Hey Football Guy's: Give me the scoop on Bignell from Helena

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 8:26 am

Joe Bignell pretty much was the embodyment of of Bobcat football when I was in school in the early to mid 80's. Now I understand that he has a couple sons in highschool in Helena. One is a senior and the other is a junior, I believe. Are both or either of these kids D-1 material. Any info would be appreciated

Grizcat · Post by **Grizcat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 8:29 am

I think it's his nephews.

Clay is the older one and a good player though I really think he was outshined by another Capital player, Colton Sherley. Still, he's a good athlete.

I think the younger one is named Ryan and I think he'll be an even better player than his brother.

Very good players. I would say that Big Sky Conference is their level.

utahcat · Post by **utahcat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 8:41 am

Clay is a senior, and an awesome kid..he is also very interested in U of M. because they communicate more with him. He said to me "its weird because he has been a Bobcat his whole life and never thought he would go to Missoula...If the cats lose him it would be a loss at so many levels as he is A: a #1 kid, B: His entire life he has been a Bobcat and C: He's a great player with the Bruin Hit Hustle Heart work ethic and is a winner no matter where he goes...

Brothers name is Brian...also awesome kid...still growing though!

LTown Cat · Post by **LTown Cat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 9:45 am

utahcat wrote:Clay is a senior, and an awesome kid..he is also very interested in U of M. because they communicate more with him. He said to me "its weird because he has been a Bobcat his whole life and never thought he would go to Missoula...If the cats lose him it would be a loss at so many levels as he is A: a #1 kid, B: His entire life he has been a Bobcat and C: He's a great player with the Bruin Hit Hustle Heart work ethic and is a winner no matter where he goes...

Brothers name is Brian...also awesome kid...still growing though!

If we lose one we will lose both. Like Utterback, Thomas, and Lebsock.

Post by **rtb** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:02 am

LTown Cat wrote:If we lose one we will lose both. Like Utterback, Thomas, and Lebsock.

That's not good, because I've heard a rumor the older one is going to the Griz.

crazycat · Post by **crazycat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:03 am

I’m assuming that everyone is proceeding with caution on this recruiting talk. But just in case I think we all should keep in mind that we can’t take every player out there and that the players who seem like can’t miss stars (not gonna name names) sometimes amount to nothing and that those (Force, Daly, Anderson) that walk on and don’t seem like they’ll ever play end up All-Big Sky. In other words this isn’t an exact science.

There are a limited number of scholarships and some areas are deeper than others. One area that’s very deep is linebacker (Daly, Claggett, Matthews, King, Fletcher, Guazzerro, Anderson, Ah Hi, McCracken, O’Connell) hence we’re only offering one LB scholarship. That’s not to say we won’t be recruiting others, but I assume when Kramer sez we’re only offering one LB, that he means offering a Full to one LB.

I’m pretty sure the full offer is going to Fetherston of Helena High. Does this mean Fetherston’s the best? No. Does it mean Kramer thinks so? Yes. I think he’s as good as there is, but who knows someone else might walk on and beat him out.

My only concern is that people start ripping the coaches about who they recruit and don’t recruit. It seems to happen every year. That and people going overboard in their joy (see: egriz.com) about someone coming in. It’s good to feel excited, but we’ll never know at least until next fall (spring for transfers), probably much later about who’s got it and who doesn’t.

Post by **rtb** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:08 am

crazycat wrote:I’m assuming that everyone is proceeding with caution on this recruiting talk. But just in case I think we all should keep in mind that we can’t take every player out there and that the players who seem like can’t miss stars (not gonna name names) sometimes amount to nothing and that those (Force, Daly, Anderson) that walk on and don’t seem like they’ll ever play end up All-Big Sky. In other words this isn’t an exact science.

There are a limited number of scholarships and some areas are deeper than others. One area that’s very deep is linebacker (Daly, Claggett, Matthews, King, Fletcher, Guazzerro, Anderson, Ah Hi, McCracken, O’Connell) hence we’re only offering one LB scholarship. That’s not to say we won’t be recruiting others, but I assume when Kramer sez we’re only offering one LB, that he means offering a Full to one LB.

I’m pretty sure the full offer is going to Fetherston of Helena High. Does this mean Fetherston’s the best? No. Does it mean Kramer thinks so? Yes. I think he’s as good as there is, but who knows someone else might walk on and beat him out.

My only concern is that people start ripping the coaches about who they recruit and don’t recruit. It seems to happen every year. That and people going overboard in their joy (see: egriz.com) about someone coming in. It’s good to feel excited, but we’ll never know at least until next fall (spring for transfers), probably much later about who’s got it and who doesn’t.

