Off to a flying start

SD Mines’ guitar-playing quarterback has hit all the right notes

By Jake Nordbye,

Journal correspondent Thursday, September 11, 2008

RAPID CITY — Nick Russell came to the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology from San Diego, Calf., because he was told he would get a chance to play. But the true freshman had no idea just how quickly that chance would come.

On the third day of practice, Hardrocker starting quarterback Joe Sanchez went down with a season-ending injury leaving the door wide open for three quarterbacks to compete for the starting spot.

“It was definitely unexpected,” said Russell. “I was just working on getting to know the offense and suddenly I was in a battle for the starting spot.”

Mines head coach Dan Kratzer knew this would be an important year for the quarterbacks.

“No matter who we had this year at quarterback we knew we had to take a step forward offensively,” said Kratzer, “Last year wasn’t a real productive season offensively. Whoever is behind center has to lead us.” 

After a couple weeks of battling for the job, Russell, the laid back kid from San Diego who plays piano, guitar and sings in public, was named the starting quarterback.

“In recruiting Nick, we knew he had good accuracy.” said Kratzer. “But he was overlooked because of his height. We want someone back there that will give us results. Nick battled it out for the starting spot, and it didn’t take long to realize that he was the guy.”

At 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds it could be easy to mistake Russell for a linebacker, but his play has proven he is more than capable of leading this team as its starting quarterback.

In high school, Russell excelled both academically and on the football field. He helped lead his team to a California Interscholastic Federation Division III Championship. He was also named MVP of the CIF playoffs.

“I’m a long way from home but the guys on the team have made it great here. Three others guys and myself started a band, and we like to just sit around and play music in our off time,” said Russell who plays guitar and piano and is in a band called “Going Fishing.” “Sometimes people look at me crazy when I start playing piano. It’s not something people expect I guess." 

How did the piano-playing quarterback, who had never thrown a college pass, respond in his first start?

Russell rattled off four touchdown passes and no interceptions in a 62-7 rout of Haskell, Kan., Aug. 30 while throwing for 248 yards.

“Going into the first game I wasn’t nervous, until right before kick-off,” said Russell, “I threw my first pass right into the ground, but after that I fell into a rhythm and started throwing the ball well.”

That is just the first of many tests Russell will face this season.

“He has to play as well this next week. He’s a very focused young man for a college freshman,” Kratzer said. “He has great belief in his arm strength and he can see the field. He can make things happen and he has to do that in every ball game. We know things are going to get tougher as we move forward.”

Despite the learning curve and his inexperience. Russell is confident about what the Hardrockers can accomplish this season.

“College ball is a lot faster, but I played for a great team in high school against some really good teams so I think I can make the transition,” he said. “I think we can have a winning season this year, and go to the playoffs.”

The Hardrockers play Trinity Bible College Saturday at 1 p.m. in Ellendale, N.D.

photo by Inertia Sports Media