sorry if this is redundant info
Dave Clawson’s coaching debut at Bowling Green State University comes tomorrow night against Troy at Perry Stadium. Troy’s a team coming off an impressive 8-3 season that included a 30-27 overtime loss to Southern Mississippi in the New Orleans Bowl.
They follow up Troy with a game at Missouri (Sept. 12) Clawson was Tennessee’s offensive coordinator last year after spending four years at Richmond.
First-year BGSU coaches have won 12 straight openers dating back to 1935.
Football notes: Troy defensive ends cause of concern for Falcons
Troy defensive ends Brandon Lang and Cameron Sheffield are both pinned as future NFL draft picks. In total, the duo dropped quarterbacks for a loss of 141 yards.
BG will counter that attack with senior Brady Minturn and first-year starter Tyler Donahue, a junior, to try to block them out and keep quarterback Tyler Sheehan on his feet rather than his back. The Falcons do return the left side of their offensive line, which allowed 21 sacks last season, with Minturn, fellow senior Shane Steffy and sophomore center Ben Bojicic. Donahue and senior Scott Albert replace the right half.
On the Falcon defense, there isn’t nearly as much experience or as many expectations as the line’s four starters have a combined eight career starts.
Junior RB Willie Geter is poised for a breakout year. The 5-foot-7, 175-pound Geter fought injuries last season but managed 45 carries for 315 yards in eight games. He also caught 10 passes for 96 yards.
Two seasons ago, Geter started four games and rushed for 432 yards on 71 carries, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.
Senior safety P.J. Mahone sat out the team’s final scrimmage last weekend as a precaution after feeling sore that week in practice.But all was well this week as Mahone practiced all week without any issues. Mahone is expected to be a big part of the Falcon defense as he is one of three returning starters and has put up big numbers his entire career. Last season, Mahone led the team with 95 tackles and had three interceptions.
BG returns only 11 starters, but eight are on offense. All-MAC quarterback Tyler Sheehan leads the list of players expected to provide production and direction for a team in transition. Sheehan, a 6-foot-3, 225-pounder, is arguably the most experienced player on the Falcons' roster. He has started 25 straight games. The Cincinnati native has passed for 6,066 yards, including 43 touchdowns, during his career. His 65 percent completion percentage stands as a school record. He’s coming off a junior campaign in which he completed 66.8 percent of his attempts while throwing for 2,610 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Redshirt freshman Aaron Pankratz and freshman Matt Schilz are contending for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.
Under Clawson, the Falcons are expecting to include more running plays in their offensive package.
Defensively, Clawson is working with a group that has only three returning starters, but the defense got the better of the offense during the Falcons' most recent scrimmage
Offensively, the Trojans are led by senior quarterback Levi Brown, who earned Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year in 2008 after throwing for 2,030 yards and 15
touchdowns, starting just eight games.
Extra motivation:
Clawson was the head coach at the University of Richmond during Brown's two seasons there and the man whose quarterback decision led Brown to transfer to Troy. "It's just another game for us," Brown said. "It makes a good story playing my old coach, but he's not going to be on the field. He's an offensive guy anyway, so it's not like he's the defensive coach and I'll be going against his scheme.
Other Troy players are aware of the irony -- and wring it for comedy. "He said he wanted to put up like 75 billion points and he asked me if I would help," receiver Jerrel Jernigan joked. "I said I would."
Richmond had a bevy of good running backs, including Tim Hightower, who is currently in the NFL. That led Clawson to use a run-based offense and choose another quarterback more suited to it.
Brown transferred to Troy after the 2006 season.
He became Troy's starter early last season and, over the final eight games, threw 314 passes. In his final year at Richmond, the Spiders threw 312 all season.
"I'd like to win and I'd like to win big, but I would say that about any team we play," Brown said. "It's going to be fun and it makes a good story, but realistically it's not a whole lot different for me."
Helping Brown take ownership is the return of his top two weapons, junior running back DuJuan Harris and receiver Jerrel Jernigan. Harris ran for 1,077 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. Jernigan, now a junior wide receiver, set a single-season Trojan record last year with 77 catches despite missing one full game and a half of three others. He was named to the Sun Belt’s all-conference team.
