BOBCATS 125: Jay Daly
7/4/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
When Jay Daly transferred from Carroll to MSU he unwittingly created a Bobcat dynasty
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.
Jay Daly, OG, 1977-79
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: Honorable Mention All-America and 1st Team All-Big Sky in 1978 and 1979
A CLOSER LOOK: That Jay Daly ended up at Montana State was a stroke of good fortune that for sure seemed like bad fortune in the moment. As a freshman tight end at Carroll College in the fall of 1975, Daly couldn't catch the football. He struggled like crazy. It turned out to be an issue with his eyesight, but when it came time to settle his football future he moved from Helena to Bozeman. And he moved a few feet over.
Specifically, he moved from tight end to center in the spring of 1977 and by the ensuing fall had settled at guard. An injury provided his entry into the starting lineup after the season's second game, and he never left. His presence stabilized the Bobcat offensive line in Sonny Holland's final campaign, and one season later he earned 1st Team All-Big Sky honors in helping usher in the Sonny Lubick era. He earned honorable mention All-America honors that season and also as a senior, when he doubled down on 1st Team All-Big Sky kudos.
Daly was known for his strength and physicality as a Bobcat lineman, and was also lauded for his leadership. He was a team captain during his senior season in 1979, and he was able to carry those qualities forward. Both his sons, Bobby and Brad, served as Bobcat captains, and also earned All-America honors at MSU.
FROM LEGENDARY MSU ATHLETIC TRAINER CHUCK KARNOP: "The thing I remember about Jay is ... he was a tough son of a buck. He really, played hard, REALLY, played hard. He very much had that classic offensive lineman mentality."
Jay Daly, OG, 1977-79
ALL-TIME TEAM: None previously
HONORS: Honorable Mention All-America and 1st Team All-Big Sky in 1978 and 1979
A CLOSER LOOK: That Jay Daly ended up at Montana State was a stroke of good fortune that for sure seemed like bad fortune in the moment. As a freshman tight end at Carroll College in the fall of 1975, Daly couldn't catch the football. He struggled like crazy. It turned out to be an issue with his eyesight, but when it came time to settle his football future he moved from Helena to Bozeman. And he moved a few feet over.
Specifically, he moved from tight end to center in the spring of 1977 and by the ensuing fall had settled at guard. An injury provided his entry into the starting lineup after the season's second game, and he never left. His presence stabilized the Bobcat offensive line in Sonny Holland's final campaign, and one season later he earned 1st Team All-Big Sky honors in helping usher in the Sonny Lubick era. He earned honorable mention All-America honors that season and also as a senior, when he doubled down on 1st Team All-Big Sky kudos.
Daly was known for his strength and physicality as a Bobcat lineman, and was also lauded for his leadership. He was a team captain during his senior season in 1979, and he was able to carry those qualities forward. Both his sons, Bobby and Brad, served as Bobcat captains, and also earned All-America honors at MSU.
FROM LEGENDARY MSU ATHLETIC TRAINER CHUCK KARNOP: "The thing I remember about Jay is ... he was a tough son of a buck. He really, played hard, REALLY, played hard. He very much had that classic offensive lineman mentality."
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