Ben Mauk

Infobox Gridiron football person
team=Saskatchewan Roughriders
Name=Ben Mauk


caption = Ben Mauk after a 27-3 win against UConn. Note the large scar on his right arm from reconstructive surgery.
number=11
DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1985|1|4
Birthplace=Kenton, Ohio
Position=QB
College= Wake Forest University/University of Cincinnati
playing_years= 2008-"present"
playing_teams= Saskatchewan Roughriders
CFL=


ImageWidth=150
Caption=Ben Mauk after a 27-3 win against Connecticut.
status=Active
import=yes
Height_ft=6
Height_in=1
Weight_lbs=200
career_highlights=
CFLAllStar=
Awards=
Honors=
Records=

Gary Benjamin "Ben" Mauk (born January 4, 1985 in Kenton, Ohio) is an American football quarterback who is currently with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL. He completed his college football career in 2007 for the Cincinnati Bearcats. He attended high school at Kenton High School where he set national passing records as a senior. He then went on to play at Wake Forest, and then later transferred to Cincinnati at the conclusion of the 2006 season. Mauk tried to gain one more year of eligibility for the 2008 season. However, he was turned down by the NCAA. Mauk appealed his case a final time via teleconference; on September 3, 2008 he learned that had been denied [ [http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/SPT0101/309030076&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL Mauk Denied Again] ]

On September 9, 2008, Hardin County Judge William Hart refused to grant a permanent injunction against the NCAA that would have allowed Ben Mauk to rejoin the Bearcats. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bigeast/2008-09-09-mauk-injuction-denied_N.htm Mauk's quest takes hit after court turns down injuction request] ]

High school

Mauk led the Kenton Wildcats to consecutive Ohio Division IV championships in 2001 and 2002. At the completion of his senior season, Ben gained national recognition by winning the 2002 Ohio Mr. Football Award, 2002 Gatorade Ohio Football Player of the Year and the 2002 Art Tuion Award Winner.

During his high school career, Mauk became one of the most celebrated quarterbacks in Ohio High School Athletics Association history:

NATIONAL RECORDS

Total Yards, Career1st, 19,628 1999-2002 (17,364 passing, 2,264 rushing)

Total Yards, Season1st, 7,928 2002 (6,540 passing, 1,388 rushing)2nd, 6,727 2001 (5,770 passing, 957 rushing)

Total Yards, Per Game1st, 528.5 2002 (7,928/15)2nd, 448.5 2001 (6,727/15)5th, 395.5 2000 (3,955/10)

Passing yards per game1st, 436.0ypg (2002)4th, 384.7ypg (2001)

Most Passing Attempts, Career1st, 1,905 (1999-2002)

Most Passing Attempts, Season1st, 674 (2001)2nd, 669 (2002)

Most Passing Attempts, Per Game4th, 44.9 2001 (674/15)5th, 44.6 2002 (669/15)

Most Completions, Career2nd, 1,095 (1999-2002)

Most Completions, Season2nd, 413 (2002)3rd, 369 (2001)

Most Completions, Per Game3rd, 27.5 (2002) 9th, 24.6 (2001)

TD Passes, Career2nd, 178 (1999-2002)

TD Passes, Season2nd, 76 (2002)12th, 60 (2001)

Passing Yards, Career1st, 17,364 (1999-2002)

Passing Yards, Season 1st, 6,540 (2002)2nd, 5,770 (2001)57th, 3,936 (2000)

College

Wake Forest

Ben came to Wake as a highly touted recruit, but failed to live up to high expectations before suffering a shoulder injury during the first game of 2006.

2003

Didn't see any action, due to being redshirted.

2004

In his first year in 2004, Ben played in ten games, while starting three. Made an instant splash on his first collegiate snap by setting the record for longest touchdown pass in Wake history, at 85 yards, against Clemson. Mauk later named to The Sporting News's ACC All-Freshman Team. Lead the Deacons to a 4-7 overall record.

