Birkeland

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Undersized aggressor

By TOM STUBER - IR Sports Writer - 11/17/04

Big things can come in relatively small packages. He may be a 6-foot-1, 260-pound offensive lineman, but he's still Pam and Mike Birkeland's baby boy.

And at 6-1, 260, he may be the baby boy of Big Sky Conference offensive guards.

Former Helena High standout Brant Birkeland is the smallest lineman in the league, and last week it was obvious when he lined up next to Montana State teammate and tackle Jeff Bolton, who stands 6-4 and tips the scales at 325 pounds.

Area fans will be able to use Bolton, MSU's left tackle, to help guide them in identifying Birkeland this week when Montana State (6-4 overall, 4-2 Big Sky) faces rival Montana (8-2, 5-1) in Missoula.

At Helena High Birkeland played both ways on the line and was selected the Western AA defensive player of the year in 2001 when the Bengals finished runner-up in Class AA.


"He's a great person and a great leader," Helena High coach Tony Arntson said of his former captain. "I'd have to say he was the most dominant defensive lineman I ever coached or played against."

Birkeland recorded 27 tackles-for- loss and had 11 sacks his senior year at HHS.

"His big thing is getting on the field and playing," Arntson added. "He stops by once in a while and I can tell he's real excited and enjoys the program. He's real happy with how things are working out and I'm happy for him."

He was a redshirt his first year with the Bobcats, who recruited him to play defensive tackle. But he went to his dual role on the line in 2003 when numerous injuries forced him to fill in at guard.

Birkeland had his coming-out party during the fifth game of the season on the road against Weber State. An injury caused MSU coach Mike Kramer to call on his freshman to fill in.

The Bobcats were just 3-3 overall and 0-1 in the league coming into the game, but Birkeland's blocking played a key role in helping quarterback Travis Lulay throw for 324 yards and four touchdowns — his career best at the time.

The 26-3 win over the Wildcats served as springboard to a 5-1 finish to the regular season and a second straight Big Sky title. The advantage in the tie-breaker and league championship also put MSU in the playoffs for the second straight year.

Birkeland still wasn't receiving any money for school from the MSU athletic department, but by the time fall camp was half over that all changed when he received a full scholarship.

"He's a real smart guy," said Arntson. "It doesn't surprise me at all to see he's doing well. He's a very inspirational and very dedicated player."

Birkeland's ability to use his head and speed to make up for his lack of size is paying dividends, as he still has two more years to compete.

He has started all 10 games for MSU this year.

"I talked to him last week and he told me that it makes it easy to play at MSU, because all the players are good friends," mother Pam said. "They all really respect Travis (Lulay) as the leader on offense."

She also noticed that MSU fans have changed over the past few years.

"I expected to hear fans grumbling on Sunday after the loss to Eastern (Washington)," she said. "But most people were pretty impressed with the way they played and I think that's a good sign that their following is solid."

Pam's support of MSU is obvious as she was still hoarse from last Saturday's game.

"Every Monday I can barely talk," she said. "It's been fun following them."

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