BETHANY BISON (3-7/1-4 PAC IN 2002)
Bethany College Head Football Coach Chris Snyder doesn’t want to hear it.

After his Bison squad finished his first season at the helm with a 3-7 record, including a 1-4 mark in Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC), Snyder is bringing a new philosophy to the table when his team reports for camp.

“I spent part of the summer meeting with coaches who are in similar situations as we are,” said Snyder. “I wanted to get some insight as to how they handled the same type of limitations that we have. They all said the same thing and that is “No excuses”. We have adopted that as a coaching staff and the players are going to see that when they get here for camp.”

Statistically, Bethany had a pretty good season in 2002. The offense was the top-ranked unit in the PAC and set 14 College records, while the defense ranked second in the league. But despite those gaudy numbers, the Bison, who held the lead at one point in five of the seven losses, suffered the worst season since a 2-8 mark in 1998.

“I was very disappointed in our record last year,” said Snyder. “We showed a lot of improvement through the year and did a lot of things well, but didn’t do the little things to win games. The main problem was turnovers, as we ranked last in the PAC in turnover ratio at -13. Good teams can’t turn the ball over and win. As a coaching staff, we are going to preach creating turnovers on defense and taking care of the ball on offense.”

Snyder will have a solid group of players back in ’03, as 18 starters and 37 letterwinners return. On offense, eight starters are back but two huge holes need to be filled for the Green and White. Graduated is RB Will Anderson and QB Jeremy Lacaria, who each set six College records last season.

Snyder’s biggest concern is at tailback, where he will have a plethora of players competing for time. Returning backs include senior J.K. Murphy, and sophomore Mike Doyle, while freshmen such as Michael Frazier and Sean Liggett will also be in the hunt for carries.

“Our biggest question will be at tailback and I have no answer right now because it will be wide open in camp,” said Snyder. “How things go in camp will determine whether we stick with the one-back set we used last year or if we go back to the traditional two-back set. We have a lot of different type of backs that can give us more looks, which may make us better offensively because we will be more diversified.”

Under center, junior Sean Yanni returns but will face stiff competition from transfer Brian Wineberg and freshman Ronnell Heard.

“I’m excited about the battle we’ll have in camp for the quarterback spot,” said Snyder. “Yanni hasn’t seen a lot of varsity time but will be the most experienced QB in camp. But Wineberg is a transfer from Geneva who will push for time and Heard is a great athlete who can do a lot of different things.”

Whoever is under center will have plenty of solid receivers. Junior Zack Merz (52 rec., 667 yds.,) and senior Chad Eimer (38 rec., 502 yds.,) return as the starters, with seniors Tony Lamia (22 rec., 345 yds.,) and Rob Melnick (seven rec., 68 yds.) also back. At tight end, senior Pat Crossey (17 rec., 200 yds.) returns to give Bethany plenty of targets for the new signal caller.

“We have a lot of talent at receiver,” said Snyder. “Merz really developed into our playmaker last year and we hope he builds off that. Eimer has worked hard to get better in the summer. Lamia, who is the fastest returning wideout, and Melnick, whose seen time in four- and five-wide sets, give us good depth. I’m also anxious to get a look at freshmen like T.J. Parker and Matt Trump.

“Tight end is also going to be a solid position, with Crossey and Noah McKay back and a couple freshmen coming in, which may allow us to use more double tight end formations,” said Snyder.

A year ago, the offensive line was Bethany’s biggest question mark. But after a year together and with four starters back, the line is as solid as any position on the squad.

Three seniors lead the way, including center Andrew Rossi, guard Joe Anderson, and tackle Mark Diffendal. Sophomore guard Chris Betts is another returning starter on the line, which will also have sophomores Bob Niziol and Kevin Eckenrod of back to provide depth.

“The line was our biggest question mark last year but they really stepped up and produced,” said Snyder. “We have four starters back and some others who can step in and play. Among the 15 linemen we have coming to camp is an outstanding prospect in Steve Bernacki, who among others, which will make for a lot of competition.”

The other side of the line will be Bethany’s biggest question mark this year. While Bethany’s defense did rank second in the PAC, it did give up a lot of big plays throughout the year. While Snyder says the defensive end spots, led by senior Mike Mills (47 tackles, five sacks) are in good shape, he is looking for more production for the tackles.

“The defensive line is this year’s biggest question because we have to stop the run and control the big play,” said Snyder. “Heading into camp, both tackle spots are wide open. Kevin Crivellaro is a tireless worker and did a good job for us but he needs help. We have a couple of freshmen in Luke Healey and Cody Peters that we hope can step in. That may enable us to move John Hostetler, who missed most of last year due to injury, back to end.

