Figgy (Lamberty)

[wbtfg]

http://www.msubobcats.com/news.php?sid=h&nid=1082

Daily Trainer #7: Gettin' Figgy With It
MSU Bobcats Bobcat Football News : 2005-08-22 : Bozeman, MT
By Bill Lamberty


Lawrence Figueroa's broken leg two years ago paved the way for his presence on the MSU offensive line this fall
Lawrence Figueroa remembers lying in the hospital during the Idaho State game in his first season at Montana State thinking a strange thought.

"I was hoping my leg was broken," Figueroa recalls. "I was really hoping it wasn't a high ankle sprain. I knew if my leg was broken I had a chance to get a medical hardship year."

Because Figueroa's wish came true, and his leg was broken, he returns as a rare junior college transfer third-year starter, and helps anchor a talented Bobcat offensive line. "He is everything you want," says third-year offensive line coach Jason McEndoo. "He's athletic and explosive, and he plays nasty. He plays with the attitude you need."

Bobcat head coach Mike Kramer has enjoyed constructing an animal kingdom in which The Badger -- as Kramer calls Figueroa -- occupies a special place near the top. "Tenacious," Kramer smiles, describing Figueroa's playing style. "A little nasty. Just like a badger. He enjoys playing football, but more importantly he enjoys playing the way you need to play to be successful at this level."

"I don't know where Coach Kramer comes up with those," Figueroa laughs. "I heard that and I had no idea what he was talking about, then someone told me I'm the badger and Mac (Mollohan, senior linebacker) is the porcupine. I don't know what it means, but that's cool."

Figueroa is anything but intimidating or menacing off the field, where the 6-1, 280 lb senior is popular for his pleasant nature and easy-going demeanor. "He's just a happy-go-lucky, easy-to-get-along-with guy away from football," Kramer said. "But on the field, he's exactly what you need."

Figueroa said the change of temperament comes easy. "I learned that you have to change mentality when you step on the field," he said. "You can't be nice. In high school, probably my sophomore year, I had a really good high school coach named Tim Hartnett and he concentrated on my workouts, my intensity. He brought that out in me, him and an uncle of mine who coaches."

Figueroa hasn't spent his entire Bobcat career smiling. Almost as soon as he arrived in Bozeman he suffered a bruised quad, an injury that lingered throughout the first month of the season. When he finally recovered from that injury, he suffered the broken leg.

"That first year was hard," Figueroa said. "I missed the first four games, then as soon as I got back I broke my leg and missed the rest of the season. I'd never missed starting since I'd started playing, so it was hard."

As the 2005 season approaches, Figueroa's game face is more and more apparent. "You can't be nice, you have to play mean," Figueroa said. "You just have to flip a switch. When I'm on the field, I'm not Lawrence Figueroa any more, I'm something else."

Like, The Badger.

* * * *

HAPPY TRAILS: Mike Kramer announced that a pair of Bobcat standouts retired from the team on Monday. Junior defensive lineman Ryan Cogley (hip) and senior center Zack Wolf (knee) each ended their playing days due, primarily, to injuries. "These are a couple of guys who have been really solid performers in this program, and they helped this organization to two Big Sky titles and three consecutive winning seasons."

Wolf's career began in the final game of his freshman season when he entered the 2002 I-AA playoff game at McNeese State, ending his redshirt season. He started the next two years, but he injured his knee last spring and his status for the remainder of the season was doubtful at best. Cogley was diagnosed with a hip condition last week that also put his season in doubt.

"Ryan is probably the only guy to play football here with a blocking technique named for him. He is a two-time letterman and Zack is a three-time letterman. They're both on track to graduate, and they both have outstanding futures in front of them. We'll miss them."

UPON FURTHER REVIEW: Mike Kramer was as pleased with what he saw on videotape after Saturday's scrimmage as he was with what he saw on the field. "Nobody got hurt, and that is a positive," Kramer said. "We had the chance to watch the twos and threes, we got a good look at the running game, and I like the way we caught the ball at times."