BOBCATS 125: Jim Kalafat
5/10/2022 3:00:00 PM | Football
Jim Kalafat became famous after his football career, but he racked up amazing tackle totals as a Bobcat linebacker
Leading to the 2022 season, the 125th anniversary of Montana State's first football season, we will look at 125 of the greatest Bobcats. You can find details here.
Jim Kalafat, FB/LB, 1980-83
PREVIOUS ALL-TIME TEAM: None
HONORS: 2nd Team All-Big Sky linebacker in 1982 and 1983
A CLOSER LOOK: Jim Kalafat was productive enough as a fullback for the Bobcats in 1980 and 1981, finishing second on the team in rushing with 263 rushing yards in Sonny Lubick's final year as head coach. When Doug Graber's staff moved Kalafat to linebacker in 1982, a star was born. The former Great Falls CMR (he was a two-time all-state selection) star racked up 202 tackles as a junior in "the type of season in 1982 most defensive players can only dream of," wrote MSU's effusive and brilliant Sports Information Director Bruce Parker. A 2nd Team All-Big Sky choice that season, Kalafat also picked off two passes. He piled up 178 tackles as a senior, when he again earned 2nd Team All-Big Sky honors, forcing and recovering three fumbles each. He put his renowned strength to good use that seasonby blowing up 15 plays in the backfield for tackles-for-loss, but missed four games with an injury. He was injured during training camp with the Chiefs in 1984, bounced around the CFL, then made the Los Angeles Rams in 1987. An injury in the season opener, though, ended his football career. Beginning in 1990, Kalafat channeled his athleticism and competitive nature into an eight-year run on the television competition show American Gladiators. Bozeman product Tom Wylie of MTN Sports conducted an excellent long-form interview with Kalafat, now Jim Starr, here.
FROM LONG-TIME BOBCAT ASSISTANT COACH, ADMINISTRATOR AND RADIO ANALYST DAN DAVIES: "To steal a cliche, he's a 'football player.' He played fullback hsi first couple years because we needed a guy there, and he was an 'I' fullback when those guys had to go dig guys out to block. He was tough and competitive. We used to have boxing smokers, and he'd just rule when his time came. (Opponents) didn't last five seconds. He was so competitive and tough, and when we moved him to linebacker it really clicked. To steal a Bob Green line, when he got to the (ball carrier) he was in a bad mood. He wasn't that big, but he had great athletic ability, and he was tougher than hell. He was able to run around blocks because of his quickness, or run through them because of his strength. He was a leader in the weight room, he was always in there."
Jim Kalafat, FB/LB, 1980-83
PREVIOUS ALL-TIME TEAM: None
HONORS: 2nd Team All-Big Sky linebacker in 1982 and 1983
A CLOSER LOOK: Jim Kalafat was productive enough as a fullback for the Bobcats in 1980 and 1981, finishing second on the team in rushing with 263 rushing yards in Sonny Lubick's final year as head coach. When Doug Graber's staff moved Kalafat to linebacker in 1982, a star was born. The former Great Falls CMR (he was a two-time all-state selection) star racked up 202 tackles as a junior in "the type of season in 1982 most defensive players can only dream of," wrote MSU's effusive and brilliant Sports Information Director Bruce Parker. A 2nd Team All-Big Sky choice that season, Kalafat also picked off two passes. He piled up 178 tackles as a senior, when he again earned 2nd Team All-Big Sky honors, forcing and recovering three fumbles each. He put his renowned strength to good use that seasonby blowing up 15 plays in the backfield for tackles-for-loss, but missed four games with an injury. He was injured during training camp with the Chiefs in 1984, bounced around the CFL, then made the Los Angeles Rams in 1987. An injury in the season opener, though, ended his football career. Beginning in 1990, Kalafat channeled his athleticism and competitive nature into an eight-year run on the television competition show American Gladiators. Bozeman product Tom Wylie of MTN Sports conducted an excellent long-form interview with Kalafat, now Jim Starr, here.
FROM LONG-TIME BOBCAT ASSISTANT COACH, ADMINISTRATOR AND RADIO ANALYST DAN DAVIES: "To steal a cliche, he's a 'football player.' He played fullback hsi first couple years because we needed a guy there, and he was an 'I' fullback when those guys had to go dig guys out to block. He was tough and competitive. We used to have boxing smokers, and he'd just rule when his time came. (Opponents) didn't last five seconds. He was so competitive and tough, and when we moved him to linebacker it really clicked. To steal a Bob Green line, when he got to the (ball carrier) he was in a bad mood. He wasn't that big, but he had great athletic ability, and he was tougher than hell. He was able to run around blocks because of his quickness, or run through them because of his strength. He was a leader in the weight room, he was always in there."
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