“We are in pretty good shape on the ends with Mills, who was our defensive MVP last year, and junior Mark Brown, who has to step it up,” said Snyder. “I’m not worried about depth because we should have players who can step in.”

At linebacker, senior Steve Ochap (74 tackles), is back, as in sophomore Tim Goetz (43 tackles), who started every game as a freshman. Juniors Joe Slezak (left) and Mike Skrinjar and sophomore Steve McCormick will compete for the third spot.

“By switching to the 4-3, it gives our linebacking corp, which is already a strong unit, even more depth,” said Snyder. “With Ochap as the leader, Goetz back after starting every game as a freshman and Slezak, Skrinjar and McCormick, we have a lot of good players and solid depth.”

The secondary is not only the deepest part of the team but will also have two of the more competitive battles in camp. Senior free safety Nick Lion (team-best 79 tackles), and senior cornerback Ryan Nohe (48 tackles), return. At the other corner spot will be a battle between juniors Brad Bengele and Aaron Weathers. The other safety position is open, with senior David Wojtanowski and sophomores Justin Samol and Dan Scriver battling it out.

“The defensive backfield is the strongest position on the team,” said Snyder. “Lion leads the way at safety and Nohe is entrenched at one of the corner spots. Bengele and Weathers will have a good battle for the other corner spot and Wojtanowski, Samol and Scriver are all looking for playing time at the safety spot.”

On special teams, senior Paul Barsotti is back at kicker after scoring 33 points last year. Last year’s punter, Seth Brody, graduated and leaves a hole that will be filled during camp.

With so many starters returning, Snyder is pretty sure of what his line-up will look like when the Bison host Carnegie Mellon University in the season opener Sept. 6. But with as competitive as the PAC looks, he is not sure exactly where his team, or any other team, will fit in the league standings.

“The days of an easy game in the PAC are over,” said Snyder. “W&J is still the favorite until someone beats them. But if you look through the conference, Thiel has the best athletes, Waynesburg may have done the best recruiting, Westminster may have the best player in (RB) Scott Froelich, Grove City is one of the best coached teams and W&J is one of the best programs in the country.

“I don’t know where we will fit in but I can tell you we will compete,” said Snyder. “We aren’t satisfied with saying we played well for three quarters. We want to start games strong, finish them stronger and not have any excuses at the end. Once we get everyone believing in what we want to do, we will be right there in the middle of the hunt.”
 

GROVE CITY WOLVERINES (3-7/1-4 PAC IN 2002)
Two new coordinators and 17 returning starters. The Grove City Wolverines hope that is the right combination in their quest for their first Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship since 1998.

Head coach Chris Smith enters his 20th season in charge of the Wolverine program and has taken over the offensive coordinator’s role. Meanwhile, secondary coach Rob Skaricich is Grove City’s new defensive coordinator.

Offensively, Grove City will likely look to senior halfback Steve Roberts (right) once again. A two-year starter, Roberts led Grove City with 690 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns in 2002. He has led Grove City in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards each of the last two seasons.

Also back are sophomore fullback Ken Roudybush and junior halfback Brandon McGlothlin. Roudybush ran for 266 yards in his rookie year while McGlothlin added 161 yards. Sophomore backs Adam Wargo and Greg Hrebinko are also in the mix.

Split end may be Grove City’s deepest position as five letterwinners return. Senior deep threat Bo Danton led Grove City in receiving yards and touchdowns last year while sophomore Jason DeMeo pulled in a team-best 19 receptions. Also back are seniors Kurt Bradler and Tim Flenner along with junior Greg Verch.

The Wolverines’ biggest task may be to determine who will lead the offense this fall. Senior Sam Mowrey is the most experienced signal-caller on the roster, having seen spot duty in relief of the graduated Todd Smargiasso last season. Fellow senior Andrew Harrington will also compete for the vacant starting job.

Three starters return on the offensive line, led by junior center B.J. Arnold. A two-year starter, Arnold has earned All-PAC Honorable Mention each of the last two seasons. He is flanked by senior guard Jason Kelly and senior tackle Steve Kirk.

On defense, Grove City returns nine starters after spending part of the 2002 season ranked among the national leaders in several categories.

Four starters return in the secondary, including Academic All-America candidate Dan Roseum. A senior cornerback. Roseum is a three-year letterwinner and a 2002 Academic All-District selection. Junior Gene Iannuzzi, who led Grove City with five interceptions last year, mans the other cornerback spot. Senior strong safety Greg Grupp and sophomore free safety Ross Trimmer also return as starters.

