20 starters back for 2001 Tommie football

August 16, 2001
The pendulum never swings too far for fourth-year St. Thomas head football coach Don Roney. Never one to rely on hype or push the panic button, Roney has a simple formula for success in 2001.

"We just have to make the play when we have the opportunity,'' Roney said. "People have to step up."

There are reasons for optimism -- notably 20 of 24 starters back, led by two All-America candidates.

There are reasons for concern -- another grueling September schedule and several off-season injuries that have eroded depth.

The 2000 Tommies made a lot of big plays, but their inexperience caused them to miss some chances in a 6-4 finish. Although the Tommies secured the school's sixth consecutive winning season and tied for third in the MIAC at 6-3, they know they can and must play sharper in 2001 in order to challenge for an MIAC championship.

The Toms open at home Sept. 8 vs. Division II Bemidji State, a team that also returns 20 starters and gets a one-week jump with a Sept. 1 game. The Toms have lost three consecutive games to the Beavers, including a 32-9 defeat last season in Bemidji.

St. Thomas then begins MIAC play with two games against teams with new head coaches -- Sept. 15 at Concordia-Moorhead and Sept. 22 at home vs. Carleton. "That's two new systems that we don't know anything about,'' Roney said. The Tommies close the month with a Sept. 29 trip to rival St. John's, the 2000 NCAA Division III runner-up.

"It will be very interesting early,'' Roney said. "It's the same opening opponents as last year, and we better be ready to play well early."

Last year, with eight new starters on each side of the ball, the Toms started 2-2 in September. But the bulk of the Tommie starters are back in 2001, creating some excitement.

On offense, the Toms have an All-American candidate at running back in junior Jake Barkley; return three proven wide receivers; return five of their six starters up front from tight end to tackle; and welcome back junior quarterback Nick Ambrasas, who won the starting job at mid-season and showed steady improvement.

Barkley was the MIAC rushing champion with 1,414 rushing yards in nine conference games, including eight consecutive 100-yard games. Barkley finished with 1,476 yards -- UST's first 1,000-yard rusher since 1990. Barkley also was voted first-team All-West Region by Football Gazette and made that publication's 2001 Preseason All-America team for Division III. He also earned first-team Academic All-American honors on the Verizon College Division team with a 3.88 grade-point average in Entrepreneurship.

"Jake had a breakout year for us, but that's because our offensive line had a breakout year,'' Roney said. "Jake is very explosive and did some real good things. He's still learning as a running back. If he can stay healthy we might be able to take him a few steps further, and hopefully he can take us a few steps further. If we're able to run the ball consistently again like we did last season, that opens up our play-action and dropback passing. As an offense you're always trying to make the defense defend the whole field, vertically and horizontally."

Roney knew there would be growing pains at quarterback in 2000 with the graduation of three-year starter and Academic All-American Greg Kaiser. Ambrasas, a transfer from the University of Minnesota, started the year as the backup but played better with more repetitions. He completed 62 percent of his passes for nine touchdowns and 1,157 yards in his six starts, and helped the Toms post a 4-2 record in those final six games."He was rusty when he started after sitting out a couple of years," Roney said. "But he's really improved."

Three sophomores are battling to backup Ambrasas -- Shaun Chesley, Dan Fritze and Jesse Baker.

Even with the presence of Barkley, the Toms have three valuable players to replace at running back. Three-year starting fullback Mike Westland (career: 105 receptions, 1,070 yards) and four-year MIAC standout running back Marcus Ludtke (career: 1,930 yards) graduated. And an offseason injury is expected to sideline versatile junior Phil Remes. Junior Nick Whitehead, sophomore Justin Kostner and freshman Luke Dorsey will vie for playing time.

The top two tight ends are back in seniors Jon Learn (career: 42 receptions, 417 yards, 4 TDs) and Ty Whitney (career: 17 receptions, 195 yards, 3 TDs).

Roney said his offensive line had an excellent offseason and will report to camp in terrific shape. Juniors Joe Moline and Logan Kane return at the right tackle and guard spots; sophomore Blake Norman is back at left tackle; junior Justin Wallick played guard last year but may move to center, as junior Matt McLaughlin didn't return to school.

The receiver position is dangerous led by two Tommie track and field All-Americans, juniors Andrew Hilliard (All-MIAC, 29 receptions, 614 yards, 4 TDs) and Justin Hall (20 receptions, 214 yards, 4 TDs), and senior co-captain Brian Brenberg (21 receptions, 238 yards, 2 TDs).

The Toms also return their top placekicker -- 6-foot-9 junior Brian Lynch, who's also a Tommie basketball standout. Lynch converted 21-of-23 PATs and 4-of-8 field goal tries in 2000 -- his first season ever in football.

On defense, senior lineman Andy Kaiser (career: 187 tackles, 14.5 sacks), an All-American candidate, leads the charge. Four other senior starters are back -- tackle Aaron Johnson, end Conor Casey, linebacker Bob Hannah and cornerback Connell Nolan. Junior starters back are linebackers Rick Joslin (90 tackles, two sacks) and Sean O'Leary (71 tackles, four sacks), and free safety Joe Fritze (51 tackles, 3 INT, 10 break-ups). Returning sophomore starters are linebacker John Kaiser and punter Kyle Davenport. Two notable losses are cornerback Brett Gjovik, who graduated, and senior All-MIAC defensive end Brent Nelson (10 sacks, three blocked kicks), who will miss the season with an elbow injury.

With its eight new starters, the Tommie defense showed its youth at times last season. It surrendured 22.2 ppg and 354 ypg, although it did record 41 sacks and shutout Augsburg on the road.

