PDF Game Notes
The University of Dayton football team goes on the road for the first time in 2010 on Saturday when the Flyers travel to Pittsburgh to take on Duquesne. Game time is 12 noon ET.
The Dukes are the second straight Northeast Conference team UD is playing. Dayton opened the season with a 28-14 win over Robert Morris last Saturday. Duquesne is also 1-0 after edging Bucknell 17-13.
Rick Chamberlin is back for his third season as UD’s head coach and returns 15 starters (10 offense, three defense, two specialists), from the team that went 9-2 and won a share of the 2009 Pioneer Football League title.
Chamberlin has guided UD to 9-3 and 9-2 records in his first two seasons.
ALL CAPTAINS ALL PFL
The Flyers are led by captains Tyler Friedrich, Joe Ries and Steve Valentino. All three are redshirt seniors, members of two PFL championship teams in their careers and were named First Team All-PFL in 2009.
Friedrich is an offensive guard from Dublin, Ohio. A versatile player who has also played tight end and tackle in his career, Friedrich started all 11 games last season. Ries is a linebacker from Cincinnati. As a junior, he was second on the team in tackles (70), and led in interceptions (3) and fumbles forced (2). Valentino is just the fourth two-time captain in school history. The Solon, Ohio native moved from wideout to quarterback after the season opener, and led the Flyers to their 10th PFL title in 15 years.
SCOUTING THE DUKES
Duquesne opened the 2010 season with a victory on the backs of its defense. The DU D did not allow an offensive touchdown in its 17-13 win and held Bucknell to just 178 yards total offense. Senior linebacker Nathan Totino was named the NEC’s Defensive Player of the Week after getting in on a game-high 13 tackles (10 solo). Duquesne was 3-8 in 2009, but lost five games by a touchdown or less. Two seniors -- WR Dave Williams and DE Thiamu Bangura -- were named preseason All-NEC in a vote of the league’s coaches.
SERIES STUFF
Dayton leads the series 4-3, even though the football relationship between the two schools dates back to 1920. Duquesne won the first meeting, Dayton the next three contests in 1923, 1924 and 2001, and the Dukes evened the record with wins in 2002 and 2008, before UD prevailed 24-17 last season.
In that game, Duquesne’s Larry McCoy went 67 yards for a TD on the very first play of the game, leading to a 10-7 Duke halftime lead. But UD’s run defense stiffened in the second half, allowing just seven net yards. UD’s Steve Valentino was 19 of 29 passing for 272 yards. Flyer James Vercammen was in on 15 tackles. McCoy finished with a game-high 118 yards rushing.
Two years ago in a 24-16 DU win in the last meeting at Duquesne, the Dukes scored 14 points in the final nine minutes of the game to hand Rick Chamberlin his first career coaching loss. Duquesne started seven of its drives around midfield or better, while Dayton started every possession in its own territory.
THE EYES OF THE NATION
The Flyer football program received more national attention this summer than perhaps ever, when quarterback Steve Valentino and Flyer James Vercammen were named to the Walter Payton Award and Buck Buchanan Award Watch Lists. UD is also receiving votes in all three FCS polls -- the 2010 Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS poll, the FCS Coaches Poll, and Any Given Saturday.
GOOD NEWS WORTH REPEATING
The Flyers entered the season with the second best winning percentage (.791, 87-23) in FCS football since 2000 AND the most football Academic All-Americans (19) at any level of competition in the decade.
MORE GOOD NEWS
The Flyers are predicted to win their 11th Pioneer Football League championship in the annual PFL coaches’ poll that was announced on August 9. Dayton received 76 points while Butler was picked to finish second, receiving two first-place votes, with 69 points. Jacksonville received the four remaining first-place votes and finished third in the preseason poll with 68 points. Behind those three teams were Drake (54 points), San Diego (52), Marist (45), Davidson (30), Campbell (25), Morehead State (22) and Valparaiso (9). Nine points were awarded for a first-place vote, with one point less for each succeeding place. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team. Dayton has won the PFL two of the last three years, tying Butler in 2009.
