Nash is back on the field making a difference for MSU

From the outside, life seemed to be going well for Michael Nash.

The Wichita Falls High product was a force along the Midwestern State defensive line and earned Lone Star Conference honorable mention following his sophomore season.

Then life came at Nash fast. Maybe a little too fast, and he made some mistakes that resulted in him departing the football program following the 2018 season.

“He made a mistake and some bad choices, as we all do in life,” MSU defensive coordinator Rich Renner said. “He made a mistake, and he got it corrected. We're in this business for the kids. We're here to help kids, and we know they will make mistakes because they're not perfect, just like we're not perfect.”

Mistakes are bound to happen, but it’s what you do when given another opportunity that defines a person, and Nash has seized on this opportunity.

“We had long talks with him, and coach Maskill sat down with his mom and made sure that we were all on the same page,” Renner said. “There is a standard here that he has to uphold, and we've watched him very closely.”

“I have a different outlook from when I was younger. I'm older now, and I'm taking advantage of the situation,” Nash said. “You don't often get another opportunity, so I'm focused on taking advantage of it and having fun while playing football.”

On the field, it looks like the same Michael Nash from 2018. The general fan may not notice his impact on the defensive line in a game, but rest assured, the offense is aware of where Nash lines up on every play.

“It's been a completely different defensive line with his addition. He can play the shade, and he can play the three-technique. He knows the defense in and out, so he didn't have a lot of rust on the mental part of the game,” Renner said. “However, we did have to get him in shape, and he had to put on some weight.

“He has brought maturity, hard work, and experience. He's an older kid who is a quiet leader. We are very fortunate to have him back.”

“He's matured and remains a little rusty, but he still has the strength and athleticism,” MSU coach Bill Maskill said. “He just needs to play. He can get better because he has the physical tools.”

The absence from football played a role in Nash’s maturity, and the junior hopes his younger teammates will learn from the wisdom he gained from his mistakes.

“The young guys are looking up to me now, and they ask me questions about what to do on a certain play,” Nash said. “I enjoy teaching the game and helping these guys adjust to the speed of the game at this level.

“I hope to teach the guys to make football the main thing. Limit your distractions, and don't get caught up in the drama outside of football. Make sure when you get on the field that your focus is on football.”

One key to Nash’s ability to seize this opportunity is his family's support.

“This past weekend, I had some family come from out of town to see me play, and that was a nice surprise,” Nash said. “Having my family close is important to me because they support my decisions, and I know that I can call them, and they're going to answer.”

Nash plans to use the wisdom he’s gained through his life experiences after his playing career is complete.

“I will be graduating soon, and after I graduate and finish playing football, I plan on coaching and seeing where football can take me in life,” Nash said. “I've been around football my entire life, and it's a chance to continue with the game that I know so well.”

Sure, it’s nice for Nash to be back on the football field, but the life lessons he’s learned and his desire to help others avoid his mistakes in the future make his story a success.

SIMON FRASER at MIDWESTERN STATE

When/where: 7 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls

Audio: MSU, LoneStarConferenceNetwork.com/msu/ (PxP: Pete Stein)

Live webcast: LoneStarConferenceNetwork.com/msu/ (PPV $10/game, $75 season pass)

Live updates: visit MSUMustangs.com for live stats

Records: SFU 0-1, MSU 2-1

Last game: Central Washington 40, SFU 7; MSU 28, Michigan Tech 21

Last meeting/series: First meeting in series

Players to watch: SFU - Justin Seiber (QB, Jr.), Somto Anyadike (RB, Sr.), Ethan Beselt (WR, R-Sr.), Jerrell Cummings (DB, Jr.), Drew Nicholson (LB, Jr.). MSU - Dillon Sterling-Cole (QB, Sr.), Devin Cross (RB, R-Fr.), Ja’Marzeyea Arvie (WR, Jr.), Dylon Davis (DB, Jr.), Melik Owens (DE, Sr.), Jayln Thompson (S, Sr.).

Notes: Simon Fraser recently announced its varsity athletic programs will be known as the Red Leafs following an extensive process that began in 2020. SFU was formerly the Clan, in reference to its Scottish heritage, but was changed after some student-athletes experienced unsafe situations due to the name. MSU is 63-11 under Maskill in the month of September and is 84-19 at Memorial Stadium during the Maskill era. SFU’s schedule consists of games primarily against LSC schools, with the exception of the Shrum Bowl against British Columbia on Dec. 2. The Mustangs have three home games remaining following the SFU contest - Oct. 8 against West Texas A&M, Oct. 29 against Western Oregon, and Nov. 12 against Angelo State.

Coach speak: “It's like playing the first game of the season. We don't know a whole lot about them, and we've never played them before. They look like they've got a solid offensive line and good running back and quarterback and receiver, but I'm not sure I can tell you what they are defensively because we’ve only seen tape of one game.” - MSU coach Bill Maskill

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Michael Nash returns to Midwestern State football program