Quarterback Greg Cornett will be back to lead the Tigers into the heart of the opponents' defenses again in 2002.
The Wittenberg University Tigers appear to have all the elements in place for a tremendous run at the NCAA title in 2002. The four-time defending outright NCAC champions are loaded with skilled players and experience, and they have the attitude one might expect from a roster that does not include a player who has ever lost a conference game.
Wittenberg has made great in-roads in the last decade, but the Tigers' path toward a national title has hit a detour three times in the last four years. To reach the top in 2002, the Tigers figure to rely heavily upon senior tailback Daniel Grove (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont), who rushed for more than 1,200 yards in his first year as a starter and showed great durability throughout the season. He is joined in the backfield by talented sophomore fullback Raymar Hampshire (Lima, Ohio/Elida), who started seven games a year ago and rushed for 281 yards and three touchdowns, and senior Greg Cornett (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin), who threw just four interceptions in 13 games in 2001.
The Tigers' offense really jelled as the 2001 season went on. Hampshire's blocking and interior running improved markedly. Grove gained confidence in his first year as a starter to rush for more than 100 yards seven times during the regular season. Cornett put together one of the finest seasons for a quarterback in school history, completing 61 percent of his passes and finishing among the nation's best in pass efficiency at 150.81.
Thus, the only question mark on offense in 2002 is at wide receiver, where record-setting Michael Aljancic departs. Now playing professional football in Germany, Aljancic concluded his career as Wittenberg's all-time leader in receptions in a career and a season. While he is a significant loss, the Tigers appear to have plenty of depth to recover and move on adequately. Junior Skip Ivery (Columbus, Ohio/Groveport-Madison) started every game in 2001 and emerged as the team's extremely reliable possession receiver. Senior Adrian Crane (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) led the team in yards per catch. Fifth-year senior Josh McCoy (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) and converted running back Jason Stephan (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville), also a senior, provide additional depth.
On the offensive line, four starters are back, and they are joined by senior tight endErich Schoeneberger (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum). Returning on the line are senior center Adam McClain (Danville, Ind./Community), a first-team All-NCAC selection a year ago, junior guard Chad Thompson (Ft. Thomas, Ky./Highlands), sophomore guard Matt Christian (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) and senior tackle Tony Banich (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis). Defensively, Wittenberg must replace three starters on the line, including NCAC Defensive Player of the Year Juan Howard and All-NCAC end Tim Daoust, who finished his career ranked No. 2 in school history in sacks. Their absence will be cushioned by the return of fifth-year senior middle linebacker Dustin Goldsbury (Columbus, Ohio/Ready), a three-time All-NCAC selection who did not play in 2001. He will spearhead a defense that could start as many as eight seniors, including defensive end Allen D'Andrea (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier), No. 2 on the team in sacks last year, and safety John Hauser (Columbus, Ohio/Hartley), the team leader in tackles and a three-time all-conference choice.
On the defensive line, D'Andrea will likely be joined by senior end Jim Lackmeyer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian), senior tackle Lloyd Hudson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) and one of three sophomores, Joey Binkley (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville), Steve Naltner (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) and Jarrett Brown (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles). Linebackers will include Goldsbury, senior Andy Pope (Hamilton, Ohio/Lakota East), a two-time All-NCAC choice on the outside, and senior Ryan Gresham (Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor), who ranked second on the team in tackles in 2001.
In the defensive backfield, Hauser will be joined by fifth-year senior safety Andy Waddle (Enon, Ohio/Greenon), who started most of the 2001 season and shares an NCAA record for punts blocked in a game with three and senior cornerbackDavid Middleton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian). Others who will definitely see time will be senior safety Dane Dudley (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota East) and junior Tim Gaal (Amanda, Ohio/Clearcreek).
The Tigers are also blessed with three returning letterwinners among their specialists. Gaal handled the punting chores in 2001 and junior Conrad Hindert (Terrace Park, Ohio/Mariemont), now battle-tested after putting the game-winner through the uprights in overtime against Hardin-Simmons in the first round of the 2001 NCAA Division III playoffs, was the placekicker.
Wide receiver Adrian Crane returns for a senior season he hopes includes many more big catches like he had in 2001.
Tiger Quick Facts
2001 Record 11-2
NCAC Record 7-0 (1st)
Letterwinners Lost (13)
Offensive: 4, Defensive: 9, Specialist: 0
Letterwinners Returning (38) Offensive: 22,
Defensive: 13, Specialist: 3
Starters Lost (7) Offensive: 2, Defensive 5,
Specialist: 0
Starters Returning (17) Offensive: 9,
Defensive: 6, Specialist: 2
Offense: Multiple I
Defense: Multiple 4-3
2002 At A Glance
Starters Returning (17):
Offense (9)
- WR Skip Ivery, OL Tony Banich, OL Matt Christian, OL
Adam McClain, OL Chad Thompson, TE Erich Schoeneberger, QB Greg
Cornett, FB Raymar Hampshire, TB Daniel Grove
Defense (6) - DE Allen D'Andrea, LB Andy
Pope, LB Ryan Gresham, S John Hauser, S Andy Waddle, CB David
Middleton
Specialists (2) - K Conrad Hindert, P Tim
Gaal
Starters Lost (7):
Offense (2) - OL Matt Leisure, WR Michael
Aljancic
Defense (5) - DL Tim Daoust, DL Michael
Houck, DL Juan Howard, LB Nic Black, CB Jason Jackson
Specialists (0)
Letterwinners Returning (38):
Offense (22) - OL Tony Banich, WR Ryan
Barksdale, OL Corey Chatman, OL Matt Christian, FB Trent Coffman,
QB Greg Cornett, WR Adrian Crane, TE Mike Flickinger, QB Kurt
Forrest, TB Daniel Grove, FB Raymar Hampshire, WR Tim Horn, WR Skip
Ivery, OL Brad Kassner, OL Adam McClain, WR Josh McCoy, TE Robert
Page, TE Erich Schoeneberger, RB Alex Smith, WR Jason Stephan, OL
Chad Thompson, OL Andrew Wheeler
Defense (13) - DL Joey Binkley, DL Allen
D'Andrea, S Dane Dudley, LB Peter Franz, LB Ryan Gresham, S John
Hauser, DL Lloyd Hudson, DL Jim Lackmeyer, CB DeAron Long, CB David
Middleton, LB Andy Pope, S Andy Waddle
Specialists (3) - PK Conrad Hindert; P Tim
Gaal; PK Jacob Thomas
Letterwinners Lost (14):
Offense (4) - FB Eric Tomich, OL Tim Nguyen,
OL Matt Leisure, WR Michael Aljancic
Defense (10) - CB Jason Jackson, CB Brian
LeRoy, LB Chris Vanuch, S Justin Oliver, DL Tim Daoust, DL Juan
Howard, DL Robert Stokes, DL Michael Houck, LB Nic Black, DB John
Nelson
Specialists (0)