Question & Answer with quarterback Austin Damaschke

Senior quarterback Austin Damaschke (Bristol, Wis.) sat down with CUWFalcons.com for a question and answer for the Oct. 25 game program.

Many people talk about the P.R.I.D.E concept in relation to this Football team, what does it mean to you and the program?

I'd say the P.R.I.D.E. concept is something we use in everyday life. Personal Responsibility In Daily Effort is something we think about all the time and it will stay with us after we are done playing football.

You are a quiet and humble person, but were a finalist for the Gagliarda Trophy last year. What did that mean to you when you found out?

It's was eye opener when I found out. With all the Division III football programs there are, to know that I was one of the top-10 best players in the nation, it was cool. It's an honor, if anything, to be seen as one of the best players in the country.

When people talk about CUW Football, or hear about it, your name is mentioned. How do you handle being the face of CUW football? Do you even think about it?

I really you don't even think about it. It's just something that comes with being a quarterback and a leader of a spread football team. We are going to run a lot of plays and when the team performs well my name and this football team is going to be publicized often. I you really don't think about it, because it's something that comes with the job.

This senior class has been quite successful, what does it mean to be a part of this group?

I hope this class has started a tradition of winning a conference title and becoming a playoff football team. I want this senior class to leave its mark, a tradition hat winning conference is a must and winning more non-conference games for recognition follows.

You will graduate with a biomedical science degree in May, what do you see yourself doing in five years?

Five years from now I would love to be a physician's assistant somewhere. Recently, I applied to PA school this past summer here at CUW and have an interview on Nov. 1. I will actually be interviewing from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. that day before getting dressed and trying to win a Homecoming game.

What are the challenges and what have you learned from being a student-athlete?

Really, it is a challenge with any major you have and playing college football. It is something people don't realize with a Division III student-athlete, especially a football player. I have learned how to mature, handle myself and the academic load, as well as the football demands. I have learned a lot about time management and the effort it takes to be a complete student-athlete.

Your connection with Garrett Wenzelburger is important, but your relationship with the offensive line might be more important. How have you connected with them during your career?

In the spread offense, I think the offensive line is the most important part of the team. They did a really good job last season, and as good if not better this year. It says something to how well our offensive line played when we have 73 passing attempts and no sacks at Trine last week. I feel our offensive line deserves more recognition because they have done a phenomenal job.

What is it like to play in the no-huddle spread offense?

This style of offense suits me best because of my athleticism and arm strength. The spread offense is perfect for our team because of our deep and talented wide receiving corps. When we have four or five wide receivers on the field, along with our offensive line, there aren't many defenses that can stop us.

If you could go back and tell the rookie version of yourself one thing, what do you think it would be?

I would tell myself to relax, do your job, study the playbook and limit the mistakes as much as possible. I think that is the most important thing, limiting mistakes and do what you are capable of doing.