Senior safety Dan Solomon saw extensive time in 2002, as did sophomore cornerback Aaron Margo. Both will likely be counted on extensively this season.

Leading tackler Mike Choby returns after starting at both inside and outside linebacker as a sophomore. Choby led the team with 95 tackles in 2002. Also back at inside linebacker are junior Mike Prioletti (80 tackles last year) and sophomore run-stuffer Ben Szelong.

Senior nose tackle Monte Bell returns for his fourth season as the anchor of Grove City’s 5-2 defense. One of the top nose tackles in the region, Bell made 41 stops last year.

Junior Dan Bukowski held down one of the defensive end spots in 2002 while junior Mike Patterson and sophomore Steve Weary also lettered along the line at defensive end. Weary tied for the team lead with three quarterback sacks last season.

Grove City’s kicking game will be spearheaded by senior Mike Titzel. An All-American candidate, Titzel will likely handle the Wolverines’ punting and placekicking for the third consecutive year. Titzel made six of nine field goals last year, including a long of 46 yards. He finished second on the team with 34 points.

Roberts and Verch return at the kick returning positions. New Wolverine assistant coach Jim Chinn, former head coach at Division III Blackburn, will coordinate the special teams units this fall for Grove City.
 

THIEL TOMCATS (3-7/2-3 PAC IN 2002)
Seventeen starters and 30 letterwinners return in 2003 as Thiel prepares to climb the Presidents’ Athletic Conference standings. Head coach Jack Leipheimer is quite optimistic that the Tomcats’ experience, coupled with an outstanding recruiting class, will provide the Tomcats with the necessary pieces to allow the squad to take the next step. Leipheimer clearly has the program headed in the right direction after leading the Tomcats to a third-place PAC finish in 2002, the team’s highest since 1989. Thiel lost to eventual conference champion Washington & Jefferson 21-17 and conference runner-up Westminster 13-10. Thiel also retained the Mercer County Cup by defeating Grove City 23-3. This season will mark the 20th anniversary of the Mercer County Cup and the 90th overall meeting between the two schools. The Tomcats claimed the Mercer County Cup for the second year in a row, the first time the Tomcats have posted consecutive victories since the cup’s inception in 1983.

Over the past two seasons the Tomcats have had 28 players earn All-Conference recognition, more than the previous 10 seasons combined. The Tomcats have scored an average of two touchdowns more per game and have given up an average of one touchdown less per game than their average throughout the past 10 seasons. Thiel finished third in the conference last season, but this group isn't satisfied. Expectations are high and this team wants to accomplish what no Tomcat team has done since the 1991 season – finish with a winning record.

The Tomcats return nine offensive starters, including a strong nucleus on the offensive line. Leading the way are junior guard Dave Hendricks and junior center Bob Munch, both second team PAC selections in 2002. Hendricks and Munch were also All-Conference picks as freshmen in 2001. Junior John Antanitis returns at guard and sophomore Marcus Oliver returns to the tackle spot after starting a majority of last year’s games. Sophomore Nelton Neal should fill the void along the offensive left by departed tackle Dave Litz, who was an honorable mention All-PAC selection last season.

The backfield will feature senior running back Justin Napotnik (left), who last year led the rushing attack with 143 carries for 632 yards and three touchdowns. Napotnik has paced the running game over the last two seasons and is a two-time All-PAC selection, including a second team pick in 2002. Sophomore Darious Thompson will push Napotnik for carries in the backfield. Thompson, who hails from the Bahamas, rushed for 329 yards on 96 carries and three touchdowns last season. He has big-play potential and should see plenty of action for years to come.

Several lead blockers return to the Tomcat backfield. Junior Casey Diemert rushed 35 times for 162 yards and a touchdown last season. Pushing Diemert for time is junior Justin Kuban plus sophomores Doug Connor and Kyle Brown, who all saw extensive playing time last season.

The Tomcats lost two valuable veterans at the wide receiver position. Donte Harris finished sixth on Thiel's career reception list and fifth among career yardage leaders. Also gone is Jamell Thomas, a four-year letterman who supplied steady play at the wideout position over the last four seasons.

