Muleskinner

Issue date: 10/8/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Drew Woolery: Muleskinner Eric Czerniewski made quarterback his position in football after playing baseball as a child.

Around the Central Missouri campus, there is a student unlike most. He is an honor roll student who is calm and mellow. Oh, and he's the quarterback for the Mules' football team.

Eric Czerniewski has put up good statistics for the Mules during his career, including being named to the honorable mention All-MIAA team and was a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy. Czerniewski has also broken school records for total offense and passing yards in a season.

Off the field, Czerniewski is a student who just likes to relax.

Coach Willie Fritz sees a different side of Czerniewski than most people. Fritz said he believes Czerniewski has a lot of his priorities already straightened out.

"He's engaged to be married and has a little bit more of a different outlook on things than some of the other players," Fritz said. "But he's still available and around the team quite a bit. He's a good young man, an excellent student and a very good teammate."

Fritz also enjoys how Czerniewski handles himself on the field. Czerniewski stays calm even in the toughest situations.

"The thing that I like about Eric is he doesn't complain and point the finger at people," Fritz said. "I've seen him take some hits and he just gets right back up. Being a quarterback, he's a leader and someone the team looks up to."

Football to Czerniewski is a way of life. The passion for the game started at an early age and has stuck with him throughout his life.

"When I was little, I would watch the Dallas Cowboys and love the big three with Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin," Czerniewski said. "That's where I developed a love for the game. My entire family put me in football and we would go out and play in the backyard. So growing up, football was a big part of my life."

Although Aikman was an idol for Czerniewski growing up, it wasn't the decision maker on playing the quarterback position. Instead, he had natural talent for the position.

"When I was real little, I started off playing wide receiver," Czerniewski said. "Then, I quickly realized I wasn't the fastest guy out there. In playing baseball, I realized I could throw the ball, so I figured quarterback was the best position for me."

Continued...

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