Instead of suffereing through the sweltering heat of BatonRouge, former LSU quarterback Matt Mauck can now enjoy an NFLcareer in the snow-capped mountains of Denver, Co.
Mauck’s wild ride began in 1997 when he was drafted by theChicago Cubs in the six round of the Amateur Baseball Draft.Despite signing with Michigan State and then coach Nick Saban,Mauck opted to play baseball.
Spending three years in the Cubs’ organization as acatcher, Mauck then decided to give football a try, enrolling atLSU and taking a redshirt as a freshman in 2000.
Mauck made his presence felt in the 2001 Southeastern ConferenceChampionsip game, stepping in for the injured Rohan Davey andleading the Tigers to a 31-20 upset of the Tennesee Volunteers.
After earning the starting job in 2002 and losing it because ofan injury, Mauck returned in 2003 as the starter once again.
Mauck lead the Tigers to a 12-1 record and a BCS NationalChampionship in 2004 and earned himself a job in the NFL thefollowing spring. Mauck was drafted by the Denver Broncos in theseventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft.
Despite being in the NFL now, Mauck said he really was not surewhat he wanted to do years ago.
“I don’t think if you would have asked me five yearsago, I could have told you I’d be playing in the NFL,”Mauck said.
Within the last year, Mauck has managed to win a nationalchampionship, get married and earn a spot with an NFL team.
“It’s been pretty crazy,” Mauck said.”It’s been kind of a rush with all that’shappened.”
While a number of college quarterbacks have trouble making thetransition from being a college athlete to a professional athlete,Mauck said he has not had a lot of trouble thus far.
“[The transition] has been pretty good,” Mauck said.”I think that Coach [Jimbo] Fisher and coach [Nick] Sabandefinitely prepared me for this level.”
Mauck added that Saban, who spent time as an assistant in theNFL, taught him well in the areas of handling professionalfootball.
“Coach Saban’s way of organizing his time andhandling his practices really helps out when you get to thislevel,” Mauck said.
Current LSU players agreed, saying that Saban and the coachingstaff have done a good job of preparing them for life afterLSU.
“Things here are very strict and business like,”junior Andrew Whitworth said. “It’s something thatprepares guys for not just the NFL but also the business worldperiod.”
During his time at LSU, Mauck served as one of the leaders onthe national championship team.
“I think Matt was the type of guy who came in and tookcontrol, being one of the older guys,” defensive tackle KyleWilliams said. “He just went out and told the guys whatneeded to happen and what needed to go down.”
Sophomore running back Alley Broussard, who spent his first yearat LSU with Mauck, said he admired the calmness Mauck displayed onand off the field.
“The difference between him and other quarterbacks is thathe was more calm because experience kicked in,” Broussardsaid. “He played so smooth and that’s what I likedabout him.”
Mauck said he has had a successful preseason, going 28-of-52with one touchdown and two interceptions, but the rookiequarterback still remembers his time at LSU.
“As far as football goes, my time in Baton Rouge was sucha neat thing with the city and the people embracing [a nationalchampionship],” Mauck said. “I wish it wouldn’thave been so long in between the national championships becausethose fans are just so great. They deserved one.”