Junior Shannon Alston is a playmaker who returns with veteran experience to the receiving corps. Alston was the team’s leading receiver last season with 29 receptions for 371 yards and five touchdowns. A strong and physical player, Alston provides tremendous blocking skills, as well as leaping ability, to the passing game. Sophomore Brandon Chambers found a home at receiver at the end of last season and will compete for the vacant position. Chambers bounced around from offense to defense throughout 2002 to provide depth wherever his skills were needed. His speed and elusiveness make him a dangerous player with the ball in his hands. Sophomore Anthony King adds speed and depth to this young but talented group.

Junior Josh Haladyna and sophomore Dane Haskins will compete for the tight end spot. Haladyna’s strength gives him an advantage in blocking on the end, while Haskins is an athletic player who demonstrated consistency throughout his freshman season and can line up wide if needed.

Junior quarterback Daryl Moore returns after starting all 10 games last season. He showed steady improvement all season long, completing 93 of 210 passes for 1,080 yards and seven touchdowns. Moore is a talented three-sport athlete who is very elusive to the pass rush and created many big plays with his scrambling ability. Sophomore Tom McEntire is the only other Tomcat quarterback returning with game experience. McEntire only appeared in a pair of games, but showed promise to the coaching staff throughout his rookie season. Sophomore Mike Lindenfelser, a transfer from Indiana (Pa.), could push for playing time this season and junior Darrell Satterfield possesses the work ethic and tools to compete for the position.

Thiel returns seven starters and 13 letter winners from last year’s defensive unit. The Tomcats must replace four starters, three of whom received All-Conference honors last season. All four starters were four-year letter winners, including first team All-PAC and Eastern College Athletic Conference South Region first-team linebacker Dante Darby. That unit led the PAC in scoring defense (18.0), something no other Thiel football team has accomplished.

The defensive line returns with plenty of veteran experience, returning each of its starting front four from a year ago. This group will be anchored by junior defensive end George Kum-nji, a two-time All-PAC selection. He has wreaked havoc on Tomcat opponents from his end position and should continue his success this year. Last season he recorded 52 tackles, including 13 for a loss to go along with six sacks. Senior Shawn Zappia returns to the tackle position to plug the middle. Zappia improved considerably from 2001 to last season, posting 35 tackles with three for a loss and a sack. For his efforts he was named a PAC honorable mention. Junior Chris Minton returns to the other tackle spot after a solid 2002 campaign. Last season Minton posted 44 tackles and five quarterback sacks. Sophomore Jonathan Howson returns to the other end spot. Howson hopes to pick up exactly where he left off after his outstanding rookie season. Named Honorable Mention All-PAC, he recorded the most tackles for loss on the club with 15 and capped off the regular season with a school record 98-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Alfred. Transfer Percy Sweeting could push for time and add depth along the defensive line.

Junior Robert Drake returns at linebacker with veteran experience to compensate for the loss of Darby. Drake returns as the club’s leading returning tackler with 66 stops last season, including a 14-tackle outing against Malone. He was named to the All-Conference team for the second straight year and will be looking to have another outstanding year. Dantae Napier returns to the outside linebacker position after a strong freshman season. Napier earned the starting spot by the third week of the season and is the second leading returning tackler in 2003. Sophomore Lee Glasser and junior Jeremy Cypher will battle for the vacant linebacker position. Also, sophomore Aaron Zane and freshman Allan Claiborne could push for time at linebacker.

A big question mark heading into the 2003 season is the secondary. The Tomcats secondary was hit hard by graduation, losing three starters from last season, including All-PAC corners Jay Salman and Dan Hilton. Salman led the conference in interceptions last season and Hilton has been a solid performer over the last four seasons. The other loss to the secondary was strong safety Tyler Vargo, a four-year letterwinner.

All-American Kennard Davis returns for his junior season as one of the top free safeties in Division III. His athleticism and playmaking ability should provide comfort to a depleted secondary. Looking to take over at strong safety is sophomore Tom Wozniak, who saw extensive action at the position as a backup last season. Newcomer Clint Nims will push for time at the safety spot.

Junior Lawrence Whiting was a backup last season and is the only corner returning with game experience. Sophomore Dylan Crilly has been converted to corner after playing wide receiver last season and will be expected to make a contribution. Sophomore Joe Rivera should also push for time at corner.

The Tomcats return only one kicking specialist from last season in junior place kicker Paul Stibich. Stibich has held all kicking duties the past two seasons and was an All-PAC selection in 2001. Punter and two-year starter Clay Brocious did not return for the 2003 season and senior Ryan Swartzfager is the leading candidate to handle the punting duties. Alston is back to handle the return duties after being selected as all-conference return specialist in 2002. He was second in the conference with 26.0 yards per kickoff return in 2002. Chambers and Davis will likely handle the punt return duties for the Tomcats. Davis returns as the leading punt returner with 117 yards on 13 returns (9.0 average) last season.

