First home night game since 1971 highlights Titans' grid schedule
By JIM BENSON, Pantagraph staffBLOOMINGTON -- Illinois Wesleyan's football team will be trying to show off its "night moves" this season.
The Titans play three night games, including the first at IWU Stadium since Oct. 2, 1971. IWU entertains Aurora at 6 p.m. on Sept. 15 in the home opener. The season opener also will be at night a week earlier against Washington University at St. Louis.
When IWU Stadium underwent its renovation last year, lights were re-installed. Between 1965 and 1971, the Titans played six night home games. The original lights were removed in 1973.
"To tell the truth, I believe college football should be played on Saturday afternoons," said IWU coach Norm Eash. "But the one we're playing at home is early (in the season). It will be a nice opportunity for our students and fans. It should be a festive atmosphere."
The one night game Eash isn't too excited about is Oct. 27 against Carthage at Kenosha, Wis. There could be snow in the forecast that night, especially since Kenosha is on Lake Michigan.
Six captains: The Titans will have six captains this season, which may be a school record. Five captains were elected by their teammates -- safety Brad Andrekus, quarterback Kyle Eash, tight end Shaun Friziellie, cornerback Craig Kastning and tight end Jacob Quinton.
The other captain is linebacker Andy Rader, a fifth-year senior who was a captain last season but was injured before the season opener. Rader took a medical redshirt season and had his captain status retained by Norm Eash.
Early practice: IWU is playing the Bergamo Lions, a club team, in Bergamo, Italy, on June 3. The NCAA allows a Division III school making a trip 10 practices prior to leaving. IWU will begin practice on May 9 and stretch the 10 practices over a three-week period. This is IWU's second trip in the past five years. The Titans went to Germany in 1996.
Titans recruiting class filled with linebackers,
offensive linemen firmly sold on program
By JIM BENSON. Pantagraph staffBLOOMINGTON -- The NCAA Selection Committee might have snubbed Illinois Wesleyan's football team in the Division III playoff process last season.
However, veteran coach Norm Eash believes recruits were firmly sold on the Titans.
Stocked with offensive linemen and linebackers, Eash and his staff are putting the finishing touches on a recruiting class that includes a bigger-than-normal total of 56 players. They will join a 9-1 squad which tied for the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title before being passed over for an at-large playoff berth.
"I think our success in the 2000 season and a CCIW championship really propelled us into, what I think, is an outstanding recruiting class," said Eash. "We're very excited and happy with the talent that's coming in.
"It's a very athletic class. It has size and speed."
Eash said IWU needs to develop some depth in the offensive line and at linebacker. That might be accomplished with the addition of 11 offensive linemen and 12 linebackers. The recruiting group also includes 10 defensive linemen, seven defensive backs, six wide receivers, five fullbacks, three tight ends, one halfback and one quarterback.
"Our philosophy going into the recruiting season is we wanted to recruit the best athletes we could, regardless of positions," said Eash. "That was our top priority. We also wanted to look at the programs they came from.
"We got some kids from some very successful high school programs and some very large schools. So the competition level has been very good, and they'll adjust well to college football."
Two of the prized recruits might not have fallen to IWU if they didn't miss much of their senior seasons with knee injuries.
Ryan Amberson, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker, was a rare three-year starter for Naperville Central in the tough DuPage Valley Conference. Amberson suffered an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament in the fourth game that required surgery and ended his season.
"He's recovered from that injury. He has very good size," said Eash, who projects Amberson as an inside linebacker. "I think he could give us immediate help. It (the injury) probably kept him from a scholarship."
Eash believes the same is true of 6-4, 280-pound offensive lineman Thomas Mikolajczyk of New Trier. Mikolajczyk also went down with an ACL injury in the fourth game. "There was no tape on him," said Eash. "His junior tape was pretty good."
The offensive line also beefed up with 315-pound J.P. Hills of Barrington, 270-pound Kyle Jones of Glenbrook South and 260-pound Greg Whisler of Maine West. Top defensive line prospects include Michael Cafferata of Chicago Gordon Tech, who could move to tight end and Josh Remer of Shepherd, a Class AA State Wrestling qualifier whom Eash believes will give the Titans strength inside.
Amberson is among a group of linebackers that should excite IWU defensive coordinator Mike Wagner. Other potential standouts include Rick Beringer of Downers Grove South; Pat Connelly of Chicago St. Rita; Kenny Hogue of Tuscola; and Robert Shell of Thorton Fractional South. Hogue was the Decatur area player of the year who also rushed for 3,017 yards.
The IWU defensive secondary graduates three starters after this season. Eash said Vince Heaton of Wheaton-Warrenville South, a DuPage Valley all-league pick, could help this season. Also looking to fill those holes in the future will be Mike Kleinick of St. Rita and Garrett Oleson of Genoa-Kingston.
Steven Lucas of Kankakee was the lone quarterback recruit. At 6-4 and 200 pounds, Lucas has the tools to be a pro-style quarterback, according to Eash. Lucas threw for 1,431 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.
Among the fastest recruits is halfback Jacob Clough of Carbondale.
Tom Geary, a 220-pound fullback from New Trier, gained 760 yards last season and could also be used as a halfback, said Eash.
The top receiver is Eric White of Antioch, who brings good size at 6-3 and good speed.
Many of the recruits could be switched to another position, according to Eash. He added their versatility is seen in the fact many are two- and three-sport athletes.
There is something else Eash and his staff valued. "I think intangibles are important. You have to be a student. We believe that success in the classroom carries over to the playing field," said Eash. "Leadership skills, being a team captain, how long you were a starter ... we probably look more at intangibles than watching game tape."
Five Pantagraph area players will play for IWU. Bloomington's Brad Jameson, a defensive end who was an all-Big 12 Conference West Division choice, will be joined by the Fisher defensive back duo of Sam Adams and Tyler Birkey; Clinton linebacker Matt Holland; and Mahomet-Seymour linebacker Mike White.