In fact, 16 of the 22 players who recorded at least one reception last year are back for 2009.
On the defensive side of the ball, the front seven will lead the way as the Trojans work to rebuild a secondary that lost four veteran players. Of the front seven, five
were starters in 2008. The Trojan secondary will feature four new starters in
2009. Two senior safeties, Courtland Fuller and Chris Bowens, return for the Trojans, and both have extensive playing experience over the last three years, just not as starters. Redshirt freshman Bryan Willis has been impressive at one corner while
sophomore KeJuan Phillips is the front runner at the other. Barry Valcin, a junior college transfer from Coff eyville (KS) CC, will push for playing time as well.
Sophomore Donnell Golden stepped in last year when Troy was missing a starting linebacker, so he feels comfortable doing it again this season. "I played last year when he was injured and actually started three games, so I'm used to it," Golden said. "I'm ready to play some ball."
With Bear Woods out for first two games because of a 2006 redshirt snafu, Golden is the starter, beginning with Thursday's opener at Bowling Green State.
Coach Larry Blakeney has posted an overall record of 13-5 in season openers, including an 8-5 mark in road season openers.
He returnshis entire coaching staff from last season. It is the first time in the Division I era he has returned his entire staff from one season to the next.
Troy has had 10 players named to watch lists for the various national awards, trailing only Florida (12) and Oklahoma (11).
Troy was one of just two programs in the country last year to have ranked in the top 10 nationally in both punt return and kickoff return defense. The Trojans were second in the nation in punt return defense, allowing just 2.53 yards per return, and ranked seventh in
kickoff return defense, allowing 17.9 yards per return.
All three of Troy’s kickers return from
2008. Senior Sam Glusman, who hit 20-of-29 field goals and 48-of-52 PATs in 2008, returns and has been tabbed as a contender for the prestigious Lou Groza Award, which he was a semifi nalist for in 2008. Sophomore’s Will Goggans (39.2) and Michael Taylor (58.2, nine touchbacks) return to handle punting and kickoff s. Taylor has also pushed Glusman hard during training camp.
Forgot, hit Troy
Dave Clawson’s coaching debut at Bowling Green State University comes tomorrow night against Troy at Perry Stadium. Troy’s a team coming off an impressive 8-3 season that included a 30-27 overtime loss to Southern Mississippi in the New Orleans Bowl.
They follow up Troy with a game at Missouri (Sept. 12) Clawson was Tennessee’s offensive coordinator last year after spending four years at Richmond.
First-year BGSU coaches have won 12 straight openers dating back to 1935.
Football notes: Troy defensive ends cause of concern for Falcons
Troy defensive ends Brandon Lang and Cameron Sheffield are both pinned as future NFL draft picks. In total, the duo dropped quarterbacks for a loss of 141 yards.
BG will counter that attack with senior Brady Minturn and first-year starter Tyler Donahue, a junior, to try to block them out and keep quarterback Tyler Sheehan on his feet rather than his back. The Falcons do return the left side of their offensive line, which allowed 21 sacks last season, with Minturn, fellow senior Shane Steffy and sophomore center Ben Bojicic. Donahue and senior Scott Albert replace the right half.
On the Falcon defense, there isn’t nearly as much experience or as many expectations as the line’s four starters have a combined eight career starts.
Junior RB Willie Geter is poised for a breakout year. The 5-foot-7, 175-pound Geter fought injuries last season but managed 45 carries for 315 yards in eight games. He also caught 10 passes for 96 yards.
Two seasons ago, Geter started four games and rushed for 432 yards on 71 carries, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.
Senior safety P.J. Mahone sat out the team’s final scrimmage last weekend as a precaution after feeling sore that week in practice.But all was well this week as Mahone practiced all week without any issues. Mahone is expected to be a big part of the Falcon defense as he is one of three returning starters and has put up big numbers his entire career. Last season, Mahone led the team with 95 tackles and had three interceptions.
