TV Story by Tom Wiley, CBS local sportscaster in Great Falls
CAT KIDS
KBZK, Channel 7, Bozeman, Andy Curtis - Now with some of the negative off-field news about a few montana state players lately, it's always good to remember that there is a lot of great stories about this group of guys. I'll let MTN's (Montana Television Netowrk) Tom Wiley explain:
Last year (2016 Spring scrimmage) Dave Hickman took his grandson Damon (I might have his name wrong, couldn't hear it well) to the annual Triangle Classic spring scrimmage on a whim. But when the bobcats took the field the 7th grader was nowhere to be found. "Well we had the agreement that when they were done playing with the football on the field he'd come back up before the scrimmage started, and he wasn't there." said Dave Hickman. Eventually Hickman spotted his grandson on the field playing catch with bobcat DL Tucker Yates, who he'd met earlier at the msu skills clinic. Damon said, "The other players that were there told me to yell "skeems" (I think was the word) when I was running up to hit the bag. So then I yelled skeems and knocked Tucker on his rear-end." Yates and the bobcats invited Damon to join the team on the field for the scrimmage, a dream come true for North Middle Schooler entering his first year of football. "It got me kind of excited because I knew I was going into the 7th grade to play football, and it kind of got me excited to see what I would be used for potential." said Damon. And after the scrimmage Damon introduced his grandpa to Yates and the rest of the players, and then parted ways. But a few months later Damon's dream continued when he received an invite to fall practice (2016). "It meant a lot to me because these guys were taking time out of there practice to show me around and introduce me to the entire team (took pictures with them). And i just thought it was really cool." The story keeps getting better. A few weeks ago (literally, 2017), the Hickman's got a surprise in the mail. "He didn't see it right a way because he wasn't home when it came in, but we brought it out to him and he about hit the floor." said Grandpa Dave Hickman. Damon said, "I nearly broke down into tears of pride and respect." Now here's the kicker; neither Damon nor his grandpa were big bobcat fans before last year, in fact, they tended to root for the Griz. montana state went above and beyond to make him feel like a part of the team. And for that, they gained fans for life. "I think this was a real eye-opening experience for myself. my family and him." said grandpa Dave. Damon said with welled-up eyes, "A great bunch of guys. They are hard working, the're real easy to adapt to, and they're really kind and supportive. The interview ended with Damon tossing the msu personally player autographed football (looked like by the whole team) up to himself a few times, wearing bobcat gear (coat and hat).
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Great story for the super nice kid. (Who looked almost as big as Yates already)
My only question was there any recruiting violation(s) is this story? (honest question)
CAT KIDS
KBZK, Channel 7, Bozeman, Andy Curtis - Now with some of the negative off-field news about a few montana state players lately, it's always good to remember that there is a lot of great stories about this group of guys. I'll let MTN's (Montana Television Netowrk) Tom Wiley explain:
Last year (2016 Spring scrimmage) Dave Hickman took his grandson Damon (I might have his name wrong, couldn't hear it well) to the annual Triangle Classic spring scrimmage on a whim. But when the bobcats took the field the 7th grader was nowhere to be found. "Well we had the agreement that when they were done playing with the football on the field he'd come back up before the scrimmage started, and he wasn't there." said Dave Hickman. Eventually Hickman spotted his grandson on the field playing catch with bobcat DL Tucker Yates, who he'd met earlier at the msu skills clinic. Damon said, "The other players that were there told me to yell "skeems" (I think was the word) when I was running up to hit the bag. So then I yelled skeems and knocked Tucker on his rear-end." Yates and the bobcats invited Damon to join the team on the field for the scrimmage, a dream come true for North Middle Schooler entering his first year of football. "It got me kind of excited because I knew I was going into the 7th grade to play football, and it kind of got me excited to see what I would be used for potential." said Damon. And after the scrimmage Damon introduced his grandpa to Yates and the rest of the players, and then parted ways. But a few months later Damon's dream continued when he received an invite to fall practice (2016). "It meant a lot to me because these guys were taking time out of there practice to show me around and introduce me to the entire team (took pictures with them). And i just thought it was really cool." The story keeps getting better. A few weeks ago (literally, 2017), the Hickman's got a surprise in the mail. "He didn't see it right a way because he wasn't home when it came in, but we brought it out to him and he about hit the floor." said Grandpa Dave Hickman. Damon said, "I nearly broke down into tears of pride and respect." Now here's the kicker; neither Damon nor his grandpa were big bobcat fans before last year, in fact, they tended to root for the Griz. montana state went above and beyond to make him feel like a part of the team. And for that, they gained fans for life. "I think this was a real eye-opening experience for myself. my family and him." said grandpa Dave. Damon said with welled-up eyes, "A great bunch of guys. They are hard working, the're real easy to adapt to, and they're really kind and supportive. The interview ended with Damon tossing the msu personally player autographed football (looked like by the whole team) up to himself a few times, wearing bobcat gear (coat and hat).
=============================
Great story for the super nice kid. (Who looked almost as big as Yates already)
My only question was there any recruiting violation(s) is this story? (honest question)
