BOBCATS 125: Paul McLean, Corky Dyer and Don Cosner
7/2/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
Montana State didn't enjoy great team success in the 1930s, but several individuals starred
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. This particular entry honors three men who played in a tough era for team success at Montana State, but all three hold a special place in Bobcat history. Paul McLean was part of a class of players that beat the Grizzlies twice, Corky Dyer was one of Montana State's first All-Americas, and Don Cosner - however briefly - was the first Bobcat in the NFL.
Paul McLean, C, 1929-32
ALL-TIME TEAM: 1933 Exponent 1st Team
HONORS: 2nd Team All-State in 1931 and 1932
A CLOSER LOOK: Paul McLean was a standout center for the Bobcats during the program's very successful period transitioning from the 1920s into the 1930s. Playing with some of the program's greatest stars, McLean (whose name was spelled a dizzying number of ways in school publications) helped the Bobcats to a 16-13-1 record in his four years, which included two wins over the Grizzlies.
FROM 1933 EXPONENT: "Among the more recent men to make the mythical eleven is MacLean. (Coach Schubert) Dyche picks him as noe of the best centers ever to play in Montana or any other state. MacLean had opportunities to go to larger schools but did not accept them because he wanted to play with the Bobcats. His stellar work placed him on the all state team twice, but he was never able to crash in on the all conference team. His outstanding defense work against the Grizzly eleven played a predominating part in defeating the Grizzlies twice during his four years."
Harold "Corky" Dyer, G, 1930-33
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: Honorable Mention All-America in 1933, 1st Team All-State in 1933
A CLOSER LOOK: One of the first Bobcat All-Americas, Corky Dyer experienced the peaks and valleys of Bobcat football. Montana State was 6-3 during his freshman season in 1930, but a year later the Cats dipped to 1-5-1. The 1932 squad finished 3-3-1 and beat the Grizzlies, but the 1933 season saw the team compile a 2-5 mark. Dyer, a mechanical engineering major from Moore, was an SAE, belonged to the Scabbard and Blade military honorary, lettered in wrestling three times, and also participated in band as a freshman.
Don Cosner, HB, 1935-38
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: 1st Team All-Rocky Mountain Conference in 1938, Honorable Mention All-Rocky Mountain Conference in 1937
A CLOSER LOOK: It's barely a footnote in NFL history, but the one game Don Cosner played for the Chicago Cardinals in 1939 (without stats) is monumental in Bobcat football annals. That single game gives Cosner the distinction of becoming the first Bobcat varsity player on record to play in the National Football League.
Cosner was born in Malta, Montana in 1917 when his mother Rubye was married to a man with the surname Philbrick. Rubye remarried in 1924, with her husband Clarence Cosner adopting Don and changing his last name. Records indicate Don Cosner graduated from Malta High and began at Montana State in the fall of 1935. He was considered a staple of the Bobcat backfield throughout his time at Montana State, and was 1st Team All-Rocky Mountain Conference as a senior. The next fall Cosner made history by becoming the first Bobcat to play in the NFL when he participated in one game with the Chicago Cardinals. Cosner enlisted in the service and served in the U.S. Air Force in World War II, Korean and Viet Nam. He rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel, earned a Bronze Star, and remained affiliated with the military for most of the remainder of his life.
FROM THE 1939 MONTANAN: "Don Cosner - Probably the most versatile man in our backfield of this year's team, was Don Cosner. He was undoubtedly the most effective running back on the squad while also handling the major part of the passing duties."
Paul McLean, C, 1929-32
ALL-TIME TEAM: 1933 Exponent 1st Team
HONORS: 2nd Team All-State in 1931 and 1932
A CLOSER LOOK: Paul McLean was a standout center for the Bobcats during the program's very successful period transitioning from the 1920s into the 1930s. Playing with some of the program's greatest stars, McLean (whose name was spelled a dizzying number of ways in school publications) helped the Bobcats to a 16-13-1 record in his four years, which included two wins over the Grizzlies.
FROM 1933 EXPONENT: "Among the more recent men to make the mythical eleven is MacLean. (Coach Schubert) Dyche picks him as noe of the best centers ever to play in Montana or any other state. MacLean had opportunities to go to larger schools but did not accept them because he wanted to play with the Bobcats. His stellar work placed him on the all state team twice, but he was never able to crash in on the all conference team. His outstanding defense work against the Grizzly eleven played a predominating part in defeating the Grizzlies twice during his four years."
Harold "Corky" Dyer, G, 1930-33
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: Honorable Mention All-America in 1933, 1st Team All-State in 1933
A CLOSER LOOK: One of the first Bobcat All-Americas, Corky Dyer experienced the peaks and valleys of Bobcat football. Montana State was 6-3 during his freshman season in 1930, but a year later the Cats dipped to 1-5-1. The 1932 squad finished 3-3-1 and beat the Grizzlies, but the 1933 season saw the team compile a 2-5 mark. Dyer, a mechanical engineering major from Moore, was an SAE, belonged to the Scabbard and Blade military honorary, lettered in wrestling three times, and also participated in band as a freshman.
Don Cosner, HB, 1935-38
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: 1st Team All-Rocky Mountain Conference in 1938, Honorable Mention All-Rocky Mountain Conference in 1937
A CLOSER LOOK: It's barely a footnote in NFL history, but the one game Don Cosner played for the Chicago Cardinals in 1939 (without stats) is monumental in Bobcat football annals. That single game gives Cosner the distinction of becoming the first Bobcat varsity player on record to play in the National Football League.
Cosner was born in Malta, Montana in 1917 when his mother Rubye was married to a man with the surname Philbrick. Rubye remarried in 1924, with her husband Clarence Cosner adopting Don and changing his last name. Records indicate Don Cosner graduated from Malta High and began at Montana State in the fall of 1935. He was considered a staple of the Bobcat backfield throughout his time at Montana State, and was 1st Team All-Rocky Mountain Conference as a senior. The next fall Cosner made history by becoming the first Bobcat to play in the NFL when he participated in one game with the Chicago Cardinals. Cosner enlisted in the service and served in the U.S. Air Force in World War II, Korean and Viet Nam. He rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel, earned a Bronze Star, and remained affiliated with the military for most of the remainder of his life.
FROM THE 1939 MONTANAN: "Don Cosner - Probably the most versatile man in our backfield of this year's team, was Don Cosner. He was undoubtedly the most effective running back on the squad while also handling the major part of the passing duties."
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