2000 Regional Preview

By Jim Rodenbush, 
D3football.com

ST. LOUIS – The Gateway to the West was recently named the best sports town in America, based largely on the success of its pro teams. Now, the city’s only collegiate football team is poised to make its own mark on what has already been a memorable year for local fans.

Washington University (8-3, 4-0 University Athletic Association) is coming off a season were it won the UAA title outright and advanced to the NCAA playoffs, both firsts for the program. And with 14 starters and 68 letter winners returning, all signs point to continued success in 2000.

Count Bears coach Larry Kindbom among those who see good things for this season. Sort of.

"It’s going to be an interesting team," said Kindbom. "On paper, we return a lot of the same folks as last year. But you don’t win games on paper. Our schedule is very strong and we’re going to have to be ready as a football team. That one of the reasons we made the playoffs last year. We had a tough schedule and we did well."

Beginning with a Sept. 2 home date against Westminster (Mo.), the Bears will play seven teams which had winning records last season. Combined, their ten opponents had a .609 winning percentage in 1999.

"The key for our team will be developing chemistry," said Kindbom. "And we will have to do it against a strong schedule. Last season, we got on a roll, played great defense and gave ourselves a shot at beating anybody in the country."

Perhaps the best news for the Bears is the return of three of four starters on the defensive line, part of a group that led the nation last season in total defense (192.1 yards per game) and held opponents to one touchdown or less in six of 11 games. Gone is All-American Tim Runnalls, but returning for Wash. U. are seniors Luke McIntosh (49 tackles) and Luke Schumacher (34 tackles, 5½ sacks) and junior James Molnar (57 tackles).

"We return a lot of the guys on defense," said Kindbom, who has a total of six starters back on defense. "You don’t replace a guy like Runnalls, but I like the consistency of all the guys we have coming back."

Wash. U. will return eight starters on the offense, include four on the line. The biggest question mark for the Bears will be the quarterback position, which figures to be a battle between seniors Greg Lake and Austin Bredow.

Both saw significant playing time in 1999; Lake threw for three touchdowns before an injury against Rhodes sidelined him for the rest of the season and Bredow threw for 653 yards in earning honorable mention all-conference honors.

"They are a little different," said Kindbom. "Greg is a pure passer and Austin is more of an explosive threat. But they both started for us last year and they both quarterbacked up to wins."

The Bears’ biggest offensive threat figures to be senior wide receiver Cory Snyder, who set school records last season with 69 receptions and 759 yards. Senior wide receiver Jim Donley, returning to the team after a year’s absence, and junior tight end Gus Haug are also in position to have solid seasons in 2000.

Wash. U. is not without question marks on both sides of the ball, particularly at the tailback and linebacker positions.

"We are going to have to develop again," said Kindbom. "I don’t even consider last season to be a stepping stone or launching pad. Every year is unique. We have the same people back, but not really. We literally can not look beyond the first game.

"Right now, our goal is to just be 1-0."

Here's a look at how the rest of the region could stack up:

Playoff Contenders
MILLIKIN: The first recruiting class for Big Blue coach Doug Neibuhr appears ready to end it collective collegiate career in grand fashion. With 19 starters returning and 13 seniors expected to start the season opener on Sept. 9, Millikin is in position to reclaim the top spot in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin after a one-year absence.

"We return an experienced team with several players having played in national caliber games throughout their careers," said Neibuhr. "We’re excited about the upcoming season and look forward to competing every Saturday."

Millikin’s fame senior class has compiled a 19-9 record in three years, including a 7-2 mark last year on its way to a second-place finish in the CCIW. Tim Brylka – the starting quarterback for all 28 of those games – will again lead the offense this year.

Brylka threw for a school-record 19 touchdowns and 1,606 yards in 1999 and was a second-team all-conference pick.

"Tim has started every game in his career at quarterback and he has shown to be a very special athlete," said Neibuhr. "He’s a great decision make who’s very capable of making plays anytime during a game."

Brylka will have an experience set of receivers to throw to as the Big Blue return nine of 10 players who caught passes last season. Leading that group is senior Jerome Jackson (38 catches, eight touchdowns).

The Big Blue’s experience also carries over to the offensive line. Four of five linemen return and will lead the way for the running duo of juniors Deon Packer and Darrell Scruggs. The two combined for 1,288 yards last season and scored eight touchdowns.

"We feel really good about our running backs," said Neibuhr. "Deon Packer was the leading rusher in the conference last season before suffering an injury. He will lead a quality group of running backs."

Millikin allowed a total of 84 points in 1999, good enough for seventh in the nation. Repeating that performance is a priority for the Big Blue.