The Tomcats face three teams that qualified for the NCAA playoffs in 2002 when they play John Carroll, Washington & Jefferson and Brockport State. The Tomcats open up in University Heights against John Carroll on Sept. 6. The Blue Streaks fell in a semifinal contest to eventual national champion Mount Union. After a bye week, the Tomcats travel to Bluffton (Sept. 20) to take on the Beavers. Thiel will then travel down I-79 to take on the Presidents (Sept. 27), who fell in the second round of the playoffs to national runner-up Trinity (Texas) 45-10.

October could be called PAC month for the Tomcats as they play out the rest of the conference schedule. The 2003 Homecoming game will be against rival Grove City (Oct. 4) in a battle for the Mercer County Cup. The Tomcats will then travel to conference foes Waynesburg (Oct. 11) and Westminster (Oct. 18) before hosting Bethany (Oct. 25). Brockport comes to Greenville (Nov. 1) as a 2002 NCAA playoff qualifier that was knocked out of the quarterfinal round by John Carroll 16-10 in overtime. Then Thiel will take on non-conference opponents Alfred (Nov. 8) in Greenville before traveling to Kenyon (Nov. 15) to close out the season against the Lords.
 

WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON PRESIDENTS (9-3/5-0 PAC IN 2002)
Dawson, Nichols, Fry and Snyder were all names synonymous with Washington & Jefferson football for the past four years. A total of 19 seniors who combined to produce 38 wins and 56 individual or team records have moved on, but according to first-year head coach Mike Sirianni the cupboard is anything but empty.

Sirianni inherits 50 letterwinners and 12 starters from last season’s 9-3 squad that beat Christopher Newport 24-14 in the opening round of the playoffs. A 1994 graduate of Mount Union who won two national championships as a coach and one as a player with the Purple Raiders, believes the 2003 Presidents could begin to develop a legacy of their own.

“I am real excited about this group of players,” said Sirianni. “We are going to be young, but we have had some people waiting in the wings and it is their time to shine.”

One area in which W&J is looking to draw upon its veteran experience is the middle of its defense. Senior defensive linemen Jonathan Betz, Josh King and Mike Williams and junior Rocco Nori combined for 15 sacks a year ago and will start for the third consecutive season for new defensive coordinator John Klein. Junior Eric Field led the team in tackles last season with 82 despite missing three games to injury and will start at middle linebacker for the third year in a row, while senior free safety Jonathan Herbert starts for the fourth consecutive season after piling up 50 stops in 2002.

“Our strength without a doubt is the middle of our defense,” added Sirianni. “King and Nori are two big tackles that will stop the run and pressure the quarterback. I am also looking for Betz and Williams to have standout senior years. Field still managed to be named a first team All-PAC linebacker last season even though he missed three games and I am really expecting Herbert to have an All-America type season.”

In the secondary, senior cornerback Ryan Graft will lead the way after posting a team-high 15 pass breakups and finishing sixth in tackles (53). Fellow senior Nick Cortazzo, junior Sam Young and sophomore Matt Wujcik will all battle for the other starting position in preseason camp. Junior Frank Pilato, who led the Presidents with five interceptions last year, will also start at strong safety.

“Graft had a solid year for us last season and we are hoping that he can improve even more this year,” noted Sirianni. “Cortazzo gives us leadership, while Wujcik is a tough kid who has made a lot of strides. Young is the real sleeper in this group as he has all the talent and will be given a chance to show it. Frank gained valuable experience last year and we expect that he will play an even more important role in the secondary.”

Sirianni also is very high on a trio of freshman who may see time in the secondary. Colby Giles, Gabe McKee and Cory Walsh all have impressive high school résumés and will push the upperclassmen for playing time.

The Presidents lost two linebackers to graduation, but return a host of players who will vie for the starting positions. Senior Chase Morack is a middle linebacker who may see some time on the outside, while senior Scott Cook and juniors Mark Frankovitch, Matt Kelley, Andy Shook and Andrew Simpson have all played valuable roles on special teams and will look to make a bigger impact in 2003.

The unenviable task of following in the footsteps of a quarterback who set 22 school records will most likely fall in the hands of three players who will battle for the starting job. Juniors Nick Rizzo, a Pittsburgh transfer, and Brent Marsteller, a Kent State transfer, and sophomore Chris Edwards will get their chance to impress Sirianni early on.

