Twenty Questions with

Martin Luther football coach Dennis Gorsline

The Martin Luther Knights finished the 2000 season at 4-4 with a 62-6 rout of Trinity (N.D.) Oct. 27 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. All four of the the Knights' wins were UMAC wins, and all four were blowouts. In the four games, MLC outscored its opponents 262-19. The season started with three straight losses -- a first for the Knights. But MLC rebounded to win four of its last five games -- the only loss a 10-7 decision to Northwestern (Roseville). Following the conclusion of his sixth season at the school, MLC coach Dennis Gorsline sat down with Journal Sports Writer Bob Varmette to discuss the season, football, athletics and even women's basketball.

Q. In two games against Trinity, MLC outscored the Lions 117-6. You thought it wasn't going to be another blowout. Why were you wrong?

A. We didn't get on them big-time right away. ... It came together, I think we were ahead 16-0 the first quarter and we just went on from there. I think the way we started the season with three really tough teams really prepared us. That was good competition. I think the teams we did blow out were not as good as us. I think we had such good competition (early) that these teams were easy.

Q. The passing game produced much of your offense against Trinity. Was it because of the turf, some Trinity mistakes, or was it something you saw that you could capitalize upon?

A. Probably a combination of all three. (Mike) Feuerstahler (17-266 3TDs), we threw him a lot of outs because they were playing way off and way in. We'd fake an out and went up the field with it. They bring a lot of people. ... There's two ways to play pass defense, I guess. You bring a lot of people and hope you get to the quarterback or you drop a lot of people. We protected pretty well and got the ball to our receivers.

Q. You've always said you prefer to run. You're a passing team and you were in this game in particular. Does that bother you in any way?

A. Sometimes. Sometimes it's an ego thing because you like to be bigger, faster, stronger and just line up against these people and knock them out of the way and say, 'We're tough and macho.' The passing game, I think, is more finesse, to a degree. Why I like to run, if I had my druthers, is because of the elements. We didn't have to worry about the elements (in the Metrodome).

Q. How much fun did the team have playing in the Metrodome?

A. We must have had maybe 150 kids that came up on the fan buses. We figure we had maybe half our team's parents there, some of the high schools from that area came to the game, some of the grade schools. We had a good turnout, plus ... I think we wanted to put on a good show, and we did. We played a really good game. ... We went up there and it was kind of like a party. We're stretching and I'm the only one that's serious. The assistant coaches are playing catch or running around on the turf, even the guys as old as I am. We were just like little kids.

Q. We've discussed this several times, the apparent inequity in the UMAC -- the big three vs. the little three. Do you see it that way?

A. I think there's three levels. There's Mount Senario -- they're the cream of the crop -- then there's Northwestern (Roseville) and us, then the rest.

Q. MLC started out with two tough nonconference games and started out 0-3. Do you think you should have scheduled some easier nonconference games?

A. Yes and no. It would have been nice if we could have had a winning record. Maybe it would have been better to have those games spread out more. But I think it toughened us up more.

Q. Do you think the team got loseritis starting 0-3?

A. I don't know if we got loseritis, but I think maybe we lost our confidence. You know, 'How do we win? Can we win?'

Q. What turned the team around?

A. The competition wasn't as good. And we were hungry after those first three games. I felt sorry for Crown because I knew they were going to get whipped on. Our guys were mad. They knew we were a better football team than 0-3.

Q. You indicated early in the season that you had an idea that you might have a quarterback 'situation' with Ben Kuerth (86-154 1,006 9 TDs 9 Int.) and Seth Fitzsimmons (52-87 961 8 TDs 5 Int.) . Did it turn out the way you thought it might?

A. Pretty much the way I thought. I knew Seth was talented, he was at our camp for four years. I knew what he did in high school. I felt what Ben had on him was the experience and knowing the system and the leadership. As the season went along, and Seth got playing time, he equalled Ben in those areas.

Q. Do you have any concerns that the two-quarterback system might cause some consistency problems next season?

A. I think it could. I haven't talked to either quarterback personally yet about next year, but I'm planning on going mostly with one. ... It's going to be something we have to confront next year.

Q. The defense played well this season (315 ypg/3rd UMAC), but gave up some big plays in the first three games, primarily passing plays. Are you happy overall with the defense?

A. The defense played really well. We had a little better size in the defensive line. Our linebackers were talented. I nominated Carlos (Leyrer, 104 tackles 2 Int.) for defensive player of the year in the conference. He's a fine player. We'll lose Nate Kassulke (32 tackles 1 Int.), one of our short corners. Those guys were short, but their feet were quick.

Q. Do you want good students and good citizens, or do you want players who put football above those things? Or do you want the complete package?

A. I want all of the above. I want to them to be good students. Basically what I want is for us to be competitive, and I want us to win. But football is not the end-all. I think a lot of these guys use football to go on. Football keeps a lot of them here. It keeps them interested in school and it helps them study. And if they can use football to get through school, then I figure my job is relevant.

Q. At the small-college level, you basically work with what walks through the door. Do you like what comes through your door?

A. We recruit a pretty-high class of citizens to come to the school. ... I'm fortunate. I don't know how to coach somebody that's a jerk. We'd probably clash, big time, because I'm probably the biggest jerk. We really have good kids. We may not have the best athletes, but we have really good kids.

Q. How important do you think athletics is in life?

A. Well, I'm biased, of course. I would've never gone to college except for football. Whatever I say, someone is going to dispute because they'll say, 'Athletics doesn't build character -- that's a fallacy.' But I think it's important. I think you can keep a good kid from going bad and maybe get a bad kid to go good.

Q. How do you deal with someone who doesn't think athletics is important?

A. First of all, I try not to let it bother me. I figure everybody has their own opinion, and they can have that opinion. I'm just going to try to do the best job I can do. It's a privilege to do what I'm doing.

Q. Many of the athletes at MLC are multiple-sport athletes. That's becoming increasingly rare, particularly at bigger schools. What do you think about that?

A. I don't like it. I'd rather have my kids play basketball than just lift weights. I just think it's good to have balance. I think you can be a better athlete. I think that's why our guys are as good as athletes as they are. I think that's one of the benefits of a smaller school.

Q. How important is coaching to you?

A. I'm 57. I don't know what I'm going to do when I retire. I have no hobbies. I just work out. ... I kind of want to die on the sidelines. They could bury me beneath the goal post or the shot clock. It's what I love to do. ... You don't understand that unless you've played. Football is really a wacky sport. I don't know why anybody plays. It's really stupid. You lift weights all winter and summer. You work out all year. You sweat, you hurt, you get sprains and strains. You get beat up and then you go play, and then your body's just a wreck after a game and then you go back and do the same thing the next week.

Q. Part of your coaching duties at MLC includes coaching the women's basketball team. Does it seem strange to make that quick transition?

A. The most unique situation is actually going from coaching football to coaching women. ... But they're athletes and they want to compete. I have fun with (women's basketball), too.

Q. How is coaching the two sports different?

A. Guys, I think sometimes they enjoy it, and they provoke me to get mad because they like to hear me holler. And when you get angry with guys, they don't hold it against you. ... With women, I think you have to use more positive reinforcement. I don't single them out and get on them. I'll talk to them individually.

Q. How does your wife put up with you?

A. Oh, she's great. She's really supportive. She goes to all the games.

Thursday: MLC volleyball coach Drew Buck.