The only other thing I would add are people who know one potential recruit and have seen him play, but haven't seen others who try to over-promote their guy and/or bring down the guy they don't know. That is also a concern of mine! There are players we all would love to see play for the Cats. Some of them will, some of them won't and that's how it goes. Have we been disappointed in a MSU recruiting class the last few years? NO! Trust the coaches, enjoy the speculation and rumors, and try to be postive about the whole thing. The coaches know what they are doing.

LTown Cat · Post by **LTown Cat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:15 am

rtb wrote:
crazycat wrote:I’m assuming that everyone is proceeding with caution on this recruiting talk. But just in case I think we all should keep in mind that we can’t take every player out there and that the players who seem like can’t miss stars (not gonna name names) sometimes amount to nothing and that those (Force, Daly, Anderson) that walk on and don’t seem like they’ll ever play end up All-Big Sky. In other words this isn’t an exact science.

There are a limited number of scholarships and some areas are deeper than others. One area that’s very deep is linebacker (Daly, Claggett, Matthews, King, Fletcher, Guazzerro, Anderson, Ah Hi, McCracken, O’Connell) hence we’re only offering one LB scholarship. That’s not to say we won’t be recruiting others, but I assume when Kramer sez we’re only offering one LB, that he means offering a Full to one LB.

I’m pretty sure the full offer is going to Fetherston of Helena High. Does this mean Fetherston’s the best? No. Does it mean Kramer thinks so? Yes. I think he’s as good as there is, but who knows someone else might walk on and beat him out.

My only concern is that people start ripping the coaches about who they recruit and don’t recruit. It seems to happen every year. That and people going overboard in their joy (see: egriz.com) about someone coming in. It’s good to feel excited, but we’ll never know at least until next fall (spring for transfers), probably much later about who’s got it and who doesn’t.
The only other thing I would add are people who know one potential recruit and have seen him play, but haven't seen others who try to over-promote their guy and/or bring down the guy they don't know. That is also a concern of mine! There are players we all would love to see play for the Cats. Some of them will, some of them won't and that's how it goes. Have we been disappointed in a MSU recruiting class the last few years? NO! Trust the coaches, enjoy the speculation and rumors, and try to be postive about the whole thing. The coaches know what they are doing.

I think that it really just bothers people (I know it does me) to see the best defense in the conference this year have 7 of 11 MT kids starting (I haven't verified that but that is what my Griz fan co-workers said).

As much as I don't want to admit it that is something to be proud of.

BelgradeBobcat · Post by **BelgradeBobcat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:27 am

LTown Cat wrote:
utahcat wrote:Clay is a senior, and an awesome kid..he is also very interested in U of M. because they communicate more with him. He said to me "its weird because he has been a Bobcat his whole life and never thought he would go to Missoula...If the cats lose him it would be a loss at so many levels as he is A: a #1 kid, B: His entire life he has been a Bobcat and C: He's a great player with the Bruin Hit Hustle Heart work ethic and is a winner no matter where he goes...

Brothers name is Brian...also awesome kid...still growing though!
If we lose one we will lose both. Like Utterback, Thomas, and Lebsock.

This kind of stuff is frustrating.

I wonder-do rival schools go after another school's legacies? Maybe Bignell isn't a top prospect, but um could get a lot of P.R. mileage by landing him even if he's only on the team for a season-and even more if he wins a spot. Then the TV and radio guys can make a big deal out of the fact that his uncle was all-time great Bobcat everytime he makes a play. MSU had Scott Turnquist a while back-who's Dad was a griz I believe.

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:33 am

So just to be clear these are Joe's nephews not sons.

utahcat · Post by **utahcat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:51 am

Correct, Joe's nephews, also correct LIFE LONG BOBCATS...good kid, great student, great athlete...not necessarily being recruited as a LB and -- I am not over promoting, I am offering my opinion...you don't take a kid just because he is a good kid or just because he's a Cat for life...but with many other positive factors, in combintation with the above I just think it makes sense to give him a chance...for crying out loud, we give kids from other states, with shady backgrounds scholarships,,why can't we take a chance on one of our own...Just my thoughts...and the two Capital kids that the Cats "took a chance on" Daly and O'Connell are proving themselves so far...so it seems like a good role of the dice to me.. By the way, I am just a "Cat by Marriage" so I am an outsider looking in...

catbooster · Post by **catbooster** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:56 am

We don't know whether Kramer will be here or not at this point (although I am guessing he will be coaching Idaho next year). But assuming we can get a new coach hired by the end of the "quiet" time for recruiting (early January?), how is this affected?

