Ben Mauk
Encyclopedia
Gary Benjamin "Ben" Mauk (born January 4, 1985 in Kenton, Ohio
) is an American football quarterback
who was most recently the quarterback for the Cincinnati Commandos
of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL), and with the Saskatchewan Roughriders
of the Canadian Football League
(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.
, 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, Career
1st, 19,628 1999-2002 (17,364 passing, 2,264 rushing)
Total Yards, Season
1st, 7,928 2002 (6,540 passing, 1,388 rushing)
2nd, 6,727 2001 (5,770 passing, 957 rushing)
Total Yards, Per Game
1st, 528.5 2002 (7,928/15)
2nd, 448.5 2001 (6,727/15)
5th, 395.5 2000 (3,955/10)
Passing yards per game
1st, 436.0ypg (2002)
4th, 384.7ypg (2001)
Most Passing Attempts, Career
1st, 1,905 (1999–2002)
Most Passing Attempts, Season
1st, 674 (2001)
2nd, 669 (2002)
Most Passing Attempts, Per Game
4th, 44.9 2001 (674/15)
5th, 44.6 2002 (669/15)
Most Completions, Career
2nd, 1,095 (1999–2002)
Most Completions, Season
2nd, 413 (2002)
3rd, 369 (2001)
Most Completions, Per Game
3rd, 27.5 (2002)
9th, 24.6 (2001)
TD Passes, Career
2nd, 178 (1999–2002)
TD Passes, Season
2nd, 76 (2002)
12th, 60 (2001)
Passing Yards, Career
1st, 17,364 (1999–2002)
Passing Yards, Season
1st, 6,540 (2002)
2nd, 5,770 (2001)
57th, 3,936 (2000)
, on his first collegiate snap, he set the record for longest touchdown pass in Wake history, at 85 yards. He led the Deacons to a 4-7 overall record and was named to The Sporting News's ACC All-Freshman Team
. In 2005, he played in ten games, and started seven; the Deacons had another 4-7 season.
In 2006, Mauk 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. 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
.
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. 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.
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 and 4 TD's, 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.
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."
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
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.
of the Canadian Football League
. He was released in October following an injury.
team, the Cincinnati Commandos
. In his first season with the team (2010), he started 9 regular season games and threw for 52 touchdowns and 1631 yards, both league highs, capturing the CIFL MVP and CIFL Championship Game MVP awards as the Commandos went 11-1 and won the league championship.
In his 2nd season, he played in just 2 games, completing 10 of 17 passes for 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. During his 2nd game, he was ejected during the 2nd game of the season for an illegal hit after throwing an interception. As a result, Mauk was suspended by the league for 2 games, and was eventually fed up with the CIFL and left the Commandos.
in 2011. He left the team for medical reasons and was released on February 23.
Kenton, Ohio
Kenton is a city in and the county seat of Hardin County, Ohio, United States, along the Scioto River. The population was 8,262 at the 2010 census. It is named for Kentucky/Ohio frontiersman, Simon Kenton...
) is an American football quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
who was most recently the quarterback for the Cincinnati Commandos
Cincinnati Commandos
The Cincinnati Commandos are team of the Ultimate Indoor Football League. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Commandos play their home games at the Cincinnati Gardens. Their team is based around Cincinnati area talent, such as Ben Mauk, Dominick Goodman, Robert Redd and Terrill Byrd...
of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL), and with the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
(CFL). He completed his college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
career in 2007
2007 Cincinnati Bearcats football team
The 2007 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2007 college football season. The team, coached by Brian Kelly, played its home games in Nippert Stadium, as it has since 1923...
for the Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
Bearcats
Cincinnati Bearcats
The Cincinnati Bearcats are the NCAA athletic teams representing the University of Cincinnati. Since July 1, 2005, the school's athletic teams have been members of the Big East Conference....
. 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
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
, and then later transferred to Cincinnati at the conclusion of the 2006
2006 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team
The 2006 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Jim Grobe, in his fifth season at the school, and played its home games at Groves Stadium...
season.
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 AwardMr. Football Award (Ohio)
The Mr. Football Award has been given out annually since 1987 to the player voted by the Associated Press to be the best high school football player in the state of Ohio...
, 2002 Gatorade Ohio Football Player of the Year
Gatorade
Gatorade is a brand of sports-themed food and beverage products, built around its signature product: a line of sports drinks. Gatorade is currently manufactured by PepsiCo, distributed in over 80 countries...
