DAYTON – Two members of the last football team at the University of Dayton to go undefeated – Zack Cline and Rich Schuckman – will serve as Honorary Coaches for Sunday's Flyer football Spring Game. Cline will coach the White Team, while Schuckman will cover the Red Team.
Sunday's kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET at Welcome Stadium. Admission is free and the first 200 fans will receive Arby's sandwiches. Gates will be open at 12:15 p.m. ET.
In addition, the game will be broadcast live on 1290 WHIO Radio and streamed on DaytonFlyers.com.
Cline and Schuckman were both First Team All-Pioneer Football League performers in the trenches, helping UD win the PFL title, finish the season undefeated at 11-0, and be ranked for the first time as an FCS team. Dayton was 24th in the final Sports Network rankings. Cline was a two-year starter at offensive tackle, while Schuckman was a defensive tackle.
DaytonFlyers.com caught up to both Honorary Coaches and asked each four questions in advance of their returning to UD for this year's spring game.
DAYTONFLYERS.COM: What are you doing now?
CLINE: I am a 7th grade teacher in the Miamisburg School District.
SCHUCKMAN: Currently, I am a member of the Society of Jesus (aka. The Jesuits). I entered religious life in the fall of 2010, and I am hopeful to be ordained a Catholic priest in 4-5 more years.
DAYTONFLYERS.COM: Where are you living?
CLINE: My wife, two boys and I just moved to a farm in Bellbrook
SCHUCKMAN: I live at the Jesuit Community attached to St. Xavier High School, where I am a first-year teacher (I teach Algebra and Scripture). I am also the St. Xavier JV Football Defensive Line Coach.
DAYTONFLYERS.COM: What have you taken with you from your experiences as a Flyer football player?
CLINE: The most important thing I will take from my days as a Flyer football player is the bond I share with my teammates. I see some of them frequently and some I don't see enough but when we get together, it is as if no time has passed and we pick up right where we left off. I have shared my life though weddings, births of our children, and other significant events and I could not imagine not having my brothers there with me to celebrate the best times in my life. I truly believe that once a Flyer, always a Flyer!
SCHUCKMAN: My biggest takeaway from Flyer football are friendships. The people I trust most in the world, other than my immediate family, are the friends I've made playing football at Dayton.
DAYTONFLYERS.COM: What are you most looking forward to as one of this year's Honorary Coaches?
CLINE: What an honor to be selected as a coach for the spring game. I am as proud of playing football at UD as I am anything I have done in my life and to be back in that locker room with the guys again one more time to talk to them before they take the field is something I will never forget. The University of Dayton has a special place in the hearts of all present and past Flyers.
SCHUCKMAN: I most look forward to the camaraderie of the guys and having fun among competitive friends.
Both coaches' most important role at the Spring Game will be sharing their experiences with the team and connecting Flyer football's past with its present, but they are also looking forward to making each call – to go for it or to kick – on fourth down.
