THE 2001 TEAM
We graduated a great group of seniors last year but recruiting both on and off campus was outstanding. Some 20 new on-campus recruits including several former varsity wrestlers and a large group of "recruited" freshman and transfers will join the 40+ returnees for a big squad of some 75 players.
How good are we? Depends.
This will be one of the "biggest", strongest teams in many years but we are very "young". A large group of 190 pound bodies are spending the summer sweating down to the reporting weight of 175. The off-season weight program was very, very intense and the results are evident across the board. The majority bench press in the 200-250 range and squat between 280 - 390 lbs.
One never knows about how young players will adjust to the speed and skill found in this league and we will start a lot of new players on both sides of the ball. In addition, the pre-season teaching time is especially short this year due to the late start of classes. All in all we may be a "year away" depending on how fast the kids mature. We will be a physical team this year and if we can move the ball on offense we could be a very competitive team.
Our strengths include the offensive skill players, kicking and the defensive line. The running backs and receivers are experienced and there are a lot of them. Kicking should also be solid. The punter is a 4 year player and both place kickers return. Defensive line should be outstanding. Question marks include the QB, offensive line, linebacker and defensive back. Our QB situation looked great in the spring but has changed dramatically this summer. The #1 is not playing, #2 has developed some serious disc problems in his lower back, #3 may be too big to make weight so the position is a mystery as we start the season. #4 is a good all purpose option player who will start at tailback if a QB appears. The o-line graduated all 5 starters and the #2 center which usually means a long year. However, the 2nd group is returning, except for the center, and our recruiting class has 5 legitimate high school all league offensive linemen. All appear very good on paper. The linebacker corps lost 2 all-league 3 year starters to graduation. Six linebackers return. All are solid, tough young men but short on experience. At defensive back we must replace 2 all-league 4 year starters. Again, we return a big group of players who have some experience and excellent physical credentials but are short on game time.
It looks like an excellent group to coach. They are dedicated in the weight room, serious about winning and it appears we have a lot of very talented athletes. Sure makes my job a pleasure.
THE COACHES
We "lost" John Baust '98 and Nick Jope '01. John was a fine offensive center and captain of the '97 team who coached the o-line the past three years while pursuing a PHD at Binghamton University. He made the 120 mile round trip drive to campus every day. He is off to Harvard where he will pursue a post-doc degree in something I cannot pronounce, spell or understand. Nick Jope is a "recruited" son of an alum (Ted Jope '69) who discovered a high school neck injury while playing with us. This ended his career as a player but he immediately began a new career as a coach where he served for 3 years with the defensive line. He will join will join the real world this fall with a job. Both were great and both will be missed.
Returning coaches: Paul "Buddy" Lang returns for his 14th season. Buddy teaches at Dryden HS and has many years of experience as a head coach. He is our defensive coordinator and will coach the D-backs, Terry Dougherty has many years experience as both a player and a coach and returns as the defensive line coach. He will finish his PHD at Cornell this fall. Marty Conners teaches at Groton HS and returns for a second season. He was the head coach at Groton for 12 years before joining our program and will coach the linebackers. Jim Luchsinger returns for his 8th season. He teaches at Homer HS, is the offensive coordinator and coaches the O-line. Willie Evans returns for his 5th season. He works at Cornell and will coach the receivers. Jack Reed returns for his 2nd season. He was head coach at Trumansburg HS for 12 years where he continues as a teacher. Jack will coach the running backs. Sam Wolcott '01 was a four year player in the program and will serve as rookie coach this fall. He is working toward a masters in engineering at Cornell prior to pursuing his MD. It is a good solid staff of coaches who follow our tradition of excellent coaches working for very little pay.
THE MANAGERS
A fine group of second generation 150's. Jessica Baust '01 (brother is John '98), Cammy Kandiko '03 (father is Joe '72), Lynton Markham '03 (father is Mick '76), Kelly Porter '04 (father is Dale '75) and Emily Mauro '05 (father is Bob '72). I give them lots of advice, which they generally ignore, but they do keep things going in a positive manner. All five are competent, hard working, fun people and are an integral part of this organization.
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