STREAKING
UD has not been shut out in a school-record 376 straight games, the best such active string in all of college football. The last team to shut out the Flyers was Marshall, 9-0, on Oct. 16, 1976. That is also the all-time FCS record.
ALL-PFL PERFORMERS RETURN
Dayton returns five 2009 First Team All-PFL performers – OG Tyler Friedrich, LB Joe Ries, QB Steve Valentino, F James Vercammen and DE Brandon Wingeier. In addition, UD also returns WR Justin Watkins (second team) and C Justin Griffis (honorable mention).
LONG TIME STARTERS
Joe Ries, Brandon Wingeier and Steve Valentino each enter the Duquesne game with 24 starts under their belts (although 13 of Valentino’s starts were at receiver). Seven other Flyers also have double-digit starts. Justin Watkins has 19, Tyler Friedrich and Eric Studt each have 16, James Vercammen has 15, Justin Griffis 12, and Dan Fornek and Dan Prindle each have 11.
VALENTINO NAMED FIRST PFL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior quarterback Steve Valentino was named the 2010 season’s inaugural Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Dayton’s 28-14 season-opening win over Robert Morris. The UD co-captain and Walter Payton Award candidate accounted personally for 317 of UD’s 388 yards in total offense. Valentino ran the ball 16 times for 106 yards and completed 19 of 37 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns in the win. It is the fifth career PFL Player of the Week Award for Valentino. He earned four weekly awards last season en route to being named the PFL Offensive of the Year and leading UD to a share of the PFL title.
TINO TALES
Senior quarterback Steve Valentino is the first Dayton player to be named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List. The Payton Award goes to the player of the year in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision and is presented by the Sports Network. A First Team All-PFL wide receiver in 2008, he became Dayton’s starting quarterback in the 2009 season’s second week due to injuries. He promptly led the Flyers to seven consecutive victories and finished the regular season with a league-best 281.6 yards total offense and led all quarterbacks in rushing, averaging 65.6 yards per game to rank fourth among the league’s rushers. Valentino also ranked second among the league’s quarterbacks in passing yardage (216.0 ypg) and pass efficiency rating (139.8). He completed 170 of 286 passes (.590). Just the fourth Flyer to be a two-time football captain, he is the first position player in PFL history to be named first-team all-league at two different positions.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
This is the first time since he has began playing organized football that reigning PFL Offensive Player of the Year Steve Valentino has been a starting quarterback two years in a row. He started at quarterback as a senior at Solon High School, and then redshirted and was a third-string QB in his first two years at UD. He moved to wide receiver in 2008, and then came to the rescue and returned to QB last year.
STILL AT QB, STILL A CAPTAIN, BUT...
There are a lot of attributes attached to Steve Valentino (captain, Payton candidate, PFL Player of the Year, etc.) but he no longer holds the title of “Fastest Player on the Team.” That honor now goes to freshman cornerback Gary Hunter, who ran a 4.32 in the preseason. Valentino runs a 4.44.
ALL-AMERICAMMEN
Senior James Vercammen was named to the Sports Network’s Preseason All-America First Team in July. Playing the hybrid safety/linebacker position know as “Flyer,” he is the only player from the PFL on the first team and one of four from the league on any of the Sports Network preseason teams. Vercammen is also the only player from the PFL who has been named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. The Buchanan Award is given to FCS football’s best defensive player. Vercammen is the first UD player to be named to the Buchanan Watch List. As a redshirt junior, Vercammen’s 134 tackles set a new single-season record in the PFL and was third in the FCS. His season earned him a spot on the Sports Network’s Football Championship Subdivision All-American Second Team and All-PFL First Team. He posted eight games of double-digit tackles, including a 19-tackle, 1.5 tackle for loss and one pass breakup game against conference foe San Diego.
