As Lackawanna College football pivots into the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, they have a new leader at the helm, Mark Duda, as resigned. And Mark Ross now takes over. And, of course, a familiar name in our area. Former Misericordia University coach would put that program. You’re down at Bloomsburg. What did attract you to this job, especially heading into the PSAC Mark?

Mark Ross, Lackawanna college football coach says, ‘ You know, a big part of it was moving into the PSAC. That was kind of initial attraction. I thought, hey, maybe I can help them with that transition. But kind of what sold it for me coming here, Meeting with Eric. Meeting with Erica. Meeting with Jill. They just kind of sold it on, you know, top down. I thought the the vision and alignment was perfect. “

Ide asks , You’ve been in Division two football. You’ve been in the PSAC. So, What’s the toughest thing about this transition for what was a junior college?

Ross responds “ You know, trying to balance helping the kids that that that are looking to move, move on someplace else and those that want to stay in and move forward, that’s probably the biggest challenge in my opinion.

And it’s, you know, the football side of it’s football. You know, these kids know how to play the game. You know, we’re working with them. We just got started, a couple nights ago with practice. And we’ve got this month now leading into our spring game, but, I think it’s the off field stuff. You know, trying to give them a roadmap of where they want to go.”

Why is Lackawanna College maybe a good fit for the PSAC? I mean, I know it’s a transition up, you know, what do you think?

“Well, I think there’s a lot of history here. A lot of good football has been played here. We’ve got very good players. You know, my experience in a the PSAC and looking at what we have here, we can go in and compete with teams.

What that look like? You know, that’ll be determined. But I think we we can compete with that. I think geographically, it makes a lot of sense. Obviously balances out the, the PSAC. And this is an area that historically a lot of kids that played int he PSAC you know, play high school football. So, I think it’s just a natural fit myself. “

Ide asks, You’re following a legend, Of course. Marty, for a long time, he’s still. He’s still around helping you. So, you know, what is that interaction been with Coach Duda ?

Ross says, “ He has been great, I kind of broke that rule never follow, never be the guy to follow the guy. And, he’s he’s been tough, to follow, but he’s been very helpful.

You know, insight in some things. And at the same time, staying away from it just enough to let us to try and build it the way we want to build it. “