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Montana State Bobcats  

Game #8-199: Willamette at Montana State Bobcats December 7, 2011 9:00 pm Brick Breeden Fieldhouse BBState Stats/Recap

Am I my brother's keeper?

According to the Old Testament, it was the question Cain asked the Lord after the Lord inquired as to Abel's whereabouts. Cain, as we find out, murdered his brother and showed no concern over it when queried. The story is related in churches and synagogues across the United States, relayed to children when they are young as one of the first messages meant to teach them to care for others, to show concern for others.

The relative consternation on Kane Ioane's face flared up every so often. Like everyone else occupying a seat at Worthington Arena, Kane knew the Willamette University Bearcats, a Division III school in Salem, Ore., was no match for the Montana State University Bobcats. Though a Red Line team, MSU facing Willamette is akin to North Carolina or Duke bringing in a Southland Conference or SWAC or MEAC team to feast upon.

Kane knew it would be a tough go for Willamette and his brother, Kip, the Bearcats head coach. Kip Ioane's team was already five games under .500 in Ioane's third year at the helm, and seemingly Kane and Kip both winced or expressed frustration (Kane was sitting roughly 10 rows behind the Bearcats bench) at many of the same calls or disappointments (read: turnovers, missed shots, bad defensive moments) Willamette endured, specifically in the second half of MSU's 45-point victory. To support his brother, Kane sported a Willamette basketball sweatshirt, as did most of the family and friends who traveled from nearby Billings, Mont. to support Kip. Much of the Ioane clan was sitting together in Worthington clad in Willamette's red & gold colors and giving it a real "all in the family" feel. Dad Kass wore a hat and sweatshirt, Mom was in red & gold; even the godparents had some semblance of red or gold in their attire.

Born and raised in Billings, Kane and Kip both played multiple sports for Billings Skyview High School; Kass is still the high school's golf coach and a man with a smile and laugh that, hyperbole aside, just makes you feel better about yourself. Kip, older by a full high school or college cycle, went from Billings to Willamette to play basketball and has made Salem his home and life since leaving the Treasure State.

Kane was a little more revered as an athlete and went on to play Division I-AA college football. He was a standout safety in college, earning All-American honors four years in a row for his school and helping his team win a pair of conference titles during his career. Kane also stayed with his college team and sport, moving into an assistant coaching role soon after graduation.

Saddled next to Kane for most of the night was a giant duffel bag containing items from a recently concluded practice Kane and his team got through earlier in the day. Kane's football team is still going at it at this time of year, hoping to extend their season one more week. The bag was blue with a giant Nike swoosh across one side. The other side contained three words: Montana State Bobcats. Kane is the linebackers coach for MSU, which is why there was so much to take from each expression his face made as the game went on.

Do you cheer when an athlete you know, say a Jourdain Allou, puts down back-to-back #omgdunx to help your alma mater and current employer start to pull away? Do you boo when an official calls a foul on a Bearcat who has trapped MSU's point guard perfectly tries to tie the sphere up for a jump ball call?

Do you just sit there, taking it all in with silence?

Are you your brother's keeper?


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