Post by bbtds on Sept 2, 2010 7:51:19 GMT -5
VU-WIU matchup more about haves, have-nots
September 2, 2010
BY JOHN MUTKA, POST-TRIBUNE SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
VALPARAISO -- Valparaiso and Western Illinois share a long athletic history, both schools having been charter members of the defunct Mid-Continent Conference. Their rivalry doesn't extend to the gridiron, but that will be remedied at 6 p.m. today when they meet for the first time.
Let's talk coincidences. The first-time rivals staggered to 1-10 records last year. Both have new coaches who are introducing spread offenses. That's where the similarities end as VU coach Dale Carlson is quick to point out.
"Western's fully funded with 63 (scholarships) so we're concerned about their depth, playing them on the road," he says.
The host Leathernecks belong to the Missouri Valley Conference only in football. Need-based VU, which offers no athletic scholarships, spends its autumns in the Pioneer Football League
Western Illinois is coached by Mark Hendrickson, who moved up after 10 years on the staff. One of his first hires was Arkansas State's Doug Ruse as offensive coordinator.
They're saddled with a 10-game losing streak, but are armed with 38 lettermen, 11 of them returning starters.
Both teams will be playing the hurry-up, no-huddle offense, which puts the burden on rotating receivers. Running backs could be an after-thought on either side of the line.
Valparaiso will be directed by Nate Goergen, a part-time starter who passed for 487 yards and five touchdowns last year. He won the job in the 15-day fall camp, beating out Matt Upshaw, who spent most of last year nursing an injury. Incumbent Bobby Wysocki led VU's anemic attack with 231 yards rushing, but completed only 41.2 per cent of his passes.
Wysocki has shifted to wide receiver, where he'll be included in a rotation with starting outside receivers Dez Lewis and Sean McCarty, and Chesterton backups Ryan Myers and Travis Anderson.
Tim Bennett, VU's top returning receiver, will line up in the slot. He caught 27 passes and led the Crusaders in all-purpose yardage. Newcomer Mike Gerton will line up at tight end.
Carlson brings a pass-first philosophy to the party, but that can be misleading, especially in an opener when rivals are feeling each other out.
"Everybody thinks were going to throw 50 times a game, but that's not necessarily so," Carlson says. When teams don't have a lot of information they'll play a lot of cat-and-mouse."
Western's options include two experienced quarterbacks. Matt Barr started the first four games last year, passing for 914 yards before suffering a season-ending injury. His replacement, Will Lunt, had his shaky moments, throwing 12 interceptions and only four touchdowns.
Whoever lines up behind center will be dealing with an experienced VU secondary. Safeties Eli Crawford and Roger Satur led the Crusaders in interceptions and solo tackles, respectively. Seasoned reserves Adrian Gober (Merrillville) and Alan Porter will start at the corners.
Gober's work ethic is impressive.
"He's one of those guys who was always around in summer camp, hitting the weights," according to Carlson.
Valparaiso's secondary should zero in on Lito Senatus, a talented wide receiver who caught 65 passes.
Valparaiso must also be wary of running back Caulton Ray, who transferred from Michigan State in January. He started four games for the Spartans, averaging 3.9 yards per carry and topping out with 71 yards in 12 rushes against Montana State.
Look for Ed Morelli and Isaac Wildermuth to bear the brunt of VU's running attack.
September 2, 2010
BY JOHN MUTKA, POST-TRIBUNE SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
VALPARAISO -- Valparaiso and Western Illinois share a long athletic history, both schools having been charter members of the defunct Mid-Continent Conference. Their rivalry doesn't extend to the gridiron, but that will be remedied at 6 p.m. today when they meet for the first time.
Let's talk coincidences. The first-time rivals staggered to 1-10 records last year. Both have new coaches who are introducing spread offenses. That's where the similarities end as VU coach Dale Carlson is quick to point out.
"Western's fully funded with 63 (scholarships) so we're concerned about their depth, playing them on the road," he says.
The host Leathernecks belong to the Missouri Valley Conference only in football. Need-based VU, which offers no athletic scholarships, spends its autumns in the Pioneer Football League
Western Illinois is coached by Mark Hendrickson, who moved up after 10 years on the staff. One of his first hires was Arkansas State's Doug Ruse as offensive coordinator.
They're saddled with a 10-game losing streak, but are armed with 38 lettermen, 11 of them returning starters.
Both teams will be playing the hurry-up, no-huddle offense, which puts the burden on rotating receivers. Running backs could be an after-thought on either side of the line.
Valparaiso will be directed by Nate Goergen, a part-time starter who passed for 487 yards and five touchdowns last year. He won the job in the 15-day fall camp, beating out Matt Upshaw, who spent most of last year nursing an injury. Incumbent Bobby Wysocki led VU's anemic attack with 231 yards rushing, but completed only 41.2 per cent of his passes.
Wysocki has shifted to wide receiver, where he'll be included in a rotation with starting outside receivers Dez Lewis and Sean McCarty, and Chesterton backups Ryan Myers and Travis Anderson.
Tim Bennett, VU's top returning receiver, will line up in the slot. He caught 27 passes and led the Crusaders in all-purpose yardage. Newcomer Mike Gerton will line up at tight end.
Carlson brings a pass-first philosophy to the party, but that can be misleading, especially in an opener when rivals are feeling each other out.
"Everybody thinks were going to throw 50 times a game, but that's not necessarily so," Carlson says. When teams don't have a lot of information they'll play a lot of cat-and-mouse."
Western's options include two experienced quarterbacks. Matt Barr started the first four games last year, passing for 914 yards before suffering a season-ending injury. His replacement, Will Lunt, had his shaky moments, throwing 12 interceptions and only four touchdowns.
Whoever lines up behind center will be dealing with an experienced VU secondary. Safeties Eli Crawford and Roger Satur led the Crusaders in interceptions and solo tackles, respectively. Seasoned reserves Adrian Gober (Merrillville) and Alan Porter will start at the corners.
Gober's work ethic is impressive.
"He's one of those guys who was always around in summer camp, hitting the weights," according to Carlson.
Valparaiso's secondary should zero in on Lito Senatus, a talented wide receiver who caught 65 passes.
Valparaiso must also be wary of running back Caulton Ray, who transferred from Michigan State in January. He started four games for the Spartans, averaging 3.9 yards per carry and topping out with 71 yards in 12 rushes against Montana State.
Look for Ed Morelli and Isaac Wildermuth to bear the brunt of VU's running attack.