Football team picks its captains

The Eagles football players selected four seniors as captains for the 2013 season.

They are inside linebacker Shea Koch, senior of Custer, S.D., tailback Glen Clinton, senior of Cody, Wyo., quarterback Jonn McLain, junior of Chadron, and safety Trelan Taylor, senior of Spring Valley, Calif.

“These are a great group of men. The players voted right,” Offensive Coordinator Chris Stein said, adding that the team chose the best four players to lead the team this year.

“It’s really an honor to have the other guys out there have that much faith in you as a leader on and off the field,” Koch said. “Coming in as a freshman and seeing the captains then and all the captains since and watching their playing and their leadership makes it mine and the other captains’ goal this year to keep that tradition going.”

Clinton said he felt the same way.

“Being voted as a captain is really special for me,” Clinton said. “I love this team, and for them to want me to help lead the team is the best accomplishment I can think of.”

Like his fellow captains, McLain said he was grateful.

“I am honored to be a captain because of how many great and hardworking players there are on the team,” McLain said.

Taylor, who is missing the first six games because of an NCAA suspension related to a credit-hour shortage three years ago, said he was thrilled.

“I feel awesome, especially after all that has happened,” Taylor said. “It’s nice that the guys still look to me as a captain.”

The Eagles start their season on the road at 6:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time tonight against the Miners of Missouri Science & Technology, Rolla.

“Everyone is ready to go against someone who isn’t in an Eagle’s uniform,” Koch said. “The last few weeks offense and defense have been looking good, but now it’s time to go and show what we are to everyone else. All these practices have been preparing us for a win.”

Clinton agreed.

“We are more than ready to play somebody other than ourselves,” he said. “We have been hitting each other for weeks at camp, and everybody is anxious to face a new opponent. Missouri S&T is a great team with new coaches, but we have confidence in our coaches and each other [and] we are more than prepared.”

“I think everyone is ready for our game,” McLain said. “It will be nice to see where we are and what we need to work on.”

“I think we are well ready for Missouri,” Taylor said. “I think we were ready a week ago. It’s just all about how we execute.”

The captains said they are excited about the upcoming season.

“All of us Eagles have high expectations,” Koch said. “We have lots of good experience on the field and know that it takes hard work to be successful.”

Clinton reiterated Koch’s words.

“This season, we are going out one game at a time looking to do what we do best, and that is what wins football games,” Clinton said. “At the end of the season, I believe we will be where we want to be.”

McLain agrees.

“We have high expectations this year, as we do every year,” he said. “Everyone worked extremely hard to prepare over the summer and came in to camp ready to go to work. We have a tough schedule but believe if we work hard each week and come in focused every game, we can get the job done.”