2003 preseason All-America Chad Thompson prepares to throw a block against Wabash in the 2002 regular season.
Wittenberg, the winningest NCAA Division III football program in history with 635 victories, heads into the 2003 season with a lot of question marks. But considering the program's illustrious history, five straight national playoff appearances, Head Coach Joe Fincham and his phenomenal 73-9 overall record and the return of 25 letterwinners, including nine starters, Tiger fans know that it's not a matter of rebuilding but reloading.
First things first, however, and that's who won't be wearing the Red & White in 2003. Two-year All-NCAC tailback Daniel Grove and record-setting quarterback Greg Cornett leave major voids after leading the Tiger offense to a school- and conference-record 533 points (485 in the regular season - which was also a record). In addition, two offensive line spots and the tight end position will be manned by new starters this year.
Defensively, the losses are even more significant. Three defensive linemen, all three starting linebackers and three defensive backs depart from a unit that allowed just 105 points in the regular season and held seven of 10 regular season opponents to single-digit point totals. Among the most significant losses are four-time All-NCAC safety John Hauser, four-time All-NCAC linebacker Dustin Goldsbury and three-time All-NCAC linebacker Andy Pope.
The cupboard may seem bare, but there is still plenty to work with in 2003. Offensively, the Tigers return a ton of talent at wide receiver, beginning with seniorSkip Ivery (Columbus, Ohio/Groveport-Madison) and sophomore Jered Glover (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown). Ivery has started every game the last two years and recorded 50 catches en route to earning all-conference and all-region honors in 2002. Glover was the first receiver off the bench and got more and more touches as the season went on, finishing with 52 receptions and six touchdowns, including a clutch 80-yard TD off a short screen pass in the fourth quarter of a dramatic 34-33 first-round NCAA Division III playoff win over Hanover.
Three starting offensive lineman return to the lineup in 2003, led by all-conference choices Brad Kassner (Circleville, Ohio/Circleville) and Chad Thompson (Ft. Thomas, Ky./Highlands), a three-year starter and an honorable mention All-America selection a year ago, and also including tackle Andrew Wheeler (Kettering, Ohio/Alter). In addition, tight end Mike Flickinger (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills), who shared time with starter three-year starter Erich Schoenberger, and center Corey Chatman (Mansfield, Ohio/Senior), who lettered each of his first two seasons and was listed as the No. 1 back-up at all five offensive line spots at the end of the 2002 season, appear ready to contribute full-time.
On defense, the only returning starters are senior cornerback Tim Gaal (Amanda, Ohio/Clearcreek) and junior defensive tackle Jarrett Brown (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles). Plenty of players from the two-deep are ready to step in, however, including sophomore cornerback Mike Freeman (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne), who suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice the week after taking over the national lead in yards per punt return in 2002, and sophomore defensive tackleClinton Tiggs (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne), who saw considerable action a year ago. In addition, fifth-year senior linebacker Gary George (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian), who has been impressive in limited action due to injuries in the past, is expected to figure prominently in the defensive mix.
The punting and kicking duties were handled by junior Jacob Thomas (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) a year ago, and he is hopefully another year older and wiser in 2003 after struggling with his consistency. One of the best in the business of kickoffs is senior Conrad Hindert (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mariemont), who regularly pins opponents deep in their own territory.
Key games in 2003 figure to be the Sept. 6 opener at Albion, where the Tigers' many new faces will be put to an early test, the Oct. 11 grudge match at Wabash, the defending NCAC champion, and the Nov. 15 season finale against Wooster. Wittenberg will be playing the 1,000th game in school history during the 2003 season, and its four road games will all be long road trips out of state, which could be a factor to watch as the season progresses.
Tim Gaal, one of two returning defensive starters in 2003, makes a tackle against Wabash in 2002.
2002 Record 10-2
NCAC Record 6-1 (2nd)
Letterwinners Returning (25) Offensive: 15, Defensive: 8, Specialist: 2
Letterwinners Lost (28) Offensive: 15, Defensive: 13, Specialist: 0
Starters Lost (15) Offensive: 6, Defensive 9, Specialist: 0
Starters Returning (9) Offensive: 5, Defensive: 2, Specialist: 2
Offense: Multiple I
Defense: Multiple 4-3
Starters Returning (9):
Offense (5) - FB Raymar Hampshire, WR Skip Ivery, G Chad Thompson, G Brad Kassner, T Andrew Wheeler
Defense (2) - DT Jarrett Brown, CB Tim Gaal
Specialists (2) - K Conrad Hindert, K/P Jacob Thomas
Starters Lost (15):
Offense (6) - WR Adrian Crane, QB Greg Cornett, RB Daniel Grove, TE Erich Schoeneberger, C Adam McClain, T Tony Banich
Defense (9) - DE Allen D'Andrea, DE Jim Lackmeyer, DT Lloyd Hudson, LB Dustin Goldsbury, LB Andy Pope, LB Ryan Gresham, S John Hauser, S Andy Waddle, CB Dane Dudley
Specialists (0)
Letterwinners Returning (25):
Offense (15) - Corey Chatman, Billy Evans, Mike Flickinger, Kurt Forrest, Jered Glover, Raymar Hampshire, Bryan Heck, Adam Hewitt, Ryan Holmes, Skip Ivery, Jake Kallgren, Brad Kassner, Chad Thompson, Tim Ward, Andrew Wheeler
Defense (8) - Yusef Abdul-Zahir, Jarrett Brown, Tim Gaal, Gary George, Jordan Siler, Clinton Tiggs, Joe Torrens, Lavon Wilborn
Specialists (2) - K Conrad Hindert; P/K Jacob Thomas
Letterwinners Lost (28):
Offense (13) - Tony Banich, Trent Coffman, Greg Cornett, Adrian Crane, Daniel Grove, Tim Horn, Adam McClain, Josh McCoy, Jon Mulvihill, Erich Schoeneberger, Alex Smith, Jason Stephan, Kyle Williamson
Defense (15) - Allen D'Andrea, Dane Dudley, Matt Evans, Jon Gluckman, Dustin Goldsbury, Ryan Gresham, John Hauser, Lloyd Hudson, Jim Lackmeyer, DeAron Long, Geoffrey Moorehead, Steve Naltner, Andy Pope, Chad Vandegriff, Andy Waddle
Specialists (0)