View From The Press Box
with Shawn Jones, Joe Moore & Greg Hassler

VFTPB Archives

 Shawn Jones is in his ninth season as the radio play-by-play voice of Mules football, basketball and baseball. In addition to his radio and television duties as host of Sportspage, he is UCM's Associate Athletic Director for External Relations in charge of marketing, promotions, media relations, fund-raising events and special events. Greg Hassler is in his eighth season as the sideline reporter and pre and post-game host for Mules broadcasts. He is the Sports Director of flagship stations 1450 KOKO and The Bar 98.5 FM. Joe Moore and Bob Jackson will provide color analysis this season and Moore will also contribute to this column. Jackson has been a part of the UCM broadcast team since 1981 and is UCM's Athletics Promotions Coordinator and Web Manager. Moore is a former Mules football player and UCM Athletic Media Relations Director. He is now an instructor in UCM's Department of Communication.

  by Joe Moore
  Central Football Radio Analyst
  October 15, 2008



So what’s worse, getting thrashed by an opponent you were supposed to lose to, or falling just short?

If you get thrashed, it’s embarrassing. Nobody wants to think someone is that much better. No one wants to have to admit they were thoroughly out-classed, out-manned, out-coached, out-hustled, and out-played. Getting thumped by an opponent evokes visions of the school-yard bully hiking your underwear up to your ears and steals your lunch money in front of the cute redhead who sits across the room. It’s a royal kick in the teeth.

But falling just short brings about the questions of “what if”? What if I had run this way and not that? What if I had called this play in this situation? What if I had made the interceptions instead of knocking it down? Coming close shows that you are not far off from the team that was favored to win and that, while you may have the talent, you just haven’t quite figured out how to finish the job.

The Mules have suffered both kinds of losses this year, and my guess is if you ask them, the majority will say it’s six in one hand, half dozen in the other. A loss is a loss is a loss. Good teams (and the Mules are a very good football team) have pride, heart and grit. They don’t accept “moral victories” and they don’t consider a thrashing at the hands of a favored team as an “oh, well, we weren’t supposed to win, anyway.” Having talked with some UCM coaches and players, rest assured
Cardinal & Black fans, your team is not content to “play close.”

What does that mean for the rest of the season? If my guess is right, the Fighting Mules are fighting mad. They aren’t looking for excuses why they lost, they are just ticked off they did. I’m going to guess the only people you will hear talking about the injuries depleting this team or a couple missed calls by the officials are those of us on the radio. That is something good teams do, or rather DON’T do and that is
make excuses. Coach Fritz will give his famous line, “Next man up.” He’ll say the officials missed a call or two, but we missed a few blocks and tackles, too.

At 5-2, Coach Fritz and his squad know they cannot afford to make excuses, because they have to put all their energy into winning football games. They have four more opportunities to prove they are playoff worthy. All four games are very winnable. All four are very losable, as well. That’s the beauty (and curse) of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

So here is my plea. Come to the games, wear red, and be loud!!! The Mules coaches and players won’t say it, so I will: We are down because of injuries. We have lost our top two offensive linemen. We are down our two starting linebackers, and our top defensive back is suffering from a groin injury. Your Mules need your help. The 12th man has been an amazing factor this year. If you’ve been to the games, that’s awesome. Keep it up and keep being loud. If you haven’t, what are you waiting for? If you are reading this, you are clearly a fan! I think we do a nice job broadcasting the game, but you can’t beat the excitement of a live college football game! Heck, wear your headset and you can still listen to Shawn, Greg, Bob and me carry on! Your Mules are playoff worthy! You don’t want to miss it!

"View From The Press Box" is published every Wednesday throughout the football season.

  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 


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