Nine Legendary Individuals Join Bobcat Athletics Hall of Fame in January
12/22/2023 11:22:00 AM | General
Football, Track and Field, Wrestling and Golf represented in 2023-24 induction class
BOZEMAN, Montana – Montana State University is set to induct eight former stars and a legendary coach and administrator into the Bobcat Athletics Hall of Fame on January 19, the night before the Cat-Griz women's and men's basketball doubleheader in Bozeman, MSU Director of Athletics Leon Costello announced.
Three of the legendary figures in Montana State's football history and three track and field champions pace the Class of 2023-24. Brad Daly, the 2013 Buck Buchanan Award winner as the top defensive player in the FCS, and two-time All-America tight end Butch Damberger who won Big Sky and NCAA Division II championships as a player and a Big Sky title as an assistant coach, enter the Hall of Fame this year. All-America quarterback DeNarius McGhee's official induction occurs in January, but due to professional obligations with the Houston Texans his acceptance will be pushed to the winter of 2024-25.
A trio of track and field stars also headline this year's program. Javelin All-America Kim Berg won four Big Sky titles in that event, and also earned 2007 Big Sky Outstanding Field Event Athlete honors Distance runner Casey Jermyn won four Big Sky track championships, and captured the 2002 Big Sky Cross Country title. Thrower David Phillips earned All-America honors in the hammer throw, claiming three Big Sky championships.
Larry Leonard was a key part of Montana State's Big Sky wrestling dynasty in the 1960s. He won three consecutive Big Sky individual championships, helping three Bobcat teams to conference championships. Golfer Kelly Gillum is one of two Bobcat student-athletes to earn Big Sky Conference Golfer of the Year honors, and posted the lowest single-season stroke average in the program's first 20 years.
Dan Davies also earned induction for his wide-ranging positive impact on Bobcat Athletics for nearly a half-century. He was a football team member for one national championship and two Big Sky titles, was an assistant coach for two other league crowns and the 1984 national title, and in his role as analyst since 1988 has been part of more Bobcat radio broadcasts than any other individual. He also served as MSU Golf's first head coach, building the team that won the 1995 Big Sky Championship, and was an administrator in the department from 1988 to 2021.
This year's banquet on January 19, 2024, begins with a no-host social at 5 pm and dinner at 6 pm, followed by the inductions. For information or to purchase tickets, follow this link.
#GoCatsGo
Three of the legendary figures in Montana State's football history and three track and field champions pace the Class of 2023-24. Brad Daly, the 2013 Buck Buchanan Award winner as the top defensive player in the FCS, and two-time All-America tight end Butch Damberger who won Big Sky and NCAA Division II championships as a player and a Big Sky title as an assistant coach, enter the Hall of Fame this year. All-America quarterback DeNarius McGhee's official induction occurs in January, but due to professional obligations with the Houston Texans his acceptance will be pushed to the winter of 2024-25.
A trio of track and field stars also headline this year's program. Javelin All-America Kim Berg won four Big Sky titles in that event, and also earned 2007 Big Sky Outstanding Field Event Athlete honors Distance runner Casey Jermyn won four Big Sky track championships, and captured the 2002 Big Sky Cross Country title. Thrower David Phillips earned All-America honors in the hammer throw, claiming three Big Sky championships.
Larry Leonard was a key part of Montana State's Big Sky wrestling dynasty in the 1960s. He won three consecutive Big Sky individual championships, helping three Bobcat teams to conference championships. Golfer Kelly Gillum is one of two Bobcat student-athletes to earn Big Sky Conference Golfer of the Year honors, and posted the lowest single-season stroke average in the program's first 20 years.
Dan Davies also earned induction for his wide-ranging positive impact on Bobcat Athletics for nearly a half-century. He was a football team member for one national championship and two Big Sky titles, was an assistant coach for two other league crowns and the 1984 national title, and in his role as analyst since 1988 has been part of more Bobcat radio broadcasts than any other individual. He also served as MSU Golf's first head coach, building the team that won the 1995 Big Sky Championship, and was an administrator in the department from 1988 to 2021.
This year's banquet on January 19, 2024, begins with a no-host social at 5 pm and dinner at 6 pm, followed by the inductions. For information or to purchase tickets, follow this link.
#GoCatsGo
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