BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 20 Days Until Kickoff!
8/15/2021 1:15:00 PM | Football
A look at the no. 20 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.
#20
Minaya Olivo, RB: A talented young running back, freshman Minaya Olivo blends the best of both worlds, so to speak… he is a powerful runner between the tackles, also showing breakaway speed at times. His role in Montana State's strong and multi-faceted stable of backs continues to emerge, but the ability to contribute early in his career seems strong.
On the personal side of the equation, Olivo's bloodlines vouch for his athleticism and competitive nature. His father, Miguel, played catcher for seven different big league teams in a 13-year career and collected 905 hits and 145 home runs. His forte, though, was defense. Miguel Olivo threw out more than one-third (234 of 693) of those attempting to steal bases on him (considerably better than the league average of 28 percent during those years) and compiled 5.4 defensive wins above replacement during his career.
Discussing Olivo compels the BBTN staff to take a quick look at Montana State's connection to pro baseball. Val Glynn, a famed athlete and Bobcat Athletics Hall of Famer, is known more for his starring role on the football and basketball teams in Bozeman and as the school's Dean of Men for nearly two decades. But Glynn was a star pitcher, as well, and played for the San Francisco Seals in the Pacific Coast League, and for Ogden and Salt Lake City in the Class C Utah-Idaho League. Jack Sautter played baseball for the Bobcats from 1949-51 before playing for York (Pennsylvania) in the Class B Interstate League in 1951. Sautter grew up in Townsend and spent most of his adult life there, as well. After his professional career ended he played ball in the Copper League and was active as a football official for many years. Paul McGhay played a season of minor league ball for the Pirates' rookie league entry in the Gulf Coast League in 1988, and actually graduated from Montana State in later years. He has remained active in the Bozeman youth and American Legion baseball programs for many years. Jack Elmore played baseball and basketball for the Bobcats in the 1960s and would become an MSU assistant basketball coach, but in 1968 was among the NCAA's leading hitters.
Spotlight – Ryan Force: Utter 'Thorpe' around Bobcat fans of a certain age with enough access to then-head coach Mike Kramer and a mental image of Ryan Force immediately comes to mind. Force came to Montana State as a walk-on in 2002 and emerged as a special teams standout during MSU's Big Sky Championship of 2003. He logged 64 tackles with four interceptions in 2004, and was Second Team All-Big Sky in 2005. He rose to that same level as a senior in 2006, and as a three-year starter was an important member of two Big Sky Championship teams and a two FCS Playoff squads. He was one of Kramer's favorite topics. MSU's head coach raved about his athleticism, his versatility as a player, and gave the ultimate compliment when he said Force "is certainly on the level of play established by Kane Ioane." 'Thorpe' was a great player for the Bobcats during an important time of the program's revival.
Chronology: Kenneth Freese (1930), Keith Ario (1931), Charles Stroup (1934), Jack Dooley (1937), Russell Leland (1940), Jim Peterson (1941), Harry Perrigo (1946), Ed Krisman (1947-48), Tom Doman (1953-55), George Marinkovich (1957), Gary Alley (1961), Dale Jackson (1963), Jim Tuss (1964-66), Don Valero (1967-68), Jim Bauer (1969-71), Bob Burns (1972-74), Jerry Reisig (1975-76), Rick Henson (1977), Ken Hopballe (1978), Tony Boddie (1979-82), Thomas Cory (1983), Rob Pouliot (1984-88), Bucky Haynes (1980-92), Da'Ron Comier (1993), Mark Frank (1994), Chris Handy (1995), Mark Sandersfeld (1996), Mike Woodberry (1998-2001), Ryan Force (2002-06), Isaiah Taito (2007-08), CJ Palmer (2009-11), Keith Leenders (2012), Brandon Davis (2013-), Jaylen Price (2013-14), Noah James (2015-16), Dre Jackson (2017-)
Other #20 Notes: Keith Ario is a strong example of the impact an education can have on one's life, and he put his money where his mouth was. A noted philanthropist, Arior gave $1 million to Bobcat Athletics for student-athlete scholarships, and also contributed to medical-related fields and other charitable organizations. He started as an end on the Bobcat football team in from 1927-30, and as a basketball player he played shoulder-to-shoulder with the remnants of the Golden Bobcats, particularly Max Worthington. College Humor Magazine named Ario Third Team All-America in 1931. He hailed from Great Falls, where his father Victor worked as a saddlemaker after immigrating from Austria and by 1903 had created the Victor Ario Saddlery Company. After his time at Montana State, which Keith would later call "the finest time of my life," he took over the family business. He sold to his partners in the late 1950s and continued to thrive as a businessman and community member in Great Falls into the early years of the 21st Century.