"We take great pride in our defense and we hope to continue to progress in the area," said Neibuhr. "We lost two starters on the defensive line, but return several players who have contributed in their careers. We know the importance of having a good defensive line in the CCIW."

All-American linebacker Bob Meyer (108 tackles) returns for the Big Blue along with seniors Patrick Oonyu (42 tackles) and Jared Vanausdoll (38 tackles). Millikin returns its entire secondary in seniors Benny Graham (four interceptions), Adrian Stewart and Jeremy Bandy.

Millikin opens its 2000 season at Knox College and returns home to play Eureka Sept. 19. The Big Blue’s two biggest tests in the CCIW will both come at home, against Wheaton on Oct. 7 and against defending champ Augustana on Oct. 21.

In all, Millikin returns 46 letter winners, most of who experienced the Big Blue’s last conference title and NCAA tournament trip in 1998. Despite a chance for similar success in 2000, Neibuhr is taking nothing for granted.

"We expect the CCIW to be an outstanding conference with a number of teams that can win the championship," said Neibuhr. "The CCIW is an outstanding conference and we’re well aware our team must be prepared to play solid football every week."

HANOVER: In 1999, Hanover steamrolled through a 10-0 regular season – winning the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference title and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament along the way – before having its season come to an abrupt end against Ohio Northern in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

In 2000, the Panthers face a loaded non-conference schedule, likely to make sure a similar letdown doesn’t happen again.

In a stretch beginning Sept. 9 at DePauw, the Panthers play four teams that went a combined 29-13 last year, including NCAA tournament teams Washington & Jefferson and Alma. However, things get much easier when Hanover begins league play at Defiance on Oct. 7. Once the dust settles, the Panthers should once again find themselves with the conference title and an automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs.

More Playoff Contenders and Probables
AUGUSTANA: First-year coach Jim Barnes has definite holes to fill if the Vikings have hopes of a third CCIW title in four seasons.

Augustana lost six starters on defense from its team that went 9-2 in 1999 and registered a first-round NCAA playoff win. Three of those starters were All-Americans, including tackle Josh Johnson, linebacker Jeremy Drish and cornerback Jason Fosdick.

The news is better on offense, where the Vikings must replace only three starters. However, that groups includes All-American fullback Ben Nelson and conference MVP quarterback Joe Schmulbach.

A great deal of the Vikings’ hope rest on the offensive line, which returns completely intact, and the running of halfback David Chorney (953 yards, eight touchdowns). Tradition and the return of most of the coaching staff still make the Vikings a playoff contender in 2000.

WHEATON: The Crusaders tied with Millikin for second place in the CCIW in 1999 and losses in the final two games of the season all but cost them a trip to the NCAA tournament. Coming off two consecutive 7-2 seasons, the only thing coach Mike Swider’s club really needs to do differently is avoid a similar late season collapse.

Wheaton returns its top rusher in Brian Pastermack and receiver in Jeremy Amos. The Crusaders’ will start a new quarterback in 2000. Sophomores Neil Anderson and Josh Anderson will battle to replace departed Mitch Slater.

Wheaton returns five starters on defense and looks to duplicate its ’99 season, where it allowed just 16 points a game.

The Crusaders and Millikin are a literal coin flip for the CCIW title (with defending champion Augustana a close third). The two teams’ meeting in Decatur on Oct. 7 should serve as the conference’s game of the year.

AURORA: Until proven otherwise, the Spartans remain the undisputed kings of the Illini-Badger Conference. But, for the first time, another impressive conference mark won’t leave them on the outside looking in to playoffs. Look for the Spartans to secure the Illini-Badger’s first-ever automatic bid.

Spoilers
MACMURRAY: Now permanent members of the Illini-Badger Conference, the Highlanders went 4-3 against conference opponents last season. Look for similar numbers from the former SLIAC members in 2000, which is bound to make some of their opponents a little nervous.

CARTHAGE: Coming off consecutive 5-4 campaigns, the Redmen are a definite upset threat in the CCIW. Carthage handed Millikin one of its two conference losses in 1999 (a 7-6 squeaker on Oct. 23). More dramatics should come this season.

MT. ST. JOSEPH: The Lions appear ready for a breakthrough year in 2000. Their 3-7 mark last year included four losses by five points or less and a quick start this season could mean good things for the Lions.

WISCONSIN LUTHERAN: OK, so the Warriors won’t exactly wreak havoc in Division III, but – with the like of fellow first-year program Rockford and Principia on the schedule – one of the nation’s newest programs is likely to get a couple of wins in 2000.

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