MOORHEAD, Minn. (8/22/08)-- The Cobber offensive line in 2008 will be a flash back to 1980's pop music culture. Like the band Men at Work, the Cobber coaching staff will be asking, "Who can it be now?"

The reason for all the question marks is that the Cobbers lost three starters from the "hogs" a year ago, and to make matters even worse, they also lost nine players that were on the depth chart at the position.

Don't despair as all is not lost for Concordia. Year in and year out the Cobbers produce the best offensive linemen in the conference - two Stam award winners in the past four years - and they had a huge crew of underclassmen that were waiting to step into the spotlight. They also have one of the best position coaches in the MIAC in Dan Kostich to help lead the new contingent of all-conference hopefuls.

The biggest hole to fill on the offensive line is at left tackle where Mike Stam award winner Grant Weller was the foundation of an outstanding line in 2007. Also lost to graduation were starting center Zach Eidelbes and starting left guard Zack Sundberg along with outstanding reserves Kris Peterson and Chad Johnson.

That’s the bad news; the good news is that the right side of the line which protects left handed quarterback Jesse Nelson’s blind side is back. Senior Billy Oehlers and junior John M. Anderson return to give the Cobbers a good base to work with. Oehlers might be switched over to the left side but his strength and ability will help the Cobber line on whatever side he lines up. Looking to slop it up in 2008 and earn their title as Cobber hogs will be a pair of sophomores and a junior. Darin Underhill, Giles Henry and Josh Mitchell are the preseason favorites to fill the vacated spots. Underhill will fill try to fill the shoes of Weller at left tackle while Henry will take over for Eidelbes at center and Mitchell looks to be the frontrunner at right guard.

Others that will be a factor for Kostich’s crew are senior Luke Holt who returns after having an injury end his season in 2007 and a quartet of sophomores who gained valuable experience and quality repetitions in the team’s seven spring practice sessions. Jared Buysse, Justin Hanson, Erik Carlson and Josh Jans all have the potential to help the Cobbers post more offensive fireworks during the 2008 campaign.

Horan says: “We have to get that offensive line working well. We all know that is the key to this offense. We couldn’t ask for a better coach in Dan Kostich and I know he will have his group ready to play.”