BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 16 Days Until Kickoff!
8/20/2021 2:46:00 PM | Football
A look at the no. 16 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.
#16
Tanner Trafton, WR: Tanner Trafton enters his third year in the Bobcat program, a big receiver with good hands and athleticism. A brilliant student, Traffton was a start at Ferrgus County High in Lewistown.
Tyson Pottenger, DB: A bright young defensive back prospect, Tyson Pottenger brings good athleticism to the MSU secondary. He is likely headed for a redshirt season as a true freshman.
Bobcat Farewell – Luke May, S: Originally from Whitefish, Luke May transferred to MSU from Minnesota. May began his career as a Golden Gopher javelin thrower, but the lure of returning to his home state was too strong so in 2017 he joined the Bobcats… as a football player. He was a dual sport star in high school, but when it came time to pick a school in the Treasure he opted to follow the footsteps of his grandfather rather than his father, Eric, a UM grad. Bucky May starred as a fullback for Montana State in the 1960s before becoming a legendary Whitefish businessman for many decades. Luke May graduated from MSU and concluded his career with a season of eligibility remaining, so we offer this Bobcat Farewell to a cool kid from the Flathead area.
Spotlight – Foy McClung: Sometimes a photo catches your eye, and never really exits your mind. There is a shot of quarterback Foy McClung throwing a jump pass – his feet way off the ground, his arm cocked, guard Jerry Ross and fullback Dave Miller protecting him, in a sharp-looking white uniform with a glimmering gold helmet, a large crowd looking on as the Cats thump the Grizzlies in Missoula. McClung's story was as compelling as that photo. He transferred to Montana State from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M junior college before the 1963 season, and contributed "booming punts in the clutch" as a part-time punter. He entered his senior season as the third-string quarterback, a player whose ability "coaches feel they've underrated," per his media guide bio. He was a part-time punter as a junior, and after entering his senior season third on the depth chart rose to the starting role late in the season. He led the Bobcats to a thrashing of Montana in Missoula off the bench, splitting time with starter Ray Foley, and helped the Cats wrap up the Big Sky title with an easy road win at Weber State. McClung was named Back of the Game in the Camellia Bowl, when Montana State won the western regional small college championship by beating Sacramento State on its home turf. In addition to finally wrangling quarterback honors, McClung was the team's punter and place kicker. He made the most of his short time on the MSU campus. The commerce major was a Phi Beta Lambda member and belonged to the Phi Beta Kappa academic honorary. A member of the Bobcat baseball team, he was also Vice President of the French Club. McClung played semi-pro football for the Tulsa Thunderbirds after graduating from MSU.
Chronology: Gay Kravik (1931), Bob Mattmiller (1934), Nicholas Yovetich (1937), Jess Hodson (1940), Shril Williamson (1941), George Hoffman (1946), John Geary (1947-48), Herman Bliss (1949-50), Paul Christopherson (1953), Ron Harcharik (1954-55), Dave Alt (1956-61), Chuck Springer (1963), Foy McClung (1962-64), Wayne Pitzer (1965-67), Jim Bilsky (1968), Steve Endres (1971-73), Mike Anderson (1974-77), Barry Sullivan (1978), Mike Carle (1979-80), Carman Campagna (1982), Mark Page (1983), Jeff Michael (1984-85), Kurt Ostermiller (1986-87), Sam Johnson (1988-89), Todd Pafhausen (1990-91), Scott Matthews (1992-96), Dusty Broderick (1997-99), Jon Knokey (2000-02), Rick Coppack (2003-05), Derek Erickson (2006-07), Mark Iddins (2008-09), Danny Trittler (2010), Te'Shon Burton (2011), Cole Moore (2012-15), Zach Hutchins (2015), Kamden Brown (2016-17), Luke May (2017-20), Tanner Trafton (2019-), Tyson Pottenger (2021-)
Other #16 Notes: Cole Moore followed quite a path to get to Montana State, born in England but growing up in New Jersey then prepping for a year in suburban Chicago. He played quarterback in high school but arrived at MSU as a walk-on linebacker. He was among MSU's special teams leaders in tackles in spite of playing only nine games, then started for the remainder of his career. He was Honorable Mention All-Big Sky as a junior and Third Team as a senior, when he also served as a team captain. After graduating he earned his master's degree at Washington, where he worked as Jeff Choate's intern. When Choate became Montana State's head coach, Moore returned to his alma mater and has been an invaluable member of the Bobcat staff. In his administrative role he is crucial to the recruiting effort that has drawn national praise. Mostly, Moore remains the humble, quiet, productive person he was as a Bobcat player, is tremendously efficient and effective in his role on staff at the University of Texas. Previously, he worked for five years as Assistant AD for Football at MSU.
