By Tiffany L. Rehbein
The MSU-Northern football program has signed five more players to its 1999 roster.
Havre High graduate Josh Kirby will return to Havre after playing football for two seasons at Dickinson State University.
Josh is a hometown kid, said head football coach Walt Currie. Hes a kid who wanted to come back home and play ball here.
Kirby, a 5-10, 170-pound transfer, will play cornerback but will also vie for the quarterback position.
Alan Bigby, a 1999 graduate of Harlem High School, has signed on and will probably play defensive back for the Lights.
The 5-9, 155-pound freshman played quarterback in high school but prefers to play defense, said Currie. Bigby was a first-team all-conference selection at the defensive position his senior year.
Tim Malsam, a graduate of Chinook High School, looks to play as a linebacker or possible strong safety. The 6-2, 205-pound Malsam was selected as the most valuable player at the Shriners game last year.
Tim is a real good one, said Currie. Malsam attended Montana State University-Bozeman but decided he would like to football and move closer to home, said Currie.
Great Falls High graduates Chad Olsen and Scott Ramsey-Simon have also signed-on, both in the running back slot.
Ramsey was a good high school football player. Hes a big weight lifter, said Currie.
College opportunities have also attracted the athletes. Chad Conover, a graduate of Broadview High School, found interest in the college curriculum and then decided to play football. Conover will likely play at the tailback or fullback position.
Northern has attracted some out-of-state interests as well. Clay Hammond, of Davenport, Wash., has signed a letter of intent to play. Hammond, at 300 pounds, will play tackle for the Lights.
The University of Idaho wanted him to walk on, said Currie. He had the same opportunity here, but could play sooner here.
The Lights have signed 51 new recruits and will see 43 returnees on the roster.
The kids come here because they can play a lot sooner than at, say, a bigger school, said Currie. We have a lot of kids from Great Falls and Havre. They get to stay close to home.
The football team will play its first season this fall after returning to the Frontier Conference. Last season they were organized as a club sport.
