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University of Minnesota Athletics
Student-Athlete Profile: Junior Mark Setterstrom
11/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
It is this toughness that coach Glen Mason loves most about Setterstrom. Earlier this season Mason stated, "He's one of those guys I love because he doesn't talk tough. He doesn't act tough. I'm just telling you he is one tough sucker. I was telling (co-offensive coordinator) Mitch Browning, there is one guy I wouldn't want to fight on our football team, and it's Mark Setterstrom."
His offensive line coach, Gordon Shaw beams like a proud father when commenting on Mark and he feels that the recognition of Setterstrom is not just within the state of Minnesota. "I think if you asked every Big Ten coach about Minnesota's left guard, I bet they would tell you he's the best left guard in the Big Ten," Shaw proudly states about the junior force.
What has enabled Setterstrom to become the acclaimed "tough guy" of the Golden Gophers is experience. Setterstrom was thrown into the starting lineup two seasons ago as a true freshman, and as the practices, games and years go by he has gained loads of confidence which allows him to be more aggressive since he knows what he is doing.
"I've definitely become a lot more confident. I look forward to the challenge every week," Setterstrom commented. "I know you're not going to win every play, but over the course of the game, I'm confident that I will beat my opponent more times than he'll beat me. It's a lot easier now, knowing all the plays, knowing what I have to do and executing it; it makes the game a lot of fun."
Even though toughness is the main part of Setterstrom's game, it is not the only part. To be able to get out in front of the Golden Gophers' great running backs, the linemen have to be agile and quick. For the 6'3", 295-pound Setterstrom this takes a tremendous amount of work in the off-season to improve his agility while continuing to add muscle. The toughness of Setterstrom is a mental trait, but his physical ability comes from the dedication in the weight room.
Setterstrom feels that without the intense offseason workouts, the 2004 Golden Gophers would not be achieving the success that they are. "What we do in the offseason has a huge impact on the success we see on the field. Without all that extra running and lifting, you definitely would not see the same results," he stated.
When not preparing for the next season, Setterstrom likes to spend time with his family and friends. The self-proclaimed "outdoorsman" relishes any time he can be out on the lake fishing. Training somewhat close to home allows the Northfield, Minn. native to participate in certain summer activities that he wouldn't give away for anything in the world. He said the best of those was fishing with his dad. "It's a nice time to just get out and be with him," he said.
Keeping his values like time with his family is not surprising, because the toughness Setterstrom possesses is not totally a physical trait. He has a mental toughness, which also helps him to excel at his collegiate endeavors, on and off the field. An example of this is how he handled the back-to-back losses earlier this season to Michigan and Michigan State. Some athletes when facing adversity will just give up. Setterstrom on the other hand, let his competitive nature take over as he still realized there is a lot to play for this season.
It is his mental toughness that keeps him focused as well. Even though he has started every game in his career, nothing has gone to his head; he remains focused on team goals and shrugs off individual accolades. With the 2004 season winding down and on the brink of his senior year Setterstrom knows that he has little time to reach the things he has set out to do.
"My goal is for the team to win. My ultimate goal is to win a Big Ten championship before I go out," Setterstrom stated. But with this week's rivalry game on the horizon, some sub-goals are sneaking out of the three-year starter. You see, in Setterstrom's time as a Golden Gopher, Floyd of Rosedale has not come back to the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex.
Setterstrom states of today's game, "I definitely want a chance to be able to touch Floyd (of Rosedale, the trophy given out to the winner of the Iowa-Minnesota game), and get that pig back. I don't take grudges from years past, you have to play every game like it's your last, but winning this game would be extra special."
Not every guy on this season's team can be as tough as Setterstrom, in fact not many will ever come close to being that tough; that is a given. What is also a given is that if today's contest comes down to No. 68 on the Golden Gophers making a huge block to get Barber, Maroney, Cupito, or whomever has the ball into the end zone, the tougher guy will prevail. It's no secret that that guy is Mark Setterstrom.
Story by Athletic Communications student assistant Dominic Ladd. Dominic accepts comments at ladd0022@umn.edu. If opposing defenders were thinking about taking on No. 68 on the 2004 Golden Gophers, they should have thought again. Junior left guard Mark Setterstrom is that tough, and since he arrived at the University of Minnesota he has been proving it. Once he hits the field there is nothing soft about Setterstrom. He goes all out, hits as hard as he can every play, and knows no other way to do things.
