Livingston football (lack thereof)

[Cat Grad]

I've observed for several years how communities throughout the state will consolidate for athletics yet refuses to consolidate (close) schools. Livingston was a transient community when I was young and one can't help but wonder what the athletic director was referring to with the statement about teachers getting more attention than the coaches.

Last I knew there were 425 school districts in Montana. Flathead County alone has twenty three independent school districts. Very recently, Missoula had a high school struggle with numbers for kids to play this game.

https://www.livingstonenterprise.com/ne ... 163eb.html

*Edit A board member rather than the athletic director noted teachers receive much more professional development than coaches. Pretty much to be expected knowing how many different sports schools offer with such low enrollment numbers.

[RickRund]

Sad for the Rangers. Won State A in I think 75. That was their pinnacle, From the 80s on when I left don't know if they had any other success.

[cats2506]

Sad for the Rangers. Won State A in I think 75. That was their pinnacle, From the 80s on when I left don't know if they had any other success.

They were in the semi-finals in 2012, run based offense with a couple of good big O linemen. Coach left and its been a dumpster fire since then.

[Cat Grad]

Sad for the Rangers. Won State A in I think 75. That was their pinnacle, From the 80s on when I left don't know if they had any other success.

Man! Forty eight years ago since a Class A state championship. Dillon, Glendive and Lewistown with Class B enrollment have all had their moments. Twenty-twenty five Class A teams one would think they'd get more than participation ribbons.

[grizzh8r]

Sad for the Rangers. Won State A in I think 75. That was their pinnacle, From the 80s on when I left don't know if they had any other success.

They were in the semi-finals in 2012, run based offense with a couple of good big O linemen. Coach left and its been a dumpster fire since then.

I went to PHS late 90's early 2000's, as did a couple of other BN lurkers that actually played on the team. I didn't as I was too busy with other extracurricular activities (and duties back home at the ranch) to play. Plus I wasn't any good anyways. Seemed like most years, we were lucky to win one game (usually Browning).

At the risk of denigrating said lurkers (and my younger cousin who was a WR and DB for PHS), I can't remember a time in my youth when the Rangers were ever any good. Maybe in 1994 or 1995, they won 3 or 4 games. Had a good RB (Aaron O'Neal may have been his name?) and a decent QB.

@cats2506 is correct that they had a decent ground and pound offense for a couple of years in the 2010's, but that's only 2 out of the last 40-45 years. Pretty abysmal. BN pullout and LRC closure took a lot of blue collar jobs (and their tough, hard-nosed kids) away from Livingston. But hey, the soccer team is usually really good...

[cats2506]

Sad for the Rangers. Won State A in I think 75. That was their pinnacle, From the 80s on when I left don't know if they had any other success.

They were in the semi-finals in 2012, run based offense with a couple of good big O linemen. Coach left and its been a dumpster fire since then.

I went to PHS late 90's early 2000's, as did a couple of other BN lurkers that actually played on the team. I didn't as I was too busy with other extracurricular activities (and duties back home at the ranch) to play. Plus I wasn't any good anyways. Seemed like most years, we were lucky to win one game (usually Browning).

At the risk of denigrating said lurkers (and my younger cousin who was a WR and DB for PHS), I can't remember a time in my youth when the Rangers were ever any good. Maybe in 1994 or 1995, they won 3 or 4 games. Had a good RB (Aaron O'Neal may have been his name?) and a decent QB.

@cats2506 is correct that they had a decent ground and pound offense for a couple of years in the 2010's, but that's only 2 out of the last 40-45 years. Pretty abysmal. BN pullout and LRC closure took a lot of blue collar jobs (and their tough, hard-nosed kids) away from Livingston. But hey, the soccer team is usually really good...

Park has a good young wrestling coach and I was talking with him. Back in the day (70's and 80's) they were a highly regarded wrestling program, then they went through several years of mediocrity before this coach came on the scene a few years back. He says the same thing, the loss of the plant hurt them in the type of kids and families they have. He is building their program back up, but just doesn't have as many numbers to work with.

[RickRund]

Sad for the Rangers. Won State A in I think 75. That was their pinnacle, From the 80s on when I left don't know if they had any other success.

They were in the semi-finals in 2012, run based offense with a couple of good big O linemen. Coach left and its been a dumpster fire since then.

I went to PHS late 90's early 2000's, as did a couple of other BN lurkers that actually played on the team. I didn't as I was too busy with other extracurricular activities (and duties back home at the ranch) to play. Plus I wasn't any good anyways. Seemed like most years, we were lucky to win one game (usually Browning).

At the risk of denigrating said lurkers (and my younger cousin who was a WR and DB for PHS), I can't remember a time in my youth when the Rangers were ever any good. Maybe in 1994 or 1995, they won 3 or 4 games. Had a good RB (Aaron O'Neal may have been his name?) and a decent QB.

