BOBCATS 125: Bob Biastoch
6/8/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
Bob Biastoch came to Montana State as one of the program's top-rated recruits ever, and didn't disappoint
Leading to the 2022 season, the 125th anniversary of Montana State's first football team, we will look at 125 of the greatest Bobcats. You can find details here and a directory here.
Bob Biastoch, T, 1959-61
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: Honorable Mention Mid-Bracket All-America in 1959 and 1960
A CLOSER LOOK: Upon transferring from the University of Washington before the 1959 season, Bob Biastoch was instantly tabbed as "one of the most heralded players to enroll at Montana State" based on his High School All-America career at Butte High. Lining up with fellow Butte legend Sonny Holland on the Bobcat line, Montana State's 1959 season ended with a 6-3 record but in the school's third season playing as an independent two of the losses were to major college foes Arizona State in Tempe and Utah State in Logan.The only surprising loss was a 6-0 defeat at Idaho State which was dominated by both defenses.
Montana State's 1959 season served as a farewell to the core of players that helped the school claim the 1956 National Championship while compiling a 31-6-1 record in four seasons. The 1959 seniors included All-Americas Holland, Charlie Jackson, Rocco Perciavalle, Gene Schilling, Gary Davies and Jim McLeod, so Biastoch was among those returners tasked with maintaining the program's success. The Cats finished 5-3-1 in 1960 and 4-3-1 in 1961, but of the six losses in those two seasons only a 46-0 loss at North Dakota to open the 1961 season was by more than 11 points.
Biastoch left a strong legacy at Montana State. A three-year starter and two-time All-America, his teams beat the Grizzlies twice while bridging the gap from exiting the purgatory of small-college independent status to entering the Big Sky Conference. The 1959-60-61 teams also extended a string of consecutive winning seasons that would last from 1956 to 1964.
FROM FORMER TEAMMATE AND FELLOW BUTTE LEGEND SONNY HOLLAND: "Bob was very agile. He was a very good athlete, you'd have to say. He was very strong, naturally strong, and was always in the middle of the action. Which is how he liked it."
Bob Biastoch, T, 1959-61
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: Honorable Mention Mid-Bracket All-America in 1959 and 1960
A CLOSER LOOK: Upon transferring from the University of Washington before the 1959 season, Bob Biastoch was instantly tabbed as "one of the most heralded players to enroll at Montana State" based on his High School All-America career at Butte High. Lining up with fellow Butte legend Sonny Holland on the Bobcat line, Montana State's 1959 season ended with a 6-3 record but in the school's third season playing as an independent two of the losses were to major college foes Arizona State in Tempe and Utah State in Logan.The only surprising loss was a 6-0 defeat at Idaho State which was dominated by both defenses.
Montana State's 1959 season served as a farewell to the core of players that helped the school claim the 1956 National Championship while compiling a 31-6-1 record in four seasons. The 1959 seniors included All-Americas Holland, Charlie Jackson, Rocco Perciavalle, Gene Schilling, Gary Davies and Jim McLeod, so Biastoch was among those returners tasked with maintaining the program's success. The Cats finished 5-3-1 in 1960 and 4-3-1 in 1961, but of the six losses in those two seasons only a 46-0 loss at North Dakota to open the 1961 season was by more than 11 points.
Biastoch left a strong legacy at Montana State. A three-year starter and two-time All-America, his teams beat the Grizzlies twice while bridging the gap from exiting the purgatory of small-college independent status to entering the Big Sky Conference. The 1959-60-61 teams also extended a string of consecutive winning seasons that would last from 1956 to 1964.
FROM FORMER TEAMMATE AND FELLOW BUTTE LEGEND SONNY HOLLAND: "Bob was very agile. He was a very good athlete, you'd have to say. He was very strong, naturally strong, and was always in the middle of the action. Which is how he liked it."
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