For the record: Season opener for Montana State, which is ranked 21st in the Sports Network preseason Division I-AA poll.
Streaking: MSU is 2-4 in season openers under coach Mike Kramer.
Who’s hot: Sophomore running back Evin Groves ran for 326 yards and four touchdowns in the last three games of the 2005 season.
Who’s not: Junior Cory Carpenter makes his first collegiate start as the Bobcats’ quarterback.
Key stat: The Montana State defense has ranked first in total defense in the Big Sky Conference four of the past five years.
FYI: The Bobcats have two Colorado connections. Safety Tyrone Henderson recently transferred to Montana State after being dismissed from the CU football team. MSU defensive coordinator Rob Christoff coached at Colorado (1997-98) and is the son of A.J. Christoff, the defensive coordinator with the Buffs under Rick Neuheisel from 1995-98.
Injury update: Backup tailback Isaiah Taito has been nursing a sore hamstring.
Coachspeak: Kramer has been known as a smash-mouth football coach, but this year is having a change of heart. “If we’re going to have a chance, it’s going to have to be throwing the ball,” he told reporters at the Big Sky’s media day.
