COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Three former Colorado College football players are giving back to the game that was suddenly taken away from them.
“I thought I was going to be playing college football right now,” senior David Mauro said before the start of the Sept. 26 eighth-grade football game between Horace Mann and Jenkins middle schools. “It’s disappointing, but this reminds you why you were first attracted to the game in the first place. The kids love to be out here.”
Junior Craig Freund, sophomore Joe Karwin and Mauro are working as volunteer football coaches this fall at Horace Mann, which started up its seventh- and eighth-grade football programs after 49 students came out for the sport. Last fall, 13 came out and played for North Middle School, Horace Mann coach and eighth-grade teacher Jim Masimer said.
The three were available after Colorado College eliminated the NCAA Division III program, along with softball and women’s water polo, this past spring as part of $8 million in campus-wide budget cuts. Efforts by some alumni to revive the programs are ongoing.
Horace Mann principal Scott Stanec, a CC alumnus, knew he needed help and contacted the athletic department to see if any players were available.
“The kids jumped at the chance,” Tigers athletic director Ken Ralph said.
It’s a natural fit. Freund and Mauro are both considering working in education. Their experience coaching the players, 43 of whom hadn’t played organized football before this season, has only whet their appetite.
“I can see myself in coaching,” Freund said. “It’s fun working with these kids.”
The kids are eager to soak up the knowledge the three former players can relate.
“They bring experience, youth and energy,” said assistant principal Joel Rivera, who also serves as athletic director. “They work great with the kids.”
Having played college ball garners them respect.
“We listen because they know what they’re talking about,” seventh-grade quarterback Nate Courtney said. “We’ve improved a lot since they came here.”
“They’ve taught us how to block better,” eighth-grade receiver Mateo Durazo said. “They push us so we can get better.”
The experience shows in the coaching, too.
“Their practices are very structured and tight,” said parent James Barrett, who was at a recent practice. “They know exactly what they’re going to do and how to teach it.”
The coaches also appear to be helping retain players and some success doesn’t hurt.
The eight-graders closed out the season, which ended earlier this month, with two wins to finish 2-5. The seventh graders managed an 0-6-1 record.
There’s plenty more to learn. Like many middle school teams, the Lancers played well one play and looked lost the next against Jenkins. The enthusiasm was there, if not the experience and technique. That can be fixed with time.
“You start out with fundamentals,” Karwin said. “You have a lot of teaching to do. You get them excited and happy to be playing the game.”
That may be most important as Horace Mann works to build a program.
“If the kids stay with us, we’ll be great,” Masimer said. “The volunteers have been fantastic.”
