B-W: Dave LaBahn and Retired Head Coach Bob Packard to go to the Aztec Bowl

BEREA, OHIO -- Baldwin-Wallace College senior wide receiver Dave LaBahn, a graduate of Strongsville High School, received a shock last week when he and retired Yellow Jacket Head Coach and Berea resident Bob Packard were selected to participate in the 2002 Aztec Bowl in Torreon, Mexico on December 14.

"I thought my career was over and I was preparing for Fall Semester final exams and life after football," said LaBahn, who caight 38 passes for 619 yards and eight touchdowns and was a key to B-W's 8-2 record this fall. "It is a great honor. I am really looking forward to it. It should be a lot of fun, and I get to play another week of football and have a chance to display my talents to a lot of scouts."

The Aztec Bowl pits the NCAA Division III All-Stars against a team of collegiate All-Stars from Mexico and is sponsored joinly by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the Mexican Collegiate Football Association. The game is in its sixth year and the U.S./ Division III All-Stars hold a 5-0 series advantage.

Packard, who retired last February after winning 156 games and ended his career as B-W's winningest football coach, was selected to coach on the defense.

"One of the requirements to be a coach in this game is that you have to be retired," said Packard. "It is an honor. It will be a lot of fun. It will also be nice to get back on the sidelines and have a chance to interact with a lot of outstanding young men from across the country."

So, what kind of football do they play in Mexico?

"They play a very wide open game with one or no running backs in the backfield," said Packard, who will be the Defensive Coordinator. "We will have to play a lot of nickel (five defensive backs) and six-back coverage to be able to cover all of their receivers.

"From what I understand, there is not a lot of interaction between our players and their players prior to the game," said Packard. "This is the end of their season. They take this game very seriously."

LaBahn will be one of four wide receivers on the U.S. squad. He had an outstanding four-year career at B-W. During his four seasons, he caught 99 passes for 1,328 career yards and 18 touchdowns. The 18 TD catches rank third all-time in school history. He will be the third B-W player to compete in the game.

In the first Aztec Bowl in 1997, B-W graduate and former Academic All-American placekicker Chris Kondik booted an Aztec Bowl-record five field goals and three extra points as the U.S. won, 42-41. A year later, B-W graduate and quarterback Geoff Helmlinger went south of the border and completed 18 of 23 passes for 238 yards and two TD enrtoute to a 40-13 U.S. win.

"Our players have had great success in this game," said Packard, "and we are looking for Dave to have a good game too. He has the talent and ability to make an impact."

"A week ago, I was planning on taking my exams and what I was going to do over Chrismas break," said LaBahn, a business and administration major who was a first-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference selection and a second-team Academic All-OAC choice. "Now I am working on ways to take exams early or late, including one in my Federal Income Tax class.

"I am hoping to play well," said LaBahn. "This is the game where the NFL scouts saw London Fletcher of John Carroll a few years ago. It is a chance to showcase my talents, and if they like what they see, it may lead to an opportunity. If not, I will have had a great time and I am prepared for life after football with a solid degree in business administration." To view LaBahn's Student-Publicity Form (PDF Format), please click here.

Packard left for Torreon last Saturday and LaBahn was to join him on Sunday. Locally, fans interested in hearing the Aztec Bowl can do so by going to the AFCA Internet Web site at www.afca.org. There is also plenty of information on the game, the AFCA and the Aztec Bowl.

Packard retired last February as B-W's winningest all-time football coach with 156 victories. As part of the Aztec Bowl coaching staff, Packard will work with the defense. To view more information on Bob Packard, please click here.

For more information regarding Baldwin-Wallace College athletics, please contact Sports Information Directror Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX at 440-826-2329 or e-mail the SID at kruple@bw.edu. All of the latest Baldwin-Wallace College athletics news can also be accessed on the College Internet Web site at www.bw.edu/athletics.