Mines football players ‘hungry’ to kick o 2023 season

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

ere are 121 days, 657 miles and more than 11 games between the Colorado School of Mines football team and the NCAA Division II title game on Dec. 16.

But the Orediggers are keen to return to McKinney, Texas and leave as national champions, and the road there starts at this month’s preseason camps.

Mines is hosting its preseason camps through Aug. 20, with ofcial practices starting Aug. 21. e Orediggers then host their home opener at 6 p.m. Aug. 31 against Grand Valley State.

e Michigan-based Lakers are ranked No. 2 in national preseason polls, and the Orediggers lost at Allendale 25-22 in last year’s season opener. While most teams would be intimidated to play such a tough opponent for Week 1, senior linebacker Adrian Moreno said Mines is di erent.

“A team like us, we’re hungry,” Moreno said Aug. 8. “We wish this game was happening next week. … We really want to show (the Lakers) what it’s like to come down to Golden and play some top-tier football.”

After losing to Ferris State 41-14 in last year’s title game, the Orediggers have a bit of a chip on their shoulders, Moreno said. at’s translated into the preseason camps, he and Coach Pete Sterbick described, with a lot of on- eld energy and competition between the o ense and defense.

“I love the energy,” Sterbick said. “Guys are ying around out there.”

Preseason camp is unique, because it’s the only time the Orediggers’ sole focus is football, Sterbick described. Starting Aug. 21, “the real grind starts,” he said, as the 2023-24 academic year kicks o .

In the meantime, the Orediggers are working to get their muscle memory back, and building up their stamina and teamwork. At least 30 freshmen and transfer players have joined this year’s team, and Moreno said several sophomores and juniors are stepping into new roles for 2023.

Several of those will be on the o ensive side of the ball, as Mines lost record-breaking running back Michael Zeman and playmaking receivers Josh Johnston, Tristan Smith and Mason Karp.

Senior quarterback John Matocha said Mines has “a stacked group of running backs … who are eager and ready to compete,” including some who’ve been with Mines for three or more years. It likewise has returning receivers in senior Max McLeod and redshirt sophomore Flynn Schiele, along with younger players like redshirt freshman Nick Stone, Matocha explained.

“ ere’s some serious weapons (on o ense),” he continued.

Overall, Matocha and Moreno both believed Mines’ recruiting classes are getting better every year, as the football program garners more and more national attention. Not only is that good for the program long-term, but the new players are pushing the current players to be better now, they said.

“ eir potential is sky-high,” Matocha said of the recruits. “ … It makes competition ercer (at practice), and makes all of us better.”

While the return trip to McKinney sits at the back of their minds, the Orediggers’ main focus is “the next game,” which is currently Week 1 against the Lakers. Sterbick was con dent the players were locked in, saying the team’s theme for 2023 is “never break.”

When Orediggers inevitably face adversity this season — whether that’s a de cit, a loss or something else — Sterbick said they should maintain their concentration and overcome it together.

“We’re never going to break away from each other,” he continued. “ … e culture of our team is really