MulesCentral - View From The Press Box

Previous Editions: August 30, 2006 September 6, 2006 September 13, 2006 September 20, 2006 September 27, 2006	View From The Press Box with Shawn Jones, Greg Hassler & Joe Moore October 4, 2006
Shawn Jones is in his seventh 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 CMSU'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 sixth 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 CMSU broadcast team since 1981 and is CMSU's Athletic Promotions Coordinator and Web Manager. Moore is a former Mules football player and CMSU Athletic Media Relations Director. He is now an instructor in Central Missouri's Department of Communication.

As we enter week four of the MIAA season the Mules seem to have finally gotten some confidence after a fairly solid 37-14 win over Fort Hays State. Make no mistake about it, it will take some time for FHSU to become competitive in the MIAA, but the Mules were able to make some positive steps as they picked up their first win in the league. Now the Mules return home this week to face one of their biggest rivals, the Missouri Western Griffons. This has to be one of my favorite games of the season. I love playing the Griffons, mainly because I have tremendous respect for Head Coach Jerry Partridge. What Coach Partridge has done for Missouri Western Football is nothing short of amazing. He has done more with nothing than any other coach in the league. Have any of you been to St. Joseph or for that matter the campus of Missouri Western? Not really a place where one would think a coach could build a championship team. Coach Partridge and Coach Fritz both entered the league in 1997, and ever since, the series between these two schools has been close. Western owns a 5-4 advantage over the Mules, including beating the Mules the last three years. In fact, this series is so close the average score over the past nine years is MWSU 26.3 UCM 25.8. It can’t get much closer than that. In case you haven’t heard, this is a fantastic Griffon football team. Missouri Western returns eight senior starters on defense, and they are good. The defensive line returns four letter-winners and three starters, including two-time All-MIAA selection defensive end Michael Cobbins. On offense, senior quarterback Michael Burton is back, and all he has to do is hand off to senior running back and All-American Jeremiah White. Last season he rushed for over 100 yards in 11 of 12 games. I could go on and on with more stats on this Griffon team, but I think you get the picture. They are loaded and ready to make a run at the playoffs. Without question Missouri Western will be the favorite in this game. It will be interesting to see how the Griffons respond to being the clear cut favorite. For years Coach Partridge has preached to his players it is them against the world; everyone has more than they do. He can’t preach that anymore. The Griffons are a nationally ranked team. They are expected to win; therefore, they have everything to lose in this game. For the Mules, it is just the opposite -- a rebuilding team with no pressure. This is what upsets are made of. The Mules can jump back in the thick of things with a win on Saturday, so get out to Walton Stadium Kennedy Field for the 1:30 kick and make some noise!
Greg Hassler is a regular contributor to MulesCentral.com. "View From The Press Box" is published every Wednesday.

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