@cats2506 is correct that they had a decent ground and pound offense for a couple of years in the 2010's, but that's only 2 out of the last 40-45 years. Pretty abysmal. BN pullout and LRC closure took a lot of blue collar jobs (and their tough, hard-nosed kids) away from Livingston. But hey, the soccer team is usually really good...

Park has a good young wrestling coach and I was talking with him. Back in the day (70's and 80's) they were a highly regarded wrestling program, then they went through several years of mediocrity before this coach came on the scene a few years back. He says the same thing, the loss of the plant hurt them in the type of kids and families they have. He is building their program back up, but just doesn't have as many numbers to work with.

How could I forget about the BN move? Yes, that cut the legs out of Livingston.

I also did love going to wrestling meets. Good to hear it is coming back. How are other sports faring?

[cats2506]

Sad for the Rangers. Won State A in I think 75. That was their pinnacle, From the 80s on when I left don't know if they had any other success.

They were in the semi-finals in 2012, run based offense with a couple of good big O linemen. Coach left and its been a dumpster fire since then.

I went to PHS late 90's early 2000's, as did a couple of other BN lurkers that actually played on the team. I didn't as I was too busy with other extracurricular activities (and duties back home at the ranch) to play. Plus I wasn't any good anyways. Seemed like most years, we were lucky to win one game (usually Browning).

At the risk of denigrating said lurkers (and my younger cousin who was a WR and DB for PHS), I can't remember a time in my youth when the Rangers were ever any good. Maybe in 1994 or 1995, they won 3 or 4 games. Had a good RB (Aaron O'Neal may have been his name?) and a decent QB.

@cats2506 is correct that they had a decent ground and pound offense for a couple of years in the 2010's, but that's only 2 out of the last 40-45 years. Pretty abysmal. BN pullout and LRC closure took a lot of blue collar jobs (and their tough, hard-nosed kids) away from Livingston. But hey, the soccer team is usually really good...

Park has a good young wrestling coach and I was talking with him. Back in the day (70's and 80's) they were a highly regarded wrestling program, then they went through several years of mediocrity before this coach came on the scene a few years back. He says the same thing, the loss of the plant hurt them in the type of kids and families they have. He is building their program back up, but just doesn't have as many numbers to work with.

How could I forget about the BN move? Yes, that cut the legs out of Livingston.

I also did love going to wrestling meets. Good to hear it is coming back. How are other sports faring?

I really don't know about other sports, I mainly follow football and wrestling and don't live in that area anymore, I grew up in Wilsall, so not far from Livingston.

[kmax]

Sad for the Rangers. Won State A in I think 75. That was their pinnacle, From the 80s on when I left don't know if they had any other success.

They were in the semi-finals in 2012, run based offense with a couple of good big O linemen. Coach left and its been a dumpster fire since then.

I went to PHS late 90's early 2000's, as did a couple of other BN lurkers that actually played on the team. I didn't as I was too busy with other extracurricular activities (and duties back home at the ranch) to play. Plus I wasn't any good anyways. Seemed like most years, we were lucky to win one game (usually Browning).

At the risk of denigrating said lurkers (and my younger cousin who was a WR and DB for PHS), I can't remember a time in my youth when the Rangers were ever any good. Maybe in 1994 or 1995, they won 3 or 4 games. Had a good RB (Aaron O'Neal may have been his name?) and a decent QB.

@cats2506 is correct that they had a decent ground and pound offense for a couple of years in the 2010's, but that's only 2 out of the last 40-45 years. Pretty abysmal. BN pullout and LRC closure took a lot of blue collar jobs (and their tough, hard-nosed kids) away from Livingston. But hey, the soccer team is usually really good...

Park has a good young wrestling coach and I was talking with him. Back in the day (70's and 80's) they were a highly regarded wrestling program, then they went through several years of mediocrity before this coach came on the scene a few years back. He says the same thing, the loss of the plant hurt them in the type of kids and families they have. He is building their program back up, but just doesn't have as many numbers to work with.

How could I forget about the BN move? Yes, that cut the legs out of Livingston.

I also did love going to wrestling meets. Good to hear it is coming back. How are other sports faring?

I dunno what you guys are talking about BobcatNation has never been based out of Livingston.

(I'll show myself out)

[RickRund]

Sad for the Rangers. Won State A in I think 75. That was their pinnacle, From the 80s on when I left don't know if they had any other success.

They were in the semi-finals in 2012, run based offense with a couple of good big O linemen. Coach left and its been a dumpster fire since then.

