2002 Tommie Football season preview

August 16, 2002
St. Thomas football has been stuck on seven -- as in seven conference victories recorded in five of the last six seasons.

The Tommies have been a model of consistency since 1995 with their combined 41-13 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) record.

Many teams would take those numbers in a heartbeat, but the Tommies' 2002 seniors are aiming higher for their farewell tour. The seniors were in elementary school when St. Thomas received its last NCAA playoff berth (1990) and in diapers when UST last won the conference championship outright (1983).

With starters back in 18 of 24 positions -- led by senior All-America candidates Jake Barkley, a workhorse running back, and Andrew Hilliard, a speedy wide receiver -- St. Thomas cracked the d3football.com 2002 preseason top-25 rankings at No. 20. St. John's, rated No. 2, is the only other MIAC team in the poll.

The Tommies' 10-game schedule features four NCAA playoff qualifiers from either 2000 or 2001. But St. Thomas is capable of making a run at the conference championship and a postseason berth. They must fill some crucial defensive holes and avoid major injuries. They also will have to play well at home and pull out the close games.

"It should be an interesting year," said Coach Don Roney, who starts his fifth season with a 27-13 record. "We have a pretty tough schedule right out of the chute, so we better be ready.

"With the number of returners we have on offense, we expect to have very good execution. Hopefully that will translate into confidence and allow us to put points on the board against anybody."

The Tommies play five of their first eight opponents at home, including games to start the season Sept. 7 and 14 vs. 2001 NCAA playoff qualifiers St. Norbert and Bethel. St. Norbert, which has reached the NCAA playoffs four consecutive seasons, replaces Division II Bemidji State, which has been St. Thomas' season-opening foe the last four years. The Toms' 0-4 record vs. Bemidji included three defeats by 10 or fewer points.

The Tommies also play at St. John's in Collegeville Nov. 2. Fortunately, that 80-mile trek will be their longest road trip of the regular season. Another stiff test comes Oct. 12 at home vs. Gustavus, which returns a lot from a 7-3 team of 2001.

Macalester, a team the Tommies have beaten 14 consecutive seasons, is off the 2002 schedule for the first time since 1954. In the Scots' place will be Wisconsin-Stout, a 2000 NCAA qualifier and the 14th-ranked team in the 2002 d3football.com preseason poll. The Blue Devils, 10-1 in 2000 and 6-3 last season, come to O'Shaughnessy Stadium Sept. 28.

The Tommies came close to reaching the postseason in 2001. Despite outgaining St. John's 406-228 in total offense, they fell behind 27-7 and lost 27-21 in Collegeville. St. Thomas still won seven of eight games in midseason and went into the final Saturday of the regular season with a chance to share the MIAC championship. But six turnovers contributed to a 55-31 loss to potent Bethel and ended the UST season at 7-3.

The 2001 Tommies managed to break a school record for scoring in MIAC games. They scored 21 or more points in all nine conference games and averaged 34.5 ppg in their 7-2 MIAC finish. Turnovers were their downfall, however. In the Tommies' seven wins they were plus 22 in turnovers gained. In their three defeats, they finished minus 7.

Roney returns 11 players who started on offense at some point last season. The Tommies return 61 career touchdowns with just five players -- Barkley (21), Hilliard (17), senior QB Nick Ambrasas (4), senior tight end Jon Learn (8), and senior WR Justin Hall (11).

Just as important is the return of five offensive line starters from tackle to tackle -- seniors Logan Kane (6-6, 290), Joe Moline (6-2, 290) and Justin Wallick (6-0, 260); junior Blake Norman (6-6, 260); and soph Brock Norman (6-0, 240). That quintet has helped the Toms average 394 yards of total offense a game and nearly 30 ppg in 2000 and 2001.

Barkley (Career: 28 games, 3,135 rushing yards, 3,674 all-purpose yards, 21 TDs) is a two-time Verizon Academic All-American and was among 51 players chosen to d3football.com's 2002 preseason All-America teams. Barkley rushed for 1,294 yards and nine touchdowns in nine games in 2001 and finished fourth nationally in Division III rushing (143.8 ypg). He also became the ninth rusher in MIAC history to surpass 3,000 career yards. He's on pace to pass All-American Gary Trettel (3,724 yards) as the Tommies' career rushing leader, and has a shot at breaking the all-time conference record of 4,079 yards set 30 years ago by St. Olaf's Ole Gunderson.

Ambrasas (UST Career: 16 starts, 261-of-469 passes, .557 completion%, 35 TDs, 3,634 yards, 4 rushing TDs), is back for his second full year as starting quarterback. In 2001, he completed 53% of his passes for 2,354 yards. He tied a school record with 26 TD passes and threw just 11 interceptions. He had a string of 132 consecutive passes without a pickoff during the 2001 season. In his last 13 MIAC games, the Tommies are 10-3 while averaging 33.3 ppg.