BG returns only 11 starters, but eight are on offense. All-MAC quarterback Tyler Sheehan leads the list of players expected to provide production and direction for a team in transition. Sheehan, a 6-foot-3, 225-pounder, is arguably the most experienced player on the Falcons' roster. He has started 25 straight games. The Cincinnati native has passed for 6,066 yards, including 43 touchdowns, during his career. His 65 percent completion percentage stands as a school record. He’s coming off a junior campaign in which he completed 66.8 percent of his attempts while throwing for 2,610 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Redshirt freshman Aaron Pankratz and freshman Matt Schilz are contending for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.
Under Clawson, the Falcons are expecting to include more running plays in their offensive package.
Defensively, Clawson is working with a group that has only three returning starters, but the defense got the better of the offense during the Falcons' most recent scrimmage
Offensively, the Trojans are led by senior quarterback Levi Brown, who earned Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year in 2008 after throwing for 2,030 yards and 15
touchdowns, starting just eight games.
Extra motivation:
Clawson was the head coach at the University of Richmond during Brown's two seasons there and the man whose quarterback decision led Brown to transfer to Troy. "It's just another game for us," Brown said. "It makes a good story playing my old coach, but he's not going to be on the field. He's an offensive guy anyway, so it's not like he's the defensive coach and I'll be going against his scheme.
Other Troy players are aware of the irony -- and wring it for comedy. "He said he wanted to put up like 75 billion points and he asked me if I would help," receiver Jerrel Jernigan joked. "I said I would."
Richmond had a bevy of good running backs, including Tim Hightower, who is currently in the NFL. That led Clawson to use a run-based offense and choose another quarterback more suited to it.
Brown transferred to Troy after the 2006 season.
He became Troy's starter early last season and, over the final eight games, threw 314 passes. In his final year at Richmond, the Spiders threw 312 all season.
"I'd like to win and I'd like to win big, but I would say that about any team we play," Brown said. "It's going to be fun and it makes a good story, but realistically it's not a whole lot different for me."
Helping Brown take ownership is the return of his top two weapons, junior running back DuJuan Harris and receiver Jerrel Jernigan. Harris ran for 1,077 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. Jernigan, now a junior wide receiver, set a single-season Trojan record last year with 77 catches despite missing one full game and a half of three others. He was named to the Sun Belt’s all-conference team.
In fact, 16 of the 22 players who recorded at least one reception last year are back for 2009.
On the defensive side of the ball, the front seven will lead the way as the Trojans work to rebuild a secondary that lost four veteran players. Of the front seven, five
were starters in 2008. The Trojan secondary will feature four new starters in
2009. Two senior safeties, Courtland Fuller and Chris Bowens, return for the Trojans, and both have extensive playing experience over the last three years, just not as starters. Redshirt freshman Bryan Willis has been impressive at one corner while
sophomore KeJuan Phillips is the front runner at the other. Barry Valcin, a junior college transfer from Coff eyville (KS) CC, will push for playing time as well.
Sophomore Donnell Golden stepped in last year when Troy was missing a starting linebacker, so he feels comfortable doing it again this season. "I played last year when he was injured and actually started three games, so I'm used to it," Golden said. "I'm ready to play some ball."
With Bear Woods out for first two games because of a 2006 redshirt snafu, Golden is the starter, beginning with Thursday's opener at Bowling Green State.
Coach Larry Blakeney has posted an overall record of 13-5 in season openers, including an 8-5 mark in road season openers.
He returnshis entire coaching staff from last season. It is the first time in the Division I era he has returned his entire staff from one season to the next.
Troy has had 10 players named to watch lists for the various national awards, trailing only Florida (12) and Oklahoma (11).
Troy was one of just two programs in the country last year to have ranked in the top 10 nationally in both punt return and kickoff return defense. The Trojans were second in the nation in punt return defense, allowing just 2.53 yards per return, and ranked seventh in
kickoff return defense, allowing 17.9 yards per return.
All three of Troy’s kickers return from
2008. Senior Sam Glusman, who hit 20-of-29 field goals and 48-of-52 PATs in 2008, returns and has been tabbed as a contender for the prestigious Lou Groza Award, which he was a semifi nalist for in 2008. Sophomore’s Will Goggans (39.2) and Michael Taylor (58.2, nine touchbacks) return to handle punting and kickoff s. Taylor has also pushed Glusman hard during training camp.
Forgot, hit Troy