#16
Tanner Trafton, WR: Tanner Trafton enters his third year in the Bobcat program, a big receiver with good hands and athleticism. A brilliant student, Traffton was a start at Ferrgus County High in Lewistown.
Tyson Pottenger, DB: A bright young defensive back prospect, Tyson Pottenger brings good athleticism to the MSU secondary. He is likely headed for a redshirt season as a true freshman.
Bobcat Farewell – Luke May, S: Originally from Whitefish, Luke May transferred to MSU from Minnesota. May began his career as a Golden Gopher javelin thrower, but the lure of returning to his home state was too strong so in 2017 he joined the Bobcats… as a football player. He was a dual sport star in high school, but when it came time to pick a school in the Treasure he opted to follow the footsteps of his grandfather rather than his father, Eric, a UM grad. Bucky May starred as a fullback for Montana State in the 1960s before becoming a legendary Whitefish businessman for many decades. Luke May graduated from MSU and concluded his career with a season of eligibility remaining, so we offer this Bobcat Farewell to a cool kid from the Flathead area.
Spotlight – Foy McClung: Sometimes a photo catches your eye, and never really exits your mind. There is a shot of quarterback Foy McClung throwing a jump pass – his feet way off the ground, his arm cocked, guard Jerry Ross and fullback Dave Miller protecting him, in a sharp-looking white uniform with a glimmering gold helmet, a large crowd looking on as the Cats thump the Grizzlies in Missoula. McClung's story was as compelling as that photo. He transferred to Montana State from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M junior college before the 1963 season, and contributed "booming punts in the clutch" as a part-time punter. He entered his senior season as the third-string quarterback, a player whose ability "coaches feel they've underrated," per his media guide bio. He was a part-time punter as a junior, and after entering his senior season third on the depth chart rose to the starting role late in the season. He led the Bobcats to a thrashing of Montana in Missoula off the bench, splitting time with starter Ray Foley, and helped the Cats wrap up the Big Sky title with an easy road win at Weber State. McClung was named Back of the Game in the Camellia Bowl, when Montana State won the western regional small college championship by beating Sacramento State on its home turf. In addition to finally wrangling quarterback honors, McClung was the team's punter and place kicker. He made the most of his short time on the MSU campus. The commerce major was a Phi Beta Lambda member and belonged to the Phi Beta Kappa academic honorary. A member of the Bobcat baseball team, he was also Vice President of the French Club. McClung played semi-pro football for the Tulsa Thunderbirds after graduating from MSU.
Chronology: Gay Kravik (1931), Bob Mattmiller (1934), Nicholas Yovetich (1937), Jess Hodson (1940), Shril Williamson (1941), George Hoffman (1946), John Geary (1947-48), Herman Bliss (1949-50), Paul Christopherson (1953), Ron Harcharik (1954-55), Dave Alt (1956-61), Chuck Springer (1963), Foy McClung (1962-64), Wayne Pitzer (1965-67), Jim Bilsky (1968), Steve Endres (1971-73), Mike Anderson (1974-77), Barry Sullivan (1978), Mike Carle (1979-80), Carman Campagna (1982), Mark Page (1983), Jeff Michael (1984-85), Kurt Ostermiller (1986-87), Sam Johnson (1988-89), Todd Pafhausen (1990-91), Scott Matthews (1992-96), Dusty Broderick (1997-99), Jon Knokey (2000-02), Rick Coppack (2003-05), Derek Erickson (2006-07), Mark Iddins (2008-09), Danny Trittler (2010), Te'Shon Burton (2011), Cole Moore (2012-15), Zach Hutchins (2015), Kamden Brown (2016-17), Luke May (2017-20), Tanner Trafton (2019-), Tyson Pottenger (2021-)
Other #16 Notes: Cole Moore followed quite a path to get to Montana State, born in England but growing up in New Jersey then prepping for a year in suburban Chicago. He played quarterback in high school but arrived at MSU as a walk-on linebacker. He was among MSU's special teams leaders in tackles in spite of playing only nine games, then started for the remainder of his career. He was Honorable Mention All-Big Sky as a junior and Third Team as a senior, when he also served as a team captain. After graduating he earned his master's degree at Washington, where he worked as Jeff Choate's intern. When Choate became Montana State's head coach, Moore returned to his alma mater and has been an invaluable member of the Bobcat staff. In his administrative role he is crucial to the recruiting effort that has drawn national praise. Mostly, Moore remains the humble, quiet, productive person he was as a Bobcat player, is tremendously efficient and effective in his role on staff at the University of Texas. Previously, he worked for five years as Assistant AD for Football at MSU.
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
