2008 FB Media Guide Full Version.qxd - College Football Dvds ...

1999
CONCORDIA ATHLETICS • CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF NCAA DIVISION II & NORTHERN SUN MEMBERSHIP
The Golden Bears look to storm into
the 2008 season, poised to compete in a
conference that features four new and capable
football programs. Despite being picked
ninth, CU is ready to prove that the only standings
that matter are in November.
“I don’t give much credence to polls,” head coach
Mark Mauer commented. He continued, “What
matters is what happens when we play some
games and start to see how things pan out as the
season progresses.”
The four new teams entering the league have
been familiar foes for the most part on the CU
non-conference schedules in the Mauer-era. Minnesota
State University, Mankato, Augustana, St.
Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth are the four
new squads that will be vying for NSIC glory.
“We have been playing the Mankato’s, Augie’s
and Duluth’s regularly in the non-conference, so
the only difference is that now they are in our
league,” said Mauer.
“In terms of going out and winning
games, nothing changes. Everyone is
thinking that the league should be viewed
differently but we’ve been playing them
regularly.”
The big change will be in the league format.
With so many teams, the NSIC will
implement a two division system, being
broken down into North and South. There
will be division champions, but the overall
champion will be determined by overall
league record, and that team will receive
the automatic berth in the NCAA Playoffs.
The Golden Bears will be in the South Division
and will face the other six teams annually. They
will compete against the North Division on a rotating
schedule, with one rivalry game. Concordia’s
rival will be Bemidji State, meaning CU and
BSU will square off every year.
Concordia was picked fifth out of seven in the
South Division. “This is a good conference, there
is a lot of depth and competitiveness from top to
bottom in our league.”
After a disappointing 2007 season, the Golden
Bears should see a much more positive start to
their season this fall, playing their first three
games at Griffin Stadium and four of their first five
at home. Last year, Concordia was on the road
for the first three weeks and five of the first six
overall.
“This is a much better schedule for us all
around. Obviously we will be challenged
by tough teams, but when travel is considered,
our road games are relatively easy
trips. We have six home games this year
compared to four last year. We start out at
home for three weeks,” Mauer commented.
“The fact that we aren’t on the
road five weeks (out of six) at the beginning
of the year should work into our favor
this year.”
He continued, “We are optimistic about
this season. We feel that with several re-
6
2009
S E A S O N P R E V I E W
GOLDEN BEAR FOOTBALL • GOLDEN BEAR FOOTBALL • GOLDEN BEAR FOOTBALL
Hayden Vavra
turning starters on both sides of the ball that we
will be a better football team based on the experience
level of the kids coming back.”
Offensively, Concordia has experienced playmakers
returning that will help mend some positions
that lack in-game experience.
The quarterback position remains a large question
as the team prepares to break camp. After
nearly a decade of all-conference caliber quarterback
play, Mauer will have a difficult decision to
make as to who runs the offense.
“We have a tremendous amount of competition at
the quarterback position,” Mauer said of his QB’s.
“With four guys vying for the starting role, it’s been
a very competitive situation in camp. With our final
scrimmage looming, decisions will have to be
made.”
The four players competing for the job late in
camp are sophomore Hayden Vavra (Cambridge,
Minn.), redshirt freshman Spencer Ohm (Blooming
Prairie, Minn.), junior transfer Mitch
Brecke (North Dakota State / Maple
Grove, Minn.) and true freshman Ben
Lemke (Rosemount, Minn.).
“Hayden returns with the most in-game
experience out of the four, getting some
snaps last year when Kole (Goodchild)
was out with an injury. Spencer is a redshirt
freshman who is developing and is
extremely talented. His growth is evident
every practice.”
“Mitch Brecke brings a high level of talent
to the position. He has gained such great
command of our offense in such a short period of
time. While Ben Lemke is a true freshman, his
rapid progression is impressive. He’s much further
along at this point in his career that we
could’ve anticipated.”
Whoever wins the battle will have high
expectations to produce. “A starter will
emerge with the complete understanding
that if productivity isn’t accomplished,
we will go to the next guy,” said
Mauer. “Particularly early in the season,
with so little experience in this group, we
need to be settled into a quarterback by
the second or third game of the year.”
Whoever emerges as the leader of the
offense will have plenty of weapons to
pick from downfield, as the wide receivers
are the most experienced and possibly
the most talented group on offense.
CU returns their dynamic duo
from last year, senior Tyrone
Ruffin (Plymouth, Minn.) and
sophomore Calvin Simon
(Shakopee, Minn.) Ruffin is
within reach of virtually every
career receiving record at
Concordia while Simon burst
onto the scene last year with
nearly identical receiving
numbers to Ruffin in his first
year competing in the league
as a redshirt freshman.
Blake Ogletree
Calvin Simon Tyrone Ruffin
There is depth behind Ruffin and Simon, too. With
sophomore Zach Hovey (Champlin, Minn.), senior
T.J. Prunty (St. Paul, Minn.) and redshirt
freshman Rob Evans (Franklin, Wis.) each providing
different dynamics to the offense.
“Zach Hovey doesn’t have a lot of game experience,
but is a possession-type receiver who runs
great routes and features excellent quickness.”
Prunty, a free safety in 2007, has been moved to
the offensive side. At 6-3, 215 lbs, he is one of the
best athletes on the team. “T.J. is as gifted of an
athlete as we have on the team. He’s very versatile,
can get deep as well as be a possession receiver
with his size and strength.”
Brought in to play quarterback, Evans’ blazing
speed and the deep competition at the QB position
has afforded Mauer the ability to move Evans
to a playmaking position. “Robbie is flat out one of
the fastest kids on the team. He has shown the
ability to catch the ball but needs time to develop
into a receiver. He will factor into the rotation.”
Providing larger targets to the new quarterback
will be the tight ends. Senior Josh Harrison (St.
Martin, Minn.) anchors the core with the most experience
returning while junior transfer Cale
Johnston (North Iowa Area CC / West Liberty,
Iowa) will look to make an impact.
On the interior, the offensive line is still attempting
to establish their identity. “They are all learning
through camp how to play with one another. It’s a
position where each guy needs to know exactly
where the guy on either side of him is going to be
at all times. As a unit, we are making big strides.”
For the second consecutive year, the group will
be some experienced and talented returners with
young players void of any collegiate playing time.
Senior Blake Ogletree (Apple Valley,
Minn.) anchors the line at the left guard
position. He’s joined by sophomore Israel
Lopez (Milwaukee, Wis.) who
started all 11 games as a redshirt freshman
last year and has put on size and
strength in the offseason. Senior Zach
Condon (Maple Grove, Minn.) is a versatile
lineman who can succeed at various
positions.
Joining them will be young players like
redshirt freshmen Aaron Krason
(Waukesha, Wis.), Tyler Hendrickson
(St. Paul, Minn.) and Dean Bauers (Duluth,
Minn.). Jeremy Needom (Markham, Ill.), a junior
college transfer from the College of Du-
Page has shown to be a capable offensive
lineman in camp and is ready to
compete.
C U G O L D E N B E A R S . C O M / F O O T B A L L
The offensive line will not only be responsible
for protecting the new quaterback,
but also to open holes for the
running game, which could be just as
open of a position as the quarterback
spot.
Redshirt freshman Jerry Shaw (Milwaukee,
Wis.) figures to be in the mix to re-