Hilliard (Career: 29 games, 98 catches, 1,808 yards, 17 TDs) is a five-time All-American as a sprinter/hurdler in track and field and a three-time Verizon Academic All-American. He emerged as a big-play threat in 2001 -- in nine games he had 52 catches for 977 yards and 13 TDs and finished 17th nationally in Division III receiving yards per game (108.6). He had 12 receptions of 34 or more yards, and had two or more TD receptions in four games. He needs 845 yards to pass two-time All-American Ryan Davis as UST's career leader in receiving yards.

Two other prime targets are fifth-year seniors Hall (Career: 81 receptions, 1,122 yards, 11 TDs), who's also a five-time track and field All-American; and Learn (Career: 68 receptions, 612 yards, 10 TD).

Adding depth at running back is junior kick-return specialist Justin Kostner (2001: 1,135 all-purpose yards, 26.3 ypr, 386 rushing yards, 4 TD).

Sophomore Kyle Davenport (35 ypp) returns at punter. One of two placekickers who shared duties in 2001 is back. The return of Andy Clark (26-28 PATs, 2-5 FGs) offsets the graduation of Brian Lynch (Career: 37-37 PATs, 6-11 FGs)

The Tommies' prime challenge will be in replacing six starters on defense -- three along the defensive front. Graduation losses included defensive tackles Andy Kaiser and Aaron Johnson; defensive end Conor Casey; strong safety Bob Hannah; and cornerbacks Connell Nolan and Matt Boro.

Kaiser, a Verizon Academic All-American who graduated in just 3 1-2 years, started all 40 games on his career and twice was chosen team co-captain. In 2001 he was named honorable-mention All-American and played in the Aztec Bowl with the senior Division III all-stars. He started on both the offensive and defensive lines the last six games of last season. He finished his career with 244 tackles, 17.5 sacks, three pickoffs and three fumble recoveries while scoring four touchdowns as a tight end.

Leading the defensive returners are three two-year starters -- senior defensive end Sean O'Leary, senior linebacker Rick Joslin, and junior linebacker John Kaiser.

O'Leary, an All-Region honoree in 2001, led the MIAC in sacks and finished fourth in Division III with 15 sacks last fall. Joslin has 192 career tackles, while Kaiser has 103 tackles, four pickoffs, four sacks and two fumble recoveries in 17 career games.

Two defensive backs who started as freshmen in 2001 also return -- Paul Sommerstad (2001: 2 pickoffs, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery) and Matt Meunier (2001: 8 interceptions).

2002 St. Thomas Football Preview

MIAC Football Notes

St. Thomas Notes:
.Senior RB Jake Barkley (3,135 yards) needs 590 yards to become the school's career rushing leader and 955 yards to become the MIAC's all-time leader
.Senior WR Andrew Hilliard (1,808 yards) needs 849 yards to become the school's career receiving yards leader
.Barkley will try to become a three-time Verizon Academic All-American
.Hilliard was a first-team Verizon Academic All-American in 2001-2002 in two sports -- football and track & field
.St. Thomas returns 11 players who started on offense at some point last season
.The Tommies return 61 career touchdowns with just five players -- Barkley (21), Hilliard (17), senior QB Nick Ambrasas (4), senior tight end Jon Learn (8), and senior WR Justin Hall (11).
.The Tommies are ranked No. 20 in the preseason poll by d3football.com
.The Tommies replaced Bemidji State and Macalester on their schedule with 2001 playoff qualifier St. Norbert and 2000 playoff qualifier UW-Stout

Quick Facts
Last Year
2001 Overall record: 7-3
2001 M.I.A.C. record: 7-2
2001 M.I.A.C. finish: 3rd place

School Information
Location: St. Paul, Minn.
Founded: 1885
Enrollment: 5,500 undergraduate
Nickname: Tommies
School Colors: Purple & Grey
Stadium: O'Shaughnessy Stadium
Capacity: 5,000
President: Rev. Dennis Dease
Athletic Director: Steve Fritz
Athletic Phone: 651-962-5900

Football History
First year of football: 1904
All-time bowl / play-off record: 1-2-1
Years in post-season play: 3
Last postseason appearance / result: 1990, 1-1 (def. UW-Whitewater, 24-23, lost to Central, 33-32)
All-time record: 479-300-34

Sports Information
Sports Info Director: Gene McGivern
SID w phone: 651-962-5903
Home phone: 651-686-6399
SID Fax: 651-962-5910
Press Box #: 651-962-5939
E-Mail: ejmcgivern@stthomas.edu
Athletics website: www.stthomas.edu/tommies