I went to PHS late 90's early 2000's, as did a couple of other BN lurkers that actually played on the team. I didn't as I was too busy with other extracurricular activities (and duties back home at the ranch) to play. Plus I wasn't any good anyways. Seemed like most years, we were lucky to win one game (usually Browning).

At the risk of denigrating said lurkers (and my younger cousin who was a WR and DB for PHS), I can't remember a time in my youth when the Rangers were ever any good. Maybe in 1994 or 1995, they won 3 or 4 games. Had a good RB (Aaron O'Neal may have been his name?) and a decent QB.

@cats2506 is correct that they had a decent ground and pound offense for a couple of years in the 2010's, but that's only 2 out of the last 40-45 years. Pretty abysmal. BN pullout and LRC closure took a lot of blue collar jobs (and their tough, hard-nosed kids) away from Livingston. But hey, the soccer team is usually really good...

Park has a good young wrestling coach and I was talking with him. Back in the day (70's and 80's) they were a highly regarded wrestling program, then they went through several years of mediocrity before this coach came on the scene a few years back. He says the same thing, the loss of the plant hurt them in the type of kids and families they have. He is building their program back up, but just doesn't have as many numbers to work with.

How could I forget about the BN move? Yes, that cut the legs out of Livingston.

I also did love going to wrestling meets. Good to hear it is coming back. How are other sports faring?

I dunno what you guys are talking about BobcatNation has never been based out of Livingston.

(I'll show myself out)

Drum roll

[catamaran]

In all fairness, one of you was lol

[nevadacat]

Sad for the Rangers. Won State A in I think 75. That was their pinnacle, From the 80s on when I left don't know if they had any other success.

They were in the semi-finals in 2012, run based offense with a couple of good big O linemen. Coach left and its been a dumpster fire since then.

I went to PHS late 90's early 2000's, as did a couple of other BN lurkers that actually played on the team. I didn't as I was too busy with other extracurricular activities (and duties back home at the ranch) to play. Plus I wasn't any good anyways. Seemed like most years, we were lucky to win one game (usually Browning).

At the risk of denigrating said lurkers (and my younger cousin who was a WR and DB for PHS), I can't remember a time in my youth when the Rangers were ever any good. Maybe in 1994 or 1995, they won 3 or 4 games. Had a good RB (Aaron O'Neal may have been his name?) and a decent QB.

@cats2506 is correct that they had a decent ground and pound offense for a couple of years in the 2010's, but that's only 2 out of the last 40-45 years. Pretty abysmal. BN pullout and LRC closure took a lot of blue collar jobs (and their tough, hard-nosed kids) away from Livingston. But hey, the soccer team is usually really good...

Yes, Livingston won State A football in 75. Went to the championship game. Coldest game I can remember.

We were solid for a few years after, but the last hurrah was in 1979. We were cruising on our way to the playoffs and a Southern A title until a guy named Joe Bignell from Deer Lodge stopped us.

[RickRund]

Sad for the Rangers. Won State A in I think 75. That was their pinnacle, From the 80s on when I left don't know if they had any other success.

They were in the semi-finals in 2012, run based offense with a couple of good big O linemen. Coach left and its been a dumpster fire since then.

I went to PHS late 90's early 2000's, as did a couple of other BN lurkers that actually played on the team. I didn't as I was too busy with other extracurricular activities (and duties back home at the ranch) to play. Plus I wasn't any good anyways. Seemed like most years, we were lucky to win one game (usually Browning).

At the risk of denigrating said lurkers (and my younger cousin who was a WR and DB for PHS), I can't remember a time in my youth when the Rangers were ever any good. Maybe in 1994 or 1995, they won 3 or 4 games. Had a good RB (Aaron O'Neal may have been his name?) and a decent QB.

@cats2506 is correct that they had a decent ground and pound offense for a couple of years in the 2010's, but that's only 2 out of the last 40-45 years. Pretty abysmal. BN pullout and LRC closure took a lot of blue collar jobs (and their tough, hard-nosed kids) away from Livingston. But hey, the soccer team is usually really good...

Yes, Livingston won State A football in 75. Went to the championship game. Coldest game I can remember.

We were solid for a few years after, but the last hurrah was in 1979. We were cruising on our way to the playoffs and a Southern A title until a guy named Joe Bignell from Deer Lodge stopped us.

I was at the Columbia Falls semi game. Great time there. Schoonover had a great pregame, rah--rah speech.

The championship was in Cut Bank, correct? Did not make it there. Heard it was miserable, cold and windy.

[nevadacat]

Sad for the Rangers. Won State A in I think 75. That was their pinnacle, From the 80s on when I left don't know if they had any other success.

They were in the semi-finals in 2012, run based offense with a couple of good big O linemen. Coach left and its been a dumpster fire since then.

