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University of Minnesota Athletics
Top of the List - Senior Greg Eslinger
10/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
The embodiment of reliability, Eslinger has utilized his outstanding intellect (2004 Academic All-American), superior athleticism (29-inch vertical leap), and unquestionable toughness to become incredibly dependable. All three characteristics are necessary to effectively play center for the Golden Gophers; a position that head coach Glen Mason refers to as a skill position because of the team’s zone-blocking schemes.
Ben Hamilton, a quintessential athletic lineman, set the standard at Minnesota for centers as a two-time All-American in 1999 and 2000. Eslinger was also named a first team All-American by both the FWAA and SI.com last season and continues the tradition of elite centers under coach Mason’s tutelage. Mason has now had five players receive first team All-America honors during his tenure as Gophers head coach; two of them were centers.
“I’m kind of the quarterback of the offensive line,” Eslinger said of his on-the-field duties. “As a center, my responsibilities start even before the whistle. I have to tell the linemen what defensive scheme the opposing team is running and make sure that everyone is on the same page.”
Eslinger has undoubtedly been effective in his role as squad leader. While working in the trenches the offensive line yielded only nine quarterback sacks in 12 games in 2004. “I don’t even worry about the D-line, ever,” explained quarterback Bryan Cupito. “That’s the last thing I worry about because we have such a great offensive line. Greg leads the way and I think he is the best center in the country.”
Though Cupito’s opinion could be viewed as biased, his sentiment is backed up by the numerous accolades and awards garnered by Eslinger. Last season, the Gophers team captain was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy honoring the best center in college football. In addition to being a first team All-American, he was also selected to the All-Big Ten first team by the coaches and the media, becoming only the third Gopher player since 1963 to be named first team all-league by both the coaches and the media in consecutive seasons.
Entering the 2005 season, Eslinger was rated as the No. 1 center in the country according to several preseason publications. He has also been named to the Rimington Trophy, Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award watch lists. Typically self-deprecating, Eslinger is quick to honor his fellow teammates for his personal successes in his customary team-first manner.
“I believe you can’t give an offensive lineman award to any one guy because you can’t single anyone out,” he said. “We win or lose as a unit, so I give all the credit to the guys next to me that help me look good.”
Eslinger said that trust between players has been the key to the offensive line’s development in recent seasons. “It’s a comfort to know that if you make a mistake the guy lined up next to you will cover you,” he said.
Fellow lineman Mark Setterstrom shares Eslinger’s assessment and also believes that each player makes the other better. “We just trust each other,” Setterstrom simply said of the bond between linemen. “Greg’s an intense player who plays through the whistle, so we all strive to do the same thing. It’s a privilege to play with him.”
Eslinger said his challenge this season is to spread the trust already exhibited among his fellow offensive linemen throughout the entire team. He was named team captain for a second straight season and now as a senior leader, Eslinger is very focused on maintaining team chemistry all through the season. “Looking back on last season, there were a lot of woulda’s, shoulda’s and coulda’s. Maybe our confidence was shaken,” he reflected. “I think the key for us this year is to really believe in each other.”
Though ultimately disappointed with the final number of wins and losses in 2004, Eslinger is very proud to have played on a team that last season defeated Alabama 20-16 in the Music City Bowl and has now won three straight bowl games. It’s a winning streak he intends to have continued, with one caveat.
“Our goal is to get to an even better bowl game this year,” he explained. “The only stats that we really concern ourselves with are in the wins and losses columns.” So improving on last season’s overall record was Eslinger’s primary motivation during offseason conditioning workouts and preseason practices.
There are however, other statistical milestones that Eslinger will play a major role in helping to extend, since he already had a hand in establishing them. For example, the Gophers have accumulated 300 yards of offense in a school-record 30 straight games. Minnesota is also the only school in the nation to run and pass for at least 2,000 yards the past six seasons. This year, Eslinger will also be leading the way for a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate, running back Laurence Maroney, who currently ranks second in the nation in rushing, averaging over 160 yards per game.
The Gophers star running back certainly appreciates his unit of blockers, led by the senior center who has helped him average more than seven yards a carry this season. “I’ve got a great offensive line and they’ve come together as a unit to hide any weak points,” Maroney said.
