Marian Knights, the College Football Powerhouse You've Never Heard Of

The stakes had never been higher for Mike Josifovski in December of 2012. After forcing overtime with a 35-yard field goal, all Josifovski had to do in overtime was kick a 26-yard field goal to give the Marian Knights their first NAIA national championship in just the sixth year of existence for the program.

Josifovski drilled the game-winning field goal, causing an eruption of celebration from the Marian sideline. Now, in 2014, the Knights have a chance to bring glory to Marian once again.

Located just west of Indianapolis, Indiana, Marian University’s football program is currently in only its eighth season, beginning in 2007 with a group of players that had never played together. Since then, the team has continued to grow into one of the NAIA’s most successful programs, winning the 2012 national championship along with multiple MSFA Mideast League titles.

Since winning the national title, more and more local players have begun to flock to Marian, while players who have been with the team since 2012 have consistently been motivated to bring their school a second one.

MUKnights.com

“It took a lot of hard work and a whole season of preparation [in 2012], but that’s really what brings people to Marian,” said Alex Wetmore, a junior defensive lineman who was on the national championship team as a freshman.

“We like to consider ourselves a small school with big-time football, and it’s really a process-over-product mentality. If we continue to buy into the process, we know we can get there again.”

Ted Karras Jr. initially took over as head coach for the Knights, and it didn’t take long for the program to start making some noise in the NAIA. In six seasons, Karras led the Knights to a 48-23 record along with the 2012 national title and three straight NAIA Football Championship Series appearances before leaving after the 2012 season.

MUKnights.com

Now head coach Mark Henninger has taken over and preached for his players to buy into the process since joining the team before the 2013-14 season, and it’s finally starting to show. After just a 6-5 season under Henninger last year and a 2-2 start this season, the Knights have hit their stride, putting together nine straight wins to take them to their second NAIA National Championship appearance in just three seasons.

“It was frustrating early on because you could see the talent and drive to be successful, but mentally we weren’t there yet,” Henninger said. “I think we still have a long way to go, but we’ve made strides this season where we’re playing smarter football and letting the talent reach its full potential.”

Defense has been one of the main reasons for Marian’s success this season, leading the nation with just 66.3 rushing yards allowed per game. Led by a stingy front seven, the defense has made scoring on it an almost impossible task every week, ranking No. 6 in the nation with just 17.6 points allowed per game.

Defensive line coach Brock Caraboa has been with the Knights since their first game, registering the first ever tackle in Marian football history. Caraboa is considered one of the best linebackers in school history, earning NAIA All-American honors in 2010, and he’s brought a winning mentality to the defense.

“I don’t want anybody rushing on us, because that’s our team philosophy,” Caraboa said. “I think we’ve been so successful as a defense because everyone is doing their job and playing unselfish. When teams don’t stay in their gaps, that’s when you’ll see teams giving up 100 or 150 yards on the ground.”

Caraboa and the rest of the defensive coaching staff provide an excellent learning environment whenever their players are studying film. Rather than lecture the defensive linemen for an hour, Caraboa encourages players to be involved in the discussion, opening the floor to any questions throughout the session.

But that doesn’t mean that Caraboa is soft on his players. One of his biggest fears is that his players are content with being average, telling them what they aren’t doing well enough and encouraging them to be dominant. Each film session, Caraboa names a “shark” and a “seal,” praising one player for his effort while letting another know that he must do better.

“You never want to be a seal,” Wetmore said. “Players will do whatever it takes to be sharks, because they’ll dominate seals once they smell blood in the water.”

On offense, the Knights are led by senior running back Tevin Lake, the 2014 MSFA Mideast League Player of the Year. Lake has been the team’s workhorse running back since he was a freshman, running for over 5,000 yards and 60 touchdowns over his career, holding school records in both categories.

MUKnights.com

Lake’s best season came in 2012, running for 1,594 yards and 18 touchdowns on just 307 carries. While players out of the NAIA very rarely get chances to play in the NFL, Lake has started to attract at least some attention from pro scouts.

Still, like every player on the team, Lake isn’t focused on the future.

“I feel there’s a possible chance, but that’s not my priority right now,” Lake said about possibly getting a chance at the NFL. “I’m more focused on getting my degree and leading my team to Daytona and winning the national championship.”

MUKnights.com

Players at Marian are unlike most you’ll find in Division I football. Individual aspirations are replaced with team goals, while players who aren’t getting playing time are more concerned with their team winning than getting on the field.

The Knights are an example of football in its purest form. Off-field investigations and national spotlights are replaced by young men who want nothing more than to play the game they love and bring their school a second national title.

“This season has definitely been one I’ll never forget,” Lake said. “The chemistry and mentality of this team reminds me so much of 2012 because it feels like a family again, and collectively we are a stronger and more mentally tough team than a year ago.”

At Marian, players aren’t just teammates, they’re family. Players coach each other just as much as the coaches do, understanding that a team is only as strong as its weakest player.

You won’t normally see the Knights on ESPN, although they’ll be playing on ESPNU against Southern Oregon on Friday, December 19 at 3 p.m. ET. But if you’re looking for a college powerhouse that plays football the right way, you’ll have a hard time finding a place better than Marian.

Follow @TylerDBrooke