Chad Newell knew instantly something was not right with his left hand.
On the second play of the game in Montana State’s season opener in Moscow against the University of Idaho, Newell plunged into the line for his first carry for a five-yard gain. Despite the unnatural feeling in his non-dominant hand, the MSU senior captain continued to carry the load for the Bobcats throughout as Montana State pushed the Vandals to the brink.
With fellow senior captain Gunnar Brekke on the shelf with pneumonia, Newell carried the ball 25 times, gaining 105 bruising yards. On one play in the third quarter, Newell was smashed by a hoard of Vandal defenders and left the game for a time. It appeared as if he hurt his back or his ribs, but a hand injury never showed.
MSU running back Chad Newell, pictured here before MSU’s season-opener at Idaho, will return Saturday/ by Colter Nuanez
In the end, Newell’s touchdown that brought Montana State within three, 20-17, was the final score of the game. The Bobcats fell by a field goal but Newell never showed any sign of giving up.
“On the first drive, the second play of the game, my first run play, I knew something was wrong,” Newell said. “I came out for a second but I realized there wasn’t anything we could do for it in Idaho so I kept playing and tried to give us a chance to win the game. It obviously didn’t happen.”
The following week, Newell appeared at practice with a wrap on his left hand and he did not participate. He missed MSU’s home opener, a 27-24 win over Bryant. Last week, Newell practiced for the first half of each session on Tuesday and Wednesday but was in street clothes by practice end each day. He did not play against Western Oregon, a 55-0 win for the Bobcats.
On Monday, Montana State head coach Jeff Choate confirmed Newell will return on Saturday for MSU’s homecoming game against North Dakota.
“We have started slow each of the last two weeks on offense and the one game we didn’t was against Idaho,” Choate said. “We had a 12-play, six-minute drive to open. The reason you saw that is on third and three, third and four, we had the hammer (Newell) to give the ball to. I think Chad and Gunnar (Brekke) complement each other really well. One is not quite as good without the other. We’ve got it now.
“The one thing that is key is the synergy we have when we have two of our best leaders on the field. I will tip my hat to Chad the way he’s handled the last two weeks but it’s still going to be great to have him back out there.”
MSU running back Chad Newell
Newell confirmed on Tuesday that he had a procedure on his left hand but did not give details. He said doctors gave him a two-week timeline for his return and he is back to 100 percent. Newell said he will wrap his hand with tape on Saturday but will not wear a cast. He said he has full confidence in his ability to perform at full strength.
“I’m anxious to come back out there and compete with my teammates again,” said Newell, who has 22 career rushing touchdowns, tied with Delmar Jones(1976-1979) for seventh-most in Bobcat history. “I missed running around and competing with the guys, being out there with my teammates. I’m still out there celebrating with those guys but just that competitive nature of playing is what I missed.”
During his time on the sidelines during Montana State’s two-game winning streak, Newell was among the most visible men on the Bobcat sideline. Sporting sunglasses and a burly beard, the man in street clothes cheered on his teammates enthusiastically, feeding off two straight sellout Bobcat Stadium crowds.
“It’s been brutal,” Newell said. “It doesn’t really hit when you go out there for practice and you run around to stay in shape. But you realize when you are in front of our home crowd in front of 20,000 people and you don’t get to suit up an play, it’s been tough but it’s been a humbling experience.
“I’ve tried to embrace that role throughout my career so it wasn’t anything new to me as far as the game day experience but without pads on, it’s kind of hard to get yourself to that level. It was a challenge to get my mental mindset ready to go.”
MSU running back Chad Newell
Newell enters Saturday’s homecoming game with 1,513 yards in his career, the 19th most in school history. Throughout the off-season, the Bobcats worked offensive packages that included both Newell and Brekke on the field simultaneously. Now a month into their senior years, they will take the field for the first time together against UND.
“I relish any kind of game but I guess it’s fitting it’s homecoming,” Newell said. “I love our fans and it’s going to be packed in Bobcat Stadium. I think it’s fitting for me because there’s nothing I take more pride in than Montana State fans and the love they show us with their support.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez or noted. All Rights Reserved.
