BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 18 Days Until Kickoff!
8/17/2021 5:06:00 PM | Football
A look at the no. 18 in Bobcat 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.
#18
Sean Austin, QB: A strong-armed, athletic quarterback who is likely destined for a redshirt season, but who has also reaffirmed his status as a tremendous prospect for the Cats. Austin was all-conference in 2020, and in 2019 was State Championship MVP. He was an outstanding basketball player at Kuna High School, as well.
Kendric Bailey, DB: A junior college transfer who arrives in Bozeman with three seasons of eligibility, Kendric Bailey brings talent and experience to the Bobcat secondary. But he also brings versatility, which is also important. In MSU's 4-2-5 base defense, Bailey's ability to play either safety spot and possibly the nickel position certainly optimizes his ability to help.
Spotlight - Brayden Konkol: Brayden Konkol sat on the dais of the Bobcat Stadium interview room, chaos in the air, and met the question dead on and without hesitation. "Sunday," he said when asked at what point he knew the Bobcats were going to win the 2019 Cat-Griz Classic, which Montana State controlled from pillar to post in a decisive 48-14 triumph. And Konkol, MSU's senior safety and eventual All-America, wasn't kidding. He told the assembled media types that when he watched film and saw the confidence in his coaches and the shared commitment in the locker room he knew Montana State would win, and probably with ease. And that's what transpired. The Bobcats forced and recovered a fumble on the first play from scrimmage to not only give the team an early lead but establish the day's tone. It was physical. Brutally physical, on both sides. It's easy to imagine the emotions that Konkol and his teammates, especially fellow senior Derek Marks who grew up with Konkol in Belgrade, shared on that afternoon. As the outcome became inevitable… as the students, their peers, stormed the field to celebrate with them… as reality set in that they had finished their careers without ever losing to the Grizzlies, the satisfaction must have been pretty overwhelming. Konkol had an amazing career as a Bobcat, and will always be remembered for his closing act, starting with the Miracle in Missoula and ending with a disappointing walk off the field in Fargo, but in between an amazing ride that took the team, the fans, and their home state further than any Bobcat team has gone since 1984.
Spotlight – Mark Fisher: In quiet moments during what proved to be a fine and productive career as a Bobcat football player, Mark Fisher had to occasionally wonder what the heck was going on. He began his career in the most surprising way imaginable, debuting in game 9 of a season during which he appeared to be redshirting, completing 6-of-13 passes in the fourth quarter of a home loss to Boise State, but suffered a season-ending injury that day. He began 1991 as the team's third quarterback, but by the fourth game he was its starter. He threw for 1,700 yards that season, and entered his junior campaign as the starting quarterback. Just before halftime in the season opener at Sacramento State, though, and took his medical hardship season. By the dawn of the 1993 campaign he had switched to fullback and played the remainder of his career at that position. Mark Fisher was a smart, tough kid throughout his tumultuous Bobcat career, and none of the drama he endured was of his own making. He is a long-time high school football coach and counselor in Colorado.
18 – The number of points Montana State allowed in the 1924 season.
Chronology: Paul McLean (1931), Kendall Pickens (1934), George Bailey (1937), Bob Whalen (1941), Dave Smith (1946), Frank Kinney (1947), Bill Kenney (1948), Dave Smith (1949), Don Sivertson (1950), John Digirolomo (1953-54), Favre Eaton (1955), Julian Albrecht (1957), George Lucas (1958), Harry Lopsonzski (1959-61), Tom Coombs (1962), Marv Tiller (1964-66), Jerry Pitzer (1967-69), Zoonie McLean (1970-72), Mike Holder (1973-75), Don Walsh (1976-78), Britt Freeman (1980), Kelly Davis (1982-86), Scott Neuman (1987), Chris Saenz (1988), Mark Fisher (1990-93), Rob Compson (1994-98), Nate Cook (2000), Cody Samuelson (2002), Gordon Hawley (2003), Eddie Smith (2004-05), Blayde Beckstead (2006), Willie Sullivan (2007), Chris Wilson (2009), Rory Perez (2010-13), Bo Hughes (2013), Casey Schwertfeger (2014), Wyatt Christensen (2014-15), Devon Tandberg (2015), Brayden Konkol (2016-)
Other #18 Notes: A tough and fast receiver out of Butte, Kelly Davis caught five passes as a freshman in 1983 and really took off from there. He finished his career with eight touchdown catches, a Big Sky and National Championship on the football team, and a conference 110 m high hurdle championship on the track. The construction engineering technology major helps run a construction firm in Denver. On the other end of the pass-catch spectrum, Rob Compson moved pretty well in a day and age before there was such a thing as a dual-threat quarterback, but he was never a threat to win a Big Sky hurdles race. He started at quarterback for the Cats for three seasons, but never possessed an arm that people bragged about. He's not necessarily remembered as an all-time Bobcat great, but remains fourth in school history in passing yards. He was flat-out a winner, presiding over MSU's best three-season stretch (19 wins) between the 1984 National Championship and the run of success that began in 2002. Compson gave Bobcat fans lots of thrills, and no less an connoisseur of brilliant quarterback play than Jim McElwain considers Compson to this day one of his favorite players.
