Cecil Shorts III (Mount Union College) WR Interview

Cecil Shorts III is a starting wide receiver for the Mt. Union Purple Raiders. Cecil and the Purple Raiders won the D-3 National Championship while Shorts himself has had a very successful career.

You played alongside Pierre Garcon who is currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. Can you describe the experience of playing alongside an NFL player?

It's a great feeling to see somebody that went through the same stuff as you become successful. He is a great role model on and off the field and to see him become successful is like a dream come true for all of us that knew him.

What is it like to play for Mt. Union, such a prestigious D-3 program?

It's a honor to play for not just a prestigious program, but a prestigious coach as well. He has really installed how to become men at this program. It's a gift and a curse at the same time because everybody expects us to win the national championship every year and if we don't, we feel like we let them down. But it's a blessing to be in that situation year in and year out, not too many teams can say they have been in the national championship 5 years in a row.

How did you know Mt. Union was the right choice for you and why did you make the decision to play there?

When I made the visit to Mount Union I felt comfort and love from the coaching staff and players that I didn't feel on my other few visits that I had. Also, they have a wonderful Education program here and that's my major.

You were voted as an All-American this past year. Are you trying to pursue a career in professional football or do you think you will end up choosing a different career path?

If the opportunity presents itself, I will do my best to take full advantage of that. If not, then that's the reason I'm in school in the first place. Student-athlete is the phrase used, not athlete-student. So if the next level doesn't happen for whatever reason, I'll be teaching and/or coaching somewhere.

What were some of your favorite memories playing for Mt Union?

Winning the national championship in 2007 was a great memory for me. We really wanted to bounce back from the previous year and send the seniors out on top and we did. Another one would be from this year in the semi-final game against Wesley when I had to play QB during the second half and we ended up winning 24-7, while advancing to the national championship game.

Michael Zweifel Interview (University of Dubuque) WR

Michael Zweifel is a starting wide receiver for the University of Dubuque Spartans. He is one of the best receivers in Division 3 and was named a D-3 All-American.

You grew up very close to the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. What was the experience like playing against Wisc-Whitewater while you were part of the Wisc-River Falls team?

Playing UWW was always fun because they were always a top 2 team in the country, so playing against the nations best is always a motivation. It was also neat because I was playing against my hometown and against some of my friends. I always had something to prove against UWW and tried to play with a chip on my shoulder against them.

Why did you transfer from Wisc - River Falls to the University of Dubuque?

I transferred to Dubuque because my father became the head coach here, and I receive free tuition because he is an employee at UD. So it was the best decision for my family financially.

Some people believe the stereotype that football players are dumb brutes. You have made the honor roll every year in college, how important are academics to you and what career do you want to pursue after graduation?

Academics are very important to me. I know I can't make a career out of football after college so my education is a main priority. I'm studying exercise science and after I complete my undergrad, I hope to get my masters in kinesiology.

You were named 2nd team All-American by D-3football.com last season. What is your personal goal for next year?

My personal goal for next year is for our football team to win conference and make the playoffs. As an individual my goal is to be the best wide receiver in Division 3.

What is your favorite memory playing for the University of Dubuque?

So far my favorite memory at UD is probably the last two weeks of our season. We finally came together as a team, and ending the season with two big wins and seeing everybody clicking was great.