BALTIMORE, Md. -- With the departure of All-MEAC lineman and NFL hopeful
Karim Barton, head coach
Lee Hull and the Bears will look for leadership in the trenches from rising senior
Clarence Swain. The Fayetteville, Ga., native started in every game last season and helped pave the way for one of the league's top ground gainers in
Lamont Brown III (729 yds; No. 6 in MEAC). The standout center is prepped to make a significant impact this fall and took some time after practice to discuss the upcoming season and talk about his motivation to become a team leader for the 2014 season.
MSU: Talk about your role as a veteran for the upcoming 2014 season. CS: "Coming into the season with our new coach (
Lee Hull), one of things he emphasized were team leadership and team accountability. I feel like this year I had to take on the role of showing the way, and being one of the first guys to buy into his new system. Also enforcing the new rules for coach to make sure everybody is onboard. So, I just think that I have to show a good image and be a good leader in order for everybody to back us, and back coach Hull."
MSU: What do you feel is the best part your game is? CS: "My mind. A lot of people think that you have to be physical and that there is just a lot of hitting going on, but most of the game is cerebral. I play center and I'm like the captain of my offensive line -- I'm like the quarterback of my offensive line. I have to know everything that's going on in order for our entire unit to work. So I honestly think that my brain and my knowledge of the game is the best part about my ability to play football."
MSU: Talk about the experience you gained last season? CS: "It was very emotional. There were very big highs and very big lows for me. We started our season 0-5; it was the worst start that I have ever had at Morgan State. At the same time, we were in position to almost grasp the MEAC championship before we let it go when we played South Carolina State. But I did have very good highs. I feel like it was my best season at Morgan State and that was the best team that I was a part of -- so it was very up and down. I just know from hard work, I can become a MEAC champion and this team can become a MEAC champion. We just have to work hard and work harder than we did last year."
MSU: What are you working on improving during the spring? CS: "One of the big things is that we are changing is the offense and we're playing a lot faster. As a result, we're working on our conditioning and the size of our players. Right now I weigh 370 and my goal is to get down to 335 by August. Every offensive lineman has a weight that they want to be. One of the biggest things is conditioning, the second thing is my knowledge of the game even more than what it was before. The more knowledge that I possess and the better the shape I'm in, the better the advantage I will have."
MSU: Talk about your relationship with the new coaching staff? CS: "Coach Hull was one of the first people that I got in contact with. I really like coach Hull and the way he his bringing the program along and what he is doing to help us become winners. I feel like I am already closer to my offensive line coach, because we have had a lot of one-on-one meetings already, and I know we will continue to. That is the bond that I need to build with the coaches in order to have a winning season."
MSU: Talk about your chemistry with the rest of the offensive line. CS: "We are returning four out five starters this year. As the first couple of practice sessions have unraveled, I think we are the most cohesive unit on the team right now. A lot of us have experience even though we have changed up some of the offensive terminology -- we already know what most of the stuff is and we are clicking a lot faster. We are a group that enjoys being around each other and playing together, so I think that was our biggest thing. We have a good time with each other and I think the other pieces of the team will follow our lead."
I: Talk about the leadership that you and your fellow seniors will have to provide this season. CS: "I feel like our seniors have shown that we want to buy in. We have been working hard to show all of the younger guys that this is the new Morgan way. We needed to bring a new Morgan way, like how Morgan used to look and act. Hopefully we can start this new Morgan way of winning in the 2014 season."
I: What's your main motivation for this upcoming season? CS: "I've never won a MEAC championship. I want to go win a MEAC championship. Everybody wants to win. It is hard to believe that at small schools they have opportunity to play on the next level, but I have had two teammates that have had a chance to play in the NFL. And one of my close teammates from last year may have a chance to get drafted this year. I know that after seeing them put in the work, the possibility is always there -- that drives me even more. That just lets me know that there is an opportunity and it's not just someone 'saying' there's an opportunity. I have seen it with my own eyes in two different instances where two people have worked hard to do something that they love at the highest level. That pushes me even harder. To know that if I work hard there is a possibility that I can end up where I want to be."
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