Ex-Osseo Guard Bunders Gives Gophers Leadership

Chris Bunders, a 6-foot-3, 292-pound left guard from Maple Grove, is entering his third season as a starter with the University of Minnesota Golden Gopher football team.

Bunders has been through a redshirt season, two position changes and a new head coach. Despite all the ups and downs, the senior has been a stabilizing presence on the Gopher offensive line. Maple Grove Patch caught up with Bunders during the first week of practice to talk about his expectations for his senior year, adjusting to a new coaching staff and his memories of playing at .

Expectations

Bunders started all 12 games last season for the Gophers at left guard as Minnesota finished 3-9. However, they won their final two games, including a thrilling 27-24 in the home finale over Iowa to win Floyd of Rosedale. Fans are hoping that the two wins can build some momentum under new head coach Jerry Kill.

Gopher offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover thinks that Bunders’ experience and leadership is important for an offensive line that lost three starters.

“I think that is a huge thing having a kid that has been around,” Limegrover said. “He’s got 20-some starts in the Big Ten, because we are so young in the O-line. I’ve been really happy with him. He does a great job of really taking a leadership role with that group and talking about his experiences and really showing those guys what it is going to take to be a successful lineman in Big Ten. He has done a great job with it. He is very consistent and a very steady kid.

Bunders said it is great to be back on the football field for the start of practice this week

“It’s wonderful,” Bunders said. “It’s about time to get pads back on. It felt good today. A little more physical, but we need to start working on more technique now and once we get our pads on, it is a whole different thing than doing it in just pajamas.”

Bunders doesn’t expect his role to change much with the new coaching staff.

“My role is to just be one of a part of five on the offensive line,” Bunders said. “Working together and trying to get five as one and we’ll be good.”

Eric Klein, the head strength and conditioning coach, has been working with Kill for 17 years and has been praised as one of the top people in his field. Bunders feels that the off-season work with Klein and his staff could pay big dividends this season.

“Definitely,” Bunders said. “I have been here for five summers now and I think this is the best shape that I have ever been in. We have some of the most knowledgeable strength coaches that I know of in the nation. They’ve got us ready for camp and now it’s our turn to put it on the field.”

Bunders dropped 12 pounds in the offseason and worked hard during the summer to get ready for the 2011 season.

“Personally for me, I definitely had to work to be more of a sound offensive linemen and be a better technician,” Bunders said. “Steps, hand placement and everything like that. The knowledge of the game, you learn through that and I have a little bit of experience, so I can start to anticipate a little bit better. I just need to work on footwork, handwork and pretty much anything else the offensive line focused on this summer and become a better technician.”

Bunders moved to left guard last season after starting all 13 games as a sophomore at right guard. He opened fall camp at tackle as a redshirt freshman before moving inside. Bunders said that he doesn’t have a preference on where he plays on the field.

“Wherever, I can help the team,” Bunders said. “I been working the last few years at left guard, so if that’s where they need me that’s where I’ll play.”

Bunders said that the transition to the new coaching staff has been relatively seamless.

“It was nice getting them in right away, so we got all spring ball with them,” Bunders said. “I think that we have a pretty good relationship with our coach [offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Matt Limegrover]. He expects a lot out of us and we try to live up to his expectations.”

Leadership

Bunders feels the Gophers can build on their two-game winning streak that ended the season.

“I definitely think that we can build on that,” Bunders said. “Some of the guys coming back from last year still have a good taste in their mouth from those last two games. We just have to put in that effort and bring our young guys up and show them how enthusiastic we can be and roll that right into this season and keep on going.”

Bunders has several personal goals for his final collegiate season.

“Personally, I just want to work to be a leader on the offensive line and work to get five guys playing as one,” Bunders said. “The better we play, the better the team plays and the more successful and happy that everyone in the state of Minnesota will be. As long as I can help out the team and work to be a successful Big Ten team and surprise some teams this year, that is what we want to do.”

Memories of Osseo Senior High

Bunders has many fond memories of his Osseo football career.

“I had the honor of playing my freshman year, so that was always a pretty big highlight, coming out of the junior high running over for practice every day,” Bunders said. “It was a great experience. I loved every minute of it and we slowly got more successful as I went at . I loved every minute of it and I wouldn’t give it back for anything. Now, it has all paid off that I have had a chance to play here.”

Bunders’ busy schedule prevents him from making many of the Orioles’ games, but he does his best to follow his alma mater.

“I try to stay up on them as much as I can,” Bunders said. “I had a little bit of an opportunity last summer to go and help with their summer camp and help out with the offensive line and get in touch with some of the guys. It is a little hard to get back for games anymore, but I am looking forward to possibly getting back to one this year on our bye week, if our schedule allows it.”

Bunders indicated he will graduate with a degree in Civil Engineering in the spring of 2012.