2005

Mauk looked to capitalize on his standout freshman year by coming up big in 2005 with an even better sophomore season, but finished with average results. Played in ten games, started seven, and sent them to a repeat 4-7 record.

2006

Mauk entered his junior season hungry for more, but suffered a catastrophic injury to his right (throwing) arm in the first game against Syracuse. Mauk attempted to recover a fumble in the third quarter when two Orange players fell on the arm. He suffered a fractured humerus, a dislocated shoulder, and a torn labrum. Shortly after the injury, he underwent reconstructive surgery in which surgeons put a titanium plate with eight screws in his upper arm and installed three anchors in the shoulder.cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3097398&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab5pos3 |title='Bionic' quarterback leading surging Bearcats |first=Joe |last=Starkey |publisher="ESPN.com" |date=2007-11-06 |accessdate=2007-12-12] The Deacons, with redshirt freshman Riley Skinner taking over for Mauk, would go on to finish 11-3, winning their first ACC Championship Game, and on to the school's first BCS game in the Orange Bowl, in which the Deacons would lose to the Louisville Cardinals.

Cincinnati

Because of Mauk's reconstructive surgery and Skinner's breakout season, it was doubtful that Mauk could compete for playing time at Wake in 2007. He decided to take advantage of an NCAA rule, since rescinded, that allowed graduate students with remaining athletic eligibility to transfer and become immediately eligible. Mauk came to Cincinnati primarily because it was close to his hometown and new coach Brian Kelly was installing a spread offense similar to the one he ran in high school. The major question was whether his arm would improve enough to allow him to play.cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=3110809 |title=Cincinnati QB Mauk starting to feel good with metal-filled arm |author=Associated Press |publisher="ESPN.com" |date=2007-11-14 |accessdate=2007-12-12] For his part, Kelly was not sure whether Mauk could come back; he had the Bearcats' medical team contact the physicians who performed Mauk's surgery, and required that he pass a physical examination with emphasis on the throwing arm. Ultimately, Kelly decided to bring Mauk in, figuring that if nothing else, Mauk could serve as a mentor for the Bearcats' younger quarterbacks who would have to adjust to the spread offense.

2007

Mauk, who was named the starting quarterback over junior Dustin Grutza, was trying to lead the Bearcats to their first winning season in the Big East. The Bearcats jumped out ahead early, winning all five non-conference games. They then entered Big East play, with Mauk leading them to victories over Syracuse, UConn, USF, and Rutgers. Mauk and the Bearcats finished with a 10-3 overall record, capping their season and Mauk's college career with a 31-21 win over Southern Miss in the 2007 PapaJohn's.com Bowl in which Mauk threw for 334 yards, four TDs, and three interceptions, becoming the game's MVP. This gave the Bearcats their first 10-win season since 1951, and virtually assured them a spot in the season-ending national rankings for the first time ever. [cite news|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=273562132 |title=Mauk, Bearcats spoil Bower's final game at Southern Miss. |publisher="ESPN.com" |date=2007-12-22 |accessdate=2007-12-22]

Mauk, called by his Cincinnati teammates the "Bionic Man" due to the various metallic objects installed in his arm, proved to be an inspiration to them. Bearcats safety Haruki Nakamura said about Mauk, "The first time I saw the scar, I was like: 'What is that? Did you get a shark bite?' For someone to endure that sort of pain is unbelievable. To do what he's done this year is great. He's definitely become an impact player on this team."

References

* [http://gobearcats.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mauk_ben00.html Cincinnati Bearcats bio]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3245700 Profile] at ESPN.com
* [http://www.nfhs.org/core/contentmanager/uploads/PDFs/Publications/football_part1.pdf High school stats (part 1)]
* [http://www.nfhs.org/core/contentmanager/uploads/PDFs/Publications/Football_part2.pdf High school stats (part 2)]