Dickinson State University’s next football game is over eight months away, but preparation for next season has already begun, says John Tuchscherer, a former Rugby player and now a standout on the Blue Hawks team.

DSU completed quite a turnaround this past season, starting 0-3 before going 7-0 in the Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) and advancing to the NAIA playoffs before losing to Carroll College of Montana.

Tuchscherer said just a week after that playoff loss returning players were back in the weight room, looking ahead to next season and hopefully another trip to the playoffs.

College football is far bigger a commitment than high school, said Tuchscherer, who is the son of Jim and Jodi Tuchscherer and a 2005 RHS graduate. There are weeks of strength and conditioning, meetings with coaches and eventually spring and fall camp before games and in-season practices.

Tuchscherer redshirted his first season before suiting up the past three. “I played a little as a freshman and then a lot as a sophomore and eventually became a starter (this past season),” he said.

This was by far his best season. The defensive tackle recorded five quarterback sacks and was selected to the all-conference second team.

“At the beginning of the season I wouldn’t have believed (I had a chance to be an all-conference player), but as the season went along, I was having more success.“

He’s hoping his senior year will be even better. Following the semester break, Tuchscherer said more off-season acceleration and conditioning are planned prior to spring ball.

Although a big portion of his time is spent with football, John is just three semesters away from graduating with an elementary education degree. Tuchscherer is on track to earn his degree in 2010 following student teaching.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with kids (at football activities in Dickinson), and even when I was coaching youth baseball in Rugby,” he said. “It’s a great career, and it’s an opportunity to also coach athletics.”

Balancing football with academics is all about managing your time. “You have your football meeting at 7 a.m. before class, and then after practice at night you get your studies in,” he said. “You just adjust your schedule to fit it all in.”

The choice to attend DSU was the right fit for John, who received a scholarship. “It’s a small school with small classes, and I like that,” he said. “I’ve also formed a lot of friendships. It’s been a good experience.”

Both on the field and in the classroom.