While participation is high - several sources said that the majority of MSU's scholarship players stayed in Bozeman for the summer - it's clear who the field generals are. Among the leaders of the twice-a-week drills are the newly-elected captains for the 2011 season - senior offensive lineman Alex Terrien, senior linebacker Clay Bignell and sophomore quarterback DeNarius McGhee.
"This is important because the coaches aren't here and in the game, the coaches aren't with you, so this helps us practice that," said McGhee, who was named Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year last fall. "Our coaches are great coaches. I think we have the best coaches you can have in college football. But these are the guys I'm going to battle with. So the more reps we can get, the more I can teach, the more we can jell, the better we are going to be."
"It shows commitment; commitment to our common goal, what we want to do this year, and we can't accept nothing less than greatness. Having all these guys working on their skills, working on their actually going to be doing in the game...you work out hard in the weight room, but there's nothing like getting out here and throwing the ball."
Becoming crisp in MSU's schemes, bonding as teammates, enjoying the weather; all are benefits of participating in summer workouts. But more than any other factor, the leaders of the ‘Cats pointed to a singular focus, the thing that kept so many players in the Gallatin Valley for the dog days of July: winning.
"Winning will do a lot of things; once you start winning, people start buying in," Bignell said. "One you start winning, people realize what you have to do to win. It's not easy. You have to be out here working in the middle of July when nobody is in these stands so on Saturdays when it's filled up, we can put on a show."
I was gonna say the same thing...the new endzone seating looks great.
There are three rules that I live by: never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who has the same first name as a city; and never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body. - Coach Finstock
"What I'm saying is: You might have taken care of your wolf problem, but everyone around town is going to think of you as the crazy son of a bitch who bought land mines to get rid of wolves."
cats2506 wrote:
McGhee has added a lot of muscle this off season
Could have a sophomore slump.
I for one certainly hope so.
Now that everyone knows what to expect, it'll be harder than it was last season. However, his numbers didn't really dip down apart from the NAU and Montana games last season, even after people knew what was coming.
The cats get back almost their whole O-Line and receivers, so it ultimately falls upon McGhee. I certainly hope he has a Cameron Higgins-like slump after his breakout year.
I certainly hope he does not have a sophmore slump. I don't think he will. He seems to have his head screwed on straight, has the right attitude, etc. But ultimately, we won't find out until the season get going.
SACCAT wrote:got this picture of the endzone off bobcat nation
Looks really good. CONGRATS! Should be exciting to see you in the Chipper this year.
"What I'm saying is: You might have taken care of your wolf problem, but everyone around town is going to think of you as the crazy son of a bitch who bought land mines to get rid of wolves."
