August 21, 2006
MCC football ready for successful seasonIt is that time of the year again- the players are waking up early, strapping on the cleats, hitting the field, and getting ready for another season on the gridiron.
With the start of every season comes new high expectations for every team, and this year the Mesa Community College football team is no different.
The expectations continue to rise in the wake of three consecutive seasons of improvement.
Last year the Thunderbirds finished with an impressive record of 7-3, improving on marks of 6-4 in 2004 and 5-5 in 2003.
With a new sense of pride and a developing winning tradition, there is no reason to think that this year’s club can’t further improve on those marks.
Dan Dunn returns for his forth season as MCC’s football coach.
Dunn, who played four years of college football under legendary coach Frank Kush, at Arizona State University, is also MCC’s athletic director.
Coach Dunn, who has seen improvement in each one of his teams since taking the reigns, said in a team press release, “I believe we have better talent and more depth this year and a good core of players.”
Gone is last year’s starting quarterback and school record holder in several passing categories Colton Malone, who leaves on a two year LDS church mission.
Also gone is last year’s leading rusher, Chad Baniecki, as well as leading tackler Todd Runyan who Mesa proudly sent off to Ivy League Cornell University to play.
Change is nothing new to the program, as with any junior college program, where on average half the players leave every year.However, the team returns solid defenders Dwight Simmons, Emmanul Butters, Andrew Gambosa and Leon Freehman, and Dunn is confident that with these players on board, defense will continue to be a strongpoint for his team.
Coming onboard to help the team is Rashad Armstrong, who will come on to help coach the running backs. Armstrong, who holds several Mesa records in rushing, finished his collegiate career at Baylor University and now returns to his former stomping ground to assist Coach Dunn.
Wins as always will not be easy to come by, as Mesa plays in the extremely competitive Western States Football league.
Last year’s national champion, Glendale Community College is a part of the WSFL. The league also includes Snow College (Utah) and Eastern Arizona College who are ranked in the Top 25 in the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) Poll.
The Thunderbirds are ranked 24th in the poll.
With solid coaching and a talented group of athletes, Mesa will undoubtedly be an exciting and competitive team to watch in the upcoming season.
The team opens up their season August 26th with a scrimmage against Adams State (Colorado). The team’s first home game is September 23rd against Arizona Western. Look for a bright season from the Thunderbirds.
Thunderbirds Fall Schedule
Bold indicates home game
Aug. 26
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
Nov. 4
Nov. 111 p.m.
5 p.m.
7 p.m.
6 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
Bye week
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
2 p.m.
2 p.m.
at Adams State, Colorado
at Redlands, California
at Pima, Tucson
at Eastern Arizona, Thatcher
Arizona Western
at Phoenix College
at Snow, Utah
No game
at Glendale
Pima
Scottsdale (homecoming)
New Mexico Military
Volume
44, Issue 1. Today is
photo by Robert Neal
The Mesa Football Team works out and runs drills without pads during an August afternoon practice.
photo by Robert Neal
Going the distance
Mesa Football player Ron Young runs the ball during an early season practice on August 7th. The Thunderbirds play their first game on Aug. 26 at Adams State in Alamosa, CO.