2004 Tufts University Football Preview
The Tufts Football team looks to put an end to the inconsistency of their success over the past decade when they line up for the 130th season in school history this fall. Head Coach Bill Samko's Jumbos (5-3 last year) bring back nine starters on offense, while the defense looks to maintain its fine play with a new group of leaders.
Tufts hasn't strung together back-to-back winning records since 1990-91, when they were 6-2 and then 5-3. There have been some excellent seasons in that time, such as the 1998 team's 7-1 finish and 2001's 6-2 mark. However, disappointment followed with a 4-4 campaign in 1999 and a 3-5 record in 2002. The 2004 Jumbos look to stop that streak with a successful season to back last year's winning team.
The team's formula will remain the same, with an emphasis on defense, play-making ability on special teams and ball control on offense. However, the make-up is different from past years, with most of the experience returning on offense. The Jumbos were the second-most penalized team in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) a year ago and will look to clean up that area.
The Tufts Defense has been one of the NESCAC's best recently, particularly against the pass. They were ranked first in the conference and 13th nationally with an 84.5 pass efficiency defense rating last fall. The Jumbos were also 13th nationally (third in the conference) allowing 258.1 yards per game. The 13.5 points per game Tufts allowed last season was the 14th stingiest mark in the country. They also generated 20 turnovers to help the team post a +1.00 turnover margin that was second in the conference.
The defense will undergo a turnover of its own in '04. Reid Palmer, Caleb Hudak, Matt Keller, Jay Hirsh, Matt DePaolis, Mark Tilki, Greg Hamilton and Mike Leist have all graduated after playing key roles last year. Tilki was the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston's Division II-III Defensive Player of the Year last season. Hudak was a three-time All-NESCAC selection. The returning group, led by defensive captains Chris Lawrence (Falmouth, MA) and Donovan Brown (Randolph, MA), will have to prove itself anew.
The Jumbos look for improvement on offense, where they ranked eighth in NESCAC with 296 yards per game last year. They lost only two starters from last season in running back/receiver Tim Mack and center Justin Kelley, who were both key players. However, the rest of the group is battle-tested led by senior quarterback and captain Jason Casey (Hampton Falls, NH). Captain Dave Hatch (Norwood, MA) is one of four returning starters on the line. This unit seems capable of surpassing last season's 16.8 points per game average.
Special teams has been an equally important component to the Jumbos' success, but two key contributors must be replaced. Place kicker Marcellus Rolle, who broke the team and NESCAC record with 10 field goals last season, and Tilki, an All-Star return specialist for three seasons, have graduated. Junior Phil Scialdoni has been in the program three years and will assume the kicking duties. The Jumbos averaged 20.3 yards per kickoff return and 9.3 per punt return last fall, excellent numbers that will be hard to match. A new return man will need to emerge, with sophomore Brian Von Anken (Trumbull, CT) showing bursts of speed in limited action last fall. Freshman punter Bryan McDavitt (Holden, MA) averaged 33.6 yards per kick last season and should improve with a season under his belt.
Tufts' exhilarating 24-17 overtime victory against Amherst helped vault the team over the Lord Jeffs into a third-place tie with Colby in the conference standings last season. The Jumbos defeated the Mules, 18-0, during the year. Trinity was a dominant 8-0, followed by Williams at 6-2. The Ephs enter their first season without Head Coach Dick Farley. The Jumbos look to keep pace with the frontrunners.
A position-by-position look at the Jumbos follows:
Quarterback: Casey has steadily guided Tufts to a 6-3 record in nine career starts. He completed 91 of 171 passes (53.2 percent) last season for 1,001 yards and five touchdowns. His 103.9 efficiency rating was sixth among NESCAC starters. Strong-armed junior Casey D'Annolfo (West Hartford, CT), who split time with Casey early last season, is a 6'4", 230-pounder who ran for two touchdowns last fall.
Running Backs: Steve Cincotta (Newton, MA) rushed for 166 yards on 45 carries (school and NESCAC record) in the season-opener last season, but was soon battling injuries for the rest of the year. He finished with 376 yards on 99 carries and looks to put together a complete senior season. Junior Scott Lombardi (Winchester, MA) rushed for 50 yards on seven carries in Cincotta's absence against Bowdoin last year, and moves over from fullback where he started games last fall. Lombardi finished with 116 yards on 27 carries in '03. Sophomore Matt Lanuto (Duxbury, MA) opens training camp atop the depth chart at fullback, with much to be determined. He was a linebacker last season.
Wide Receiver: Senior Kevin Holland (Williamstown, MA) was fourth in NESCAC last season with 66.6 receiving yards per game, catching 43 passes for 533 yards total. The yardage was the most by a Jumbo receiver since 1999. Senior D.J. Proulx (Concord, NH), a soldier on special teams and a back-up receiver, enters the year as the starter at the other spot. Steve Menty (Wilbraham, MA) looks to contribute as a sophomore.
Tight Ends: Senior Chris Roy (Littleton, MA) figures to be one of the league's best. The 6'4", 250-pounder looks to return to his sophomore form when he averaged 17.5 yards per reception and hauled in two touchdowns. Sophomore Mark Jagiela (New Brighton, MN) and junior Jim O'Leary (North Easton, MA) enter camp as the back-ups.
Offensive Line: Hatch at 6'2", 270, senior Phil Oates (Watertown, MA) at 6'5", 285, senior Ben Bloom (Wellesley, MA) at 6'0", 285 and senior Rich Aronson (Baltimore, MD) at 6'4", 300 were all starters last year and are all huge. Bloom moves to center to replace the All-Star Kelley. Aronson, a NESCAC All-Star last fall after moving over from the defensive line, and Oates fill the tackles spots. Hatch and senior 6'1", 295-pound senior Sam Bardo (Concord, NH) are the guards in what should be an excellent, experienced line. Junior Justin Craigie (Southington, CT) is another big dude (6'4", 275) ready to play.
Defensive Line: Lawrence, who led the team with five sacks a year ago, is the only returning starter. Junior nose Brandon Udelhofen (Cuba City, WI - 6'4", 285) and sophomore Brian Schurko (Everett, MA - 6'1", 250) will be asked to plug the holes left by all-stars Keller and Hudak. Also in the mix at DT is sophomore John Chappell (Norwell, MA – 6'1", 270). Sophomore Chris Decembrele (Walpole, MA) and junior Sean Mullin (Duxbury, MA) gained experience at end last fall, and Josh Harris (Easton, MA) is looking to make a contribution in his senior season.
Linebackers: Zack Dumas (Worcester, MA) led the Jumbos in tackles last fall as a sophomore with 63 (34 solo). He's poised to become one of the top linebackers in NESCAC. Junior Mike McCann (Toms River, NJ), sophomore Ryan Byrne (Tewksbury, MA) and senior Michael Doan (Savannah, GA) will also vie for playing time.
Secondary: The team's strength in recent seasons with the likes of Tilki and all-time interceptions leader Evan Zupancic, Brown should emerge as the leader of this group looking to continue the tradition. The cornerback intercepted three passes and led the team with four break-ups in five games last season. Junior free safety Pat Magoon (South Easton, MA) has been playing since his freshman season and made 45 tackles with two picks last fall. The coaching staff is excited about the potential of junior cornerback Steve Briganti (Hartsdale, NY). Sophomores Brett Holm (Longmeadow, MA) and McDavitt are hungry for playing time at strong safety, as is sophomore Brian Rowe (Norwalk, CT) at cornerback.
The Jumbos open up at home against Wesleyan on September 25.