pages 20-43 - Washburn Athletics

2003 SEASON PREVIEWBy Gene CassellWashburn Sports Information DirectorDon’t let the 3-8 record from last season mislead you. The Ichabodssaw continued improvement throughout last season, winning three oftheir last six games. The team plans to build on last year’s successes andgive fans an even better 2003.The Ichabods are returning 36 lettermen from last season’s 3-8 squadand eight starters on offense and defense are back after head coachCraig Schurig’s first year at the helm of the Washburn program.“Last season we had a lot of new faces in the lineup,” Schurig said.“Those new faces gained a lot of experience and playing time last season,and with that game experience they picked up, we believe it willhelp us this season and in years to come.”The Ichabods had 18 true freshmen play last season and those freshmenare a year older and stronger thanks to the more than $150,000of improvement in the weight room.“The entire team has bought into our program,” Schurig said. “Fromthe way they conduct themselves in the weight room, to the classroomand to the field, we have a total team effort and everyone is headingthe direction that we as a coaching staff want to go - a winning programon and off the field.”or redshirt freshmen. The 2002 MIAA Freshmanof the Year Sam Sissom (left) exploded on thescene grabbing 12 touchdown receptions and719 yards, setting new freshman records ineach category. Senior DaWight Benning tiedSissom with 41 receptions on the season andhad 617 receiving yards and six touchdowns.Sophomore Mike Odupitan averaged 21. 9yards per reception and gained 394 yards innine games with four touchdowns. Lehman,when not throwing the ball or running it,had 360 reception yards and 18 catcheswith one touchdown and tight end JeffScott had 11 catches for 77 yards as atrue freshman.“Our receivers are still young ingame experience with the returningfreshmen and DaWight playing hisfirst full year after redshirting at Oklahoma a couple of years ago,”Schurig said. “But they are a talented group and defenses will not beable to look for one receiver over the other because we do have depthand skill, which is something we want to have in all of our positions.”The OffenseThe Washburn offense returns eight starters from last season’s squadthat recorded 3,972 yards in total offense, the fifth highest single-seasontotal in school history. The majority of that was through the airwhere the ‘Bods passed for 2,447 yards - the fourth single-season totalin school history.The Ichabods averaged 25.4 points per game in 2002, which wassixth in the MIAA. However, the Ichabods averaged 30 points per gamein their last six contests.“We learned an entirely new system and as the season went along,our offense improved as they grasped the offense,” Schurig said.QuarterbacksThe Ichabods will have a pair of experienced juniors battling for thestarting quarterback position in DustinHickel and Tyler Schuerman.Hickel (left) started the final 10games last season and passed for 2,160yards and 21 touchdowns completing46 percent of his passes.Schuerman returns after beinginjured on the first play of the seasonagainst Wisconsin-La Crosse.As a sophomore, Schuermanpassed for 1,034 yards and rushedfor 477 more and led the Ichabodsin total offense with 188 per gameappearing in eight games.“Having two experienced quarterbacksin a good problem to have,”Schurig said. “No matter who starts, wewill have a game-tested quarterback to leadthe offense and the team has confidence inboth quarterbacks.”Also seeing time at quarterback last seasonwas sophomore Cason Lehman. Lehmanpassed for 246 yards and three touchdowns last year.Lehman is versatile and his athletic ability allowed himto also line up at running back and wide receiver last season.ReceiversThe Ichabod receiving corps received a lot of experience last seasonwith four of the top five receivers last season being either true freshmanOffensive BackfieldThe Ichabods will have plenty ofcompetition at running back asmany as 10 different ‘Bodsare looking for starting positions.Seniors Chris Huelsman(left) and Darryl Humphreyrushed for 222 and 121yards respectively. Huelsmanstarted last season in the receiver rotation,but switched back to his nativerunning back slot toward the end of theseason.Redshirt freshman Trent Hearn had a tremendous spring practice andbroke camp as the No. 1 tailback. Hearn rushed for 3,100 yards his juniorand senior seasons at Lancaster High School in Texas and 46 touchdowns.Also looking for carries will be redshirt freshmen Chris Brown, BrettDubert and Chris McCann.Other newcomers looking for repetitions will be transfer Jeff Womackfrom Dodge City Community College and incoming freshman A. J.Patterson.Womack rushed for 2,300 yards and 26 touchdowns his final twoseasons in high school in Riviera Beach Fla., and Patterson was Topeka’soffensive player of the year rushing for 1,977 yards and 19 touchdownsas a senior finishing his prep career with 3,817 yards.“We have the depth in the backfield to create great competition forcarries and playing time,” Schurig said. “This depth is something that wewant to create in all positions on the playing field.”At fullback, sophomore Rawshawn Bland enters the fall as the No. 1fullback and redshirt freshman Chris Brown is behind him on the depthchart. Bland rushed for 113 yards and one touchdown last season. Alsoreturning at fullback will be junior Kip Kraisinger who missed last seasonafter suffering a knee injury.Washburn Ichabod FootballOffense LineThe Ichabods’ offensive line has four starters returning from last seasonheaded by second team All-MIAA pick Tim Watts. Last season Wattsplayed left tackle, but this season he is moving to right tackle.Joining Watts is junior Matt Durler at right guard and senior KevinPierce at center - both of whom started all 11 games last season on theoffensive line. Senior John McKinley will start at left guard, a position,252003 Media Guide