It is this toughness that coach Glen Mason loves most about Setterstrom. Earlier this season Mason stated, "He's one of those guys I love because he doesn't talk tough. He doesn't act tough. I'm just telling you he is one tough sucker. I was telling (co-offensive coordinator) Mitch Browning, there is one guy I wouldn't want to fight on our football team, and it's Mark Setterstrom."
His offensive line coach, Gordon Shaw beams like a proud father when commenting on Mark and he feels that the recognition of Setterstrom is not just within the state of Minnesota. "I think if you asked every Big Ten coach about Minnesota's left guard, I bet they would tell you he's the best left guard in the Big Ten," Shaw proudly states about the junior force.
What has enabled Setterstrom to become the acclaimed "tough guy" of the Golden Gophers is experience. Setterstrom was thrown into the starting lineup two seasons ago as a true freshman, and as the practices, games and years go by he has gained loads of confidence which allows him to be more aggressive since he knows what he is doing.
"I've definitely become a lot more confident. I look forward to the challenge every week," Setterstrom commented. "I know you're not going to win every play, but over the course of the game, I'm confident that I will beat my opponent more times than he'll beat me. It's a lot easier now, knowing all the plays, knowing what I have to do and executing it; it makes the game a lot of fun."
Even though toughness is the main part of Setterstrom's game, it is not the only part. To be able to get out in front of the Golden Gophers' great running backs, the linemen have to be agile and quick. For the 6'3", 295-pound Setterstrom this takes a tremendous amount of work in the off-season to improve his agility while continuing to add muscle. The toughness of Setterstrom is a mental trait, but his physical ability comes from the dedication in the weight room.
Setterstrom feels that without the intense offseason workouts, the 2004 Golden Gophers would not be achieving the success that they are. "What we do in the offseason has a huge impact on the success we see on the field. Without all that extra running and lifting, you definitely would not see the same results," he stated.
When not preparing for the next season, Setterstrom likes to spend time with his family and friends. The self-proclaimed "outdoorsman" relishes any time he can be out on the lake fishing. Training somewhat close to home allows the Northfield, Minn. native to participate in certain summer activities that he wouldn't give away for anything in the world. He said the best of those was fishing with his dad. "It's a nice time to just get out and be with him," he said.
Keeping his values like time with his family is not surprising, because the toughness Setterstrom possesses is not totally a physical trait. He has a mental toughness, which also helps him to excel at his collegiate endeavors, on and off the field. An example of this is how he handled the back-to-back losses earlier this season to Michigan and Michigan State. Some athletes when facing adversity will just give up. Setterstrom on the other hand, let his competitive nature take over as he still realized there is a lot to play for this season.
It is his mental toughness that keeps him focused as well. Even though he has started every game in his career, nothing has gone to his head; he remains focused on team goals and shrugs off individual accolades. With the 2004 season winding down and on the brink of his senior year Setterstrom knows that he has little time to reach the things he has set out to do.
"My goal is for the team to win. My ultimate goal is to win a Big Ten championship before I go out," Setterstrom stated. But with this week's rivalry game on the horizon, some sub-goals are sneaking out of the three-year starter. You see, in Setterstrom's time as a Golden Gopher, Floyd of Rosedale has not come back to the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex.
Setterstrom states of today's game, "I definitely want a chance to be able to touch Floyd (of Rosedale, the trophy given out to the winner of the Iowa-Minnesota game), and get that pig back. I don't take grudges from years past, you have to play every game like it's your last, but winning this game would be extra special."
Not every guy on this season's team can be as tough as Setterstrom, in fact not many will ever come close to being that tough; that is a given. What is also a given is that if today's contest comes down to No. 68 on the Golden Gophers making a huge block to get Barber, Maroney, Cupito, or whomever has the ball into the end zone, the tougher guy will prevail. It's no secret that that guy is Mark Setterstrom.
Story by Athletic Communications student assistant Dominic Ladd. Dominic accepts comments at ladd0022@umn.edu.
