MulesCentral - View From The Press Box

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

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.

It's time for another exciting season of CMSU Fighting Mules football! As the Mules get set to begin the 109th season of CMSU football, there is certainly excitement in the air. The Mules are coming off of their eighth straight winning season under coach Willie Fritz. That's the longest string of success in the history of the program. With an experienced defense and QB Toby Korrodi triggering the offense, there's plenty to be optimistic about.

I'm also excited about what Kevin has created here at www.mulescentral.com. I think it's super that Mules fans (and others) have the chance to get on this site and learn about and discuss the Mules. It is a lot of work to run a site like this and all Mules fans should thank Kevin for all the hours he puts into it. No doubt, it's a labor of love.

This will be my seventh season as play-by-play announcer for Mules football and I believe this could be the most entertaining year ever in the modern history of the MIAA. In other words, we might have another 2003-type season on our hands. Just think about it: Northwest Missouri played in the 2005 national title game, Missouri Western is loaded for perhaps a big breakout season, Washburn is the defending league champion with a taste of the playoffs, Pittsburg State has an NFL-caliber in running back Germaine Race and playoff experience, Emporia State is ready to prove last year was a fluke, Missouri Southern will go no place but up under new Head Coach Bart Tatum and who knows, maybe Truman State, SBU or MIAA-newcomer Fort Hays State will prove to be the big story of the season. As for the Mules, we know they will be a solid team that should find themselves in the mix. What we don't know in this league is if that means first or fifth or a five-way tie for first, or something in between. Great coaches, great facilities and administrators and communities that support the programs are what make the league so competitive and so fun to be a part of. Get ready for some entertaining Saturday afternoons this fall.

In the end, whoever represents this conference in the playoffs will be a battle tested group. The keys to separation amongst the above mentioned pack are really pretty simple: stay relatively injury free, have a big "plus" number in the season-long turnover/takeaway battle and mask the weak areas. With only 36 scholarships, no D-II team is ever without some areas lacking depth and "star" quality. The teams that can put all of this together with some game breakers and over achievers will carry the trophy into the playoffs. The question this year might be how many trophies will MIAA Commissioner Ralph McFillen have to have made?

Shawn Jones is a regular contributor to MulesCentral.com. "View From The Press Box" is published every Wednesday.

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