Preview - Spartans 2009 Game 1: Montana State
SpartyMSU is starting our Early look at each Spartan Game...
and how the Spartans will March to 12 - 1 in 2009
Montana State BobCats
September 5, noon: in East Lansing
Last year: SOS: 234, Ranking of 174th to end the year, never beat a team ranked 181 or higher.
Who are they, Why are we playing them, how will the game go…..
Why are we playing them?
Probably the last vestige of the John L. era. We should be playing teams either local like CMU / WMU / EMU, or teams that have been in the top 3 of their conference at least 3 times in the last 10 years (http://blog.spartymsu.com/2008/12/26/fill-spartan-stadium.aspx ) but, ok. No disrespect to Montana State, but I expect a higher ranked team than Montana State to start our season. Let scUM play teams like Montana State or Delaware State. Let Rob Ash rebuild the team, and in 2013 and then maybe play them..
Who are they?
Montana State in Bozeman truly a beautiful part of the country, really a dreamscape for a place to live.. Between Bozeman and Detroit, really a poor comparison, I’d take Bozeman…It Looks like a fantasy vacation if your into the outdoors..
But.. after Googling them, it seems they have had all kinds of trouble….
APR (Academic Progress Rate) the reported scores are:
2005 – 2006 868
2006 – 2007 902
2007 – 2008 892
And a team needs a passing score of 925 to maintain scholarships and no penalties…
Their graduation rates were only 21% for players who were freshmen in 1999, and only 2% of football transfers in 2003 graduated. Currently they have lost scholarships, and have appealed the penalties to the NCAA. They seem to be improving, but their scores and rates are relatively low….
On top of that, Sports Illustrated did an article in 2007 titled “Trouble in paradise”, and the local paper’s editor did an article titled something like: Murder, Kidnapping and Cocaine in Paradise, So very Wrong… trouble seemed to stem from Ex-players and players and locals getting in to a bunch of trouble.
The tribulations finally reach a head in 2007 when the Head coach was fired… There is much more to the story, but suffice it to say that Montana State Football has had its challenges, and is trying hard to improve and right the ship.
Gotta hand it to’em, New Coach Rob Ash just might be on to something .. And might be building a respectable team and program.. This all being said.. Lets talk about the team this year.. These are the guys trying to improve the reputation.. Can they make progress agains the Spartans ?
In 2008 they never beat a team ranked Higher than 181…
In 2008 they were out scored in the fourth quarters 63 – 120, Spartans outscored opponents 94 – 72.
Maybe the BobCats will do a little better this year.. maybe not…
As SpartyMSU has researched them in the Blog-O’sphere, there seems to be much talk about injuries being the reason for less than stellar success… Hmmm… ok..
Also much reported that their success, in 2009, will rely on Pass plays, and a “O” line giving the signal caller time.. 
What did we read about their team:
Their receivers Desin, Elvis, and Thomas… OK..
Their “O” has been called, “ Under achieving” in Bobcat blogs…
DT: Small and inexperienced…
CB: inexperienced…
Mark Iddins is the #1 Quarterback: OK… Last year 33 – 68 -3 (Comp – Att – Ints)
Kicker: Not so Much…
But “O’ line: veterans, that’s a Bright spot…
They recently added a couple JC transfers, DB Cosme-Peko, and Receiver Lloyd. Cosme-Peko believe he will have an immediate impact.. Nice to have confidence..
Now What:
This is the first game of the year, fist game other than internal scrimmages…
The Spartan Linebackers should plug the gaps, and eliminate the middle passes.. The Spartans DT Hoover / DT Anderson will be in their back field all day…. All Spartan Defense Linemen are returning except the Left side DT / DE but their experienced and played last year.. Spartan Backs will pick them apart as they try to throw. Spartan offense will have a big day.. 
Truly, you’d be delusional if you thought the Bobcat receivers were going to get any separation between themselves and Spartan Secondary and get many points on the board, and with no RB (s) to speak of, really can’t see too many points for the Bob Cats. Their game plan gets flushed. Sorry BobCats...
No disrespect, but, They just aren’t in our league, even last years game 3 with Florida Atlantic, was against a higher ranked team.. They might do well in the Big Sky Conf., And I hope they do. Even with this being a loss, Rob Ash is headed in the right direction.
Bottom line:
Spartans : 35
Montana State: 10
Are there any Montana State BobCat Blogs to maybe add to the Preview / Forecast ??
Sparty On …..!!!
