Kramer firing shocks some

Current and former Montana State football players say they’re shocked by Friday’s firing of head coach Mike Kramer.

Kramer, who compiled a 40-43 record in seven seasons at the Bozeman school, was let go after another former Bobcats player was arrested this week on drug charges.

A nationwide search for his replacement is to begin soon.

School officials said a change in leadership was needed, but middle linebacker Bobby Daly called the decision unfair and said he felt Kramer was “getting a bad rap for kids making some bad decisions.”

Running back Isaiah Taito agreed, calling Kramer a good coach but in a bad position by mistakes his players made.

“I can’t imagine anything good coming of this,” quarterback Jack Rolovich said Friday.

Several ex-Bobcats were surprised by the move, but called it necessary in light of the school’s recent drug and murder arrests.

“I guess I am surprised, but in thinking it through, something had to be done,” said Bozeman’s Mike McLeod, who played on the 1976 MSU championship team. “I think it is a good decision. Mike (Kramer) has done a good job on the field, but there is a lot more to it.”

Kirk Timmer, one of the top players in Bobcats football history, said he’s upset by a “lack of leadership” by athletic director Peter Fields, who made the decision to fire Kramer.

“I thought they addressed this issue when it came about late last fall, and at that point they felt that Coach Kramer was still good enough to lead the program,” he said. “They knew that there was more investigation to be done and they were aware that more names would come out, but they decided they were going to keep him even knowing that. … If you made the decision to keep him and put the policies and procedures in place, then I think you need to give it some time to work.”