The rest of the country might’ve caught March madness, but Colorado School of Mines has a case of football fever.

On March 14, the Orediggers made their first appearance on the turf since their NCAA Division II title game appearance in December, where they lost 41-14 to the Ferris State Bulldogs.

The road back to the championship game in McKinney, Texas starts with the Orediggers’ 13 scheduled spring practices and their April 22 intrasquad scrimmage.

“It’s all about the development of our younger players and getting those guys ready and acclimated for the fall,” Coach Brandon Moore said of the spring season.

Picking up where they left off

Since fans last saw them playing in McKinney, the Orediggers have been making headlines in the postseason.

Moore, the Orediggers’ first-year head coach, was named the Division II National Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association. He’s the first Mines coach to receive the award, after leading Mines to a 13-3 season and the program’s first title game appearance.

Senior quarterback John Matocha, who has another year of eligibility and intends to return for the 2022-23 season, was named the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame’s Male College Athlete of the Year. Matocha is the third Oredigger in any sport to earn this honor.

Additionally, Matocha received the 2022 Harlon Hill Award — the Division II equivalent of the Heisman trophy — at a January ceremony in Little Rock. He was announced as the winner shortly before the Dec. 17 title game.

Other Orediggers received postseason honors, including center Matt Armendariz, running back Michael Zeman and cornerback Mason Pierce.

With the 2022 season behind them, it’s full steam ahead for the Orediggers.

Mines has signed at least 32 incoming freshmen and one graduate transfer for the fall, including eight Coloradans.

They include Columbine defensive lineman Will Adams, Denver South quarterback Joseph Capra and Mullen offensive lineman Hayden Woodruff. Additionally, senior running back Noah Roper, an Erie, Colorado native, is transferring from Dartmouth to play his final year at Mines.

Moore said he and his squad are excited for the fall, commenting, “We’ve got a great product here in Golden, Colorado. We’re just excited for the season and the prospects to come.”

Hope springs eternal

The spring practices and game are likely a taste of what’s to come, as the Orediggers kick off their 2023 season Aug. 31 against Grand Valley State.

However, they’ll be doing it without several impact players from last year’s squad.

While Matocha and senior linebacker Nolan Reeve have another year of eligibility, Moore noted how the Orediggers lost Zeman — their record-setting running back — and big-time receivers Tristan Smith, Mason Karp and Josh Johnston.

Moore anticipated Max McLeod will anchor the 2023 receiver squad, along with Josh Krause, Flynn Schiele and others.

At running back, Moore said Zeman will be “a difficult kid to replace.” For now, Landon Walker, Braelon Tate, Chris Yoo and others will be practicing in the spot.

Meanwhile, on defense, the Orediggers return several impact players in Reeve, senior defensive tackle Jack Peterson, and senior defensive end Zach Hester, Moore described.

“(They’re) going to be lights-out this spring,” he said of his defensive players. “We hope they transition that into next fall as well.”

Overall, Mines is looking to get back to McKinney this December and leave with a W this time. Moore believed there were a few things he could’ve done differently leading up to and during the 2022 title game. He clarified it wasn’t so much general pressure or increased media attention, but helping the players balance finals and graduation with the game. He and his staff will be better prepared next time, he said.

“More than anything, (the players) are here to be student-athletes — students first and foremost,” he continued. “ … I didn’t put my players in a good enough position to be successful. That will never be the case again.”

While the Orediggers are excited about last year’s successes, they also have “a bad taste in their mouth of how it ended,” as Moore described. So, they’re focused on finishing what they started by reloading and repeating.

For more information, including the full 2023 football schedule, visit MinesAthletics.com.