Let’s meet the 2008 University of Mary Marauders! In this interview, you will hear from Jesse Kozak, and defensive player of the year (in the NSIC preseason), #9 from Watford City, ND, Shawn Melland. Also, the captain of the ship, the head coach, Myron Schulz. Among the questions that JB SportsCorner posed was how would the Marauders do without Blair Sandy. Kozak used to be a backup to the now departed senior Sandy. JB SportsCorner had a chance to get up close and personal with the orange and blue.
We got a chance to ask the Marauders what their expectations were for the 2008 gridiron season. “We expect to have a really tough schedule. That’s what we want. If we’re successful against that tough schedule, it’s going to make us that much better,” Shawn Melland stated. Melland expects of the upcoming U-Mary challenge (Chadron State) to be a tough opponent. The Marauders have no fear. “If we want to be the best, we have to beat the best,” Melland told JB SportsCorner. We also asked what the Marauders had been doing over the football off season and Melland stated that they had been running at the Community Bowl and lifting weights three times a week. Melland said of the Marauders’ defensive scheme, “it would be the three-four. The same defense we always run.” This was a unit that was one game away from a bowl game. “We know that every snap of the football is important,” Melland stated, “because it all can effect your season.” This is Shawn Melland’s last year as a Marauder, but his ultimate goal is to push the team as far as they will go.
Jesse Kozak will be your starting quarterback for the Orange and Blue this year. Kozak stated of former Marauder’s QB, Blair Sandy, “he was a good QB. He was really tough. He hung in there hard and I’ve got some big shoes to fill.” When it comes to offense, Kozak is a veteran having studied it for five seasons. “We spent a lot of time on the chalkboard. Run for fun and throw for duh. That’s our saying,” Kozak stated. Jesse Kozak is anxious to get underneath the center. “I think it’s going to be a great year. We’ve been working hard all summer, and it’s about time that we start our season,” he stated.
Myron Schulz said of the 2008 Marauders football squad, “they are very coachable. We have a very junior dominated team. We have three seniors on offense, and three on defense. We’ve got some tough competition with those new NCC teams. It’s going to be a war, but I’m excited to go to battle with these guys.” When asked about what the Marauders had been working on Schulz said it was “linemen assignment,” which means the defense are to know where to lineup, what they’re supposed to do, and fly the ball from there. Schulz said of there upcoming opponent (the Eagles), “the Marauders would like to emulate them. We would like their playoff spot in the near future.” They are one of the top five teams in the nation. “We are using them as a measuring stick. We’re going to have to play our A-game,” the head coach said. When asked about what the playbook looks like, Coach Schulz said, “we actually have most of it on PowerPoint. It’s moving. The kids can see they plays drawn up against different fronts and different coverages. It’s about a hundred slide presentation. We watch a lot of film, do a lot of walkthroughs, and do it on the board.” Schulz wants his team to be a smart team, a tremendous effort team, and a united team. “We believe that bigger is not better. Better is better,” Schulz stated. “We’ve got to make sure we line up right and don’t end up in the wrong call,” Coach Schulz said of the upcoming game against Chadron, “the same guys run a lot of the same formations.”
The Marauders perform their opening salvo against the Chadron State Eagles on Thursday, August 28th, at the Coca Cola Stadium. Kick off is at 6:00 pm. JB SportsCorner will be the home for all of your swashbuckling coverage. Whether it’s on the gridiron or on the hardwood, we will be there to bring exclusive coverage.
