Silver City, NM- Senior Mitch Glassmann has had a record-breaking season this year, the latest of many since starting as a quarterback for Western New Mexico University’s football team. Born in Long Beach California, and living in Temecula, California since the age of three, Glassmann attended Chaparral High School where he was quarterback for the football team. Throughout his high school career, Glassmann threw a total of 4,600 yards, 44 passing touchdowns, and 27 rushing touchdowns.
Glassmann started his football life at the age of seven, making this year his 16th year of football. Growing up a Denver Broncos fan, attributing that mostly to his father and grandfather, Glassmann was inspired by John Elway to become a quarterback and from then on he took the role. His family also played football, his father was also a quarterback, while two of his cousins played wide-receiver and cornerback at Colorado Mines when Glassmann was a freshman in high school.
Outside of football, Glassmann also played baseball until he was in 8th grade. “If I stuck with baseball, I could have done something as far as pitching goes,” Glassmann said. He also participated in track and basketball.
Glassmann’s favorite quarterbacks to watch are Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers for his play-making abilities, and Tom Brady of the New England Patriots for his competiveness. However when asked who he tries to replicate as a QB, Glassmann sees himself as a few different types of quarterbacks; Sam Bradford (Philadelphia Eagles) with his arm angling, Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) with looking down the field, and Rodgers with his mobility in the pocket.
Fresh out of high school, Glassmann had a few college offers ranging from Division I colleges to One-Double AA colleges; these being New Mexico State University, Washington State University, Stony Brooks (in the east), and of course Western New Mexico University. However, Glassmann decided to give himself a break by saying, “I was pretty burnt out on football and I hadn’t really had a job and my own free time, so I wanted to experience that.” He then took two seasons off and went to junior college.
Glassmann came back to football after watching experienced quarterbacks and soon realized that he could also be doing those things. With this in mind, he began spreading the word that he wanted to get back into football. Soon later, his old high school coach and good friend, Coach Clarke, reached out to Glassmann, saying he wanted to offer his help. This wasn’t Clarke’s first time helping Glassman out, as he also wanted to train him back in high school. Glassmann soon realized Clarke was really dedicated to helping him, saying, “If he was willing to offer me back then and then two years later, it is someone who was committed to me and really believed in me.”
Glassmann knew that if he attended a Division II college, he would have four years to play, as opposed to a Division I college where he would be able to play for only two years. Glassmann then decided to go with a D-II college and play for WNMU.
On September 26th, 2015, Mitch broke the all-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference touchdown passes against Colorado State University-Pueblo. Now having 100 touchdown passes in his career, Glassmann at first had no idea that he broke the record, saying, “After the game we lost, everybody was saying congratulations and I [realized that] I must have broken it.” Just a few weeks later, Glassmann went on to break the all-time passing yards in RMAC against Colorado Mesa Mavericks.
Glassmann attributes his success to his work ethic and mentality as well as all the coaches, wide receivers, running backs, and lineman that have come and gone during his time here at Western.
“It’s easy to wake up at 6:30 and throw a football, but it’s more difficult to go and run the routes.” Glassmann said.
A special teammate that Glassmann feels blessed by is offensive line Michael Coe, who he has played with for every game since starting as freshman at WNMU. Unfortunately, Coe tore his peck and is now out for the season.
“He was reliable for me every game,” Glassmann said. “Even though he is not with me this year, the last three years of my success is attributed to that guy.”
Glassmann is currently double majoring in business management and marketing, and after graduating, plans to work for a company or start off with an internship. When asked where he sees himself in ten years, Glassmann said, “If I could choose, I would like to be stable somewhere in Colorado. My dad’s side grew up there and I really like it there, like the outdoors. But I’m not too picky. If I could live in Silver City, a town of 11,000 people for four years, I could live in a few other different places.”
The Mustang Football team’s record this year is 2-6, with Glassmann throwing a total of 2,673 yards, 19 touchdown passes with 12 interceptions, and currently has an average of 381.9 yards/game.
