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This is the final profile of the inductees to the RMAC Hall of Fame on Friday, July 8 at the Colorado Springs Marriott Hotel. Tickets for the Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet can be purchased by clicking here.
Jeff Tootle was a “skinny linebacker” from Regis High School in Denver with only one offer to play college football in 1980.
That offer was from the newly hired coach Bob Cortese at then Mesa State College (now Colorado Mesa University).
Cortese had never been a college head coach, but certainly had an eye for talent. Tootle took over as a starting linebacker halfway through his freshman season. The Mavericks finished the season with a record of 3-6.
“We weren’t very good, we weren’t very good at all. We got beat up on quite a bit. It probably made us better in the later years because it wasn’t a real great squad but we hung in there and it worked out,” said Tootle.
The following year in 1981, Mesa improved to second place in the RMAC. In 1982 the Mavs reign atop the league began in full force. Mesa powered their way to an undefeated 9-0-1 mark in the regular season, capturing their first RMAC title in school history. The Mavericks ended the regular with seven straight double-digit victories. They kept that momentum rolling into the NAIA Playoffs, taking down Moorhead State 43-20 in the NAIA quarterfinals, and Hillsdale 18-9 in the semifinals.
Mesa marched all the way to the 1982 NAIA National Championship, where they met Central State (now Central Oklahoma) on the road.
Although the Mavs fell short to Central State 14-11, the loss only fueled their fire.
“We worked hard. We stayed focus. He got us in the weight room – Bob Cortese did -- and we worked hard to get back. We stayed focus and that was a pretty good run to too make it back,” said Tootle.
Mesa started out the ‘83 season with two wins, one tie and nine consecutive wins to follow. They were named RMAC regular-season champions with a 7-0-1 record and moved on to postseason playoffs.
The Mavericks hosted the first two rounds in Grand Junction. Mesa started out strong in the quarterfinals, overpowering Eastern New Mexico 35-8. In the semi-finals, they defeated Central Arkansas 34-17 to give them their second consecutive berth to the NAIA national championship game. Even with a home crowd cheering them on, dedicated players and coaches, it was not enough for a win. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) defeated the Mavericks 36-28 for the national title. In the national championship, Despite the loss the Mavericks had several accomplishments to be proud of as they finished the 1983 season 11-1-1.
Mesa was 22-2-2 in in 1982 and 1983 with two RMAC titles and four wins in the NAIA playoffs.
“It means a lot and nobody can take that away. We did that and we put up with Bob yelling and cussing. It’s a good feeling when you look back. We can just shake our heads and think back. We did accomplish some good things, said Tootle.
The 1982 and 1983 Mesa Football teams will be inducted into the RMAC Hall of Fame at the Colorado Springs Marriott on July 8.
1982
The Mavs won the RMAC title finishing the regular season 7-0-1. Three players earned NAIA All-Americans, which include defensive lineman Dean Haugum (First Team), tight end Keith Howard and linebacker Jeff Tootle (Second Team)
(Note: Tootle was also named to the RMAC Football All-Time Team during the RMAC’s 100th Anniversary in 2009).
Twelve members of the 1982 team earned All-RMAC honors. First Team: TE Howard, OL Jeff Peak, OL Dave Dumity, RB Russ Hodgson, DL Haugum, DL Jeff Franz, DL Tootle, DB Tim Donohoue. Second Team: OL Don Simonton, DL Tony Streno, DB Dave Williams, KR Jerry Larghe.
Mesa led the conference in rushing offense averaging 226.8 yards per game. The Mavericks also led in rushing defense and total defense only allowing 104.4 yards per game and 256.9 yards per game at the season’s end. They were second in the conference for scoring margin with +15.4 points and third in total offense averaging 336.9 yards per game.
Head Coach: Bob Cortese
Assistant Coaches: Don Caldwell, Gerry Houck, Bob Krlicek, Don Ligrani, Joe Pannunzio
1983
During the season the Mavs finished 7-0-1 in the conference and 11-1-1 overall. Nine players earned First-Team NAIA All-District Seven honors. Haugum, Howard and Tootle repeated as All-Americans and were joined by Russ Hodgson. The 1983 team led the conference in rushing offense and total offense averaging 268.3 yards per game and 392.9 yards per game throughout the season. Mesa was also first in the conference in rushing defense, allowing only 93.6 yards per game. Individually, the Mavs had three categorical leaders. Hodgson led in rushing having tallied 110.6 yards per game that season. He also led in scoring with nine points per game. Larghe led in kickoff returns, averaging 27.6 yards per game.
Sixteen players earned All-RMAC honors. First Team: TE Howard, OL Peak, OL Mike Berk, QB Bill Monson, RB Hodgson, RB Larghe, DL Haugum, DL Streno, LB Tootle, LB John Chisholm, DB Donohoue. Second Team: OL Simonton, K Joe Stellavato, KR Larghe, DL Jim Popick, DB Williams.
Head coach Bob Cortese joined the Mavericks in 1980 and led the teams to six NAIA playoff berths. Cortese was inducted in to the 2008 RMAC Hall of Fame and is one of the winningest coaches in the history of RMAC football. With 17 seasons as head coach, he had a record of 139-54-6 and a winning percentage better than 70 percent. His teams won eight RMAC regular-season titles between 1982 and 1995. He was named RMAC Coach of the Year multiple times and NAIA District Coach-of-the-Year in 1982 and 1983.
Head Coach: Bob Cortese
Assistant Coaches: Pat Degnan, Joe Pannuzio, Bill Krallcek, Sheldon Keresey