“Edwards has a big frame and is a drop-back passer who will remind people of Dawson, while Rizzo is a very mobile quarterback,” said Sirianni. “Marsteller is a good mixture of both of them. How well our quarterbacks play will definitely be the key to our season and I am confident one of these three will step up and do the job for us.”

Protecting the quarterback was a problem last year for W&J as opponents sacked Dawson 49 times. Seniors Bob Jazwinski, Adam Newhouse and Ryan Piaggesi form a solid nucleus up front with junior returning starter Jeff Lofton. Jazwinski and Newhouse were first team All-PAC selections and ECAC All-Stars a year ago. Senior Jason Preffer and juniors Chad Edwards, Jay Ernst, Kyle Hamilton and Matt Phillips are all capable lineman who will also see a lot of action.

“We really need to improve our offensive line play and all of these guys have done a tremendous job in the offseason working on their strength and footwork,” added Sirianni.

In the backfield, sophomore R.J. Zitzelsberger is a hard-nosed runner, who racked up 247 yards and six touchdowns last season playing mostly at fullback. With the loss of Joey Nichols to graduation, Zitzelsberger, who also caught 11 passes for 103 yards, will be asked to produce even more.

“R.J. showed everyone what he can do last year,” said Sirianni. “Every time we gave him the ball, he gained positive yardage. He looks like a fullback at 245 pounds, but he has quick feet and plays very well in big games.”

In addition, senior Justin Platz and junior Matt Bettinazzi will get their opportunity to carry the ball. Platz averaged 8.3 yards per carry in a backup role and Bettinazzi scored one touchdown in limited action. Freshmen Ryan Mendel and Andrew Harsh are also two talented running backs who will push for carries. Senior Marcus Huth is back at fullback and is one of the team leaders who will open holes for the running game. Sirianni looks for Platz and junior Jim Ziesche to see action at the fullback position as well.

Senior wide receiver Mike Virgin (right) burst upon the scene in 2002 to lead the team in receptions (48), yards (932) and touchdown catches (7). He averaged a PAC-best 77.7 yards per game and will be the main target for the W&J quarterbacks.

“Obviously we have a proven go-to receiver in Mike,” said Sirianni. “He is probably the best receiver in the conference and we are looking for him to become a leader for this young team. He had a tremendous junior year and has played great in the playoffs during the last two seasons.”

Junior Jacob Shields and sophomores Aaron Krepps, Garrett Brain, Jon Miller and R.J. Soeder are talented wideouts who will have to step in and produce without much varsity experience. Although inexperienced, Sirianni feels that this wide receiver group could be the most deep and talented position on the squad.

Senior Joel Yungen hauled in 26 passes for 315 yards last season as a wide receiver, but will move to tight end. Classmate Marc McKillop and junior Josh Maher will provide depth at the position.

“We will miss Tom Paff at tight end and Joel will have to take some time to learn a new position, but he is strong and fast and ready for the new challenge,” added Sirianni.

Junior Dan Suchko and sophomore Victor Lapkowicz return as placekickers with Lehigh transfer freshman Mike Niccols joining the fold as well. Maher and Marsteller are two experienced punters looking to replace Jordan Genis; however, freshmen Mike Babyak, Kyle Sidebotham and Zach Taylor will all get looks in the preseason.

“When you lose two proven veterans in the kicking game to graduation like we have, special teams is definitely an area of concern,” added Sirianni. “We are going to do some things differently on special teams and we have a bunch of guys who will get a chance to win the open jobs.”

Also new to the campus are seven new members of the coaching staff, including 2000 W&J graduate Eugene Crosby, former Bethany head coach Steve Campos, former Ambridge and West Allegheny High School head coach Terry George and two members of Mount Union’s recent championship run, Gary Smeck and Matt LaVerde.

“I feel we hired one of the best coaching staffs in the country,” said Sirianni. “All of our coaches are winners whether it has been in the high school or collegiate ranks. We have a good mix of both experience and youth.”

Even though W&J has claimed 16 of the past 17 league championships, the Presidents’ Athletic Conference has improved dramatically and looks to be as even across the board as ever in 2003.

“Thiel has caught everyone’s attention due to its great recruiting in the past few years and Westminster is always strong,” noted Sirianni. “Waynesburg is loaded with talent and has a very good quarterback, while Bethany and Grove City always seem to play us very tough. It is going to be a battle every week in conference play and it should be a lot of fun.”

Some of the names may have changed, but Sirianni is expecting that the recent success will not as the Presidents look to nail down their fifth consecutive NCAA playoff appearance.

