Opportunity is buzzword for 2003 Tommie football

August 11, 2003
2003 St. Thomas Football -- Season Preview (8-11-03)

When St. Thomas football coach Don Roney scans his rear-view mirror, he sees 20 graduated seniors from his 2002 roster. When Roney looks forward, he sees a 2003 schedule expected to be the toughest a Tommie team has faced in 20 years.

But instead of question marks, Roney sees opportunities amidst his many challenges.

"I'm very excited for the season to start," Roney said. "You don't know for sure what will happen. A lot of kids will have opportunities to show what they can do. It's fun to coach when the players work hard and the attitudes are good. Change can be hard, but it's good."

The 2002 Tommies were stung by injuries and close losses and limped to a 5-5 finish. They led the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) in total offense (averaged 445 yards and 32.6 points a game) but weathered growing pains with a young defense.

In two games decided in the final minute, the Tommies lost close home-field decisions to St. Norbert (35-31) and Gustavus (25-24). They were still in the NCAA playoff race in November but lost their last two games by a combined 111-49 margin. They fell behind 27-0 and lost 48-28 at St. John's, then had seven turnovers and were outscored 35-0 in the second half of a 63-21 season-ending loss in the Metrodome to Concordia-Moorhead.

The Toms' 5-3 MIAC record let them share third place. It marked the ninth time in the last 10 seasons St. Thomas has finished second, third or fourth in the conference race.

Graduation leaves Roney and his staff without six offensive players who combined to score 94 career touchdowns. Among those he'll have to replace:
.three-time Academic All-American and MIAC career rushing leader Jake Barkley (3,969 rushing yards, 33 TDs, 4,662 all-purpose yards, 20 100-yard rushing games);
.AFCA All-American defensive end and three-year starter Sean O'Leary (Career: school-record 31 sacks, 50 tackles for loss);
.two-time Academic All-American WR and five-time track and field All-American Andrew Hilliard (Career: 2,547 receiving yards, 23 TDs);
.three-year starting QB Nick Ambrasas (Career: 26 starts, 56 TD passes, 6,210 yards, 58% completion rate, five rushing TDs);
.four-year starting tight end Jon Learn (Career: 37 starts, 92 catches for 1,257 yards and 14 TDs.);
.four-year starting WR and five-time track and field All-American Justin Hall (Career: 110 receptions, 1,594 yards, 14 TDs);
.three-year starting linebacker Rick Joslin (Career: 258 tackles);
.and multi-year offensive line starters Logan Kane, Joe Moline and Justin Wallick -- a group that helped the Tommie offense average more than 30 ppg and 400 ypg since 2000.

The 2003 schedule, which includes at least four legitimate NCAA playoff hopefuls, puts the Tommies on the road for five of the first eight Saturdays. A grueling September has St. Thomas opening its season Sept. 6 at St. Norbert; playing at Bethel Sept. 13; facing Hamline Sept. 20 in the home opener; and a Sept. 27 road night game at No. 12-ranked Wisconsin-Stout. UST closes the regular season with stiff home tests Nov. 1 vs. No. 6-ranked St. John's, and Nov. 8 vs. Concordia-Moorhead.

Roney said the 2003 team's best asset will be speed on both sides of the ball.

"This is the fastest team I've ever had," Roney said. "Team speed is something that can really separate you, especially on defense."

The Toms will return as many as nine starters on defense, led by senior linebacker John Kaiser (career: 103 solos, 103 assisted tackles, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries). At least one Kaiser brother from Mora, Minn., has been in the St. Thomas starting lineup for 60 consecutive games -- Greg, an Academic All-American, was a three-year starter at QB (1997-99); Andy, also an Academic All-American, started all 40 career games on the defensive line and graduated in 3 1/2 years; and John will be a four-year starter and is himself an Academic All-American candidate with a 3.72 grade-point average in Accounting.

Other key defensive returners include:
.senior DT Dane Sievwright (34 tackles, three sacks, one fumble recovery in 2002);
.senior DB Tore Evenson (one interception, 37 tackles in seven games of 2002);
.junior DBs Paul Sommerstad (20 career starts, 113 tackles, four interceptions), David Rains (two interceptions, 22 tackles in 2002), Steve Groth (63 tackles, three interceptions in 2002) and Matt Meunier (eight interceptions in 2001);
.and junior linebacker Dustin Peltier (22 tackles, one interception in 2002).

The offense will be led by senior running back Justin Kostner (12 TDs, 1,725 all-purpose yards in 2001 and 2002); and three experienced offensive linemen -- brothers Blake and Brock Norman and senior Matt McLaughlin. Blake Norman, a senior, will start at tackle for the third year in a row, while Brock Norman, a junior, is back at center.