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, Career
1st, 19,628 1999-2002 (17,364 passing, 2,264 rushing)
Total Yards, Season
1st, 7,928 2002 (6,540 passing, 1,388 rushing)
2nd, 6,727 2001 (5,770 passing, 957 rushing)
Total Yards, Per Game
1st, 528.5 2002 (7,928/15)
2nd, 448.5 2001 (6,727/15)
5th, 395.5 2000 (3,955/10)
Passing yards per game
1st, 436.0ypg (2002)
4th, 384.7ypg (2001)
Most Passing Attempts, Career
1st, 1,905 (1999–2002)
Most Passing Attempts, Season
1st, 674 (2001)
2nd, 669 (2002)
Most Passing Attempts, Per Game
4th, 44.9 2001 (674/15)
5th, 44.6 2002 (669/15)
Most Completions, Career
2nd, 1,095 (1999–2002)
Most Completions, Season
2nd, 413 (2002)
3rd, 369 (2001)
Most Completions, Per Game
3rd, 27.5 (2002)
9th, 24.6 (2001)
TD Passes, Career
2nd, 178 (1999–2002)
TD Passes, Season
2nd, 76 (2002)
12th, 60 (2001)
Passing Yards, Career
1st, 17,364 (1999–2002)
Passing Yards, Season
1st, 6,540 (2002)
2nd, 5,770 (2001)
57th, 3,936 (2000)
Wake Forest
He was redshirted his first season, in 2003. In 2004, Ben played in ten games, while starting three. Against Clemson UniversityClemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, on his first collegiate snap, he set the record for longest touchdown pass in Wake history, at 85 yards. He led the Deacons to a 4-7 overall record and was named to The Sporting News's ACC All-Freshman Team
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
. In 2005, he played in ten games, and started seven; the Deacons had another 4-7 season.
In 2006, Mauk suffered a catastrophic injury to his right (throwing) arm in the first game against Syracuse
Syracuse Orange football
The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision...
. Mauk attempted to recover a fumble in the third quarter when two Orange players fell on the arm. He suffered a fractured humerus
Humerus
The humerus is a long bone in the arm or forelimb that runs from the shoulder to the elbow....
, 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. The Deacons, with redshirt freshman Riley Skinner
Riley Skinner
Riley Skinner is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Wake Forest.-College career:...
taking over for Mauk, would go on to finish 11-3, winning their first ACC Championship Game
ACC Championship Game
The Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game is an American college football game held on the first Saturday in December by the Atlantic Coast Conference each year to determine its football champion. The game pits the champion of the Coastal Division against the champion of the Atlantic Division in a game...
, and on to the school's first BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
game in the Orange Bowl
2007 Orange Bowl
The 2007 FedEx Orange Bowl game is a college football bowl game. It is part of the 2006-2007 Bowl Championship Series of the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Orange Bowl was first played in 1935. The 2007 game was played on January 2, 2007, at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens,...
, in which the Deacons would lose to the Louisville Cardinals
2006 Louisville Cardinals football team
The 2006 Louisville Cardinals football team represented the University of Louisville in the 2006 college football season. The team, led by Bobby Petrino in his fourth year at the school, played their home games in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium...
.
Cincinnati
Because of Mauk's reconstructive surgery, it was doubtful that Wake Forest would let Mauk 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 chose the University of CincinnatiUniversity of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
primarily because it was close to his hometown and new coach Brian Kelly
Brian Kelly (coach)
Brian Keith Kelly is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame, a position he has held since the 2010 season...
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. 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.
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
2007 Connecticut Huskies football team
The 2007 Connecticut Huskies football team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2007 college football season as a member of the Big East Conference. The team was coached by Randy Edsall and played its home games at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut...
, USF
2007 South Florida Bulls football team
The 2007 University of South Florida Bulls football team represented the University of South Florida in the 2007 college football season. Their head coach was Jim Leavitt, and the USF Bulls will played all of their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL...
, and Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represents Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision play...
. 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 and 4 TD's, 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.
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
Haruki Nakamura
Haruki Robert Nakamura is an American football safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League.-Early life:...
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."
Mauk tried to gain one more year of eligibility for the 2008 season
2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 28, 2008, progressing through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 8, 2009, where the #2...
. However, he was turned down by the NCAA. Mauk appealed his case a final time via teleconference
Teleconference
A teleconference or teleseminar is the live exchange and mass articulation of information among several persons and machines remote from one another but linked by a telecommunications system...
; on September 3, 2008 he learned that had been denied
On September 9, 2008, Hardin County
Hardin County, Ohio
Hardin County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 32,058. Its county seat is Kenton and is named for John Hardin, an officer in the American Revolution.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Judge William Hart refused to grant a permanent injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
against the NCAA that would have allowed Ben Mauk to rejoin the Bearcats.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
In September 2008, Mauk signed with the Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He was released in October following an injury.
Cincinnati Commandos
Mauk was the quarterback for Cincinnati's indoor footballIndoor football
Indoor football is a term used to describe several variations of American football which are played indoors. It is important to note that NFL or College games played in locations such as the Astrodome or the Superdome do not qualify as indoor football as they are using a standard size playing field...
team, the Cincinnati Commandos
Cincinnati Commandos
The Cincinnati Commandos are team of the Ultimate Indoor Football League. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Commandos play their home games at the Cincinnati Gardens. Their team is based around Cincinnati area talent, such as Ben Mauk, Dominick Goodman, Robert Redd and Terrill Byrd...
. In his first season with the team (2010), he started 9 regular season games and threw for 52 touchdowns and 1631 yards, both league highs, capturing the CIFL MVP and CIFL Championship Game MVP awards as the Commandos went 11-1 and won the league championship.
In his 2nd season, he played in just 2 games, completing 10 of 17 passes for 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. During his 2nd game, he was ejected during the 2nd game of the season for an illegal hit after throwing an interception. As a result, Mauk was suspended by the league for 2 games, and was eventually fed up with the CIFL and left the Commandos.
Tampa Bay Storm
Mauk was invited to tryout with the Tampa Bay StormTampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
in 2011. He left the team for medical reasons and was released on February 23.