Muskingum sets sights on successful 2008 campaign
NEW CONCORD, OHIO, July 24, 2008 - Under the direction of second-year Head Coach Al Logan, the Fighting Muskies will look to take a bite out of their competition and climb into the upper tier of the Ohio Athletic Conference.
 The Muskies will open their season in the friendly confines of McConagha Stadium under the lights against Defiance College on Saturday, September 6, at 7:00 p.m. Muskingum and the Yellow Jackets have previously met once in 1921. The Fish won the game 34-0.
“It’s always good to open up the season at home,” said Logan. “It’s a night game which will add a great deal of excitement for our team and fans. We will have to do a great job of preparing for Defiance. They had a pretty good year in 2007 and have a lot of the same talent returning this year.”
Following the Defiance contest, the Muskies will enter the rugged OAC slate. Muskingum will host nationally-ranked Mount Union College on September 27, Baldwin-Wallace College on October 18, John Carroll University on November 8 and Heidelberg College on November 15.
Highlighting the home portion of the schedule for Muskingum is its annual Homecoming game, this year against Baldwin-Wallace on October 18.
“I think all homecoming games are special,” said Logan. “It’s a time to honor the newest members of the Muskingum Athletic Hall of Fame and to welcome our alumni and friends back to campus. It’s an opportunity to showcase our program from where we started last year to where we are right now.”
Muskingum will travel to Otterbein College on September 20, nationally-ranked Ohio Northern University on October 4, Wilmington College on October 11, Marietta College on October 25 and nationally-ranked Capital University on November 1.
“I think the Ohio Athletic Conference is the best NCAA Division III Conference in the country,” stated Logan. “Top to bottom, the conference is strong and getting better. Week to week you better show up ready to play because I think any team can step it up and beat you.”
Kickoff times for all OAC games are 1:30 p.m.
FACILITIES
This season marks the fourth year for the Fighting Muskies on the ProGrass Turf on Sherman Field and the second year in the new multi-million dollar Cooper Wing, a football locker complex and the Kalnow Center, a state-of-the-art athletic training center and the Sherman Gateway.
 “We can sense our players’ renewed enthusiasm and excitement. They know that they are utilizing not only one of the best Division III facilities in the conference, but one of the best complexes in the entire nation,” said Coach Logan. “I know our players are thrilled about the new facilities.”
The renovated facilities have also had a positive impact on the recruiting process for the Muskies.
“Students walk on campus and get the opportunity to see one of the showcase Division III locker rooms, training rooms and turf facilities in the nation. All of that, combined with what we accomplish in the classroom academically, makes Muskingum stand out to recruits.”
THE MUSKIES
Muskingum College, under the leadership of Head Coach Al Logan, will hit the gridiron in 2008 with 21 starters returning (10 offensively, 11 defensively). The bevy of experience and talent will help push Muskingum toward the upper tier of the rugged Ohio Athletic Conference.
THE OFFENSE
Directing the Muskie high-octane offensive assault will be senior quarterback Andre Nash (5-11, 197). The third-year signal caller led the Fish in total yards per game in 2007 en route to passing for eight touchdowns and rushing for one. Nash, enters his final year after a successful record-setting 2007 campaign. Last season, he threw for 1,397 yards which ranks fifth all-time for a single season at Muskingum and set the record for passing yards in a game with his 354 yard effort against Wilmington College. Furthermore, Nash’s 2,164 career passing yards ranks eighth all-time at Muskingum.
 “After two years, Nash has truly done some things that have elevated his game,” said Logan. “We look for him to continue to grow and have a solid year.”
Targets for Nash include senior captain wide receiver Jack Murray (6-0, 183) and junior receivers Josh Grafton (6-1, 194), Dwight Sutton (5-11, 157) and Josh Sams (5-11, 175).
Murray logged a career-high tying 33 receptions for 355 yards and one touchdown, while Grafton notched a career and team-high 34 catches for 646 yards and four touchdowns.
“Both Jack and Josh are special student-athletes,” stated Logan. “Jack has great work ethic and brings a great deal of leadership to our program and sets the tone for what we want offensively. Josh has tons of natural ability and makes a lot of outstanding catches. I think they both will have huge years.”
Sutton recorded 20 receptions for 346 yards and a team-high five touchdowns and Sams had 12 snares for one score.
“Both Sutton and Sams are really good players,” quipped Logan. “The coaching staff expects them both to deliver solid campaigns.”
Also aiding the offense this year is the return of senior running back Caleb Fuller (5-8, 186) and senior running back Steve Mamak (5-10, 194).
 Fuller returns to the backfield after missing the entire 2007 season. In 2006, Fuller averaged a team-best 9.6 yards per carry and rushed for a career-high single game mark of 236 yards in Muskingum’s final game.