Obviously, it will depend on the new coach, but with relatively little time to evaluate his new team, is a new coach likely to rely on the evaluations of Kramer and staff? If so, it would seem the new coach would just try to introduce himself to recruits we allready have planned and try to keep them hooked. I guess what I'm asking is whether anyone thinks it likely that a new coach would make much of a difference at this point as far as who we are targeting?

Also, while I'm at it, if a new staff comes in is it likely that the old staff spends a few days reviewing film, etc with the new staff to fill them in on evaluations and philosophies under which they were operating, or is that a waste of time and not done?

Post by **SonomaCat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:59 am

http://www.bobcatnation.com/bobcatboard ... php?t=9040

Question answered.

crazycat · Post by **crazycat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:16 am

utahcat wrote:Correct, Joe's nephews, also correct LIFE LONG BOBCATS...good kid, great student, great athlete...not necessarily being recruited as a LB and -- I am not over promoting, I am offering my opinion...you don't take a kid just because he is a good kid or just because he's a Cat for life...but with many other positive factors, in combintation with the above I just think it makes sense to give him a chance...for crying out loud, we give kids from other states, with shady backgrounds scholarships,,why can't we take a chance on one of our own...Just my thoughts...and the two Capital kids that the Cats "took a chance on" Daly and O'Connell are proving themselves so far...so it seems like a good role of the dice to me.. By the way, I am just a "Cat by Marriage" so I am an outsider looking in...

This is what I'm talking about. We ARE giving him a chance. He IS being recruited. Don't think for a second he isn't. He has a choice between UM, MSU, CC and others. O'Connell had ties to UM, but chose MSU last year. It won't mean we didn't try to get Bignell if he doesn't end up here. If UM decides to go after him hard and call him and send a coach by a couple times a week and have more money for him and a better chance of playing, etc, etc, then what can you do?

Htowngriz · Post by **Htowngriz** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:36 pm

crazycat wrote:
utahcat wrote:Correct, Joe's nephews, also correct LIFE LONG BOBCATS...good kid, great student, great athlete...not necessarily being recruited as a LB and -- I am not over promoting, I am offering my opinion...you don't take a kid just because he is a good kid or just because he's a Cat for life...but with many other positive factors, in combintation with the above I just think it makes sense to give him a chance...for crying out loud, we give kids from other states, with shady backgrounds scholarships,,why can't we take a chance on one of our own...Just my thoughts...and the two Capital kids that the Cats "took a chance on" Daly and O'Connell are proving themselves so far...so it seems like a good role of the dice to me.. By the way, I am just a "Cat by Marriage" so I am an outsider looking in...
This is what I'm talking about. We ARE giving him a chance. He IS being recruited. Don't think for a second he isn't. He has a choice between UM, MSU, CC and others. O'Connell had ties to UM, but chose MSU last year. It won't mean we didn't try to get Bignell if he doesn't end up here. If UM decides to go after him hard and call him and send a coach by a couple times a week and have more money for him and a better chance of playing, etc, etc, then what can you do?

I was in the same class as O'Connell at Capital. My memory is pretty foggy on this, but I seem to remember him being interested in pharmacy at some point, which is why he was looking at UM. I also heard at one point that UM didn't recruit him very heavily, and after that Kramer pretty much pounced on him. I'm not saying he didn't choose MSU over UM, I just don't recall UM going after him all that much. Don't take this as smack, I was definitely hoping that we would land him last year.

Platinumcat · Post by **Platinumcat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:46 pm

Krames was just up recruiting in Helena this week (and while I'm sure he went to see Featherston...that doesn't mean that's all he went to see)

Ponycat · Post by **Ponycat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:18 pm

This is from a not so reliable source but a friend of the Bignell family told me he understood that if he had his choice Clay would rather play college basketball. He is a great b-ball player but probably a little undersized for D-1.

I've also never heard a bad word about this kid. I hope we get him.

BobCatFan · Post by **BobCatFan** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:21 pm

I remember watching Joe play in college. If his newphews are 1/2 the player he was, then I say go get the kids and all of the other Bignell's that are coming down the line. That family is a football family.

CLUB 126 · Post by **CLUB 126** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:44 pm

Bobby offered half, if the CATS do the same, he gos to um

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:06 pm

After the events of the last few days.... we may have a few more scholarships that are available