CMU/Chadron Match Up Features Familiarity,Similarity

Homecoming on the Colorado Mesa University football schedule isn’t until October 26, when Colorado School of Mines comes to Grand Junction.

So let’s call today’s game at Chadron State College in Nebraska a Homecoming on the Road. The Mavs have four assistant coaches on the staff who coached at Chadron, including Maverick defensive coordinator, Todd Auer, who spent 17 years in the same position at Chadron.

Oh, and head coach Russ Martin starred at linebacker for Chadron back in the 70s before he began the coaching career that brought him to Grand Junction last year.

Kickoff is set for noon today at Don Beebe Stadium as both teams open play in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The pregame show starts at 11:30 a.m. on 1230 KEXO.

There are similarities about between the two teams. As expected, both defenses are stamped by Auer’s aggressive style. Both teams boast one of the RMAC’s top running backs – CMU junior Jake Cimolino and Chadron senior Glen Clinton. The two have run the ball for nearly 6,000 yards combined. Clinton is third all-time on the Eagles’ rushing list at 3,421 yards and Cimolino is fourth on the CMU list with 2,551 yards.

Also, b,Similoth teams wrapped up non-conference play with losses to ranked opponents: Chadron lost to No. 4 West Texas A&M and the Mavericks lost to Montana State, which is ranked No. 3 in the level above CMU and Chadron, the FCS or Division I-AA.

The main difference, however, is the recent success of the programs. Chadron finished second in the RMAC last year and advanced to the Division II playoffs. CMU is in the second year or Martin’s rebuild of the program.

Hopefully it’s a happy homecoming for the Mavs -- even if it is away from home.