Northern Game Day: Cover Man

Football has been a journey for Montana State University-Northern's Malcolm Manuel and it's one that he won't soon forget.

Manuel came to Northern two years ago from Golden West College and since his arrival he has been an important part of Lights football, and not just on the field, but off it as well.

"Malcolm is just a great person," Lights defensive coordinator Jake Eldrigde said. "He just does everything the right way and not just on the X's and O's, but off the field, the way he handles himself he has earned a lot of respect from his peers and from the community by doing things right and doing what he is supposed to do."

Manuel, who has played cornerback the last two years for Northern has been a steady presence of leadership during what has been a disappointing season to say the least. The Lights have started 0-5 and three of their losses have come in blowout fashion. Yet, as one of the team's captains, Manuel has taken it upon himself to keep things positive and keep the team from not giving up.

"It's been hard," Manuel said. "But I have just tried to do what I can to stay positive. We will joke around a little bit before practice just to keep things light. I think that we do have a lot of talent. We just have a lot of young guys that haven't played a lot before. So we are just trying to be positive and keep going."

Manuel, who has been playing the game of football since he was a kid growing up outside of Los Angeles, didn't expect his football career to take him to Havre. But, following two years of playing wide receiver and defensive back for Golden West College in Huntington Beach, California, Havre is where he ended up.

"I had a scholarship to go to a Division II school in Colorado, but it didn't work out," Manuel said. "Their coaching staff got let go, so I started sending my film around the conference. I talked to Coach (Kyle) Samson and I ended up coming to Northern."

And even though Havre was a big change for the kid from Southern California, Manuel quickly adjusted to small town life. 

"It was a big culture shock for sure when I first came up here with my parents," Manuel said. "But I got used to it and fit in pretty quickly. I really like it here. I think the community is great. We get a lot of support from them, but I also made some good friends. I have really enjoyed it here."

On the field, there hasn't been a lot for Manuel and the Lights to celebrate the last two years. They are just 3-13 during his 16-game career and so far this season, the Lights are 0-5. Yet, Manuel is undeterred and said he is doing everything in his power to help his club get off the snide.

"That is my biggest thing right now," Manuel said. "I just want to get a win. I would love to get two, or three or four wins. But right now, I at least want to get one. That would mean a lot with it being my senior year."

As a corner, Manuel has had his moments, and during this two seasons, he has amassed solid numbers with 43 tackles, two tackles for loss, eight pass breakups and three interceptions. He also blocked a kick that preserved a win over Montana Tech a season ago and returned a blocked extra point for two points in a loss earlier this season to Montana-Western. 

"That was probably be my favorite memory of playing for Northern was in that game against Tech," Manuel said. "They had a late field goal to try and tie the game and I don't even know if I was supposed to go, but I got in there and got a piece of it. So that is probably the play that I will remember most."

Unfortunately, Manuel's football career, at least as a player is down to just six games. And even though he knows the team won't be competing for the Frontier Conference championship this season or anything of the sort, he is still motivated and determined not only to get better himself, but to help his teammates get better as well.

"I think they (the MSU-N coaches) have brought in a lot of talent," Maneul said. "They are just really young. But if they grow together, I think they can be good and that's something I would take a lot of pride in down the road. I try to work really hard with the freshmen and even sophomores to do what I can to help them improve."

That is also the reason why Manuel wants to purse a masters degree in sports management once his career at Northern is over and he graduates from MSU-N with a degree in health promotion this spring. Coaching and being in a leadership role are things that come naturally to him. That's why he has been so successful as one of the team's captains this season and why, if he chooses coaching as a profession, he should have success.

"Malcolm is everything a coach could want out of a captain," Eldridge said. "He is a great leader and I think he would make a great coach someday. He has great communication skills and he is just kind of a soft spoken person. There is just something about him that he can communicate well and get along with all different kinds of people. I think he would be great at anything he does because he is a great person, but he would be especially good at coaching."

Manuel said he plans to go to graduate school next year, but he is not sure where. Yet, those decisions will come in due time. Right now, he is focused on the present. He wants to enjoy his last year of college football, trying to get one more win and cherishing every second he gets on the field with his teammates.

"I think the thing I will remember the most about my time playing football at Northern is all the friends that I have made," Manuel said. "I don't think you could come here for 2-3 weeks and not make a friend. I have built some really great relationships with guys like Tyler Craig and Garrett Jericoff and those are the kinds of friendships that will last a lifetime."