Being a running back I get the privilege of seeing a side of the offensive linemen that many never get to. Granted it may not be the prettiest side, but I love these guys and I tell them they look good doing their job. The relationship between offensive linemen and running backs is a unique bond and I am fortunate to have been apart of such a brotherhood for years.

I can assure you that no unit on our team works harder than our line. These guys do nothing but bang shoulder pads from the first whistle of practice to the last. They are the heart and soul of our offense and do the majority of the dirty work, but they won’t find their name in the paper on Sunday morning (unless your name is Mike Ziefert).

In regards to running backs, offensive linemen love to assume the big brother role and take their back(s) under their wing. As if sacrificing their body so we can find our way to the end zone is not enough, they find gratification in seeing that we are well taken care of. For example, starting left tackle Andy Quain and his parents fixed the offense 80 lbs. of barbeque chicken a few Fridays ago at a campsite 15 miles from campus. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.

Last Saturday we took on an up and coming Elmhurst College squad who presented our team with quite a challenge. Coming out of the locker room at halftime, the score was 22-13 and the Bluejays were not about to lie down. They battled all the way to the end, but thanks to a strong running game fueled by the big boys up front and key plays when we needed it by the defense, we improved to 7-1 with a 64-42 victory.

This Saturday we take on North Central College who is 8-0 and 11th in the nation. The winner of this game will be granted the CCIW championship and an automatic bid to the playoffs, something this senior class has sniffed several times, but never brought home.

The bitter feeling of leaving Naperville, Illinois last year after a 31-10 defeat has been burning in the back of our minds going out to every practice this year. Whether it be a 7-0 victory in Kenosha over Carthage College or a 64-42 shoot out over Elmhurst, this Augustana team has found a way to put ourselves in position to play for the conference championship. Since we got on the bus after the North Central game last year we have been working towards earning this opportunity, and we are taking our ‘whatever it takes’ attitude with us as we step onto our field at 1:00 on November 5th.