#18
Sean Austin, QB: A strong-armed, athletic quarterback who is likely destined for a redshirt season, but who has also reaffirmed his status as a tremendous prospect for the Cats. Austin was all-conference in 2020, and in 2019 was State Championship MVP. He was an outstanding basketball player at Kuna High School, as well.
Kendric Bailey, DB: A junior college transfer who arrives in Bozeman with three seasons of eligibility, Kendric Bailey brings talent and experience to the Bobcat secondary. But he also brings versatility, which is also important. In MSU's 4-2-5 base defense, Bailey's ability to play either safety spot and possibly the nickel position certainly optimizes his ability to help.
Spotlight - Brayden Konkol: Brayden Konkol sat on the dais of the Bobcat Stadium interview room, chaos in the air, and met the question dead on and without hesitation. "Sunday," he said when asked at what point he knew the Bobcats were going to win the 2019 Cat-Griz Classic, which Montana State controlled from pillar to post in a decisive 48-14 triumph. And Konkol, MSU's senior safety and eventual All-America, wasn't kidding. He told the assembled media types that when he watched film and saw the confidence in his coaches and the shared commitment in the locker room he knew Montana State would win, and probably with ease. And that's what transpired. The Bobcats forced and recovered a fumble on the first play from scrimmage to not only give the team an early lead but establish the day's tone. It was physical. Brutally physical, on both sides. It's easy to imagine the emotions that Konkol and his teammates, especially fellow senior Derek Marks who grew up with Konkol in Belgrade, shared on that afternoon. As the outcome became inevitable… as the students, their peers, stormed the field to celebrate with them… as reality set in that they had finished their careers without ever losing to the Grizzlies, the satisfaction must have been pretty overwhelming. Konkol had an amazing career as a Bobcat, and will always be remembered for his closing act, starting with the Miracle in Missoula and ending with a disappointing walk off the field in Fargo, but in between an amazing ride that took the team, the fans, and their home state further than any Bobcat team has gone since 1984.
Spotlight – Mark Fisher: In quiet moments during what proved to be a fine and productive career as a Bobcat football player, Mark Fisher had to occasionally wonder what the heck was going on. He began his career in the most surprising way imaginable, debuting in game 9 of a season during which he appeared to be redshirting, completing 6-of-13 passes in the fourth quarter of a home loss to Boise State, but suffered a season-ending injury that day. He began 1991 as the team's third quarterback, but by the fourth game he was its starter. He threw for 1,700 yards that season, and entered his junior campaign as the starting quarterback. Just before halftime in the season opener at Sacramento State, though, and took his medical hardship season. By the dawn of the 1993 campaign he had switched to fullback and played the remainder of his career at that position. Mark Fisher was a smart, tough kid throughout his tumultuous Bobcat career, and none of the drama he endured was of his own making. He is a long-time high school football coach and counselor in Colorado.
18 – The number of points Montana State allowed in the 1924 season.
Chronology: Paul McLean (1931), Kendall Pickens (1934), George Bailey (1937), Bob Whalen (1941), Dave Smith (1946), Frank Kinney (1947), Bill Kenney (1948), Dave Smith (1949), Don Sivertson (1950), John Digirolomo (1953-54), Favre Eaton (1955), Julian Albrecht (1957), George Lucas (1958), Harry Lopsonzski (1959-61), Tom Coombs (1962), Marv Tiller (1964-66), Jerry Pitzer (1967-69), Zoonie McLean (1970-72), Mike Holder (1973-75), Don Walsh (1976-78), Britt Freeman (1980), Kelly Davis (1982-86), Scott Neuman (1987), Chris Saenz (1988), Mark Fisher (1990-93), Rob Compson (1994-98), Nate Cook (2000), Cody Samuelson (2002), Gordon Hawley (2003), Eddie Smith (2004-05), Blayde Beckstead (2006), Willie Sullivan (2007), Chris Wilson (2009), Rory Perez (2010-13), Bo Hughes (2013), Casey Schwertfeger (2014), Wyatt Christensen (2014-15), Devon Tandberg (2015), Brayden Konkol (2016-)
Other #18 Notes: A tough and fast receiver out of Butte, Kelly Davis caught five passes as a freshman in 1983 and really took off from there. He finished his career with eight touchdown catches, a Big Sky and National Championship on the football team, and a conference 110 m high hurdle championship on the track. The construction engineering technology major helps run a construction firm in Denver. On the other end of the pass-catch spectrum, Rob Compson moved pretty well in a day and age before there was such a thing as a dual-threat quarterback, but he was never a threat to win a Big Sky hurdles race. He started at quarterback for the Cats for three seasons, but never possessed an arm that people bragged about. He's not necessarily remembered as an all-time Bobcat great, but remains fourth in school history in passing yards. He was flat-out a winner, presiding over MSU's best three-season stretch (19 wins) between the 1984 National Championship and the run of success that began in 2002. Compson gave Bobcat fans lots of thrills, and no less an connoisseur of brilliant quarterback play than Jim McElwain considers Compson to this day one of his favorite players.
Players Mentioned
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