When the press and fellow Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams are introduced to the 2019 Fort Lewis College football team Wednesday during media day in Englewood, nobody will hear excuses from the Skyhawks.
The RMAC Kickoff event will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday at a special venue – the Denver Broncos’ UCHealth Training Center. After RMAC commissioner Chris Graham takes the stage at 9 a.m., Fort Lewis College will follow at 9:15 a.m. for a 10-minute news conference with first-year head coach Brandon Crosby, senior linebacker Darrian Stickney, senior defensive lineman George Marpaung, senior wide receiver Arealous Hughes and senior wide receiver and kicker Parker Strahler.
Last season, the Skyhawks (1-9) finished last in the conference after it finished the season on a six-game losing streak and failed to win a road game while going 1-4 at home.
After the season, head coach Joe Morris departed for a defensive coordinator job at West Texas A&M, and he cited frustrations with facilities and a lack of funding and support for his departure from his alma mater. Crosby was appointed the interim head coach by athletic director Barney Hinkle, who resigned months later.
Now, Crosby is the fourth head coach of the long-struggling Skyhawks since 2015. He vowed not to focus on what FLC doesn’t have in comparison to its RMAC peers in terms of facilities and scholarships and will instead proudly work with what is offered.
“You know, everybody likes shiny toys and the big weight room and stadium,” Crosby told The Durango Herald when he was promoted from offensive coordinator to interim head coach on Jan. 16. “I think this recruiting class is a testament that not all that stuff is as important as everyone thinks it is. We’d love to have a beautiful weight room and stadium, of course. But we will control what we can control. I don’t dwell on the things I don’t have.
“My recruiting tactic is that these kids come to play for me. They don’t come for a nice shiny weight room. I don’t necessarily think it’s a hindrance on recruiting as long as you recruit the right way and the right kids. When you do it long enough, all that stuff will come. First and foremost, it’s the right kids in the program that build it.”
Crosby will be surrounded by four leaders at the podium Wednesday inside the training facility of the Broncos.
Marpaung, a 5-foot-10, 287-pound D-lineman from Aurora, is likely to be named to the Preseason All-RMAC team following his First Team All-RMAC honors in 2017 and 2018. Last season, he had 45 total tackles and 1½ sacks and was a constant presence in the opponent’s backfield. For his effort, he also was named to the All-Colorado Second Team and All-Super Region Four Second Team.
Hughes, a 5-10, 190-pound receiver from Denver, has a knack for making big plays when quarterbacks can get him the ball. Last season, Hughes played in nine games and had 18 catches for 312 yards and three touchdowns, while FLC ranked last in the RMAC in passing. In his FLC career, he has 59 receptions for 1,024 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Stickney, an All-RMAC Second Team selection in 2017, is a 6-2, 200-pound linebacker out of Colorado Springs. In nine games last season, he had 69 total tackles. A year earlier, he had 89 tackles, 1½ sacks, an interception and a fumble forced and recovered.
Strahler, a product of Castle Rock, had two touchdowns in 2018 to go with 306 yards on 23 receptions. He also has helped in the return game along with Hughes.
During a busy recruiting period, Crosby and his staff hope to have brought a new identity to the Skyhawks this season, and the biggest question facing the team at media day will be around the quarterback position, with several new recruits adding to last year’s injured Week 1 starter Jake Lowry.
Once again, FLC will play an all-RMAC schedule this season without a chance to play a money game against a Division I opponent. The season will begin Sept. 7 at New Mexico Highlands. FLC’s home opener is set for Sept. 14 against Dixie State University at Ray Dennison Memorial Field. It will be Dixie State’s last appearance at FLC before it goes to the Division I Western Athletic Conference.
During Wednesday’s news conference, the preseason coaches poll will be released. With only 11 winning seasons since 1963 and none since 2015, the Skyhawks will likely be picked in the bottom third of the conference.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
How to watch
You can watch all RMAC Kickoff news conferences live on the RMAC Network at www.rmacsports.tv.
