Tidbits from Great Falls Trib
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 9:32 am
Top QB? That's a tough call
Travis Lulay and Erik Meyer became friends after meeting last summer at the Big Sky Conference Summer Football Kickoff function in Park City, Utah, and they've talked on the telephone about once a week ever since.
The conversation won't be quite so cordial this weekend when the two star quarterbacks square off in Cheney, Wash.
"Travis is a great guy and a great player," said Meyer, Eastern Washington's senior All-American. "It'll be fun this week talking a little trash to each other."
Lulay, Montana State's senior QB who ranks third all-time in Big Sky career total offense (11,673 yards), is looking forward to seeing Meyer. But he doesn't want to see him running with the football.
"Obviously he's an accurate passer," said Lulay of Meyer, who has 22 touchdown passes and only five interceptions this season. "But what he's really good at is improvising when a play breaks down. When he gets outside of the pocket, man, he's dangerous."
Did either quarterback call the other this week?
"Nope," said Meyer. "He's my friend, but this week it's different."
Eastern Washington's Eric Kimble, a 5-11, 200-pound senior receiver, has a Big Sky-record 43 touchdown receptions in his career.
"The guy's just a playmaker; he makes 'em all the time," said Meyer. "Teams try to double-team him and somehow he still finds a way to get open. Somehow he has a sense for the ball when it's in the air."
Eagles' head coach Paul Wulff said Kimble has great concentration.
"He doesn't have to get wide open to catch the ball. I think he probably catches it in traffic as well as anybody," Wulff said. "If there are narrow spaces, he finds ways to come down with the ball."
Sacramento State hasn't won many football games the past few years — 14 in the last five seasons, to be exact — but the Hornets have a knack of knocking off heavily favored foes.
Sac State has managed to upset a nationally ranked team three years in a row, and would love the make No. 3 Montana its latest rated victim on Saturday.
In 2002, the Hornets upset eighth-ranked Northern Arizona 24-21. A year later, Sac State stunned Idaho State when the Bengals were rated No. 12. Last year, of course, Sac State upset Montana State when the Cats were ranked 17th.
Montana has never lost to Sacramento State in 11 meetings. On each of those occasions, UM has been ranked among the top 25 teams in NCAA Division I-AA.
After a slow start, UM punter Tyson Johnson has turned his season around and again ranks as one of the top punters in the league.
Johnson is averaging 41.1 yards per boot this season, just a shade behind league-leader Rhian Madrid of Northern Arizona, who has the distinct advantage of kicking indoors (no wind) at 7,000 feet of elevation.
Montana's net punting (gross yardage minus returns) is 38.9, No. 1 in the Big Sky. Teams are averaging only 1.5 yard per return against the Grizzlies.
Montana freshman Rob Schulte of Great Falls ranks No. 2 in the Big Sky in kickoff returns (25.7 yards per return), and UM junior Tuff Harris of Colstrip is No. 2 in punt returns (13.4).
As a team, the Grizzlies are first in punt returns (12.9) and second in kickoff returns (21.
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Montana State standout offensive tackle Joe Hirst grew up in Spokane and probably would have become an Eastern Washington football player were it not for this:
"They never offered me," said the 6-7, 292-pounder. "The Grizzlies and Bobcats did, but then Montana took the offer away because I didn't orally commit right away."
Hirst eventually became a Bobcat, an arrangement that's worked out well for both parties. He tore up a knee about 18 months ago and missed most of the 2004 season. This year he's provided consistent play at right tackle.
"I'm doing all right, maintaining a good weight and feeling pretty good," said Hirst.
Hirst said the Bobcats always feel good about their chances when Lulay has the football.
"Travis does amazing things on the field," Hirst said. "A lot of it is to his credit, because he can find holes that we didn't even make."
With the season winding down, it's only natural that seniors Erik Meyer of Eastern Washington and Travis Lulay of Montana State reflect a bit on their great careers.
Or maybe not.
"I try not to," said Lulay, "because I'm afraid it would bum me out a little bit. I don't want it to end yet."
Said Meyer: "We still have a shot at the playoffs, so I haven't thought too much about the end of my career. I'm still hoping it goes on for a while."
