The Bobcat Nation

The Bobcats announced on the PA system at the game that the legendary Don Hass passed away.

https://msubobcats.com/news/2025/12/20/ ... d-don-hass

I never got to see him play, just a bit too young. But just think about this. He averaged 146 yards per game in 1966!! Truly amazing feat. And whoever came up with his nickname, The Iron Tumbleweed, just perfect.

There should be a drink called ‘Iron Tumbleweed’ named in his honor at the Rocking R to keep his memory alive.

This interview from 2017 mentioned who hung the label “Iron Tumbleweed” on him.

https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story ... 101376668/

Freshmen could not play varsity when Don was playing. So the numbers he has posted were over a three year career and those record numbers have hung in the Top 10 for almost 60 years now.

I never saw him play in person much and there was no such thing as ESPN+ back then but I always read the sports info when I could. And I remember watching the East West Shrine game. There are others on the board who saw him more than me but what I recall is he never went backwards as a running back. He enjoyed beating the grisllies but always got fired up for Weber too…just as intense as gris.

After college, I actually had the good fortune of working with Don in a number of different areas. We were both working in petroleum related businesses and our paths crossed in North Dakota, Denver, Tulsa and Houston. My wife and I babysat their four kids at one time. I can remember one thanksgiving in Houston Don and I went out in the park to play catch….i had to be 40s but still threw a football half decent…and that dang guy could still run a ball down when I tried to purposely “outthrow him”…. Ran effortlessly even then

Soft spoken, I enjoyed visiting over a beverage more than once. I asked him one time who was faster Roy Robinson or Don. For the youngsters on the board, Glendive and Glasgow were good rivals at the time. Roy played for Glasgow and went on to a football and track career with the grissllies. Don kinda chuckled “all I’m gonna say is I ran him down from behind once”. When we played golf he wouldn’t hit a wood but hit an iron a gazillion yards….

I know others read the board that played with him that know him as a player better than I. The above were just from my personal interactions with Don over some 15 years in the business. I’m sorry to hear about his passing.

My freshman year Don was a senior. My first Cat/Griz game that year, 1967, remains one of the best games I’ve ever seen. Cats up by four middle fourth quarter, the Griz had the ball first and goal at the one. They didn’t score, thanks much to the Hanson boys from Helena. Cats took over at the one. The game ended somewhere around the 30 of the Griz. They handed off to the Iron Tumbleweed every play and he marched them down the field. Sorry you all never saw it. Hass was incredible.

BobcatDel wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 22, 2025 12:25 am

This interview from 2017 mentioned who hung the label “Iron Tumbleweed” on him.

https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story ... 101376668/

Norm Clarke, sportswriter for Billings Gazette came up with the name. He’s another legend. I grew up reading his sports articles back when newspapers were king.

A true BOBCAT LEGEND.

I have an old friend in Livingston that was a good friend of Don’s. Will need to call him and give him my condolences…. Yes, the BOBCATS have lost a legend.