Paul Dennehy (2005) - Hall of Fame - Montana State University Athletics

Paul Dennehy

Induction:
2005
Class:
1978

Paul Dennehy- Football, 1976-78 Years at MSU: 1976-78 Honors Earned: All-Big Sky Three-time Big Sky Player of the Week Hometown: Butte, Montana “Paul Dennehy did what it took to win.” –Former Bobcat tight end Butch Damberger Football players are gauged using many different metrics. Every position group has stats and averages and ratings that mean more to some than others, but which draw attention. Not a quarterback, though. At quarterback, only one thing matters. “Winning,” legendary Bobcat coach Sonny Holland says succinctly. “That’s how you measure a quarterback.” No Bobcat quarterback has ever won more than Paul Dennehy. In a three-year career as MSU’s starting signal caller, the scrappy Butte native won a remarkable 26 games. That’s the only spot in the Bobcat record book where Dennehy stands on top. It’s the only one that matters. Dennehy was a First Team All-Big Sky quarterback in 1976, when he started as a sophomore. He led MSU to a 12-win season that fall, the school’s sixth conference title in 13 years, and MSU’s second National Championship. He accounted for over 1,300 yards of total offense and 21 touchdowns, but statistics were never Dennehy’s forte. Former Bobcat tight end Butch Damberger was on the receiving end of several of Dennehy’s rare passes. “He was like Billy Kilmer,” Damberger said. “He didn’t throw a lot of pretty balls, but he got them there. It seemed like guys never got a clean shot of him. It seemed like he was always able to slip through there for a couple of extra yards.” Dennehy finished his career second in school history in passing yards and total offense, and remains in the school’s top 10 in both categories.