The Toms return most of their coaching staff, including longtime coordinators George Wemeier (offense) and Bill Burke (defense). They play six home games at O'Shaughnessy Stadium, including games with three teams they lost to in 2000 -- Bemidji State, St. Olaf and Bethel.

"I like the kids in our program," Roney said. "I think they work really hard and had a very good offseason. We just have to continue to work hard, have a good attitude, and get better. Let's hope we got our injuries out of the way in the offseason."

2001 Schedule (All 1 p.m. starts)
9/8---Bemidji State
9/15--at Concordia
9/22--Carleton
9/29--at St. John's
10/6--Augsburg
10/13--St. Olaf
10/20 --at Macalester
10/27 ---Gustavus
11/3---at Hamline
11/10---Bethel

2000 Game-by Game Results
9/9---at Bemidji State, L, 9-32
9/16--Concordia W, 38-22
9/23--at Carleton, W, 36-13
9/30--St. John's, L, 0-17
10/7---at Augsburg, W, 16-0
10/14--at St. Olaf, L, 15-24
10/21--Macalester, W, 38-28
10/28--at Gustavus, W, 34-24
11/3---vs. Bethel (Metrodome), L, 31-49
11/11--Hamline, W, 19-13

General Information
School: University of St. Thomas
Location: St. Paul, Minn.
Founded: 1885
Enrollment: 5,300 (undergraduate)
Nickname: Tommies
School Colors: Purple and Gray
Stadium: O'Shaughnessy Stadium
Capacity: 5,000
Affiliation: NCAA Div III
President: Rev. Dennis Dease
Athletic Director: Steve Fritz
Athletic Phone: (651) 962-5901

History
First year of football: 1913
All-time bowl / play-off record: 1-2-1
Years in post-season play: 3
Last postseason appearance: 1990 (1-1), NCAA playoff, def. UW-Whitewater 24-23; lost Central 33-32
All-time record: 472-297-34

Coaching Staff
Head Coach Don Roney
Alma Mater/Year: St. Thomas '84
Record at school (years): 20-10 (.667)
Career record: 20-10

Assistant Coaches
Defensive Coord.: Bill Burke
Defensive Line: Dan Green, Josh Harrington
Special Teams: Dick Rinehart
Linebackers: Jesse Moyer
Defensive Backs: Trent Hanson, Dick Crandall
Offensive Coord.: George Wemeier
Wide Receivers: Tom Flood
Offensive Line: Clint Ewald, Jamie Sherwood
Running Backs: Mike Westland
Tight Ends: Chris Chappuis

St. Thomas vs. the MIAC
Series vs. Augsburg----46-8-2
Series vs. Bethel----14-8-1
Series vs. Carleton----18-11-2
Series vs. Concordia----26-32-0
Series vs. Gustavus----34-33-2
Series vs. Hamline----47-22-1
Series vs. Macalaster ----69-19-3
Series vs. St. John's ----29-39-1
Series vs. St. Olaf----30-13-2

Player Information

Key Returners:
---Nick Ambrasas, JR, QB, St. Paul/Arlington HS
(Started last 6 games of 2000 and was 98-of-159, 62%, 1,157 yards, 9 TDs in those games)
---Jake Barkley, JR, RB, Plymouth/Robbinsdale Armstrong HS
(2000: MIAC rushing champ, 1,476 yards, 9 TDs, 6.3 ypc, 8 100-yard games in row,
All-Region, Academic All-American; 2001 FB Gazette Preseason All-American)
---Justin Hall, JR, WR, Maplewood/Tartan HS
(2-year career: 62 rec., 804 yds, 7 TD; track & field All-American)
---Bob Hannah, SR, LB, Cottage Grove/Park HS
(2000: HM All-MIAC, 2 INT, 3 forced fumbles, 2 sacks, 4 break-ups, 39 tackles)
---Andrew Hilliard, JR, WR, Woodbury
(All-MIAC, Academic All-American, track & field All-American; 2-yr. career: 46 rec., 821 yds, 4 TD)
---Rick Joslin, JR, LB, Cambridge
(2000: HM All-MIAC, 90 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 2 sacks)
---Andy Kaiser, SR, DL, Mora
(2001 FB Gazette Preseason All-American; 3-year starter; Career: 14.5 sacks, 187 tackles, 4 fumble recoveries, 2 INT)
---Brian Lynch, JR, PK, Mpls./DeLaSalle HS
(2000: 21-23 PAT, 4-8 FG)

Key Newcomers:
---Luke Dorsey, FR, RB, 2000 Apple Valley HS graduate
---Mike Dahlstrom, FR, WR, 2001 St. Thomas Academy graduate

Key Losses:
---Brett Gjovik, CB, Graduated (HM All-MIAC; Career: 5 fumble recoveries, 18 break-ups)
---Marcus Lutdke, RB, Graduated (Career: 1,930 rushing yards, 7 TDs)
---Matt McLaughlin, C, Not in School (2000 starting center)
---Brent Nelson, DE, SR, Injured (All-MIAC; 2000: 10 sacks, 3 blocked kicks)
---Phil Remes, HB-FB, JR, Injured (5 TDs in 2000)
---Mike Westland, FB, Graduated (3-year starter, Career: 105 receptions, 1,070 yards, 7 TDs)

Letterwinners Returning: 31 Off./30 Def./4 Spec.--Total: 65
Letterwinners Lost: 16 Off./15 Def./3 Spec.--Total: 34
Starters Returning: Off./9 Def./9 Spec.: 2--Total: 20