SALISBURY, Md. – This is "Nest to Nest," a regular series spotlighting the big miles and bigger stories of the Sea Gull student-athletes on each team who traveled the farthest to be at Salisbury University. This week,
Mike Schutz of the SU football team takes us farther than we've ever gone before, up to a little-bit-of-everything town in the Pacific Northwest.
Mike Schutz | Sr. Quarterback, Football
Hometown:
Bend, Oregon
Population:
99,178
Distance from Salisbury:
2,802 miles
Driving Time:
42 hours
What would you say your hometown is known for?
Bend is known for its outdoor recreation. It's very nature-focused, I don't know how else to say it – lots of activities like kayaking, swimming, hiking, skiing in the winter, swimming in lakes, and all that. It's also known for its 40 craft breweries.
What's your favorite hometown hangout spot?
It's got to be Cultus Lake, which is about 20-30 minutes from my house; that's my favorite hangout spot. Another one would be down on the Deschutes River that runs through the middle of town.
Which local sports teams do you root for?
Personally I'm a big [Las Vegas] Raiders fan. Also the [Seattle] Mariners and [University of Oregon] Ducks. I'm a big Oregon Ducks football fan.
How did you hear about Salisbury University?
Well, I was transferring from my old school in Oregon, so I took a semester off and wanted to go back to school, and I started sending out some emails. Then [assistant coach and recruiting coordinator]
Doug Fleetwood reached out, and we got talking, and eventually I did a visit and really liked the spot out here.
What's the biggest difference between life in your hometown and life here in Salisbury?
Everything is more spread out on the West Coast – not as much traffic, not as many people. That's probably the biggest difference. And it's a bit of a different climate – in the summer, it's very humid here while it's very dry where I'm from up in the mountains.
What's something you can turn to that reminds you of your hometown on the days when you miss it?
I just call my friends from home. They're all kind of spread out throughout the country now, but it's good to talk to them, talk about the old days in the hometown.
How would you sell someone on visiting your hometown?
I would say if you like extreme sports, I think it's the place to be. If you like to ski, it's got a great mountain, Mount Bachelor. In the summer if you like to mountain bike and just be outdoors, it's a great place to be. It's got a lot going for it out there.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 24 individual national championships, and 206 conference championships, and have produced 53 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