Head Coach: Don Roney
Alma Mater / Year: St. Thomas 1984
Record at school (years coached): 27-13, 4 seasons
Career record: 27-13
Head Coach's office phone: 651-962-5908
Best time / day to reach coach: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Assistant Coaches: Bill Burke (Def. Coor.), Dan Green (DL), Dick Rinehart (DL/sp. teams), Jesse Moyer (DEs),
Marty Morgan (DBs), Dick Crandall (DBs), George Wemeier (Off. Coor.), Tom Flood (WRs), Clint Ewald (OL), Jaime Sherwood (OL), Mike Westland (RBs), Pete Cullen (TEs)

2001 Game-by Game Results (Date, H/A, Opponent, W/L, Score)
Sept. 8, H, Bemidji State, L, 16-26
Sept. 15, A , Concordia, W, 38-35
Sept. 22, H, Carleton, W, 42-0
Sept. 29 , A, St. John's, L, 21-27
Oct. 6, H, Augsburg, W, 34-14
Oct. 13, H, St. Olaf, W, 28-16
Oct. 20, A, Macalester, W, 54-0
Oct. 27, H, Gustavus, W, 28-27
Nov. 3, A, Hamline, W, 35-6
Nov. 10, H, Bethel, L, 31-55

2002 Schedule (Date, Home/Away, Opponent, Time)

Sat. Sept. 7 H St. Norbert 1 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 14 H Bethel 1 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 21 A Hamline 1 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 28 H UW-Stout 1 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 5 A St. Olaf 1 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 12 H Gustavus 1 p.m
Sat. Oct. 19 A Carleton 1 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 26 H Augsburg 1 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 2 A St. John's 1 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 8 M-dome Conc.-M'head 5 p.m.

Series records against conf opponents
Concordia 27-32
Carleton 19-11-2
St. John's 29-40-1
Augsburg 47-8-2
St. Olaf 31-13-2
Gustavus 35-33-2
Hamline 48-22-1
Bethel 14-9-1

Player & Team Information
Letterwinners Returning: 62
Letterwinner Lost: 35
Starters Returning: 18 of 24
Starters Lost: 6

Returning Key Players (Name, Pos.. year. ht.. wt. misc. notes: )
.Nick Ambrasas, QB, SR, 6-2, 205, All-MIAC, 2X Co-Captain (Career: 16 starts, .557 compl. %, 35 TDs, 3,634 yards, 4 rushing TDs)
.Jake Barkley, RB, SR, 5-8, 200, 2X Verizon Academic All-American, 2X All-MIAC, 2002 Co-Captain
(Career: 28 games, 3,135 rushing yards, 3,674 all-purpose yards, 21 TDs)
.Justin Hall, WR, SR, 6-2, 190, 5X Track & Field All-American (Career: 81 receptions, 1,122 yards, 11 TDs)
.Andrew Hilliard, WR, SR, 5-9, 165, 3X Track/FB Verizon Academic All-American, 5X Track & Field All-American, 2002 Co-Captain
(Career: 29 games, 98 catches, 1,808 yards, 17 TDs)
.Rick Joslin, LB, SR, 2002 Co-Captain, Leading tackler in 2001 & 2002 (Career: 192 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 fum. rec.)
.Logan Kane, OT, SR, 3-year starter
.John Kaiser, LB, JR, 2-year starter (Career: 103 tackles, 4 INT, 4 sacks, 2 fum. rec.)
.Sean O'Leary, DE, SR, 2-year starter, 2001 All-Region, All-MIAC, 2002 Co-Captain, 4th in Division III with 15 sacks last fall
.Justin Wallick, OL, SR, 3-year starter, 2002 Co-Captain

Key Losses (Name. Pos., reason absent (grad/transfer/injury/misc.): notes): (List up to FIVE)
.Andy Kaiser, DT-OG-TE, Grad, HM All-American, Verizon Acad, All-American, 3X All-MIAC, Aztec Bowl
(Career: 40 starts, 244 tackles, 17.5 sacks, 3 INT., 3 fum. rec., 4 TDs)
.Conor Casey, DE, Grad, 3-year starter (Career: 95 tackles, 10.5 sacks)
.Bob Hannah, LB, Grad, 2-year starter (Career: 83 tackles, 4 INT, 4 sacks)
.Aaron Johnson, DT, Grad, 3-year starter (Career: 127 tackles, 17 sacks, 5 fum. rec., 2 INT)
.Brian Lynch, PK, Grad, 2-year co-starter (37-37 PAT, 6-11 FGs)