The 2008 Mules football season might be best described as a roller coaster ride. UCM got off to a 4-0 start with the win at home against Washburn. That start included a win over playoff-bound Minnesota State-Mankato. In the fifth game of the season, the Mules were defeated by a playoff-bound Pittsburg State squad.

The Mules bounced back to get a win over Emporia. The next week they gave the number two team in Super Regional 4, Northwest Missouri, all they wanted in a game where the Mules gave themselves a chance to win late. The Mules went to Joplin and defeated Missouri Southern the next week.

UCM suffered a pair of heartbreaking losses in their final home games to Nebraska-Omaha and Missouri Western. The Mules had opportunities to win both of those games which were decided in the final minute. UCM finished the season with a hard-fought victory at Fort Hays State.

We can all come up with a play here or there that takes this team from 7-4 to 9-2, or even 11-1. I have chosen not to do that, because 7-4 is what it is and we can't change it now. I've chosen to look at some of the positives from this season that we can take into next year.

First, is the progress of junior quarterback Eric Czerniewski. His development throughout the season has given me cause to be optimistic about next year. He threw 27 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He rarely made a bad decision when it came to the passing game. He threw for 2,938 yards on the season, a new single-season record.

I think a lot of credit for his development has to go to offensive coordinator Charlie Stubbs. His offense package took advantage of the talents of the players he had. I think it will be key that head coach Willie Fritz is able to keep him on the staff for next year.

Second, was the play of the Mules wide receiver corps. Junior receiver Tim Richmond led the team with 46 catches, 695 yards and six touchdowns. He will return next year to give the offense a big-play receiving threat. Sophomore tight end DeMarco Cosby is the best tight end in the league. Cosby had 29 catches this year for 623 yards and five touchdowns. He will provide a downfield threat in the passing game.  Sophomore Adam Parks, junior Sean Thorton and junior Bobby Guillory will provide more weapons in the receiving corps.  The Mules will have to replace Edgar Givens and his 31 catches and five touchdowns.

Central will have to replace senior running back Glenn Milner.  Milner rushed for 910 yards and nine touchdowns. He was also a viable receiving threat with 488 yards and six touchdowns through the air. The Mules will also have to replace three offensive linemen that started the season opener.

The veteran-laden UCM defense struggled at times, but was still fairly solid. Junior defensive back Mike Stevenson was an impressive playmaker in the secondary with 60 tackles with 10 for loss. Stevenson will return next year to lead a defense that will have a lot of new players.

The Mules will lose four of their top five tacklers. Steven Ehase led UCM in tackles with 84 and interceptions with three this year. Senior defensive end John Wood led the team in sacks with five.

UCM will lose their entire starting defensive line (save Layne Kreter), their starting linebackers and their starting free safety. One of the challenges for the coaching staff will be to retool the front six, either through players improving that are already on the roster, or going out and finding players in the recruiting process to fill those positions.

The Mules also must find a placekicker to replace the graduating Mark Starks. I feel this is an important position, because Central has to have a placekicker that can be counted on to make kicks on a consistent basis, as well as make the pressure packed kicks with games on the line.

My Recruiting Wish List

I'm going to close this column with my recruiting wish list for this recruiting class. The first area that must be addressed is the defensive line. Some of these defensive lineman are going to have to step in and play right away. Some of them are going to come via the junior college route.

In addition, the offensive line needs upgrades. Going by the season-opening depth chart, three starters will need to be replaced on the offensive line. More depth is needed on top of that to compensate for injury. Some of the offensive linemen are going to have to come from junior college because someone's going to have to step up and play right away.

The third area is the linebacker corps. I think we need to bring in at least two or three more linebackers. I think at least one of them, if not more should come via the junior college route.

Fourth, we need to fill the placekicking position. If they can find the right guy out of high school I would go that route, but if you have to go with a transfer, I don’t have a problem with that-if it's the right guy.

Finally, I would sprinkle in some skilled position players. We may need another running back if Anthony Stewart is not healthy next year. I think we need a couple more receivers from junior college or high school, preferably high school.