“Caleb has the potential to have an outstanding season,” said Logan. “He’s a strong, fast runner with good hands.”
Mamak is a three-year letterwinner with 549 career rushing yards. “Steve has been a solid player for us for three years. He has a true passion for the game,” stated Logan.
The Muskies' offensive line returns virtually intact from last year. Senior Scott Madison (6-2, 241), senior Chris Heaton (6-3, 285), junior Steve Emmert (6-4, 282) and sophomore Joey Maratus (6-0, 260) will lead the way.
“Madison has done a great job and has a lot of fight in him. Heaton came into his own a little bit last year and I think he understands what it takes now to be a good college football player,” stated Logan. “Emmert gained valuable playing time last year and we expect him to be a good player as a junior for us this year. Martaus showed promise last year before he suffered a season-ending injury.”
THE DEFENSE
Defensively, the entire unit will return under the guidance of defensive coordinator Shap Boyd. The Muskies will line-up in a 4-3 formation.
 Leading the attack will be senior captain defensive back Caleb Rich (5-11, 196), senior lineman Ryan McClain (5-10, 232), junior linebacker Brad Jordan (6-1, 190), senior lineman Revenal Severe (6-3, 255), senior linebacker Dan Miller (6-0, 200) and junior linebacker Cory Swinderman (5-11, 213).
Rich is coming off a career year in which he led the team in tackles (77), logged four tackles for loss and grabbed two interceptions.
“Caleb keeps getting better and better every year,” said Logan. “He brings leadership and a veteran presence to the defensive secondary for us.”
McClain recorded 63 stops with six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks for 21 yards, while Jordan added 57 stops with 6.5 tackles for loss, four sacks for 21 yards, recovered one fumble and forced one.
“Ryan plays hard and is a good leader for us. I expect him to have a big year,” stated Logan. “Brad is getting stronger and understands what he’s supposed to be doing and is always around the ball making plays.”
Severe made 23 tackles with two for loss and one sack for six yards and Miller secured 17 stops with two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks for 10 yards.
“Dan is going to be a real fine outside linebacker for us. He has three years of experience,” said Logan. “Revenal will help anchor our defensive front. He does a good job helping control the line of scrimmage.”
Swinderman was fourth on the team in 2007 with 64 tackles and logged a team-high seven tackles for loss with 1.5 sacks and blocked one kick. “Cory had a breakout season last year and really helped lead the defense,” said Logan.
Also aiding in the defensive effort will be sophomore defensive back Dennis Hicks (5-9, 155), junior defensive back Ta’Ron Johnson (5-9, 167) and sophomore defensive linemen Michael Fritz (6-2, 230), Sean Mulholland (6-2, 215), Chad Bajc (6-0, 205) and Kyle Milliken (6-2, 210).
“These guys all played well for us last year and we are expecting good things from them this season,” stated Logan.
SPECIAL TEAMS/NOTES
Also aiding the Black & Magenta will be the strength of a strong kickoff return game and the  discipline of a team that registered the fourth fewest penalties in the league. The Muskies ranked in the top half of the conference in kickoff return yards last season and return their main threats in Hicks and Murray. Hicks recorded 585 kickoff return yards and Murray was second in the league last season, averaging 22.1 yards per return. Muskingum averaged just over five penalties per outing.
COACHING STAFF
The Muskie coaching staff returns to the sidelines virtually the same as last season.
Defensive coordinator Shap Boyd enters his second season calling the defensive schemes for the Fish. Boyd arrived in New Concord from Washington University in St. Louis where he was defensive coordinator from 2004-06. Under his guidance, the Bears’ defense ranked third in NCAA Division III in the total defense and 10th in rushing defense. Furthermore, both his defensive squads in 2004 and 2005 were among the best in the nation in total defense.
“Shap brings a great deal of maturity to our defensive group of guys,” added Logan. “His knowledge of the game, personality and past track record has energized our defense into an aggressive, hard playing fast unit.”
The rest of the staff includes offensive line coach Jim Kaser, wide receivers coach Matt Shaul, linebacker coach Andy Bentley, defensive line coach E.Z. Smith, defensive coach Joe Montgomery, running backs coach Tony Hurps and offensive line/tight ends coach Adam Olson.
Coach Logan knows the importance of maintaining a consistent coaching staff.
“I think it’s important for our student-athletes in terms of coaching. They understand what we want from them and what’s expected from them out of each one of their positions,” said Logan. “The more you’re around them, the more you understand them. We feel that’s truly a key. I think anytime you can keep the coaches together, that’s a big positive for the program.”
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