In an interview earlier this month, unrivaled Alabama head coach Nick Saban said he specifically wants to schedule challenging opening games like the one his Crimson Tide faces against Florida State on Saturday.
Despite living in a completely different realm of college football, Montana State head coach Jeff Choate agrees.
“’I’ve made it well known that I’d like to schedule up whether we are playing a Missouri Valley opponent or Southland opponent or Mountain West opponent or Pac 12 opponent,” Choate said days before his second season begins at No. 24 Washington State of the Pac 12. “I think it’s good for us in the non-conference to schedule up.”
MSU head coach Jeff Choate
Choate reference the recent powers in the FCS like Eastern Washington and North Dakota State, two programs willing to schedule FBS games year in and year out. Both EWU and NDSU have made a habit of scheduling powerhouse FCS opponents this season as well and will play each other next week for the second straight season.
Some Big Sky Conference programs have to play two FBS games for budget reasons alone. Portland State takes on Oregon State this week just seven days after taking on BYU in Provo. Choate doesn’t necessarily want to go down that road, especially considering Montana State draws well enough at home to earn a sizeable gate return.
This year’s Montana State schedule is filled with challenges, from Saturday night’s opener at Martin Stadium to next week’s home opener against No. 3 South Dakota State to road league games at EWU, fellow reigning co-champion North Dakota and Weber State, a 2016 playoff qualifier. Choate hopes the tests continue.
“I think year in and year out, you want to have a good balance in your non-conference schedule,” Choate said. “I would prefer to play an FBS opponent, an FCS opponent from a well-respected opponent and then that third non-conference game depending on where we are at in our home and away cycle.”
For Montana State’s players, the opener on the Palouse brings a unique experience, the chance to play on national television against a Top 25 FBS team led by Heisman candidate quarterback Luke Falk. The schedule was solidified well before MSU embarked on an off-season filled with a desire to improve on last season’s 4-7 mark.
Having a daunting opponent like Wazzu waiting at the end of the nine-month grind provided, like Saban desires at Alabama and Choate desires at MSU, extra incentive for the Bobcats.
“We were very motivated this off-season,” MSU All-American outside linebacker Mac Bignell said last week. “I’ve always wanted to play Washington State. I remember the last time the Bobcats played Washington State, my cousin Clay was a starting linebacker. I was like, ‘If I get the chance, I’m going to go down there and give them a run.’ I’ve been waiting my whole career to play a team like Washington State.”
The last time Montana State played at Washington State, the Bobcats had the Cougs on the ropes. Led by redshirt freshman quarterback DeNarius McGhee, the eventual Big Sky Conference Offensive MVP that season, MSU held a 22-7 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Wazzu quarterback Jeff Tuel threw two fourth quarter touchdowns and Nico Grasu drilled a field goal with two minutes left to help Washington State escape with a 23-22 win.
Washington State quarterback Luke Falk (4)/by WSU Athletics
“We went down to the wire,” said McGhee, Montana State’s quarterbacks’ coach now eight seasons later. “We were up with around three or four (minutes) to go, then they went down and scored. We got the ball with between one and two minutes left, but we couldn’t pull it out.”
If Montana State hopes to hang tough this time around, it’s going to take sophomore quarterback Chris Murray fulfilling the promise that his throwing ability is much improved. Bignell and the MSU defense will have to handle the on-slaught that is sixth-year Wazzu head coach Mike Leach’s spread ‘Air Raid’ offense.
“This will be an unbelievable challenge,” Choate said. “I’ve been a part of some big first games, playing against Virginia Tech and against Florida when I was at Boise State University but as far as an opener goes, this is probably one of the more challenging openers I’ve ever been a part of.”
“I think they have the best across the board talent since Coach Leach has been there. I was there for his first year (as the WSU lineabckers coach in 2012). It’s amazing to look back and see the progress of that program over that time. Top to bottom, you can see the development of the young men.
“A Top 25 team with a legitimate Heisman Candidate and oh by the way, they return nine of 11 starters on defense. It’s not going to be a situation where we are going to be able to go in there and surprise them. I know a lot will be made of the fact that they’ve struggled in openers (0-5 under Leach). I’m sure Coach Leach has their attention. He understands that starting fast is a critical aspect to get their team goals accomplished.”
For Choate himself, it’s a return to his roots for the second straight season opener. Last year, Choate’s first game as a head coach came in the Kibbie Dome against the Idaho Vandals. Choate grew up in St. Maries, Idaho about 45 miles from Moscow. Pullman is about 10 miles farther.
“I will see a lot of people I know,” Choate said. “That’s where I’m from, where I spend my off time at Lake Couer d’Alene. I know a lot of folks up there. Pullman is a great college town and there’s a lot of great people there who are passionate about Washington State and the Cougs. It will be a fun environment for our kids to be a part of.”
Choate also has spent time coaching in Pullman. He was WSU’s linebackers coach in 2012, Leach’s first at the helm. The man known as “The Pirate” in the college football world has helped revolutionize spread offenses with his tactics while also entertaining with his whacky interviews and polarizing personality.
“His approach to the game is so interesting and it forces you to think outside the box,” Choate said of Leach. “He has no preconceived notions as a football coach. He coached baseball, did a little high school football, did rugby, hung out around Lavell Edwards when he was at BYU, started to absorb the game, took this unique path to being a Division I football coach. He changed some ideas about the game itself and how to look at the game. That’s been something that has helped me as a coach in general.”
MSU linebacker Mac Bignell (49)
“He’s entertaining. A staff meeting with him can go a lot of different ways and not always centered upon football.”
Leach talked for about six minutes on the Pac 12 coaches’ teleconference earlier in the week about shaking the opening-game struggles, containing the mobile Murray and handling MSU’s defensive line, a unit he specifically pointed to as a strength that jumped out on film. He also mentioned his memory of Choate.
“I’m happy for him becoming a head coach,” Leach said. “He’s always been an enthusiastic guy, a high energy guy, highly motivated.”
Choate specifically referenced his awareness that only one Big Sky Conference team and only four FCS teams have ever beaten Top 25 FBS opponents. He talked cautiously about the mismatches across the board his team will face on Saturday night. He said his team refused to “play with our hair on fire” and lose its composure. He simply wants his team to “keep playing hard regardless of the circumstances.
Ask Montana State’s captain, however, and MSU is going to the Palouse to win a football game.
“This is why you come to play college football,” Bignell said. “Now a lot of the physical work is done. Now it’s about polishing it up mentally, focusing on one team, executing and fighting for our first win.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez or noted. All Rights Reserved.
