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When: Saturday, Sept. 6
Where: River Falls, Wis.
Time: noon
Location: River Falls, WI 54022
Enrollment: 5,800
Head coach: John O'Grady
(15th season 83-52-3 overall record)
(best time to reach O'Grady is early mornings, phone: 715/425-3135)
Assistant coaches: Kevin
Bullis, Tom Journell
National affiliations: National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Div. III
Conference: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Conference members: Eau Claire, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Platteville,
River Falls, Stevens Point, Stout, Superior, Whitewater
Nickname: Falcons
Colors: Red and White
WIAC championships: (18) 1915, 1916, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1933, 1938,
1947, 1958, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1998
Offensive formation: Wishbone
Defensive formation: 4-4
2002 overall record: 3-7-0
2002 conference record, finish: 2-5, 6th place tie
Home field, phone: Ramer Field (4,300) press box phones, 715/425-3746
and 715/425-3369
Trainer: Gary Eloranta 715/425-3130
Sports information director: Jim
Thies 715/425-3846
Web site: http://www.uwrf.edu/sports/
Sports information fax: 715/425-4486
The Falcons open the 2003 season on Saturday when they host Chadron
State, Neb., College. Kick off is set for noon.
Coach John O’Grady, entering his 15th season as head coach, is putting
all of the pressure to have a successful season on himself.
"This year our success is going to be based totally on what I do
and what our coaching staff does," O’Grady said. "We need
to eliminate mistakes and I don’t think I have done a very good job
of that over the past two years."
The buzz of the WIAC media day on Aug. 12 was offense. Several teams around
the league return experienced quarterbacks and dominant offensive lines.
The Falcons may present just the poison needed to be competitive in a
conference where "offense is going to rule", according to O’Grady.
With 10 starters returning on defense the Falcons should be able to counter
the high powered offenses of the WIAC with a block in the road, or at
least a speed bump, that will slow them down and give the Falcons a chance
to win. "If our defense can play like we did in a couple of games
last year, we’ll be okay," O’Grady said. "A team has
to stop teams from scoring to be successful, and I think we can do that
well because of our experience."
The entire defensive line is intact from a year ago, led by second team
All-WIAC pick Jeff Horton at defensive end who led the league in sacks
a year ago with 11. Senior Nate Hendrickson holds up the other end while
senior Nic Rue and junior Josh Meyer will again start at the tackle positions.
"We lack a little bit of depth in the defensive line, but the group
returning from last year should be pretty good," O’Grady said.
Junior Ben Gillett and senior Nate Mueller come into the season with experience
at linebacker. Gillett had 29 tackles, two interceptions and one fumble
recovery a year ago while Mueller collected 42 tackles and one fumble
recovery. Juniors Matt Farmer and Aaron Griesen will play the outside
linebacker positions for the Falcons.
The graduation of the team’s leading tackler, Luke Miska, left a
substantial hole to be filled at free safety. Kyle Hoegh, who had 63 tackles
and two interceptions from his linebacker position last season, has been
converted to fill that gap. "Our free safety has to be a thinker
and that describes Kyle," said O’Grady.
The group of cornerbacks this year has the Falcon coaching staff excited
and in a year that the pass will dominate the WIAC, it will be tested
often. "We have three very athletic players at corner," O’Grady
said, "probably the best, talent wise, in my 14 years here."
That group includes Roman Johnson and Lewie Parish as starters and Neil
Mantor also saw significant playing time last year. Johnson, the fastest
player on the team, led the Falcons in interceptions a year ago with four
while also excelling at punt and kickoff return.
Having an experienced defense should help keep an inexperienced offense
within striking distance early in the season.
The Falcon offense was sacked by graduation, losing four starters on the
offensive line. Center Andy Kotelnicki, a 5-11 280 pound senior, returns
to anchor the offensive line. He will be joined by junior Jeremy Hotz
and sophomore Nate Cook at guard while senior Greg Spahn and sophomore
Alan Nutt will fill the tackle positions. Spahn has had past experience
playing center. "I am excited about the offensive line because we
have some leadership there with Kotelnicki and Spahn," O’Grady
said.
The made over offensive line will pave the way for first team All-WIAC
halfback John Peterlik who as a sophomore led the league in rushing last
season with 1,114 yards and 11 touchdowns. Peterlik will be joined in
the wishbone backfield by senior Dan Booth at the other halfback, and
freshman Owen Schmidt at fullback. "We think we have shored up the
fullback position this season," O’Grady said, "we really
have not been very productive there the last few years."
At quarterback, incumbent starter Dustin Vogelgesang will not return to
the team this year due to an ongoing back injury. On Aug. 12 O’Grady
said that he "couldn’t imagine" having a freshman quarterback
starting for the Falcons this season, but did note that he had three outstanding
freshman recruits. Between then and now, two of those freshman, Troy Foss
and Andy Kolstad, have emerged as the front-runners. No starter had been
named as of last Friday, but one of those freshman will get the call.
In the event that the Falcons pass the ball, Foss or Kolstad will be tossing
it to either tight end Jake Knapmiller or wide receiver Weesayma Kennedy.
Kennedy excelled in track for the Falcons last spring as a sprinter and
has worked in the off-season to improve his hands.
Senior Adam Bergdahl returns as the punter and kicker this fall after
handling both duties last season.
"We should be an improved team this year," O’Grady said.
"If I do a better job coaching, we will be a better football team.
"We have a bigger group of seniors who will be good leaders for us
this year, so I am excited going in, but all the onus really rests on
me."
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John O'Grady
83-52-3 overall record
0-3-0 vs. Chadron
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