2008 Woodie Awards
Gorillas show up hungry this season
Curtis Thom
Issue date: 8/23/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Unfinished business is motivating the Pittsburg State University football team this season. After what many programs would consider an overwhelming success, the 10-2 Gorillas were left with something to desire: a playoff game.
"Our players understand now that you can't take two losses for granted," offensive coordinator Tim Beck said. "You have to finish out and just not lose."
With the playoff snub still fresh, replacing three All-MIAA players in Nathan Alleman, Ryan Meredith and Germaine Race has put even more pressure on the squad.
"You lose good players every year," head coach Chuck Broyles said. "To say we would have some growing pains would be an understatement. Not only were they good players for us, but they were good players nationally."
Not all the good players are gone, though.
Leading the Gorilla offense is junior Mark Smith (5-foot-11, 183 pounds) who finished with 1,306 total yards - 1,029 passing, 331 rushing. Smith's sophomore campaign was cut short after he broke his arm against Washburn University last October.
"Coming back from my injury I'm going to be anxious about getting back, but it's all coming back to me," Smith said.
Despite the injury, Broyles says Smith will return with his edgy approach and consistency.
"Mark's played in a lot of big games throughout high school and last year, and he's used to winning them," Broyles said. "He brings that attitude to his position. When Mark got hurt last year, he was leading the nation in passer rating. Plus, he's a good runner."
Protecting Smith is an iron curtain of linemen, all of whom share a great deal of experience. Up front, the team returns all five starters from an offensive line that paved the way for a record-breaking year for Race, including All-American seniors Drew Brown (6-foot-2, 310 pounds) and Zac Robinson (6-foot-5, 290 pounds).
"At whatever level you coach, you don't want to be young on the offensive line," Broyles said. "Zac Robinson, Drew Brown, Shane McGinnis and Kendall Molz have all grown in the fact that they all started last year. It's good to know that this line we have blocked for Germaine Race and guided our team to leading the nation in rushing."
"Our players understand now that you can't take two losses for granted," offensive coordinator Tim Beck said. "You have to finish out and just not lose."
With the playoff snub still fresh, replacing three All-MIAA players in Nathan Alleman, Ryan Meredith and Germaine Race has put even more pressure on the squad.
"You lose good players every year," head coach Chuck Broyles said. "To say we would have some growing pains would be an understatement. Not only were they good players for us, but they were good players nationally."
Not all the good players are gone, though.
Leading the Gorilla offense is junior Mark Smith (5-foot-11, 183 pounds) who finished with 1,306 total yards - 1,029 passing, 331 rushing. Smith's sophomore campaign was cut short after he broke his arm against Washburn University last October.
"Coming back from my injury I'm going to be anxious about getting back, but it's all coming back to me," Smith said.
Despite the injury, Broyles says Smith will return with his edgy approach and consistency.
"Mark's played in a lot of big games throughout high school and last year, and he's used to winning them," Broyles said. "He brings that attitude to his position. When Mark got hurt last year, he was leading the nation in passer rating. Plus, he's a good runner."
Protecting Smith is an iron curtain of linemen, all of whom share a great deal of experience. Up front, the team returns all five starters from an offensive line that paved the way for a record-breaking year for Race, including All-American seniors Drew Brown (6-foot-2, 310 pounds) and Zac Robinson (6-foot-5, 290 pounds).
"At whatever level you coach, you don't want to be young on the offensive line," Broyles said. "Zac Robinson, Drew Brown, Shane McGinnis and Kendall Molz have all grown in the fact that they all started last year. It's good to know that this line we have blocked for Germaine Race and guided our team to leading the nation in rushing."
Be the first to comment on this story