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 focused game plan gets flushed.

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 : 42
Montana State: 3

Are there any Montana State BobCat Blogs to maybe add to the Preview / Forecast ??

Sparty On …..!!!