Senior Feature -- Shan Schauffler
9/30/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 30, 2002
By Rob Coons
MU Athletic Media Relations
Week in and week out, Missouri tailback Shan Schauffler draws a different set of comparisons to his style.
Quentin Griffin? Sure, he's heard that before.
Cedric Benson? You bet.
For the past four years, Schauffler has been among the hardest working members of the MU team. Before he ever hits the field, he's watching film and studying hard to make sure he knows his plays. His level of dedication might just be unmatched.
So why haven't you heard of him before?
Schauffler doesn't live in the spotlight that is reserved for game-day players - but that's okay with him. His role on the team is just as important, but he doesn't get all the attention. For the past four years, Schauffler has been the top tailback on Missouri's scout team, the group responsible for making sure the Tiger starters are responsible for knowing their opponent's plays before the game ever starts.
"Every week we're like a different offense," Schauffler said in a recent interview. "We watch film of that week's opponent, we meet with coaches to study their plays. It's our job to show the defense what they need to do to be well-prepared and ready to play come Saturday."
As the top scout-team tailback, Schauffler's job is to learn to be the back that MU's defense will face that week. Even though he must learn a new set of plays every week during the season, he says it's not as hard as it may sound.
"For the most part all plays are universal with just some slight variations," he said. "Some are more elaborate than others, but once you've done this job for four years you get in a rhythm and you pick it up fast."
While most players on the team focus on Saturdays, Schauffler and the scout team work the hardest the rest of the week. Come game days though, they still have an important role on the team.
"We get to dress, we warm up with the team, and then it's our job to be the most excited group in the stadium," he said. "If we keep our attitudes high, it helps keep the guys who are playing's attitudes high as well."
Schauffler admits it can be hard to stand on the sidelines knowing he won't be getting any playing time, but he says there are moments when it feels like his work has paid off as well.
"When you see our defense driving an opponent backwards, it feels really good. You know you did your job well because they're so prepared.
"Sometimes it's hard to stand around and watch, because you're itching to get in there and play. But I know that I'm playing the game I love. I might not be playing on Saturdays, but I get to play every other day of the week."
For Schauffler, love of football developed at an early age. Growing up in Huntsville, Mo., Schauffler played football in the backyard with his older brother, Drew.
"Basically I was just the little kid who ran around and did what people told me to," he said. "The first time I played organized football was in seventh grade. We got to put pads on, and I was hooked from that moment."
Not only was he hooked on the sport, he was good at it too. Schauffler was a four-year letterwinner at Westran High School, where he racked up 5,007 career rushing yards. His senior season he was named all-state, and had a game where he rushed for 382 yards and five touchdowns.
Still, Schauffler says playing college football didn't even occur to him until his junior year. When he decided to come to Mizzou, he wasn't even able to walk on because the team's roster was full.
After missing an entire season, Schauffler was finally able to join the team in the winter of his freshman year.
"It's tough to be a walk-on," he said. "You have to come out every day and give it your absolute all. You have to fight and scrap just to stay on the team. I've done that every day, and I've never been called into the coach's office, so I go home and thank God for giving me another day on the team."
Fighting for his roster spot on a daily basis, it's no surprise that Schauffler draws on his inspirations to keep him going. He credits his family and his faith with helping him along the way.
"My family has always been behind me, since day one," he said. "And I wouldn't be doing any of this if God hadn't given me the opportunity.
"Also, coming from a small town like Huntsville has inspired me. It seems like the whole town keeps tabs on what I'm doing here. That community has been so great to me, and I hope they're proud of what I've done."
Schauffler says coming from a town the size of Huntsville (population 1,567) to a large university like MU was kind of a shock at first.
"Some of my classes had more people in them than in my entire high school," he said. "But part of what's so special about Mizzou is that it doesn't feel like a big school. Everyone here is really friendly and really close. I see people I know all the time when I'm walking on campus, and it helps make this school seem smaller than it really is."
Even though his road has been difficult over the past five years, looking back Schauffler says he's happy with the choices he's made.
"People ask me if I regret coming here instead of going to a smaller school where I maybe could have played more," he said. "I'm happy. If I were somewhere else, I'd always wonder if I could have made it at the University of Missouri.
"All the decisions I've made in my life, I've made with a goal in mind. Everything that has happened has been good for me."
