Junior Joe Standard videos a Hornet’s football practice Nov. 3 from the top of the HPER Building. Kellen Jenkins/ The Bulletin

Emporia State football recently finished their season with an improved record, and while coaches and players of the team have been recognized for their work this season as 10 Hornets were awarded MIAA honors last week, it is the hard work by the people behind the scenes, who spend countless hours working, that can be equally as important in becoming a successful team.

Junior Joe Standard and Freshman T.J. Andrade were the filmmakers for the team this season.

“We typically spend about 15 hours a week doing whatever the coach asks of us,” Standard said. “They really depend on us for a lot of other things than just setting up and filming games and practices.”

This season was the first season filming for the ESU football team for both Standard and Andrade. Standard is a transfer student from Independence after he graduated from Field-Kindley in Coffeyville in 2008. He started off playing football for Independence in the fall of ‘08, but after suffering a knee injury, decided to turn to helping his team out by filming.

“Although I would rather be playing obviously, this was a way to keep me involved with the sport that I love the most,” Standard said. “After graduating from Independence, Coach Saia gave me the opportunity to keep doing it here.”

For Andrade, a freshmen majoring in physical education and health, this season was his first experience filming for a football team. Both were in charge of setting up and tearing down the camera equipment, showing up for meetings, loading and unloading not only their equipment, but equipment for the team, making sure everything was put away and traveled with the team even for away games.

Senior biology major and defensive lineman Casey Finlayson isn’t a big fan of heights, and respects what these people have to do for their jobs.

“After what happened at Notre Dame, I would be terrified to get up in the stands,” Finlayson said. “There’s no way that I would get up there after what happened on that campus.”

However, both Standard and Andrade said that even after they learned about the events, it never really changed their outlook on their jobs. Both said that it was at their discretion to get up there, and realized it was part of their jobs when they signed up.

“I knew that the coaches would take great care of Joe and me,” Andrade said. “I also knew that judgments vary from person to person and that accidents can happen. But my thoughts and prayers are with the young man and his family.”

Although both enjoyed the time working with the players and coaches this season, they said they were relieved to have more time for studies before football starts back up in the spring.

“The break is nice, but short-lived,” Standard said. “Spring ball is just around the corner, so it’s right back to work.”

Chris Hopkins

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Defensive end Daniel Webb’s family is hardly one that lacks an athletic background.

Defensive end Daniel Webb’s family is hardly one that lacks an athletic background. Both his father, a linebacker for Stephen Austin University, and his grandfather, a high school coach in Texas, have ties to football. Now, Webb is a big reason why ESU is enjoying one of the best seasons in years.

“I grew up playing all kinds of sports, but hockey was always the biggest one for me,” said Webb, a senior integrated studies major. “It wasn’t until eighth grade that I turned more to football, and it’s been that way ever since.”

Webb was born in Greenville, Texas, but was raised from third grade on in Fort Collins, Colo. In high school, Webb participated in both football and track. During his senior season, Webb won several awards, including his team’s awards for MVP, defensive MVP and inspirational player.

Senior defensive tackle Casey Finlayson said that Webb has been a big reason for the change in mindset on defense this season.

“The guy is just constantly making plays,” Finlayson said. “He is a great leader both on and off the field that always puts the team first.”

Defensive line coach Matt LoPorto has seen Webb grow since arriving in 2006 when LoPorto was still playing. LoPorto has seen Webb grow from a great role player to a fifth year senior leader of this team.

“He was a crazy little kid coming in,” LoPorto said. “It’s amazing how much better he understands the game now. The guy just has a non-stop motor, has as much heart as any player, and plays every snap like it’s his last. A guy like that is irreplaceable because he is such a great example of why you play football.”

Currently Webb leads all MIAA players in tackles for a loss and sacks. However, Webb said that he doesn’t focus on personalize accolades, and the success of the season will only be measured by how the team ends the season.

“I just want to go out with a bang for my senior season whether it be by a bowl game or the playoffs,” Webb said.

Webb, who plans on moving back to Fort Collins as a fire fighter or smoke jumper, is planning on attending Hutchinson Community College after graduation.

As for football, Webb hasn’t ruled out playing after this year.

“It’s something where if the right situation presented itself, I definitely would at least be interested,” Webb said. “Right now we are just taking it one game at a time to hopefully make a postseason push.”

Chris Hopkins

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Finlayson is the anchor for the defensive line at Emporia State. Photo by Kellen Jenkins/The Bulletin.

In summer 2004, Burlington High graduate Casey Finlayson was elected to play in the 2004 Kansas Shrine Bowl as a defensive end. After a player profile from the Emporia Gazette and despite many offers, Finlayson had decided that the upcoming game would be his last.

But he was wrong.

At 24, Finlayson is the anchor for the defensive line at Emporia State.

After graduation, Finlayson attended Flint Hills Technical College where he aspired to work with technology at Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in Burlington. During that time, Finlayson  spent many hot days roofing houses when most were taking the summer off.

“I decided roofing houses wasn’t for me in the long-run, and I wanted to push myself at the next highest level of football,” said Finlayson, a senior environmental biology major.

During the 2006 season, Finlayson walked on for the Hornets and was a full-time starter last year, missing only one game due to a sprained shoulder. Finlayson believes the defensive line should be a point to watch this season, as should the entire team, with many returning players. This should lead to more consistent play not just on the defensive line, but across the board, he said.

Defensive Line Coach and former Hornet linebacker Matt Loporto has seen the transition from the player Finlayson started as, to the leader that he is today.

“Casey is a wily old vet, not the biggest, not the most skilled, but does the dirty work, everyday,” Loporto said.“He is the epitome of what being a defensive lineman is all about.”

Loporto recalls that since the day Finlayson came in, he has strictly led by example and work, and despite putting on 50 pounds, Finlayson has not lost his athletic ability.

“Those two years were probably the best thing for him at the time because it allowed Casey to mature as a football player and as a person. In return, he has came to work harder than ever, and it has been fun to watch him transition from a good to a great player,” Loporto said.

Senior defensive lineman Daniel Webb has been able to see the leadership role Finlayson has taken.

“Everyone respects him as a player and person, and knows that he will be a big part of success this season,” Webb said.

When asked if this really is his last season this time, Finlayson said,“This is my last year for sure this time. The body has one more season in it.”

Chris Hopkins/The Bulletin

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