside of Bozeman. In the late '80s, that guy was Mark D'Agostino. MSU's defenses in the immediate years after the 1984 National Championship surrendered a lot of yards and points, but by the last years of the decade the personnel was improved and performance followed. From the beginning of Big Sky play in 1988 until the end of 1989 only Idaho (41 points twice) and Weber State (59 in the 1988 season finale) truly had their way, among league foes, against the Bobcat defense. For his part, "Dog" (as he was and still is called) piled up marvelous numbers in his final two seasons. He had 113 tackles, eight for a loss, with six sacks, as a senior, one fewer, eight for a loss, with two sacks, as a junior. In those two seasons combined he picked off five passes and broke up eight others, forced three fumbles and recovered two, and blocked a couple of kicks. For all of this he was named First Team All-Big Sky as a senior, and didn't earn All-America mention. But D'Agostino was a tremendous player, praised widely by teammates and coaches, and will always be a fan favorite for his great work at MSU after starring at Bozeman High.
Spotlight – Preston Gale: Timing is everything in football, as in life, and Preston Gale experienced both good and bad timing during his days as a Bobcat. Gale was both blessed to play on some brilliant Bobcat defenses, a cause to which he contributed. But he was cursed by injuries. After an impressive 4.5 tackles-for-loss as a reserve in 2010, Gale entered 2011 expected to contribute greatly to a really terrific Bobcat defense that included a couple of future Buck Buchanan Award winners, two Big Sky MVPs-to-be, and a smattering of All-Americas. But Gale went down with an injury in fall camp, and missed the entire season. Logging considerable time with Caleb Schreibeis and Brad Daly, two of the greatest Bobcats ever, he managed five tackles-for-loss, and was clearly an exceptional player. His senior season held enormous amounts of promise, but he was again injured in fall camp and missed five of the season's first six games. He still posted a productive season, getting 2.5 sacks with a caused and a recovered fumble. Gale's final numbers remain impressive – 13 tackles for loss and three fumbles caused and recovered in only 28 career games. Football can be a cruel game, and under different circumstances his career may have looked different. But flags fly forever, and no one will ever take away Preston Gale's three Big Sky Championship rings or the important role he played.
Chronology: John Travis (1926), Joe Hazen (1930), Marvin Eggert (1931), Delno Gates (1937), Al Ralston (1940), Norman Hansen (1941), Earl Nadeau (1946-47), Ray Gallik (1948-49), Steve Henault (1950), Duane Delger (1953), Del Layman (1954-55), Francis Turley (1956), Jerry Johnson (1959), Jack Cameron (1960), Landy Harrell (1970), Pat Stephenson (1971), Wayne Edwards (1972-74), Tom Weninger (1975-76), Jeff Davis (1977-80), Dale Halgren (1982-83), Brian Williams (1984), Mark D'Agostino (1986-89), Billy Templeton (1990), Bill Thornton (1991), Jaman Brewster (1992-93), Joey McElmurry (1994-95), Rusty Kent (1996), Arie Grey (1997), Ryan Johnson (1999-2002), Nial Saraceni (2003), Morris Milton (2004), Jeff Price (2005-09), Preston Gale (2010-12), Blake Braun (2013-16), Nich Van Horrssen (2017), Nolan Askelson (2018-)
Other #34 Notes: Jersey number 34 produced a lot of rushing yards at Montana State – 7,302 since reliable statistics were recorded beginning in 1956, to be exact, and that's without a player wearing #34 carrying the ball even once since 2004. The all-time leading ball-carrier in #34, of course, is Ryan Johnson, who gained all of his school-record 3,646 yards in that number. Other notables include Wayne Edwards (2,155 from 1972-74), Jack Cameron (284 in 1960) and friend-of-the-show Jeff Davis (387, 1977-79).
#34
Nolan Askelson, LB: Nolan Askelson quietly posted an excellent freshman season in 2019, logging 32 tackles with two pass breakups. He is a physical presence in the middle of the Bobcat defense, a fearless tackler who plays sideline to sideline. Before arriving at Montana State he helped anchor the defense for Billings Senior's recent dynasty, earning Class AA Defensive MVP honors in 2017. He also played running back and quarterback for the Broncs.
