BOBCATS 150 - TOP 50: Gary Gustafson
7/27/2022 4:07:00 PM | Football
Big Gus was a modern defensive end who played more than 50 years ago
We look at the 25 players that Bobcat fans and a blue ribbon panel of long-time MSU football observers ranked between 26th and 50th in the quest to determine the program's all-time players. In this segment of the countdown, players are listed alphabetically. You can find details here and a directory here.
Gary Gustafson, DE, 1968-70
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: 1st Team All-America and 1st Team All-Big Sky in 1970, 1st Team All-Big Sky in 1969
A CLOSER LOOK: The line is fairly straight, and traces through some of the greatest players in Bobcat football history - Brad Daws, Mark Fellows (although he was technically an outside linebacker), Devlan Geddes, Neal Smith, Dane Fletcher, Adam Cordeiro, Jon Montoya, Caleb Schreibeis, Brad Daly, right through Bryce Sterk and Daniel Hardy.
Montana State has produced an amazing run of devestating defensive ends. And it began with one man.
Gary Gustafson.
A lightning-quick pass rusher who set the edge against the run game with country strength, Gustafson was a modern defensive end who played more than a half century ago. Third-year head coach called him "one of the finest defensive ends in the nation" prior to his senior season in 1970, and that was not a stretch. He was a 1st Team All-Big Sky choice as a junior and senior, landing 1st Team All-America honors in 1970.
Gustafson was named MSU's Man of the Year after the 1970 season. The Simms product capped his Bobcat career by landing as a draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals.
FROM BOBCAT TEAMMATE AND HALL OF FAME COACH DENNIS ERICKSON: "Gus was one of the best defensive players I've been around. He was a linebacker/defensive end type, and he was tough. He had great instincts as a defensive player. He was an All-America. We played together in 1968 (when Erickson was a senior and Gustafson joined the varsity as a sophomore), and he was a game changer."
FROM LEGENDARY MSU ATHLETIC TRAINER CHUCK KARNOP: "Gus could play, he was a quick son of a gun, two or three step quickness. He could get around blockers and was athletic enough to take care of people and make tackles. I think he could have played in the pros had he not been as much of a country guy. He got back there (to Cincinnari) and just said, I don't need this. And that was that."
Gary Gustafson, DE, 1968-70
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: 1st Team All-America and 1st Team All-Big Sky in 1970, 1st Team All-Big Sky in 1969
A CLOSER LOOK: The line is fairly straight, and traces through some of the greatest players in Bobcat football history - Brad Daws, Mark Fellows (although he was technically an outside linebacker), Devlan Geddes, Neal Smith, Dane Fletcher, Adam Cordeiro, Jon Montoya, Caleb Schreibeis, Brad Daly, right through Bryce Sterk and Daniel Hardy.
Montana State has produced an amazing run of devestating defensive ends. And it began with one man.
Gary Gustafson.
A lightning-quick pass rusher who set the edge against the run game with country strength, Gustafson was a modern defensive end who played more than a half century ago. Third-year head coach called him "one of the finest defensive ends in the nation" prior to his senior season in 1970, and that was not a stretch. He was a 1st Team All-Big Sky choice as a junior and senior, landing 1st Team All-America honors in 1970.
Gustafson was named MSU's Man of the Year after the 1970 season. The Simms product capped his Bobcat career by landing as a draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals.
FROM BOBCAT TEAMMATE AND HALL OF FAME COACH DENNIS ERICKSON: "Gus was one of the best defensive players I've been around. He was a linebacker/defensive end type, and he was tough. He had great instincts as a defensive player. He was an All-America. We played together in 1968 (when Erickson was a senior and Gustafson joined the varsity as a sophomore), and he was a game changer."
FROM LEGENDARY MSU ATHLETIC TRAINER CHUCK KARNOP: "Gus could play, he was a quick son of a gun, two or three step quickness. He could get around blockers and was athletic enough to take care of people and make tackles. I think he could have played in the pros had he not been as much of a country guy. He got back there (to Cincinnari) and just said, I don't need this. And that was that."
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
DE
/ FootballLeon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
