Justin Montague
MulesCentral Feature Writer

SEPTEMBER 8, 2008 - Central Missouri senior offensive lineman Mike Gunselman is a bit of a joker, yet he is one of the hardest workers on the team and is a leader in every sense of the word. Gunselman is a two year starter on the offensive line going into this season. Mike is a Kansas City native who graduated from Park Hill HS in 2004. After a short stint at the University of Missouri for wrestling, Mike transferred to Central in the spring of 2005 to play football for the Mules. He is a two-time MIAA Commissioners Academic Honor Roll and two-time All MIAA selection. He’s received team awards, such as the Union Award, on many occasions, as well as a Lights Out Award in ’06 for the best hit in the last game of the year.

You got engaged over the summer to your girlfriend in San Francisco. Where did you come up with the idea to ask her on the Golden Gate Bridge?
All of my family is from California, and my grandma called me and offered me and my girlfriend a trip out there for graduation. I’ve been noticing for awhile that all my friends have been getting engaged and married, and I’ve been with my girlfriend the longest out of all of them. So I had been planning and I thought the Golden Gate Bridge would be a great experience. After my grandma called and asked, I started to plan to do it there. Everyone makes jokes that people only go to the bridge to jump off, but I told them I would only do that if she said no. But seriously though it was an awesome experience getting to do it out on the bridge.

When did you start playing football? What about it made you start?
In 8^th grade I was always the big kid walking the halls, and the kids were always like, "You need to play football." I was too busy boxing to play football at the time, but after a while I tried it out and loved it. So I quit boxing and started playing football.

What was your favorite play or memory of your high school career?
In one of our training camps during the summer the O-Line was working on pulling drills. I just couldn’t get it, I don’t know why, but I just couldn’t open my hips up like I was supposed to. So finally my coach was like, "alright I want you to pull and then turn you hips and punch me in the leg." I got the pull right and I hit him right in the leg. He pulled up shouting "yeah that’s right." Then it was, "that hurts!" I gave him a huge Charlie horse.  Now every time I see him he gives me the “Ow my leg” bit.  

What is the best thing about playing at Central?
The guys down here for sure. Getting to be friends with these guys and hanging out with them is awesome, that’s my favorite part.

What would a day in the life of Gunny be like?
I wake up at 6:30 and drink a pot of coffee. I grab a book or the newspaper and lay in my hammock I got on my deck.  Then I head to school for a while. After that, I head back home, do my homework if I have any, then watch a movie or read till practice. After practice I head back home and eat dinner and get ready to do it all over again.

What is your favorite play or game memory at Central?
Well the one that comes to mind would have to be my funniest play. We were up at Northwest Missouri and after a kickoff, I ran down and just blocked this guy right onto the ground. He was laying there saying he couldn't get up, playing it up. Then he turns and hits me in my groin. Of course it didn’t hurt, as I had a cup on, but I rolled on the ground in “pain” and a couple of the refs around throw their flags up in the air and whistles start going off, it was pretty funny. It was my first acting job.

What gets you fired up before games?
Actually I have to mess around a little before I start getting real focused on the game. I’m really laid back so I don’t get all pissed off. I joke around a little with the guys and that gets me focused on the game. I run through the plays in my head and listen to my IPod.

What kind of music would we find on your IPod?
I have one of those “1980” IPOD bricks, but it works. And the stuff I usually listen to would be like Guns and Roses, Tom Petty, Phil Collins, and AC/DC.

What are you looking forward to the most this season? What is your personal goal for the year, or what would you like to accomplish?
Well I always tell people I don’t set personal goals; I’m all about the team, so that’s what I focus on. As long as we win it doesn’t matter what I do. But for the team, you know we only have one. Once in the playoffs I really want to make it at least two wins, or the national title -- that’s good too. But definitely make it into the postseason, and win the MIAA of course.

Is there anything from your wrestling career you carry over to football?
It helps me beat Lampkin (DE Derek Lampkin) when were messing around. He claims to have beaten me once in practice, but we never really wrestled on the mats. But it does help me with hand placement on blocks and stuff.

You graduated last May with a degree in Criminal Justice, what is your plan after the school year is over?
Well I’m done after this semester and I’m going to move back up to KC and get a full time job. Just in case anyone out there is hiring -- I’m a hard worker.  Seriously, I’m thinking of a job in sales. I’ve always been good with talking to people, etc. As a backup, I guess using that CJ degree and being a cop is a possibility, but I’m really hoping the sales thing works out.