The weaknesses in Eslinger’s game have ostensibly vanished, but as an undersized and sometimes overmatched freshman, they were on display for all to see in 2002. Unexpectedly thrust into the starting lineup because of injuries to veteran players, Eslinger said he received his share of ‘whippings’ while learning on-the-job during his first season, especially early-on in the Big Ten campaign.
Eslinger basically willed himself to quickly improve, learning from his mistakes and relying on his high football IQ. “Greg’s got a motor that just doesn’t stop,” Setterstrom said, summing up Eslinger’s determination to get better.
Now 40-plus games later, you’d be hard pressed to find a single error made by the 6-3, 285-pound lineman during 60 minutes of game action. High expectations quickly followed Eslinger’s continual improvement. But while the expectations of greatness have surely put added pressure on Eslinger’s broad shoulders, the Bismarck, N.D. native appears unflappable. “I’ve learned to realize that this is a game and I shouldn’t make it too businesslike,” he said. “I do have an extreme passion for football, but I’m throwing away all the added pressures and stresses. I’m more focused on having fun on the field.”
Eslinger ought to be excused if his gameday approach appears ‘too businesslike.’ His endeavor to start every game in his collegiate career at center resembles the average person’s efforts to punch-in at work everyday. Part of its appeal is that Eslinger simply does what’s expected of him and asks little in return. In exchange for taking his customary position over the ball on the Gophers’ first offensive snap in every game, Eslinger wants only to be remembered by Minnesota fans as a guy who played hard on every play of every game.
If he completes his quest, he will inevitably be mentioned among the short list of Golden Gophers who started every game in their collegiate career. It’s therefore a virtual certainty that Greg Eslinger will subsequently secure his place on the list of all-time Gopher greats.
Story written by Kevin Noth, athletic communications graduate assistant Death and taxes, as the saying goes, are the only two things in this world that are ever certain. Yet over the past three seasons Golden Gopher football fans have never once doubted who would anchor Minnesota’s offensive line every Saturday. No. 61 has started every game of his collegiate career as Minnesota’s center dating back to when he played as a true freshman in 2002. So move over Grim Reaper. The IRS will need to make some room because there’s a new addition to the list of all-time certainties, and his name is Greg Eslinger.
The embodiment of reliability, Eslinger has utilized his outstanding intellect (2004 Academic All-American), superior athleticism (29-inch vertical leap), and unquestionable toughness to become incredibly dependable. All three characteristics are necessary to effectively play center for the Golden Gophers; a position that head coach Glen Mason refers to as a skill position because of the team’s zone-blocking schemes.
Ben Hamilton, a quintessential athletic lineman, set the standard at Minnesota for centers as a two-time All-American in 1999 and 2000. Eslinger was also named a first team All-American by both the FWAA and SI.com last season and continues the tradition of elite centers under coach Mason’s tutelage. Mason has now had five players receive first team All-America honors during his tenure as Gophers head coach; two of them were centers.
“I’m kind of the quarterback of the offensive line,” Eslinger said of his on-the-field duties. “As a center, my responsibilities start even before the whistle. I have to tell the linemen what defensive scheme the opposing team is running and make sure that everyone is on the same page.”
Eslinger has undoubtedly been effective in his role as squad leader. While working in the trenches the offensive line yielded only nine quarterback sacks in 12 games in 2004. “I don’t even worry about the D-line, ever,” explained quarterback Bryan Cupito. “That’s the last thing I worry about because we have such a great offensive line. Greg leads the way and I think he is the best center in the country.”
Though Cupito’s opinion could be viewed as biased, his sentiment is backed up by the numerous accolades and awards garnered by Eslinger. Last season, the Gophers team captain was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy honoring the best center in college football. In addition to being a first team All-American, he was also selected to the All-Big Ten first team by the coaches and the media, becoming only the third Gopher player since 1963 to be named first team all-league by both the coaches and the media in consecutive seasons.
