Saturday, November 4
BOZEMAN
1 pm
Montana State University
vs
Northern Arizona
Photo by: Garrett Becker
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #9: Bill Kollar, 1973 Mates Honored During Today's Bobcat Game Against Northern Arizona
11/4/2023 8:02:00 AM | Football
MSU legend becomes first Bobcat inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player
BOZEMAN, Montana – Bill Kollar makes no bones about his decision to come to Montana State as a 17-year-old football recruit from Warren, Ohio, in 1970.
"Best decision I ever made," he said Friday, the day before he'll be honored by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame between the first and second quarters of Montana State's game against Northern Arizona. The NFF On-Campus Salute comes in advance of Kollar's induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in December.
Kollar becomes the first Bobcat to enter the College Hall of Fame as a player, and he said Friday that it isn't just him being inducted. "It's the Montana State," he said, "the whole program and university. It's so much bigger than me."
Bobcat head football coach Brent Vigen appreciates the sentiment. "He's made it clear that he feels this honor is not just for him but for Montana State football," Vigen said. "He's taking the whole program into the Hall of Fame with him, and that's really a positive."
Vigen said he hadn't known Kollar personally or about his playing prowess before arriving at Montana State, but that hearing about his legendary career happened "pretty quick. You see his number retired on the press box, you do the research and see the things he accomplished here, whether it's how high he was selected (in the NFL Draft) of that he was MVP at the Senior Bowl, the All-America (honors), all those things."
One factor, Vigen said, accentuates all the accomplishments. "I really appreciate his involvement into our program," he said. "He's super into Bobcat football, he supports the program however he can, and I really appreciate that he's willing to be involved."
* * * * *
Casey Kautzman will handle MSU's place kicking today. Brendan Hall remains the team's punter and kickoff specialist.
* * * * *
Today's broadcast is available on ESPN+, and also on MTN, which is the Scripps Sports channel. MTN is available DIRECTV and DIRECTV stream. It is also available over the air with an antenna.
* * * * *
Several Bobcats return from injury today. Nickel Level Price Jr. is expected to start, and linebacker Neil Daily is available. Receiver/returner Taco Dowler and cornerback Simeon Woodard remain game-time decisions.
* * * * *
Several members of Montana State's 1973 team will be honored before today's game in recognition of the 50th year of Reno H. Sales/Bobcat Stadium. This venue opened in 1973, and the men on hand were part of the first Bobcat team to play here. Most of them, in fact, played home games in three different stadiums - 1971 at old Gatton Field across from Romney Gym (which wasn't yet named Romney Gym), 1972 at Bozeman High's Van Winkle Stadium, and 1973 in brand new Reno H. Sales Stadium.
MSU's most recent home game, the 59-19 win over Cal Poly, marked the 200th Bobcat victory in Reno H. Sales/Bobcat Stadium. The first was a triumph over Idaho State back in 1973.
#GoCatsGo
"Best decision I ever made," he said Friday, the day before he'll be honored by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame between the first and second quarters of Montana State's game against Northern Arizona. The NFF On-Campus Salute comes in advance of Kollar's induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in December.
Kollar becomes the first Bobcat to enter the College Hall of Fame as a player, and he said Friday that it isn't just him being inducted. "It's the Montana State," he said, "the whole program and university. It's so much bigger than me."
Bobcat head football coach Brent Vigen appreciates the sentiment. "He's made it clear that he feels this honor is not just for him but for Montana State football," Vigen said. "He's taking the whole program into the Hall of Fame with him, and that's really a positive."
Vigen said he hadn't known Kollar personally or about his playing prowess before arriving at Montana State, but that hearing about his legendary career happened "pretty quick. You see his number retired on the press box, you do the research and see the things he accomplished here, whether it's how high he was selected (in the NFL Draft) of that he was MVP at the Senior Bowl, the All-America (honors), all those things."
One factor, Vigen said, accentuates all the accomplishments. "I really appreciate his involvement into our program," he said. "He's super into Bobcat football, he supports the program however he can, and I really appreciate that he's willing to be involved."
* * * * *
Casey Kautzman will handle MSU's place kicking today. Brendan Hall remains the team's punter and kickoff specialist.
* * * * *
Today's broadcast is available on ESPN+, and also on MTN, which is the Scripps Sports channel. MTN is available DIRECTV and DIRECTV stream. It is also available over the air with an antenna.
* * * * *
Several Bobcats return from injury today. Nickel Level Price Jr. is expected to start, and linebacker Neil Daily is available. Receiver/returner Taco Dowler and cornerback Simeon Woodard remain game-time decisions.
* * * * *
Several members of Montana State's 1973 team will be honored before today's game in recognition of the 50th year of Reno H. Sales/Bobcat Stadium. This venue opened in 1973, and the men on hand were part of the first Bobcat team to play here. Most of them, in fact, played home games in three different stadiums - 1971 at old Gatton Field across from Romney Gym (which wasn't yet named Romney Gym), 1972 at Bozeman High's Van Winkle Stadium, and 1973 in brand new Reno H. Sales Stadium.
MSU's most recent home game, the 59-19 win over Cal Poly, marked the 200th Bobcat victory in Reno H. Sales/Bobcat Stadium. The first was a triumph over Idaho State back in 1973.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
CB
/ Football
CB
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