“This is as hard as our players have worked in the offseason in my years here,” concluded the head coach. “We have been very successful, but now we want to take it to the next level.”
 

WAYNESBURG YELLOW JACKETS (5-4/2-3 PAC IN 2002)
As much as Waynesburg threw the ball last year — 40 times per game to be exact — the Yellow Jackets are only concentrating on completing just two passes for the 2003 season: passing the top conference title contenders.

That may not be such a long shot with nearly all the components of the most potent pass offense in school history returning. Fifteen starters, including nine on offense, return for a team that tied for third in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) in 2002, despite losing three conference games by eight points or less. Waynesburg (5-4, 2-3) was, however, able secure its fifth winning season in six years, coming one win shy of its best season winning percentage since 1991. Still, third-year head coach Jeff Hand knows this season will be even more challenging.

“This season will be a challenge,” Hand said. “We are not going to sneak up on anybody because people are going to know we have a solid football team.”

Waynesburg threw for 2,555 yards in just nine games last year breaking the single-season school passing record set in 1968 by 371 yards. However, the Jackets will debut a new offense under first-year coordinator Mike Uremovich.

Uremovich has a nice foundation to build on. First-team all-PAC quarterback Jeff Dumm (left) returns for his junior year, his second as a starter, after breaking six single-season school records and leading the nation’s 16th-ranked pass attack with 283.9 yards per game. Dumm set school season passing records for yards (2,493), completions (211), attempts (347), per-game average (277), and total offense records for the season (2,629) and per game (292.1), the latter ranking him 11th in the nation.

All of Dumm’s favorite targets are back. A young receiving corps consisting of junior Paul D’Imperio and sophomores Dominick Hunter and Ivan Hawkins return. D’Imperio and Hawkins led the team last year with six touchdown receptions apiece, while Hunter, who led the PAC with 5.4 receptions per game, was the team’s go-to receiving between paydirt. Hunter led the team with 49 receptions for 664 yards (73.8 per game), despite scoring just three touchdowns.

Waynesburg gathered a mere 93.6 rushing yards per game last year. But with a new style of offense, opponents will get a new look from the Jackets out of the backfield, which will include senior running back Jared Plisko, a two-year starter, who is back after leading the team in rushing last year.

Up front Waynesburg only loses guard Steve Myers to graduation as offensive tackles Kelby Church and Andy Palko, guard Jim Hyland, and center Matt Biddle return. Palko was a second-team all-PAC member last year, while Hyland received first-team honors two years ago. Sophomore Craig Petrus, who earned ample playing time backing up Myers when he was injured for three games, is the top candidate for the vacant spot at right guard.

Not to be outdone by the offense, the Jackets’ defense returns a solid corps of returnees led by senior defensive end Brandon Doppelheuer, who will anchor Waynesburg’s defense as one of six returning starters. Doppelheuer helped Waynesburg allow a PAC-low 117.2 rushing yards per game last year, as he led the Jackets with 13.5 tackles for loss and four sacks as apart of his 61 stops on the season, before earning first-team all-PAC laurels for the first time as a three-year starter.

Senior nose tackle Phil Thomas and senior end Steve Ward make up the three down linemen in the Jackets’ 3-4 defense as returning starters, while two linebackers are returning starters. They include senior Sean Ross on the inside, whose 79 tackles led the team and ranked third in the conference last year to earn him a second-team all-PAC pick, and junior Mark Harnish on the outside. Mark’s twin brother Matt Harnish is the lone returnee from the secondary at free safety.

That secondary will be without cornerback Tommy O’Connor, who graduated after starting four years at the position with 15 career interceptions. Sophomore Sammy McLaughlin, who was the team’s opening-day starter at cornerback last year before a season-ending ankle injury in week two, leads the candidates vying for the three vacant defensive backfield positions.

O’Connor’s presence will also be missed on special teams, after he averaged 16.7 yards as a punt returner, which ranked fourth in the nation. As a team, the Jackets ranked second in the nation with 18.55 per return. Hunter will man the kick return duties after averaging 19.5 yards per return last year, while both the Jackets’ kicker and punter will be determined during training camp.

Waynesburg will play a 10-game season as its opens on Sept. 6 at Denison for one of three road non-conference games to start the season. The Jackets will travel for its first-ever meeting with Gettysburg (Sept. 13) and visit Randolph-Macon (Sept. 20), before hosting Alfred on Sept. 27. The team will also be on the road for a fifth non-conference game at Frostburg State on Nov. 8. The Jackets’ schedule also includes home PAC games against Thiel (Oct. 11), Washington & Jefferson (Oct. 25), and Westminster (Nov. 15), and road PAC games at Bethany (Oct. 4) and Grove City (Oct. 18).
 