Entering the 2005 season, Eslinger was rated as the No. 1 center in the country according to several preseason publications. He has also been named to the Rimington Trophy, Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award watch lists. Typically self-deprecating, Eslinger is quick to honor his fellow teammates for his personal successes in his customary team-first manner.
“I believe you can’t give an offensive lineman award to any one guy because you can’t single anyone out,” he said. “We win or lose as a unit, so I give all the credit to the guys next to me that help me look good.”
Eslinger said that trust between players has been the key to the offensive line’s development in recent seasons. “It’s a comfort to know that if you make a mistake the guy lined up next to you will cover you,” he said.
Fellow lineman Mark Setterstrom shares Eslinger’s assessment and also believes that each player makes the other better. “We just trust each other,” Setterstrom simply said of the bond between linemen. “Greg’s an intense player who plays through the whistle, so we all strive to do the same thing. It’s a privilege to play with him.”
Eslinger said his challenge this season is to spread the trust already exhibited among his fellow offensive linemen throughout the entire team. He was named team captain for a second straight season and now as a senior leader, Eslinger is very focused on maintaining team chemistry all through the season. “Looking back on last season, there were a lot of woulda’s, shoulda’s and coulda’s. Maybe our confidence was shaken,” he reflected. “I think the key for us this year is to really believe in each other.”
Though ultimately disappointed with the final number of wins and losses in 2004, Eslinger is very proud to have played on a team that last season defeated Alabama 20-16 in the Music City Bowl and has now won three straight bowl games. It’s a winning streak he intends to have continued, with one caveat.
“Our goal is to get to an even better bowl game this year,” he explained. “The only stats that we really concern ourselves with are in the wins and losses columns.” So improving on last season’s overall record was Eslinger’s primary motivation during offseason conditioning workouts and preseason practices.
There are however, other statistical milestones that Eslinger will play a major role in helping to extend, since he already had a hand in establishing them. For example, the Gophers have accumulated 300 yards of offense in a school-record 30 straight games. Minnesota is also the only school in the nation to run and pass for at least 2,000 yards the past six seasons. This year, Eslinger will also be leading the way for a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate, running back Laurence Maroney, who currently ranks second in the nation in rushing, averaging over 160 yards per game.
The Gophers star running back certainly appreciates his unit of blockers, led by the senior center who has helped him average more than seven yards a carry this season. “I’ve got a great offensive line and they’ve come together as a unit to hide any weak points,” Maroney said.
The weaknesses in Eslinger’s game have ostensibly vanished, but as an undersized and sometimes overmatched freshman, they were on display for all to see in 2002. Unexpectedly thrust into the starting lineup because of injuries to veteran players, Eslinger said he received his share of ‘whippings’ while learning on-the-job during his first season, especially early-on in the Big Ten campaign.
Eslinger basically willed himself to quickly improve, learning from his mistakes and relying on his high football IQ. “Greg’s got a motor that just doesn’t stop,” Setterstrom said, summing up Eslinger’s determination to get better.
Now 40-plus games later, you’d be hard pressed to find a single error made by the 6-3, 285-pound lineman during 60 minutes of game action. High expectations quickly followed Eslinger’s continual improvement. But while the expectations of greatness have surely put added pressure on Eslinger’s broad shoulders, the Bismarck, N.D. native appears unflappable. “I’ve learned to realize that this is a game and I shouldn’t make it too businesslike,” he said. “I do have an extreme passion for football, but I’m throwing away all the added pressures and stresses. I’m more focused on having fun on the field.”
Eslinger ought to be excused if his gameday approach appears ‘too businesslike.’ His endeavor to start every game in his collegiate career at center resembles the average person’s efforts to punch-in at work everyday. Part of its appeal is that Eslinger simply does what’s expected of him and asks little in return. In exchange for taking his customary position over the ball on the Gophers’ first offensive snap in every game, Eslinger wants only to be remembered by Minnesota fans as a guy who played hard on every play of every game.
If he completes his quest, he will inevitably be mentioned among the short list of Golden Gophers who started every game in their collegiate career. It’s therefore a virtual certainty that Greg Eslinger will subsequently secure his place on the list of all-time Gopher greats.
Story written by Kevin Noth, athletic communications graduate assistant
