http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/06/08/helena_top/vd.txt

Well this is bad news for many Cat fans who took Van Diest to be a lock for the coaching vacancy. My best guess is it is now Dale Lennon’s (UND head coach) if he wants it.

Starting today at 5 PM MST, you will be able to view each coaching candidate’s public forum, broadcast live from Club Level of Bobcat Stadium. Visit http://www.msubobcats.com for more information.

First up, Drake head coach Rob Ash.

Montana State has narrowed the field to four for the football head coach position.

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Three successful head coaches and a long-time
Division I assistant comprise the list of finalists for Montana State’s
head football coaching vacancy, Bobcat Athletic Director Peter Fields
announced Friday.

Drake head coach Rob Ash, Duke assistant coach Larry Kerr, North
Dakota head coach Dale Lennon, and Carroll College head coach Mike Van Diest each interview at Montana State next week.

Left to Right: Van Diest, Dale Lennon, Rob Ash and Larry Kerr

In my humble and unbiased opinion, there is clear leader in the running for the Montana State head coaching vacanc, and that man is Mike Van Diest. Here are a few reasons to hire Mr. Van Diest:

1. Coaching staff retainment (crosses fingers)

VD (as he shall be known hence) doubled as the defensive coordinator at Carroll. Well, MSU runs a very similar defense to that of Carroll, and I believe he would give current MSU DC Rob Christoff a shot at keeping his job. This would ensure the continuity of the defense, as they would serve as the anchor for this transitioning Bobcat squad. If VD lets Christoff go, this whole plan is scrapped and I look a fool. But I digress.

2. He is a Montanan

A sense of pride for both Montana schools is seeing local talent exceed at the next level, especially when that level is in-state. Every football savvy person in the state is at the very least familiar with Van Diest, and having him coach MSU would only expand his exposure and popularity (well a few Griz fans might not see it that way, I suppose). MSU has a reputation as being a mainly out-of-state ballclub, but with a local Montanan at the helm, maybe a few more in-state recruits would come our way. He recruited very well to Carroll, and with better resources, facilities, and perhaps most important of all, scholarships, his recruiting could only get better.

3. He is here for the long haul

VD has had offers before to bigger, brand-name schools. He has remained a Fighting Saint for his love of the school and his hometown. I truly believe there are only three jobs he would ever consider leaving Carroll for - Montana State, University of Montana, and quite possibly his alma mater, Wyoming. If he did end up at MSU, that leaves only one possible option for him to ever leave of his own free will. He was quoted today as saying “I’m not one of those guys who’s always looking to move on to something bigger and better…” He will be 100% committed to Montana State, I believe.

4. He sells the program to his players

He wants nothing more from his players than for them to love their university and their teammates. “At Carroll, Van Diest says, he has always emphasized God, family, school and football - in that order. He believes that if a player takes care of his business off the field and in the classroom, he’ll be prepared to devote all his attention to football during practice. The philosophy works: His players maintained better than a 3.0 grade-point average while winning those four national titles.” That could certainly help MSU’s woes as of late in the academic department.

5. Experience

Don’t make the mistake that thinking VD only knows NAIA, small-time football. He has coached in various positions (excluding HC) at Northwestern, Wyoming, Massachusetts and Montana. He has compiled a 89-18 record at Carroll, because of his previous coaching experience - “he is, he says, a product of all his experiences. He has learned something from every place he’s been and from every coach with whom he’s ever worked.” He has coached national championship squads - he knows what mental toughness is required of his players. He knows what it takes to win, he is a proven winner.

I’m not saying Van Diest is the best candidate MSU could possibly hire (we aren’t privy to whom else has applied, besides current interim head coach and offensive coordinator, Don Bailey, who I think is a underrated candidate), but he would certainly be a very good choice. Granted if there is a better name in the pool, he deserves as much of a look as the next guy. But for now, I think Van Diest is the #1 choice in Bozeman, and with very good cause.

As much as it pains some Cat fans than Mike Kramer won’t be leading the Bobcats into the fall, a man has applied to MSU that if hired, may calm the storm more than any other candidate could. Mike Van Diest, head coach of the Carroll Fighting Saints (NAIA, Helena, MT) has officially applied for the MSU job. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Van Diest, he won 4 consecutive national championships at Carroll from 2002-2005, an impressive feat at any level of football.

http://helenair.com/articles/2007/05/23/sports_top/b01052307_1.txt

Montana State University Athletic Director Peter Fields announced Friday that the University is exercising its option to terminate the contract of Mike Kramer, MSU’s head football coach for the past seven seasons.

“Looking at the football program as a whole and in light of the recent criminal activities of former student-athletes connected to it,” Fields said, “I believe there is something broken with our football program, and we need to take decisive steps to fix it.”

More here: http://www.msubobcats.com/news.php?sid=fb&nid=2048

Leo Davis, a 6′4 240 DL/OLmen from Billings Skyview has decided to accept a scholarship from Montana State, rather than signing with Colorado State, as he originally had done.

Head coach Mike Kramer on Davis:

“Leo joins an exception recruiting class, and really enhances that class. His greatest asset is not his God-give ability, which is plentiful, but his heart and his passion for the game. He is an outstanding addition to our program.”

The whole article can be found here.

Kyle Stack, sports editor of the Exponent, posted his most recent article on www.bobcatnation.com; a Q&A with football head coach Mike Kramer. Here are some of the highlights:

According to Kramer:

Freshman QB Jordan Rasmussen will not play unless starter Jack Rolovich and backup Cory Carpenter are both sidelined with injuries.

Aaron Mason is clearly the best running back on the team.

As previously mentioned, Rolovich is #1 heading into fall despite missing roughly half of spring ball.

Starting offensive lineman Louis Saucedo will most likely miss the 2007 season due to academic issues, meaning true freshman Mike Person will probably start at tackle in his place.

Kramer prefers to keep Epikopo King at LB, but hasn’t ruled out the possibility of having him play safety. Kramer wasn’t too impressed with the S play this spring.

Kramer still wants to roll punt, but practiced traditional style punting all spring. Rolovich will be the only one who will execute the roll punt.

The rest of the article can be found here (scroll down): http://www.bobcatnation.com/bobcatboard/viewtopic.php?t=10034