#20
Minaya Olivo, RB: A talented young running back, freshman Minaya Olivo blends the best of both worlds, so to speak… he is a powerful runner between the tackles, also showing breakaway speed at times. His role in Montana State's strong and multi-faceted stable of backs continues to emerge, but the ability to contribute early in his career seems strong.
On the personal side of the equation, Olivo's bloodlines vouch for his athleticism and competitive nature. His father, Miguel, played catcher for seven different big league teams in a 13-year career and collected 905 hits and 145 home runs. His forte, though, was defense. Miguel Olivo threw out more than one-third (234 of 693) of those attempting to steal bases on him (considerably better than the league average of 28 percent during those years) and compiled 5.4 defensive wins above replacement during his career.
Discussing Olivo compels the BBTN staff to take a quick look at Montana State's connection to pro baseball. Val Glynn, a famed athlete and Bobcat Athletics Hall of Famer, is known more for his starring role on the football and basketball teams in Bozeman and as the school's Dean of Men for nearly two decades. But Glynn was a star pitcher, as well, and played for the San Francisco Seals in the Pacific Coast League, and for Ogden and Salt Lake City in the Class C Utah-Idaho League. Jack Sautter played baseball for the Bobcats from 1949-51 before playing for York (Pennsylvania) in the Class B Interstate League in 1951. Sautter grew up in Townsend and spent most of his adult life there, as well. After his professional career ended he played ball in the Copper League and was active as a football official for many years. Paul McGhay played a season of minor league ball for the Pirates' rookie league entry in the Gulf Coast League in 1988, and actually graduated from Montana State in later years. He has remained active in the Bozeman youth and American Legion baseball programs for many years. Jack Elmore played baseball and basketball for the Bobcats in the 1960s and would become an MSU assistant basketball coach, but in 1968 was among the NCAA's leading hitters.
Spotlight – Ryan Force: Utter 'Thorpe' around Bobcat fans of a certain age with enough access to then-head coach Mike Kramer and a mental image of Ryan Force immediately comes to mind. Force came to Montana State as a walk-on in 2002 and emerged as a special teams standout during MSU's Big Sky Championship of 2003. He logged 64 tackles with four interceptions in 2004, and was Second Team All-Big Sky in 2005. He rose to that same level as a senior in 2006, and as a three-year starter was an important member of two Big Sky Championship teams and a two FCS Playoff squads. He was one of Kramer's favorite topics. MSU's head coach raved about his athleticism, his versatility as a player, and gave the ultimate compliment when he said Force "is certainly on the level of play established by Kane Ioane." 'Thorpe' was a great player for the Bobcats during an important time of the program's revival.
Chronology: Kenneth Freese (1930), Keith Ario (1931), Charles Stroup (1934), Jack Dooley (1937), Russell Leland (1940), Jim Peterson (1941), Harry Perrigo (1946), Ed Krisman (1947-48), Tom Doman (1953-55), George Marinkovich (1957), Gary Alley (1961), Dale Jackson (1963), Jim Tuss (1964-66), Don Valero (1967-68), Jim Bauer (1969-71), Bob Burns (1972-74), Jerry Reisig (1975-76), Rick Henson (1977), Ken Hopballe (1978), Tony Boddie (1979-82), Thomas Cory (1983), Rob Pouliot (1984-88), Bucky Haynes (1980-92), Da'Ron Comier (1993), Mark Frank (1994), Chris Handy (1995), Mark Sandersfeld (1996), Mike Woodberry (1998-2001), Ryan Force (2002-06), Isaiah Taito (2007-08), CJ Palmer (2009-11), Keith Leenders (2012), Brandon Davis (2013-), Jaylen Price (2013-14), Noah James (2015-16), Dre Jackson (2017-)
Other #20 Notes: Keith Ario is a strong example of the impact an education can have on one's life, and he put his money where his mouth was. A noted philanthropist, Arior gave $1 million to Bobcat Athletics for student-athlete scholarships, and also contributed to medical-related fields and other charitable organizations. He started as an end on the Bobcat football team in from 1927-30, and as a basketball player he played shoulder-to-shoulder with the remnants of the Golden Bobcats, particularly Max Worthington. College Humor Magazine named Ario Third Team All-America in 1931. He hailed from Great Falls, where his father Victor worked as a saddlemaker after immigrating from Austria and by 1903 had created the Victor Ario Saddlery Company. After his time at Montana State, which Keith would later call "the finest time of my life," he took over the family business. He sold to his partners in the late 1950s and continued to thrive as a businessman and community member in Great Falls into the early years of the 21st Century.
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