WESTMINSTER TITANS (6-4/4-1 PAC IN 2002)
Entering its second year as a full member of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, the Titans are looking to improve on last year’s 6-4 record (4-1 and second place in the conference) and overtake longtime PAC standard-bearer Washington & Jefferson at the top of the league standings.

Head coach Jerry Schmitt enters his fourth season at the helm of the program, however, his staff has undergone a facelift during the offseason. A total of six new faces will dot the Titan sideline as new assistant coaches, including four former Titan gridders. On offense, holdover assistants Scott Renninger, Brad Powell, Scott Seltzer and Nate Tengowski are joined by newcomer Gary Krol and former Titan standout Joe DeGruttola. Defensively, coordinator Len Rich is the lone returnee with four new assistant coaches. Former Titans Don Augustine, Nick Roberts and Pat Vereb are joined by Tim Widdowfield on the defensive side, with Augustine also handling the coordination of special teams.

Westminster returns 34 letterwinners and 13 starters from last year’s team, as the Titans look for their 48th winning campaign in the last 52 seasons.

Offensively, the strength of the team lies in the skill positions, with two experienced starting quarterbacks and the team’s top rusher and receiver all returning. The question mark is the offensive line, where only one starter returns out of the six positions (including tight end).

Leading the team will be the senior signal-calling duo of Kevin Huber and Matt Robison. Both quarterbacks saw almost equal playing time in 2002, with each earning five starts. Huber, an elusive athlete who can also play wide receiver, completed 63-of-105 passes for 825 yards and seven TDs a year ago. Robison, a traditional drop-back passer, connected on 61-of-115 passes for 857 yards and four scores.

After leading the team in rushing each of his first two seasons, junior tailback Scott Froelich (right) has established himself as one of the top running backs in the nation in Division III and is a definite All-American candidate in 2003. Froelich became just the sixth back in school history to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a season in 2002, as he rushed 298 times for 1,305 yards (4.4 avg.) and eight touchdowns to earn all-conference laurels. Joining him in the backfield will be his all-conference blocking back, senior fullback Ryan Mitchell, while sophomores Brad Johnson and Sean Buggey will also compete for time.

The receiving corps is led a pair of returning starters in redshirt junior Brian Ekis and senior Steve Scott. In his first year as a starter in 2002, Ekis established himself as the team’s top threat through the air, posting team-high totals of 30 catches for 494 yards (16.5 avg.) and three touchdowns. Scott, a solid possession receiver, hauled in 18 passes for 166 yards and one score.

While only one starter returns on the offensive line, it helps that the one returnee is three-year starter and all-conference guard Glenn Silvidi, who will be called on to help break in a young group of linemen. He will be joined by senior Aaron Detwiler, a spot starter during his career, while junior Phil Frye and sophomores Josh Perry and B.A. Lambie will also battle for playing time. A trio of sophomores — Josh Bero, Tom Heath and Adam Popp — will compete to replace graduated all-conference tight end Nevin Baker.

Defensively, the Titans return most of their secondary along with both sets of defensive ends and outside linebackers. Replacements must be found in the heart of the defense at both defensive tackle slots and middle linebacker.

Returning starters among the front seven include senior ends Jim Chaney and Jason Sanata, with returnees in the linebacking corps including senior Nick Fritch and junior Jerry Bonenberger. Junior Tony Ventresco, who has seen extended playing time his first two seasons, will likely move into one tackle position. Among the defensive linemen looking to fill the breach include junior Don Waldron and sophomores Ryan Chmura, Sean Diefenderfer, and Matt Hanhold. Three juniors will compete for the inside linebacker job: Tom Kaminsky, Mike Turovsky and Brad Hochendoner.

A total of seven defensive backs who have been full- or part-time starters all return for Westminster in 2003. The experienced secondary group includes seniors Mike Cubellis and Mike McKee; juniors Kevin Kresinski, Mike Kohowski, Justin Martinchek and Clint DeLuca; and sophomore Tom Froelich. McKee and Martinchek have both recovered from injuries which limited them during part or all of the 2002 campaign.

On special teams, both the kicking and punting jobs appear to be wide open heading into training camp. Martinchek and Kresinski both handled punt return duties in 2002, while Martinchek and Buggey split kickoff returns a year ago.