Spotlight – Mark D'Agostino: Every once in a while a player comes along who seems wildly underappreciated outside of his own program. Mac Bignell was that kind of player, and so were Ryan Johnson and Chip Hobbs and Kevin Lundstrom in their day, guys whose performance and statistics far out-stripped the level of attention they received outside of Bozeman. In the late '80s, that guy was Mark D'Agostino. MSU's defenses in the immediate years after the 1984 National Championship surrendered a lot of yards and points, but by the last years of the decade the personnel was improved and performance followed. From the beginning of Big Sky play in 1988 until the end of 1989 only Idaho (41 points twice) and Weber State (59 in the 1988 season finale) truly had their way, among league foes, against the Bobcat defense. For his part, "Dog" (as he was and still is called) piled up marvelous numbers in his final two seasons. He had 113 tackles, eight for a loss, with six sacks, as a senior, one fewer, eight for a loss, with two sacks, as a junior. In those two seasons combined he picked off five passes and broke up eight others, forced three fumbles and recovered two, and blocked a couple of kicks. For all of this he was named First Team All-Big Sky as a senior, and didn't earn All-America mention. But D'Agostino was a tremendous player, praised widely by teammates and coaches, and will always be a fan favorite for his great work at MSU after starring at Bozeman High.
Spotlight – Preston Gale: Timing is everything in football, as in life, and Preston Gale experienced both good and bad timing during his days as a Bobcat. Gale was both blessed to play on some brilliant Bobcat defenses, a cause to which he contributed. But he was cursed by injuries. After an impressive 4.5 tackles-for-loss as a reserve in 2010, Gale entered 2011 expected to contribute greatly to a really terrific Bobcat defense that included a couple of future Buck Buchanan Award winners, two Big Sky MVPs-to-be, and a smattering of All-Americas. But Gale went down with an injury in fall camp, and missed the entire season. Logging considerable time with Caleb Schreibeis and Brad Daly, two of the greatest Bobcats ever, he managed five tackles-for-loss, and was clearly an exceptional player. His senior season held enormous amounts of promise, but he was again injured in fall camp and missed five of the season's first six games. He still posted a productive season, getting 2.5 sacks with a caused and a recovered fumble. Gale's final numbers remain impressive – 13 tackles for loss and three fumbles caused and recovered in only 28 career games. Football can be a cruel game, and under different circumstances his career may have looked different. But flags fly forever, and no one will ever take away Preston Gale's three Big Sky Championship rings or the important role he played.
Chronology: John Travis (1926), Joe Hazen (1930), Marvin Eggert (1931), Delno Gates (1937), Al Ralston (1940), Norman Hansen (1941), Earl Nadeau (1946-47), Ray Gallik (1948-49), Steve Henault (1950), Duane Delger (1953), Del Layman (1954-55), Francis Turley (1956), Jerry Johnson (1959), Jack Cameron (1960), Landy Harrell (1970), Pat Stephenson (1971), Wayne Edwards (1972-74), Tom Weninger (1975-76), Jeff Davis (1977-80), Dale Halgren (1982-83), Brian Williams (1984), Mark D'Agostino (1986-89), Billy Templeton (1990), Bill Thornton (1991), Jaman Brewster (1992-93), Joey McElmurry (1994-95), Rusty Kent (1996), Arie Grey (1997), Ryan Johnson (1999-2002), Nial Saraceni (2003), Morris Milton (2004), Jeff Price (2005-09), Preston Gale (2010-12), Blake Braun (2013-16), Nich Van Horrssen (2017), Nolan Askelson (2018-)
Other #34 Notes: Jersey number 34 produced a lot of rushing yards at Montana State – 7,302 since reliable statistics were recorded beginning in 1956, to be exact, and that's without a player wearing #34 carrying the ball even once since 2004. The all-time leading ball-carrier in #34, of course, is Ryan Johnson, who gained all of his school-record 3,646 yards in that number. Other notables include Wayne Edwards (2,155 from 1972-74), Jack Cameron (284 in 1960) and friend-of-the-show Jeff Davis (387, 1977-79).
Players Mentioned
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