OAC Media Day in Columbus
BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College football team was picked to finish third at the 2004 Ohio Athletic Conference Media Day today (July 28) at the Quest Conference Center in Columbus. (To view media and coaches poll please click here)
A year ago, B-W had a 10-2 overall and 8-1 OAC mark en route to having his first 10-win season and first NCAA Division III National Playoff berth since 1991. This year, 30 lettermen and 11 starters return when B-W opens preseason practice in Berea on August 12.
In the OAC Coaches poll, B-W placed third and received one first place vote from the 10 coaches. The Yellow Jackets totalled 67 points, one less than second place Capital University and 14 points less than defending OAC Champ Mount Union College. To view the entire Coaches Poll, please click here.
In the Media Poll, and the OAC had its largest media turnout ever with 33 members attending the conference, B-W placed third with 259 points. Capital was again second and Mt. Union first. To view the entire Media Poll, please click here.
Yellow Jacket third-year Head Coach John Snell told the crowd in attendance that he was concerned offensively with having to replace first-team All-OAC quarterback Dan Larlham '04 and OAC Mike Gregory Award winner and All-American running back Mark Anders '04 as well as three offensive linemen, including All-American Ian Formaz '04 and two-time Academic All-American guard Joe Harbour '04. Snell went on to say that the departure of Larlham, Anders, Formaz and Harbour "will create opportunities for some very talented younger players in our system". Snell mentioned that senior linemen Josh Jameyson (Wellington), Tom Kovacevich (Strongsville), senior All-American tight end Nate Wilder (Youngstown Cardinal Mooney) and senior receivers Dave Ehrman (Strongsville) and Gary Kopchak (Brook Park/ Midpark) would be looked upon for veteran leadership and solid play.
Defensively, B-W returns 18 lettermen who saw action a year ago, including All-American candidate junior linebackers Joe George (Massillon Perry) and Justin Princehorn (Massillon Washington) who started as both freshmen and sophomores. Snell also mentioned that B-W lost All-American end Nate Mitchell '04 and safety Greg Koch '04, but returns senior All-OAC end Ryan Lewis (Holland/ Springfield) and three-year varsity player Rick Schontz (Butler, Pa./ Butler) on the defensive line and senior cornerback Justin Andes (Canal Fulton/ Canton Central Catholic) and Mike Scarcella (Strongsville/ Parma Padua) in the secondary. Snell also expressed concern with his special teams as both All-OAC and All-North Region punter Rob Becker '04 and four-year kicker/ kickoff specilaist Kevin Hille '04 have graduated.
The Yellow Jackets open the 2004 season on Saturday, September 4 when they travel to Meadville, Pennsylvania to play against North Coast Athletic Conference foe Allegheny (Pa.) College at 1:00 p.m. Last year, B-W beat Alleghny, also an NCAA Playoff participant, in Berea, 45-26.
FOR MORE INFORMATION regarding Baldwin-Wallace College football or other sports, please either call the Sports Information Office by telephone at 440-826-2327, FAX us at 440-826-2329 or e-mail SID Kevin Ruple at kruple@bw.edu. You can also access all other football information on our Web Site at www.bw.edu/athletics and then go to the football pages.
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