Posted 11/10/06
Highland's Ryan Munz is one of 11 UW-Platteville football players making his last home appearance Saturday vs. UW-Eau Claire at 1 p.m.
Has it hit you yet that this will be your final game as a Pioneer?
"I think it will sink in as the last seconds tick away, and I kind of look around and think, 'now what do I do?' I'll probably want to stay on the field and look at everything. That's what I happened in high school. I didn't worry about it before the game, but afterwards it hits you full force."
You can't ask for much more in a senior year than to restore the winning tradition.
"It's really satisfying. A big goal for our senior class, as it is with any senior class, is to leave the program in better shape than when we came in. If we can finish with the best record in a long time, it would be real satisfying."
How much does it mean for you to be a captain?
"It means a lot, getting the respect from the players and coaches who look up to you as a leader trying to drive the team and make decisions on and off the field."
On the field, you have what must be a difficult role. How did you become the short-yardage quarterback? Isn't that hard to do, come in at a moment's notice?
"I don't know how that came about. Watching the Fox Sports Net tape, they called me a running quarterback. I don't think my running stats are too extravagant. It started when Nellie (Brent Nelson) and I came in, and we were competing for the job. I was a little better under center, so when we have short-yardage situations, they put me in there. It's not so bad early in the season when it's warm, but later when it gets cold, I have to try and stay warm on the sidelines. It does help to keep me in the game, so if something happened to Nellie, I'm ready to go and get it done."
What have been your career highlights?
"First of all, it would have to be my first start at Thiel (in the 2004 season-opener), throwing my first touchdown pass to (Brian) Gallick, and the way he went and got it. Mostly, it would be this final year and, knock on wood, having a winning record and winning this last game."
What will you be doing after your collegiate career?
"I will be graduating in December with a business and finance degree. I have a couple of interviews lined up, so hopefully I can get something done there. I thought about coaching, but I'll have to kick that around once football is over. It's earlier than I expected. I was supposed to graduate in May, but I had an internship in the summer, so graduation came up earlier for me."
Interview by SID Paul Erickson