BOBCATS 125: Kirk Timmer and Clete Linebarger
6/10/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
A pair of big-hitting linebackers left an impression in the Big Sky
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.
Kirk Timmer, LB, 1983-86
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: 2nd Team All-Big Sky in 1984 and 1986
A CLOSER LOOK: A tackling machine, Kirk Timmer holds Montana State's career record with 518 and three of the program's top 10 single-season totals. A hard-nosed player and sure tackler, Timmer rose to the occasion as a sophomore during the 1984 playoffs. He logged 39 tackles in the team's three post-season games, which raised his season total (post-season stats did not count in those years) to a remarkable 177. Anything but a one-trick pony or pile-jumper, Timmer logged 31 tackles-for-loss with seven sacks, two interceptions and 22 pass breakups, and six forced fumbles with two recoveries.
FROM VOICE OF THE CATS DEAN ALEXANDER: "Kirk was all business all the time. He was always there to make the play, and a truly tough guy who was a great competitor."
FROM TEAMMATE AND LONG-TIME MSU TV ANALYST MIKE CALLAGHAN: "Kirk was another extremely smart football player and a dedicated student of the game. I think he was a bit ahead of his time in that he was extremely dedicated to his craft and making sure that he was fully prepared physically and mentally. He was not going to be outworked by anyone and was determined to get the absolute most out of his efforts. He was constantly striving to get better. Today's Cats talk about out that 1% every day, I think Kirk embraced that work ethic more than most. In his mind every day was game day."
Clete Linebarger, LB, 1982-85
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: 2nd Team All-Big Sky in 1983, 1984 and 1985
A CLOSER LOOK: Clete Linebarger, a Bobcat legacy whose father Clayton played for Montana State in 1959 and 1960, was a singular talent whose unique blend of abilities led the Montana State coaching staff to create the CAT position, which he manned as a junior and senior. The hybrid safety/linebacker role allowed him the ability to get to the football, and the former Conrad Cowboy took full advantage. Linebarger logged 316 tackles in his career, a top 10 mark in school history at the time of his graduation, along with 23 for a loss and seven sacks. His seven forced fumbles (tied for third), five in 1985 (still the second-most in a season at MSU), remain among the best marks in school history. He intercepted two passes and broke up nine others. In the team's run to the 1984 National Championship he recovered three fumbles, forced one, and picked off two passes in three games.
FROM FORMER BOBCAT ASSISTANT AND HEAD COACH MIKE KRAMER: "Clete was an old school devastating hitter with wicked acceleration to the ball. He was an all-around great athlete from Conrad who was the Shrine Game MVP as a quarterback after his senior year in high school. He was a legacy, as his father Clayton was a Bobcat. Clete was excellent in space and understood angles and fit. He played so hard that he badly hurt his shoulders, which he successfully hid from his coaches by tucking his hands into his belt. He defied the trainers to keep playing. He was tough as a bucket of ten penny nails, quiet and humble, another of the Montana Class B starters on the 1984 National Championship defensive unit. He is an outstanding alumnus of Montana State."
FROM VOICE OF THE CATS DEAN ALEXANDER: "Many never figured out what position Clete played. Linebacker? Defensive end? Safety? He was a combo of sorts who played a lot bigger than he was physically. He was a fierce competitor, always in the middle of the action. He played a special position because of his special talents, and was a special guy. A true competitor."
FROM TEAMMATE AND LONG-TIME MSU TV ANALYST MIKE CALLAGHAN: "Clete was successful because he is the toughest and most stubborn player I have been around. He simply willed himself to succeed because he could not have it any other way. In 84 that chip on his shoulder may have been the only thing holding it together. He had an incredible willingness and ability to play through pain."
Kirk Timmer, LB, 1983-86
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: 2nd Team All-Big Sky in 1984 and 1986
A CLOSER LOOK: A tackling machine, Kirk Timmer holds Montana State's career record with 518 and three of the program's top 10 single-season totals. A hard-nosed player and sure tackler, Timmer rose to the occasion as a sophomore during the 1984 playoffs. He logged 39 tackles in the team's three post-season games, which raised his season total (post-season stats did not count in those years) to a remarkable 177. Anything but a one-trick pony or pile-jumper, Timmer logged 31 tackles-for-loss with seven sacks, two interceptions and 22 pass breakups, and six forced fumbles with two recoveries.
FROM VOICE OF THE CATS DEAN ALEXANDER: "Kirk was all business all the time. He was always there to make the play, and a truly tough guy who was a great competitor."
FROM TEAMMATE AND LONG-TIME MSU TV ANALYST MIKE CALLAGHAN: "Kirk was another extremely smart football player and a dedicated student of the game. I think he was a bit ahead of his time in that he was extremely dedicated to his craft and making sure that he was fully prepared physically and mentally. He was not going to be outworked by anyone and was determined to get the absolute most out of his efforts. He was constantly striving to get better. Today's Cats talk about out that 1% every day, I think Kirk embraced that work ethic more than most. In his mind every day was game day."
Clete Linebarger, LB, 1982-85
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: 2nd Team All-Big Sky in 1983, 1984 and 1985
A CLOSER LOOK: Clete Linebarger, a Bobcat legacy whose father Clayton played for Montana State in 1959 and 1960, was a singular talent whose unique blend of abilities led the Montana State coaching staff to create the CAT position, which he manned as a junior and senior. The hybrid safety/linebacker role allowed him the ability to get to the football, and the former Conrad Cowboy took full advantage. Linebarger logged 316 tackles in his career, a top 10 mark in school history at the time of his graduation, along with 23 for a loss and seven sacks. His seven forced fumbles (tied for third), five in 1985 (still the second-most in a season at MSU), remain among the best marks in school history. He intercepted two passes and broke up nine others. In the team's run to the 1984 National Championship he recovered three fumbles, forced one, and picked off two passes in three games.
FROM FORMER BOBCAT ASSISTANT AND HEAD COACH MIKE KRAMER: "Clete was an old school devastating hitter with wicked acceleration to the ball. He was an all-around great athlete from Conrad who was the Shrine Game MVP as a quarterback after his senior year in high school. He was a legacy, as his father Clayton was a Bobcat. Clete was excellent in space and understood angles and fit. He played so hard that he badly hurt his shoulders, which he successfully hid from his coaches by tucking his hands into his belt. He defied the trainers to keep playing. He was tough as a bucket of ten penny nails, quiet and humble, another of the Montana Class B starters on the 1984 National Championship defensive unit. He is an outstanding alumnus of Montana State."
FROM VOICE OF THE CATS DEAN ALEXANDER: "Many never figured out what position Clete played. Linebacker? Defensive end? Safety? He was a combo of sorts who played a lot bigger than he was physically. He was a fierce competitor, always in the middle of the action. He played a special position because of his special talents, and was a special guy. A true competitor."
FROM TEAMMATE AND LONG-TIME MSU TV ANALYST MIKE CALLAGHAN: "Clete was successful because he is the toughest and most stubborn player I have been around. He simply willed himself to succeed because he could not have it any other way. In 84 that chip on his shoulder may have been the only thing holding it together. He had an incredible willingness and ability to play through pain."
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