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jdredmon@mavs.coloradomesa.edu

When football coach Russ Martin came to CMU, he made it clear that he and his staff were focused on making the Mavericks the best possible team they could, with or without players who brought more disciplinary issues than big plays.

Last week, Martin and his staff reiterated that stance when they chose to release starting quarterback Deke Cisco and offensive lineman Jeff Berghorn from the team for violating the team conduct policy.

“All I can say is that they were dismissed from the squad for violation of team policy,” Martin said. “I can’t go into any detail. It was just something we had to do.”

Cisco was an All-State selection for Cactus High School in Arizona and started the 2012 season as the starter. In all, he started five games and played in nine, completing 45.9 percent of his passes with three touchdowns to seven interceptions. He was primarily seen as a rushing threat by opposing defenses and added 251 yards rushing (enough for second overall on the team) and four touchdowns.

Berghorn was a redshirt-sophomore who was an All-Metro South League selection and an All-State selection for Dakota Ridge High School in Littleton.

The move will undoubtedly be seen as the coaching staff making an example of the players and the consequences of breaking the team’s conduct policy. However, Martin reiterates that it was not a move that the staff was jumping to make. The circumstances were merely too much to not act on.

“We want to make sure we have certain standards we adhere to as a staff and as a team,” Martin said. “Obviously, losing a player like Deke and even Jeff can hurt you as far as the talent and the ability. At the same time, we have to uphold the team rules regardless of who it is.”

Martin and his staff have already set their sights on the future with recruit week having wrapped up and the signings set to be revealed this week. Martin shared that the staff is excited about the prospects expected to sign with CMU, and that now, more than ever, it’s important to keep everyone on the same page and keep a unified approach moving forward.

“We want our players to understand that success, whether on the football field, in the classroom or in life, it’s a process,” Martin said. “When you’re trying to do the right things in one phase of your life, but you’re doing something totally different in another, it creates conflict. You have to continue to do the right things all the time.”

Cisco was unable to be reached for comment.