BOZEMAN — The Montana State football team is “hungrier than ever” to get back to the FCS playoffs and right the wrongs of last season, wide receiver Ty McCullouch said. But the Bobcats are also cognizant of the work needed to be accomplished in between now and December.
It’s important to learn from a year where expectations weren’t met, quarterback Tommy Mellott added. That’s why MSU has altered its approach in 2024 as the Bobcats entered fall camp Friday. The team has adopted a 1-0 mentality, which means taking the season day by day and focusing on the finer details.
“We’ve lived in that world going back to January when this team essentially started and, whether it’s been the winter or the spring, the summer and now the fall, that’s the mode we need to stay in,” MSU head coach Brent Vigen said Friday.
Montana State head football coach Brent Vigen talks to reporters after the Bobcats’ first practice of fall camp about how his team looks, Sean Chambers returning to MSU as an assistant, the placekicking situation, injuries and more on Friday, July 26, 2024, in Bozeman.
That effort will be led by a group of 23 seniors. Center Justus Perkins said this has been an emotionally driven offseason, with the Bozeman High graduate cherishing every moment of his final year as a Bobcat.
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“How can I maximize every day? What can I do to get better every day? And just take it in because we’ve now started fall camp,” Perkins said. “So definitely try to enjoy it all and just be ready for this ride.”
Montana State center Justus Perkins talks to reporters about the Bobcats’ upcoming fall camp, his memorable college career and more on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at the Bobcat Athletic Complex in Bozeman.
MSU opened fall camp in July due to a week zero game at New Mexico on Aug. 24 to kick off the 2024 season. McCullouch — a Colorado State transfer — went 2-0 against the Lobos at his previous school and doesn’t plan to end that streak this fall.
Mellott added that the Bobcats wanted to get back to football as quickly as possible after the season-ending overtime loss to North Dakota State. That “bitter taste” from that game has turned into motivation for the upcoming year, he said.
“We want to play football at the end of the day,” Perkins added. “Lifting weights, running, it’s fun and all, but we’re here to play football. It’s finally upon us. Guys are excited, energy is up, so it’s definitely a great time of year.”
Montana State wide receiver Ty McCullouch talks to reporters about the Bobcats’ upcoming fall camp, preparing for New Mexico, Tommy Mellott’s passing ability and more on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at the Bobcat Athletic Complex in Bozeman.
Bobcats to bring in two kickers to solidify FG, PAT duties
While SMU transfer Brendan Hall proved to be one of the best in FCS on punts and kickoffs, the Bobcats routinely struggled on field goals and point-after tries in 2023.
Between Hall and fellow kicker Casey Kautzman, MSU missed nine FG attempts (combined 10 of 19) and six PATs, four of which were blocked. The most notable came in OT against NDSU to end the game.
Vigen said after the Sonny Holland Classic in April MSU would be “potentially open” to bringing in other kickers before the 2024 season. The Bobcats are planning to bring in two additional kickers later in fall camp to compete for placekicking duties, he said. Vigen did not share the name of either kicker or what school they are coming from.
Montana State placeholder Luke Abshire tells kicker Casey Kautzman to keep his head up after missing a 49-yard field goal against North Dakota State during their second-round FCS playoff game at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023.
“We’ll have a competition that will take place over the course of a couple of weeks leading up really until our New Mexico prep starts,” he added. “And ideally the cream will rise to the top and whoever that is (is who we’ll go with).”
Hall will still punt and kickoff for MSU after leading the nation in net punting (43.65 average net yards per punt) and posting 72 touchbacks on kickoffs last year. Hall might also step in for long-range FG attempts in 2024, Vigen said.
During this past offseason, Hall said he talked with coaches about focusing more on punt and kickoff because that’s where he feels he can help the team most. Hall added that he prides himself in bouncing back from adversity, such as missed FG attempts throughout last season.
“Our job is to stay level,” he said. “Our job is to go to the next play and be our best and help our team. So if we’re not locked in and focusing on what