Several others expected to have larger roles include senior RBs Nick Whitehead (Career: four TDs, 231 rushing yards) and Paul Delaney, an excellent blocker, and senior WRs Mitchell Nelson (16 catches, 196 yards, 1 TD in 2002) and Luke Miller (eight catches, 132-yards, 1 TD in 2002).

Senior punter Kyle Davenport, a three-year starter, will also vie for playing time at wide receiver. The placekicking job is wide open with the graduation of two-year starter and All-MIAC honoree Andy Clark (Career: 5-of-8 FG, 67-of-74 PATs).

The graduation of Ambrasas, who threw at least one TD pass in each of his last 25 games, leaves the Tommies' quarterback race wide open. Junior Dan Fritze of Eagan, sophomores Justin Lockrem of Woodbury and J.J. Kirby of LeSeuer-Henderson, and senior Jesse Baker of Duluth East backed up Ambrasas over the last three seasons.

George Wemeier is back for his 10th season as offensive coordinator, his 20th season in college coaching, and his 49th season in the profession. Defensive coordinator Bill Burke starts his 30th year in coaching (15th at UST).

Some new faces will join Roney's coaching staff. Eleven-year aide Dan Green is returning to Osseo High to become head coach, and veteran Clint Ewald will be an assistant coach under his son Andy, the head coach at St. Louis Park High. Among the newcomers is former Minnesota Gopher and Cincinnati Bengals player Jeff Schuh, who will coach the defensive line, and 2002 Tommie captains Wallick (offensive line) and Hilliard (tight ends).

"I really like our coaching staff," Roney said. "We lost some good coaches who have been with us for a long time with Dan Green and Clint Ewald. But the new coaches have fit it well."

Here's the updated St. Thomas quick facts. It may be 2-3 weeks before I post a season previews as we're still trying to get a handle on who's reporting on Aug. 17.

2003 St. Thomas Football

Head Coach: Dan Roney, 6th
Record at St. Thomas: 33-17 (5 yrs)
Coaching Staff: George Wemeier (Off. Coor), Bill Burke (Def. Coor.), Dick Rinehart (Sp. Teams), Jesse Moyer (LB), Tom Flood (WR), Mike Westland (RB), Marty Monroe (DB), Jeff Schuh (DL), Mark Dean (DB), Justin Wallick (OL), Andrew Hilliard (TE)

Founded: 1885
President: Dennis Dease
Athletic Director: Steve Fritz
Enrollment: 11,000 (5,430 undergrad)
Colors: Purple & Gray
Nickname: Tommies
Conference: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)
National Affiliation: NCAA Division III
Stadium (Capacity): O'Shaughnessy Stadium (5,000)
Basic Offense: Multiple pro-set
Basic Defense: 4-3
--Lettermen Returning: 65
Offensive Lettermen Returning: 30
Defensive Lettermen Returning: 32
Specialist Lettermen Returning: 3
--Lettermen Lost: # 30
--Starters Returning/Lost: 14/10
--Offensive Starters Returning: 4 (RB Justin Kostner, C Brock Norman, OT Blake Norman, OL Matt McLaughlin***)
--Defensive Starters Returning: 10 (LB John Kaiser, DB Paul Sommerstad, DT Dane Sievwright, DE Joe Skaja, DT Ben Kessler, LB Dustin Peltier, DB Tore Evenson, DB Steve Groth, DB Davis Rains, P Kyle Davenport)

***--McLaughlin was offensive line starter in 2000 and defensive line starter in 2002

2002 Record: 5-5 (5-3, MIAC, 3rd tie)


2002 Results
St. Norbert 35, St. Thomas 31
St. Thomas 49, Bethel 25
St. Thomas 41, Hamline 7
UW-Stout 28, St. Thomas 7
St. Thomas 35, St. Olaf 15
Gustavus Adolphus 25, St. Thomas 24
St. Thomas 41, Carleton 7
St. Thomas 49, Augsburg 6
St. John's 48, St. Thomas 28
Conc-Moorhead 63, St. Thomas 21

2003 Schedule
Sept. 6 at St. Norbert, 1 p.m.
Sept. 13 at Bethel, 1 p.m.
Sept. 20 Hamline, 1 p.m.
Sept. 27 at UW-Stout, 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 St. Olaf, 1 p.m.
Oct. 11 at Gustavus Adolphus, 1 p.m.
Oct. 18 Carleton, 1 p.m.
Oct. 25 at Augsburg, 1 p.m.
Nov. 1 St. John's, 1 p.m.
Nov. 8 Concordia-Moorhead, 1 p.m.