View From The Press Box with Sha

View From The Press Box with Shawn Jones, Greg Hassler & Joe Moore
August 22, 2007	VFTPB Archives
Shawn Jones is in his eighth 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 seventh 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 98.5 MIKE-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 Athletic Promotions Coordinator and Web Manager. Moore is a former Mules football player and UCM Athletic Media Relations Director. He is now an instructor in Central Missouri's Department of Communication.

The 110th season of Fighting Mules football is here! It's hard to believe that this Thursday, we kickoff a new year in Mankato, Minnesota. This is a time that all of us football fans cherish. After a disappointing 2006 season, I know the Mules and the coaches are excited about 2007. The Mules have enjoyed eight winning seasons under coach Willie Fritz, and hopefully this relatively young team can return to its winning ways in '07. Only 11 Seniors are on the roster this season, so a mix of some strong veteran players, young guys that were forced into action last year due to injuries, and promising newcomers will be asked return this program to its winning ways. Week 1: "The Matchup" and the Mules..... What a great challenge to open up a new season. On the road to Minnesota State-Mankato. The Mavericks are coming off a disappointing 4-7 campaign in 2006, but head coach Jeff Jamrog has a lot of talent on this team in 2007. They like to spread it out on offense to a slew of solid wide receivers. Ben King is their QB and he's a veteran who can really throw the football. I am really looking forward to the battle between the Maverick wideouts and King vs. Kendall Ricketts and the UCM secondary. Overall, I think the Mule "D" has a lot of potential. It's a veteran secondary with Ricketts, Bruce Williams, Randy Shepherd, Justin Brown and John Samia. Adrian Singletary leads the linebackers and Dallas Bryant, Derek Lampkin and Layne Kreter are returning vets on the D-Line. The Mules are also hoping for a newcomer or two to step up and play a lot up front. It's a fast group and Coach Fritz loves his defense to fly around the field. The key to me for this group will be their ability to slow down the run. Last year, too many teams got big rips running the ball in key situations in the second half. Hopefully, we will see improvement in that area this season. The Mavericks also appear to have a solid defensive line. Telema Bobmanuel leads the way for this talented group. With a new triggerman under center for the Mules in either Eric Czerniewski or Stinson Dean, the offensive line needs to have a big ballgame and give these guys time to hit what also appears to be a very good group of Mule wideouts, led by returners Jason McCartney, Seth Mason and newcomers Anthony Parks, Damond Berry and Edgar Givens. I like what I have seen from both Eric and Stinson at QB. Both are good athletes that were winners at the high school level. Filling the shoes of an NFL-caliber guy like Toby Korrodi wont be easy, but the best thing for any QB is a solid line, good receivers and a great run game. The guys in the trenches are led by returning starters Jon Books, Mike Gunselman and A.J. Baugh. The men up front need to have a good game Thursday and all season long. I think (as is often the case in football) they are the big key to the season for the Mules. The Mules are hoping Glenn Milner is the answer at tailback. He's a big tailback at 6-0, 220 pounds, and with some big fullbacks on the roster and Jeremy Braden back to run the ball as well, you can bet the coaching staff is hoping to run the ball much more this season than last. I am excited to see Milner for the first time "under the lights". On special teams, Matt Frankel is back to handle kickoffs and punts. He is outstanding in both of those areas and he will become an even bigger part of the game now that the kickoff is moved back to the 30-yard line. There has been good competition for the place-kicker position, but newcomers Marcelo Velazquez and Mark Starks have looked good in the few chances I had to slip out of the office and watch some practice. With the aforementioned group of receivers, I like the options Coach Fritz has in the return game and I am anxious to see who has those duties Thursday night. Can our "D" slow down Minnesota State's offensive attack in a hostile environment? Who comes out of camp as the starting QB and how will he perform for the first time as a starter? How will the early August 23rd start date affect both teams? Can Glenn Milner and Jeremy Braden combine to give the Mules a very good run game in the '07 opener and all season long? Can the O-line perform well against a veteran D-line for the Mavericks? Will the Mules return to form in all phases of special teams in 2007? These are just a few of the questions that will begin to be answered Thursday night. Words of thanks as we kickoff a new season: I would like to thank Kevin for his work on mulescentral.com. I think it's super that Mules fans (and others) have a place to gather and discuss the Mules. Hopefully, us "radio guys" can contribute in some small way each week..... In addition to being a broadcaster for the Mules, I am also an Associate AD at UCM and I was wearing that hat last Friday as we held our annual kickoff event to a new season, "Celebrating Central Missouri Athletics 7". It is a combination silent/live auction, dinner and golf tournament where we raise much needed funds to support our athletic programs. It was an idea Jerry Hughes had to raise money back in 2001 and its turned into a key event for our programs. Over 700 UCM fans came to the Multi for the fun this year and to celebrate the Mules and Jennies. We had over 500 items this year and raised a lot of money for all of our programs because of our great supporters. Many UCM fans and friends donated items and other great alumni and supporters purchased items at the event. Because of our great fans (like you) we've come a long way with this event. In year one (2001), we raised $28,000. In year six (2006), we raised $147,000. Totals are not in yet for 2007, but I think we eclipsed that number this year. The event is a lot of long hours and weekends in the summer for our staff, and our coaches work hard to find items and invite friends to the auction, but it is well worth it to help our student-athletes and coaches have what they need to achieve success in the classroom and on the various fields of play. As for football, Coach Fritz and his staff work very hard to raise money for their program. They have a big golf tournament in June, and even though its in the middle of their camp, they contributed many items to the auction and invited a lot of folks. So from all of us at UCM, thanks to all of you that contribute to football and our other sports in the auction, golf tournaments, Mule Train and corporate sponsorships. You folks are difference-makers for all 16 of our sports!! As we get set for a new season, I also want to tell you all what a great group of young men and coaches we have here at UCM in our football program. I am around these guys a lot as an announcer and other PR duties with my job. Coach Fritz has assembled a class group of people in our program. His coaches work hard, they are great in the community and they all care about the young men in this program. The players are a fine group of hard working, respectful guys who also are asked to do a lot off the field. They perform projects for the betterment of the community, they read to youngsters, they help students move in the dorms and much more. So thanks to this group as well and here's to an exciting season of Mules football! Kickoff Thursday from Mankato, Minnesota is at 7:00. 5:45 for pre-game coverage on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 MIKE-FM, warrensburgradio.com and ucmo.edu/athletic. 6:57 p.m. on 90.9 "The Bridge". Looking forward to the call with Bob and Greg of what should be a great game. See you on the radio!
"View From The Press Box" is published every Wednesday throughout the football season.