Big Sky Notebook is compiled by Tribune writers George Geise and Scott Mansch, who may be reached at (800) 438-6600 or by e-mail at tribsports@sofast.net
Travis Lulay and Erik Meyer became friends after meeting last summer at the Big Sky Conference Summer Football Kickoff function in Park City, Utah, and they've talked on the telephone about once a week ever since.
The conversation won't be quite so cordial this weekend when the two star quarterbacks square off in Cheney, Wash.
"Travis is a great guy and a great player," said Meyer, Eastern Washington's senior All-American. "It'll be fun this week talking a little trash to each other."
Lulay, Montana State's senior QB who ranks third all-time in Big Sky career total offense (11,673 yards), is looking forward to seeing Meyer. But he doesn't want to see him running with the football.
"Obviously he's an accurate passer," said Lulay of Meyer, who has 22 touchdown passes and only five interceptions this season. "But what he's really good at is improvising when a play breaks down. When he gets outside of the pocket, man, he's dangerous."
Did either quarterback call the other this week?
"Nope," said Meyer. "He's my friend, but this week it's different."
Eastern Washington's Eric Kimble, a 5-11, 200-pound senior receiver, has a Big Sky-record 43 touchdown receptions in his career.
"The guy's just a playmaker; he makes 'em all the time," said Meyer. "Teams try to double-team him and somehow he still finds a way to get open. Somehow he has a sense for the ball when it's in the air."
Eagles' head coach Paul Wulff said Kimble has great concentration.
"He doesn't have to get wide open to catch the ball. I think he probably catches it in traffic as well as anybody," Wulff said. "If there are narrow spaces, he finds ways to come down with the ball."
Sacramento State hasn't won many football games the past few years — 14 in the last five seasons, to be exact — but the Hornets have a knack of knocking off heavily favored foes.
Sac State has managed to upset a nationally ranked team three years in a row, and would love the make No. 3 Montana its latest rated victim on Saturday.
In 2002, the Hornets upset eighth-ranked Northern Arizona 24-21. A year later, Sac State stunned Idaho State when the Bengals were rated No. 12. Last year, of course, Sac State upset Montana State when the Cats were ranked 17th.
Montana has never lost to Sacramento State in 11 meetings. On each of those occasions, UM has been ranked among the top 25 teams in NCAA Division I-AA.
After a slow start, UM punter Tyson Johnson has turned his season around and again ranks as one of the top punters in the league.
Johnson is averaging 41.1 yards per boot this season, just a shade behind league-leader Rhian Madrid of Northern Arizona, who has the distinct advantage of kicking indoors (no wind) at 7,000 feet of elevation.
Montana's net punting (gross yardage minus returns) is 38.9, No. 1 in the Big Sky. Teams are averaging only 1.5 yard per return against the Grizzlies.
Montana freshman Rob Schulte of Great Falls ranks No. 2 in the Big Sky in kickoff returns (25.7 yards per return), and UM junior Tuff Harris of Colstrip is No. 2 in punt returns (13.4).
As a team, the Grizzlies are first in punt returns (12.9) and second in kickoff returns (21.
.Montana State standout offensive tackle Joe Hirst grew up in Spokane and probably would have become an Eastern Washington football player were it not for this:
"They never offered me," said the 6-7, 292-pounder. "The Grizzlies and Bobcats did, but then Montana took the offer away because I didn't orally commit right away."
Hirst eventually became a Bobcat, an arrangement that's worked out well for both parties. He tore up a knee about 18 months ago and missed most of the 2004 season. This year he's provided consistent play at right tackle.
"I'm doing all right, maintaining a good weight and feeling pretty good," said Hirst.
Hirst said the Bobcats always feel good about their chances when Lulay has the football.
"Travis does amazing things on the field," Hirst said. "A lot of it is to his credit, because he can find holes that we didn't even make."
With the season winding down, it's only natural that seniors Erik Meyer of Eastern Washington and Travis Lulay of Montana State reflect a bit on their great careers.
Or maybe not.
"I try not to," said Lulay, "because I'm afraid it would bum me out a little bit. I don't want it to end yet."
Said Meyer: "We still have a shot at the playoffs, so I haven't thought too much about the end of my career. I'm still hoping it goes on for a while."
Big Sky Notebook is compiled by Tribune writers George Geise and Scott Mansch, who may be reached at (800) 438-6600 or by e-mail at tribsports@sofast.net