BOBCATS 125: Adam Cordeiro
5/16/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
Selfless MSU defensive linemen helped the Cats win titles as a defensive end and defensive tackle
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 and a directory here.
Adam Cordeiro, DT/DE, 2000-03
ALL-TIME TEAM: None
HONORS: Honorable Mention All-America, 2nd Team All-Big Sky in 2001, 2002 and 2003
A CLOSER LOOK: Adam Cordeiro's Bobcat career was humming along pretty good when head coach Mike Kramer and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski called him into the team's offices. The Boulder, Montana senior walked into that meeting as a defensive end with 23 career sacks and departed as a defensive tackle who had only three in his future. But flags fly forever, and that position change not only created Montana State's best statistical defense of the last 50 years but also led to a second straight Big Sky Championship. Cordeiro worked his way into the defensive end rotation as a freshman in 2000, getting 12 tackles-for-loss and six sacks. As a starter the next season he helped bookend a brilliant defensive line with Jon Montoya that also featured Nick Morasko and future Detroit Lion John Taylor. Cordeiro fueled Montana State's Big Sky-leading defense with 18 tackles-for-loss and 11.5 sacks, fifth-most in school history to that point, in 2001. In 2002 he registered 10.5 tackles-for-loss with 5.5 sacks, making perhaps the season's signature play in a stunning home win against Eastern Washington. Cordeiro snagged a bounce-pass lateral by Erik Meyer and returned it 68 yards for a touchdown to preserve MSU's 25-14 win against the Eagles. That came one week after Nate Cook's walkoff field goal on an untimed play against Sacramento State, and a week before a 28-26 home win against Portland State. That crazy three-game win streak set up the remarkable 10-7 win in Missoula that crowned the Cats Big Sky Champs. In 2003 the Bobcats stumbled occasionally during the regular season, but no credible claim could be made that the defense was at fault. MSU allowed 298 yards per game and forced 27 turnovers, both among the best marks in school history, and only Eastern Washington scored more than 24 points against MSU during the regular season. The Bobcat defense allowed only 84 points in six home games. After moving inside Cordeiro logged 37 tackles, five for a loss, with three sacks, and recovered a couple of fumbles. But he and Ray Sebestyen formed the incredibly disruptive force on the interior that allowed defensive ends Montoya and Clive Lowe and a secondary featuring Joey Thomas, Jay Hackett, Kane Ioane and Kenneth Qualls to hold opposing passing games to complete just 49.7% of their passes on the season. Cordeiro's selflessness and ability to impact games in so many ways helped power an absolutely amazing four-year run for the Bobcat defense.
FROM FORMER MSU HEAD COACH MIKE KRAMER: "Adam was a gift. He was one of several top-flight freshmen on site from Cliff Hysell's staff (when Kramer's staff took the reins at MSU in 2000). He was selfless, physical, had a very high pain tolerance, was consistently great in the weight room, on the practice field, and on game day. He was an awesome addition to a very accomplished vein of great Bobcat defensive linemen."
Adam Cordeiro, DT/DE, 2000-03
ALL-TIME TEAM: None
HONORS: Honorable Mention All-America, 2nd Team All-Big Sky in 2001, 2002 and 2003
A CLOSER LOOK: Adam Cordeiro's Bobcat career was humming along pretty good when head coach Mike Kramer and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski called him into the team's offices. The Boulder, Montana senior walked into that meeting as a defensive end with 23 career sacks and departed as a defensive tackle who had only three in his future. But flags fly forever, and that position change not only created Montana State's best statistical defense of the last 50 years but also led to a second straight Big Sky Championship. Cordeiro worked his way into the defensive end rotation as a freshman in 2000, getting 12 tackles-for-loss and six sacks. As a starter the next season he helped bookend a brilliant defensive line with Jon Montoya that also featured Nick Morasko and future Detroit Lion John Taylor. Cordeiro fueled Montana State's Big Sky-leading defense with 18 tackles-for-loss and 11.5 sacks, fifth-most in school history to that point, in 2001. In 2002 he registered 10.5 tackles-for-loss with 5.5 sacks, making perhaps the season's signature play in a stunning home win against Eastern Washington. Cordeiro snagged a bounce-pass lateral by Erik Meyer and returned it 68 yards for a touchdown to preserve MSU's 25-14 win against the Eagles. That came one week after Nate Cook's walkoff field goal on an untimed play against Sacramento State, and a week before a 28-26 home win against Portland State. That crazy three-game win streak set up the remarkable 10-7 win in Missoula that crowned the Cats Big Sky Champs. In 2003 the Bobcats stumbled occasionally during the regular season, but no credible claim could be made that the defense was at fault. MSU allowed 298 yards per game and forced 27 turnovers, both among the best marks in school history, and only Eastern Washington scored more than 24 points against MSU during the regular season. The Bobcat defense allowed only 84 points in six home games. After moving inside Cordeiro logged 37 tackles, five for a loss, with three sacks, and recovered a couple of fumbles. But he and Ray Sebestyen formed the incredibly disruptive force on the interior that allowed defensive ends Montoya and Clive Lowe and a secondary featuring Joey Thomas, Jay Hackett, Kane Ioane and Kenneth Qualls to hold opposing passing games to complete just 49.7% of their passes on the season. Cordeiro's selflessness and ability to impact games in so many ways helped power an absolutely amazing four-year run for the Bobcat defense.
FROM FORMER MSU HEAD COACH MIKE KRAMER: "Adam was a gift. He was one of several top-flight freshmen on site from Cliff Hysell's staff (when Kramer's staff took the reins at MSU in 2000). He was selfless, physical, had a very high pain tolerance, was consistently great in the weight room, on the practice field, and on game day. He was an awesome addition to a very accomplished vein of great Bobcat defensive linemen."
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