BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #3: Cats Host Stetson as Injuries Pile Up

Saturday, September 16

BOZEMAN

1 pm

Montana State University

Stetson

Sean Chambers

Photo by: Garrett Becker

BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #3: Cats Host Stetson as Injuries Pile Up

9/16/2023 11:55:00 AM | Football

Tommy Mellott, Simeon Woodard join injured list for final non-conference tuneup

By: Bill Lamberty

Montana State fields a team altered by injuries today, when the Bobcats play a scheduled game against a non-conference team for the final time in 2023 this afternoon.

Junior quarterback Tommy Mellott and junior cornerback Simeon Woodard headline the list of those sidelined for today's game against Stetson, Bobcat head coach Brent Vigen announced. While Sean Chambers, who played the fourth quarter at South Dakota State last week after Mellott left that game, starts at quarterback, Jordan Reed - who missed 2022 with an injury - steps into the second spot on the depth chart. Jon Johnson is set for his second straight start at one corner, and Miles Jackson is available this week. But Devin Davis is slated to start opposite Johnson, a special day for a player who has overcome seemingly countless injuries to make his first start today.

Mellott missed a pair of games last season due to injury, and Jordan Reed moves to second on the depth chart at quarterback. Woodard started 13 of MSU's 14 2022 games and 14 of the team's 15 games in 2021. Takhari Carr moves into the two-deep today.

Vigen also said that nickel Caden Dowler suffered a season-ending injury in practice this week. Kendric Bailey moves into the depth chart behind starter Level Price Jr. Projected starting receivers Lonyatta Alexander Jr. and Ty McCullouch remain sidelined, and the Cats will be without reserve linebackers Neil Daily and Eli Aby today. Defensive tackle Zack Black has also been lost for the season due to injury. A pair of Bobcat youngsters, Bryce Grebe and Tayden Grey, are in uniform for the first time today. They may see action on kick teams.

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FLAG HANDOFF: Every week, a former Bobcat from the Treasure State hands the state of Montana flag to the current MSU from Montana who carries the flag into the stadium. In celebration of Military Appreciation Day, Capt. Kyle Begger hands the flag to Nolan Askelson. Begger started at tight end during Montana State's 2010 Big Sky Championship season and is currently an active duty National Guardsman in his home state.

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One of Montana State's all-time greats, Bill Kollar is in Bozeman this weekend and spent Friday around the Bobcats. He discussed with MSU defensive line coach Shawn Howe players each know,
visited with head coach Brent Vigen, and re-connected with long-time friends. Kollar concluded a remarkable career in football this year, retiring from the Denver Broncos and then spent a short time coaching in Europe.

Kollar becomes the first Bobcat inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for his playing career this December.

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When kickoff occurs shortly after 1 pm in Bobcat Stadium today, both teams will line up with 11 on a side. In all likelihood it will look like a naormal college football game. But Friday was anything but normal for today's visitors from Stetson.

Scheduled for a 10 am ET departure from near its DeLand, Florida, campus, the Stetson team was first alerted sometime before then of a delay to the flight. Due to a mechanical issue, estimated departure was pushed back a number of times until finally, finally leaving sometime around midnight. To make matters worse, Stetson stayed in Helena. The team bussed to Helena after arriving, and back to Bozeman this morning (encountering backed-up traffic due to an accident between Three Forks and Bozeman). The Hatters entered Bobcat Stadium at 11:43 am for a 1 pm kickoff.

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When the Bobcats welcome Stetson today, the Hatters become the first opponent from the Sunshine State to visit Bobcat Stadium. Montana State's only previous contest against a team from Florida was 1988, when the Cats dropped a 69-0 game against the Florida Gators in the Swamp.