I went to PHS late 90's early 2000's, as did a couple of other BN lurkers that actually played on the team. I didn't as I was too busy with other extracurricular activities (and duties back home at the ranch) to play. Plus I wasn't any good anyways. Seemed like most years, we were lucky to win one game (usually Browning).

At the risk of denigrating said lurkers (and my younger cousin who was a WR and DB for PHS), I can't remember a time in my youth when the Rangers were ever any good. Maybe in 1994 or 1995, they won 3 or 4 games. Had a good RB (Aaron O'Neal may have been his name?) and a decent QB.

@cats2506 is correct that they had a decent ground and pound offense for a couple of years in the 2010's, but that's only 2 out of the last 40-45 years. Pretty abysmal. BN pullout and LRC closure took a lot of blue collar jobs (and their tough, hard-nosed kids) away from Livingston. But hey, the soccer team is usually really good...

Yes, Livingston won State A football in 75. Went to the championship game. Coldest game I can remember.

We were solid for a few years after, but the last hurrah was in 1979. We were cruising on our way to the playoffs and a Southern A title until a guy named Joe Bignell from Deer Lodge stopped us.

I was at the Columbia Falls semi game. Great time there. Schoonover had a great pregame, rah--rah speech.

The championship was in Cut Bank, correct? Did not make it there. Heard it was miserable, cold and windy.

You are probably right and I am mis-remembering. That was so long ago, but I know I wasn’t in Cut Bank (where it’s always cold and windy). I was sure it was a playoff game because additional bleachers were put outside the west end zone. Maybe it was regular season, I just remember it was damn cold.

Coach Schoonover was a legend, but I never had the honor of knowing him. I was with Bob Miller through junior year, then Garth Forney for senior year.

[RickRund]

Sad for the Rangers. Won State A in I think 75. That was their pinnacle, From the 80s on when I left don't know if they had any other success.

They were in the semi-finals in 2012, run based offense with a couple of good big O linemen. Coach left and its been a dumpster fire since then.

I went to PHS late 90's early 2000's, as did a couple of other BN lurkers that actually played on the team. I didn't as I was too busy with other extracurricular activities (and duties back home at the ranch) to play. Plus I wasn't any good anyways. Seemed like most years, we were lucky to win one game (usually Browning).

At the risk of denigrating said lurkers (and my younger cousin who was a WR and DB for PHS), I can't remember a time in my youth when the Rangers were ever any good. Maybe in 1994 or 1995, they won 3 or 4 games. Had a good RB (Aaron O'Neal may have been his name?) and a decent QB.

@cats2506 is correct that they had a decent ground and pound offense for a couple of years in the 2010's, but that's only 2 out of the last 40-45 years. Pretty abysmal. BN pullout and LRC closure took a lot of blue collar jobs (and their tough, hard-nosed kids) away from Livingston. But hey, the soccer team is usually really good...

Yes, Livingston won State A football in 75. Went to the championship game. Coldest game I can remember.

We were solid for a few years after, but the last hurrah was in 1979. We were cruising on our way to the playoffs and a Southern A title until a guy named Joe Bignell from Deer Lodge stopped us.

I was at the Columbia Falls semi game. Great time there. Schoonover had a great pregame, rah--rah speech.

The championship was in Cut Bank, correct? Did not make it there. Heard it was miserable, cold and windy.

You are probably right and I am mis-remembering. That was so long ago, but I know I wasn’t in Cut Bank (where it’s always cold and windy). I was sure it was a playoff game because additional bleachers were put outside the west end zone. Maybe it was regular season, I just remember it was damn cold.

Coach Schoonover was a legend, but I never had the honor of knowing him. I was with Bob Miller through junior year, then Garth Forney for senior year.

There were complaints I remember for Coach Schoonover as he seemed to not sub. His championship team, as I recollect, won most every game by pretty fair margins and the 2s for the most part were game time inexperienced. But he was a super guy. Really liked him.

When they brought in Bob Miller the thought was he would keep it going. His philosophy was not popular at all. I do not remember how his record was and I think he only lasted two seasons? I also really liked Bob.

Both Schoonover and Miller were enjoyable to sit down and talk to.

[Cat Grad]

Livingston used to be so much fun! Still remember my uncles in the Gallatin Valley telling all of us kids to not get caught up over the hill after dark...

https://missoulian.com/livingstons-star ... 447f8.html

[Montanabob]

Livingston used to be so much fun! Still remember my uncles in the Gallatin Valley telling all of us kids to not get caught up over the hill after dark...

https://missoulian.com/livingstons-star ... 447f8.html

My stepson played on the Livingston football team that made it to the football playoffs in 2011 for the first time since I was in highschool in the late 70's. I didn't go to park high.