The Wittenberg University Tigers have some holes to fill in 2001. But the Tigers, winners of the last three North Coast Athletic Conference championships and an NCAA Division III quarterfinalist in 2000, hardly resemble swiss cheese.
That's because Wittenberg, the winningest all-time NCAA Division III football program with 614 victories, returns 34 letterwinners who have never lost a regular season game. That's also because, of the team's 18 All-NCAC selections from year ago, eight are back in 2001, including six defensive starters. And that's also because taskmaster Joe Fincham returns after steering Wittenberg football to 52 wins in the last five years.
The Wittenberg Tigers are known for their relentless defensive pressure - the "Red Swarm." In 2001, defense is expected to be a strength once again.
Photo by Lamont Campbell
After putting 434 points on the board in the regular season alone, Wittenberg's strength was unquestionably offense in 2000. The Tigers steamrolled their first 12 foes by scoring at least 31 points in each game - led by record-setting tailback Casey Donaldson, the first player to earn the NCAC¹s Mike Gregory Award (Offensive Player of the Year) three straight years. He led a senior class that was absolutely dominant - owners of a 39-1 regular season record the last four years and the first class in school history to make the NCAA playoffs three straight years.
Now 12 starters must be replaced, including nine all-conference selections from a year ago. That is a tall order, to be sure, but one that appears doable.
In 2001, the team's defensive unit appears to be its strong suit. Leading the charge will be four returning starters on the defensive line - junior Allen D'Andrea and seniors Juan Howard, Mike Houck and Tim Daoust. In addition, junior outside linebacker Andy Pope returns along with two returning starters in the defensive backfield - seniors John Hauser and Jason Jackson. In addition, senior safety Andy Waddle returns after seeing significant action in 2000, his first as a Tiger after transferring from the University of Findlay.
Offensively, junior running backs Jason Stephan and Daniel Grove, who combined for 127 attempts and 717 rushing yards, hope to pick up where Donaldson left off. Both appeared in all 10 games and were stalwarts on special teams before getting carries late in games. The other returning skill position player is senior Michael Aljancic, the team's leading receiver the last two years who ranks fifth on the school¹s all-time receptions list.
The other offensive starters expected to return are junior center Adam McClain and senior tackle Matt Leisure, both 10-game starters in 2000, and junior tight end Erich Schoeneberger. At the all-important quarterback position, three-year starter Anthony Crane and three-year first-string back-up Chris Damico both have departed, leaving first shot at the spot in 2001 to junior Greg Cornett.
Also up for grabs in 2001 are both specialist spots. Punter Matt Gallatin and placekicker Ryan Walker were both first-team all-conference choices in 2000, and both now leave gaping holes to be filled. First crack at one or both of the jobs will be given to sophomore Conrad Hindert, who handled kickoff duties last year.
The schedule may break favorably for the Tigers, as the two teams expected to pose the greatest threat to Wittenberg's three-year stranglehold on the top spot in the conference - Wabash and Allegheny - must visit Edwards-Maurer Field on back-to-back weeks in September. A week prior to the crucial NCAC games, the Tigers face their most imposing non-conference challenge, a long bus trip to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association power Alma.
In conference action, the Tigers' face a final five-game gauntlet that includes four road games. The biggest tests figure to be on Oct. 13 at Wooster - the last place Wittenberg lost an NCAC game (Nov. 8, 1997) - and the season finale on Nov. 3 at Earlham, last year's most improved NCAC team.
Michael Aljancic is one of four offensive starters returning in 2001.
Photo by Bill Norton
Tiger Quick Facts
2000 Record 12-1
NCAC Record 7-0 (1st)
Letterwinners Lost (20) Offensive: 12, Defensive: 6, Specialist: 2
Letterwinners Returning (34) Offensive: 15, Defensive: 18, Specialist: 1
Starters Lost (13) Offensive: 7, Defensive 4, Specialist: 2
Starters Returning (11) Offensive: 4, Defensive: 7, Specialist: 0
Offense Multiple I
Defense Multiple 4-3
2001 At A Glance
Starters Returning (11):
Offense (4) - WR Michael Aljancic, RT Matt Leisure, TE Erich Schoeneberger, C Adam McClain
Defense (7) - DT Juan Howard, DT Mike Houck, DE Allen D'Andrea, DE Tim Daoust, OLB Andy Pope, S John Hauser, CB Jason Jackson
Specialists (0)
Starters Lost (13):
Offense (7) - WR Labon Storts, QB Anthony Crane, TB Casey Donaldson, FB Gary Henson, LT Mark Sunderman, OG Nick Long, OG Ben Elias
Defense (4) - OLB Trevor Yost, MLB Dustin Goldsbury, S Rob Harris, CB Elio Harmon
Specialists (2) - P Matt Gallatin, PK Ryan Walker
Letterwinners Returning (34):
Offense (15) - WR Michael Aljancic, OL Tony Banich, QB Greg Cornett, WR Adrian Crane, LB Ryan Gresham, TB Daniel Grove, WR Skip Ivery, OT Matt Leisure, C Adam McClain, WR Justin Oliver, TE Erich Schoeneberger, OL Scott Spitler, RB Jason Stephan, OL Chad Thompson, FB Eric Tomich, FB Chris Vanuch, OL Andrew Wheeler
Defense (18) - DE Nic Black, DE Allen D¹Andrea, DE Tim Daoust, FS Dane Dudley, FS John Hauser, DT Mike Houck, DT Juan Howard, DT Lloyd Hudson, DB Jason Jackson, DL Jim Lackmeyer, DB Brian LeRoy, DB DeAaron Long, DB David Middleton, LB Andy Pope, DL Robert Stokes, DB Andy Waddle
Specialists (1) - PK Conrad Hindert
Letterwinners Lost (21):
Offense (13) - TB Casey Donaldson, QB Anthony Crane, QB Chris Damico, WR Labon Storts, FB Gary Henson, LT Mark Sunderman, OG Nick Long, OG Ben Elias, TE Ryan Born, WR Steve DeGraffinreed, OL Randy Brech, TE Josh Garber, WR Andrew Smock
Defense (6) - OLB Trevor Yost, MLB Dustin Goldsbury, FS Rob Harris, LB Tim Shannahan, LB Kevin Mirlisena, CB Elio Harmon
Specialists (2) - P Matt Gallatin, PK Ryan Walker