Categories: Football, Ramblings
Tags: Big Ten football Michigan State University montana state MSU Spartans
Not bad. Many in Montana believe the Cats are on the right track with academics and behavior. But you left out one important point: over the last several years, more often then not, the Cats have risen to the occasion of the first/early season games and been fairly competitive against bigger D-1 schools. Yes the game in Kansas was the exception. Research the games at Oklahoma State, Colorado, Texas Tech, and Minnesota. Hope the Cats turn some heads in Michigan.
I believe Gatewaycat meant to say Texas A&M. The Bobcats will probably lose. They will also surprise the other MSU in an area or two. Don't forget the Bobcats scored against Texas A&M on their first drive and finished the game with more yards. And that was Rob Ash's first game with Montana State. If he can prepare them the same way it could be an interesting game.
GatwayCat,
I, in no way, think the Bob Cats won't come out prepared. I think they will have acip on thier shoulder.. A win against the Spartans (MSU vs. MSU) will go along way to cranking up your season. Then headed for a Home opener with Dixie State.. 2 wins to start.. Rob Ash will have gone a along way to cement the season and team. But, don't think it'll happen on Sept 5. I like what I have read about the team, but, but.. come on and enjoy the tailgates....
Who is the new QB recruit I hear about ? A young team and some stud recruits coming Bozeman's way.. Bobcats are only going to improve... Good Luck beating the Griz at teh end of the year, we will be rooting for you then !
The 35-10 prediction sounds about right with the Spartans scoring a lot of points late in the game. The Bobcats should have a fairly solid defense, but their lack of a passing attack will lead to the defense being on the field too much and wearing down in the second half.
Coach Ash has done a good job of recruiting and hitting on a lot of Texas recruits including a QB from a 5A team that was ranked #1 in the nation last year at one time and a Baylor recruit that fell through the cracks.
Hoping for a good showing and no injuries.
Score sounds about right. We have a pretty good kicker who can hit them from 50+, who is only a true sophomore. We have a lot of question marks on O this year, mainly in the passing game. Mainly, we haven't settled on a QB, and all QBs from last year return with no one seperating themselves from the pack last year or this spring. Our receivers were part of the problem; we have some guys who look to improve that but haven't been tested yet.
Defense is generally the strong suite of the Bobcats, and this year should be no exception - but we may have a little problems with the corners with some young guys there opposite veteran Cory Nichols. We have some dangerous, quicker DEs who aren't real big (weigh wise), but have great motors and run under 4.8/4.7 40s.
Overall I don't expect a win, and I don't expect to stay within 3 TDs. But I'm hoping we put on a showing like we did at Minnesota last year, and not K State.
No disrespect - But this coming from a fan of a team that has had 3 winning seasons in the last 10 years and has only won or shared a Big Ten championship 3 times in the last 43 years. At least the Cats are on a run of 7 consecutive winning seasons including a share of the BSC championship 3 times and 3 playoff appearances in those 7 years. The Bobcats also have 3 national championships at 3 different levels of play. We all realize the FBS and the FCS are at different levels just as the Big Ten and the BSC are different levels with the biggest difference being depth, but the Cats will give you a good game as they have Texas A&M, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Colorado in the last few years.
Bout time someone had some balls and stood up for the BobCats. Game on MSUcatfan!
This isn’t Michigan your playing on Sept. 5, and your not Appalachian State either. Sure, I expect a good game, but I also expect the Spartans to be 1 – 0 afterwards as well. Gimme 5 good reasons why the Cats stand a chance, and don’t reach into the History books, then you might make me a believer. 'Cause, looking at the teams, the profiles, the players, the stats, I don't see in on paper.
1. Our Defensive front 7 is our biggest strength, will be going against a suspect O line, with unknown QB and RBs.
2. I expect great things from our passing game, while it is unknown at this point much of it is totally rebuilt since last year.
3. We have a strong RB stable, our run game will be OK and will help the pass game.
4. Our O line is stronger and deeper than it has been in years.
5. The Bobcats will play with pride and will not lay down just because you play at a higher division.
I will also note that your assessment is based on old information. We currently have our full complement of scholarships, and the discipline problems seem to be a thing of the past with this coaching staff (knock on wood)
Few if any Bobcats fans will expect to win, but we do expect a closer game than you will expect and we hope for a chance at winning. The biggest difference in the divisions is depth and this usually begins to show itself in the 3rd and 4th quarters. If we can hang in there and keep it close for 3 quarters we will be happy. In the last several years we have performed well against FBS teams and after the game the fans are usually surprised with how the Bobcats competed.