After coming off a 12-win season, the best in school history, the Huskies of St. Cloud State University are now preparing for a season without superstar quarterback Phillip Klaphake and the departures of both the Offensive and Defensive Coordinators. I met with Scott Understood to discuss how he and his squad would deal with these departures.

MW: Coach, thanks for making the time. Taking a look at your squad heading into 2014, you have a fair amount of changes occurring. You will be losing seniors like Klaphake on offense, and some of your defensive stars in players like Moro and Matthews. What's all has been going on for you to prep for Spring-ball and these changes?
Coach Underwood: Well, the first thing we've been taking care of leading up to Spring is getting a new Offensive and Defensive Coordinator. That's been our main priority, but yes we are replacing 16 Seniors and some of the guys were 3-year starters. As you mentioned, losing a 4-year starter at the quarterback position. Pretty big shoes to fill there.

MW: Speaking of that quarterback position, I couldn't help but notice you had a relatively high profile transfer in Nate Meyer from South Dakota State. What can you tell us about Nate?
Coach Underwood: Nate is a guy we'd recruited out of high school and thought very highly of him then. He's a very athletic football player and a great addition to our roster. He's looking to come in and compete for a starting position on this roster.


(Nate Meyer)

MW: How is his skill-set as a quarterback? How's he different in that way from Klaphake?
Coach Underwood: I think they're fairly similar. Nate is probably a little bigger and stronger in stature than most quarterbacks, and certainly Phillip was really good at the decision-making aspect of the position. We also expect for Jameson Parsons to compete for the starting job as well, as he was the backup last season.

MW: You made mention of the needed replacement of the OC and DC positions, are you looking to stay with the same thing philosophically that you've had in the recent past?
Coach Underwood: Yes, we are looking for someone who has a zone-read background and continue to play to the strengths of the kids that we have in the program. Our kids are used to that scheme and we think it's the right thing to do, staying with that. We are looking to name those coordinators before Spring football starts, March 31st.
(Note: SCSU named Chris Mussman, formerly the Head Coach at UND for the last 6 years as the Huskies OC. In addition to that Mark Sipple was named the DC, and held that same position with Wisconsin Eau-Claire since 2003)



(New OC Chris Mussman)

MW: Looking over your list of recruits, one name seems to jump off the page a bit. Your son, Casey Underwood. How did the recruiting process go there?
Coach Underwood: Well, we didn't have to leave the house to do most of it. Haha. On a serious note, Casey knows that he's got a lot of hard work to do if he's going to get on the field, no different than any of our other players. He's grown up around Husky football, so he's certainly familiar with the surroundings. I've never actually coached Casey except for one summer of traveling baseball, so it's going to be a pleasure coaching my son.

MW: While I realize all your recruits have some real upside, otherwise you wouldn't recruit them in the first place. That said, are there any positions of immediate need that might be able to be addressed by your latest recruiting class or guys who might stand-out as being college-ready?
Coach Underwood: Yes, I'd say the 1 position that comes to mind would be the wide receiver position. We lose some guys there and I think there's some guys who might be able to come in and compete. We don't expect our freshmen to come right in and contribute but occasionally one can. Jaden Huff from Illinois actually graduated earlier and is taking classes and will be able to compete in Spring football. Jaden is a running back who's physically far advanced for an incoming freshman, so he's in a position to compete right away.

MW: Word is that you guys are opening at Mankato in week 1, can you confirm this?
Coach Underwood: Yes we do. All the schedules weren't listed right away because all the exact dates weren't yet determined. There's been some talk that the game might be played on that opening Thursday night or maybe on Saturday. Until that gets confirmed, we don't post the schedule on our site.
(Note: The game has now landed on Thursday-September 4th)



MW: Not all our readers realize this, but you were the Defensive Coordinator for USF back in 1996 when the Coo won their first NAIA National Title. In week 3 you will return to the University of Sioux Falls. Have you been to the newer facility (Bob Young Field) at all?
Coach Underwood: I've been past it, but no I haven't been in the new stadium yet. I looks like a very nice facility. We get to see the birds-eye-view when watching film done at that stadium. We've got some real nice facilities in the Northern sun, and we are looking forward to playing there for the first time.

MW: Well Coach, that's about all I've got for you. Thanks for taking the time out to talk Huskies football.
Coach Underwood: I appreciate your call Matt and everything you guys do for D2 Football.