QUALITY VS. QUANTITY
Dayton only returns three starters from last year’s defense that led the PFL in scoring defense (13.6) and total defense (242.5), but they were the three most productive Dayton players on that side of the ball. Flyer James Vercammen led the PFL and was third in the nation in tackles (134). Linebacker Joe Ries was second on the team in tackles (70), and led in interceptions (3) and fumbles forced (2). Defensive end Brandon Wingeier led the team in sacks (6.5) and fumbles recovered (2).
SPEAKING OF WINGEIER
Brandon Wingeier is a two-time ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-American. A mechanical engineering major, he has started 23 straight games for the Flyers. Last year he led UD in sacks (6.5). He also had 39 tackles, 11.5 hits in the backfield, two fumbles recovered, two QB hurries, a fumble forced, a pass batted down and an interception he returned 57 yards for a touchdown.
YOUNG DAYTON DEFENSE PASSES FIRST TEST
With just three starters back on defense, the plan was to ease the young defense into the flow of the game in the season opener against Robert Morris. The plan went right out the window when the Flyer offense fumbled the ball away on the very first play of the game at its own 30-yard-line. But the defense rose to the occasion, with three first-time starters in the secondary making stops as UD forced RMU into a three-and-out and eventual missed field goal. UD went on to hold the Colonials to 58 yards total offense in the first half.
DEFENSE BY COMMITTEE
Nine Flyers had at least three tackles in the Robert Morris win, and seven of the nine were first-time starters. Safety Eric Robbe led the way with nine hits. Cornerback Matt Pfleger (who played wide receiver in 2009)) was right behind with seven stops (five solo). Four players were involved in sacks, and nine had tackles in the backfield (led by All-American James Vercammen’s 2.5). Six players each had a pass knockdown.
QUALITY & QUANTITY
UD returns 10 of 11 starters on offense (and that does not include center Blake Saul who started all 12 games in 2008 and was limited with a back injury in 2009). Every player who scored is back, as are 13 of the players who caught a pass, and the team’s top four rushers.
THE GOOD HANDS PEOPLE
Last season’s top receiver, Justin Watkins, returns after finishing second in the PFL in receiving yardage per game (84.3) and first in yards per catch (19.7). Watkins also led UD in receptions (47) and TD catches (7). Five returnees had at least 10 passes in 2009 – Nick Collins (27 for 358 yards), Justin Millio (22 for 203), Anthony Papp (19 for 213) and Luke Bellman (14 for 279). Although he was hurt last year, Millio caught a UD single-season record 67 passes in 2008.
CAREER DAY FOR WATKINS
Redshirt senior wideout Justin Watkins caught a career-high eight passes for 95 yards and a touchdown in the Robert Morris win.
TRUCKIN’
Redshirt sophomore Brian Mack averaged 5.0 yards a carry in the Robert Morris win. He was second on the team in rushing behind Steve Valentino’s 106.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Nick Glavin is currently 22nd in career scoring at UD with 152 points. Just ahead are Geno Mattioda (156), Pat Hugar (158) and Kelly Spiker (162). Glavin needs four field goals and five PAT’s to move into the top five in both categories at UD.
Justin Watkins is currently seventh in Flyer career receiving yardage with 1,663 yards. Just ahead is Kelvin Kirk at 1,676. Watkins needs 13 receptions to crack the top five in career receptions.
Steve Valentino is currently seventh in career total offense at UD with 3,616 yards. In his sights are Dan Sharley (3,636), B.J. Dailey (3,890) and Steve Keller (3,974). Valentino 72 yards passing to get into UD’s top 10, and also needs 45 pass completions to reach the top three.
DAYTON D
Last season, UD led FCS football in pass efficiency defense (96.71) and was second in pass defense yardage (140.1), third in total defense (242.6.10), first in (128.20) and fifth in scoring defense (13.6). UD also led the PFL in first downs allowed (11.8), opponent third down conversions (25.2%), lowest penalty yardage assessed (36.9) and time of possession (33:13 per game).
SHUTTING OUT DISTRACTIONS
Three PFL teams’ last shutout was by the Dayton defense. Naturally one is Davidson, who UD beat last year 17-0 on Oct. 17 (six games ago). The other two are Butler (26 games ago, 61-0 in 2007) and San Diego (113 games ago, 41-0 in 1999).
TUESDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
The Flyers are continuing “Tuesday Night Lights,” the free program where pee wee football teams take the field for a practice with the University of Dayton football team, for the third straight year. Every Tuesday from Sept. 7 to Oct. 26, teams that sign up in advance get a pre-practice talk from Flyer head coach Rick Chamberlin, take the field to warm up with the UD football team, and then observe practice until they go home at 8:30 p.m.
600 CLUB
The Flyers became the 11th NCAA FCS team (and the first west of the Alleghenies) to win at least 600 games in its football history when UD beat Davidson on October 18, 2008. Here are the 14 members of the club, heading into the 2010 season. Yale (857), Harvard (805), Penn (804), Princeton (784), Fordham (743), Lafayette (648), Dartmouth (645), Delaware (637), Lehigh (629), Cornell (618), Dayton (612), North Dakota State (604) Northern Iowa (603) and North Dakota (601). Of the 600 Club members, Dayton has played the fewest seasons (102, nine fewer than Fordham’s 110).
MORE THAN HIS FAIR SHARE
UD head coach Rick Chamberlin has been a part of 313 of UD’s 613 wins – 26 as a player, 268 as an assistant coach, and 19 as a head coach.
PFL POWER
The Flyers’ 68-19 PFL record is the best in the history of the league. UD has won 10 league championships (including ties) in the 17 years the PFL has existed. The rest of the league has 12 combined.
WELCOME MAT
The UD Flyers moved to Welcome Stadium in 1974. The word “Welcome” implies hospitality, but UD has been anything but hospitable to its opponents at home, where it is 194-40-2 (.826). The “Welcome” is not a greeting, but an honor to the late Percival Welcome, longtime AD for the Dayton Public Schools.
ROAD WARRIORS
UD was undefeated on the road in 2009 (5-0).
HALFTIME ADJUSTMENT
UD outscored its opponents 89-16 in the third quarter last year.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK SCORECARD
1 each: Gary Hunter, Eric Robbe, Eric Studt
SCOUTS OF THE WEEK SCORECARD
1 each: Victor Kaczkowsi, Sal Savato, Justin Simpson
FLYER PFL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offensive Player of the Week--Steve Valentino: 9/4
LAST TIME OUT--DAYTON 28, ROBERT MORRIS 14
The University of Dayton football team jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead and then scored a critical four-quarter touchdown to defeat Robert Morris 28-14. Flyer quarterback Steve Valentino ran for 106 yards and was 19-for-37 passing for 211 yards and two TD’s, but it was what he did after a mistake that was the critical play of the game.
With RMU having scored two unanswered touchdowns to make it a 21-14 game, Colonial safety Michael Landers intercepted Valentino’s pass near midfield and looked like he was going to tie the game with a pick six down the right sideline. But Valentino ran him down, stood him up and stripped the ball from him where Tyler Hujik recovered the fumble back for the Flyers at their own 19. UD then drove 81 yards in 10 plays to score a touchdown that would put it back in the driver’s seat. Over the last seven-and-a-half minutes, the Dayton defense allowed just three first downs, and two of them were by penalty.
The Flyers returned just three starters from last season’s top-ranked defense in the Pioneer Football League, but the newbies carried the day for UD. Nine Flyers had at least three tackles in the Robert Morris win, and seven of the nine were first-time starters. Safety Eric Robbe led the way with nine hits. Cornerback Matt Pfleger (who played wide receiver in 2009)) was right behind with seven stops (five solo). Senior safety A.J. Kaltenbach, who had been Vercammen’s backup, had three hits and intercepted a pass.
Dayton outgained Robert Morris, who is picked to finish second in the Northeast Conference, 388 to 213, and had 26 first downs while allowing 13.
After UD fumbled the ball away at its own 30 on the first play of the game, the new-look defense was tested early, denying a first down and forcing a field goal attempt that was wide and sort in the swirling winds. The Dayton offense bounced back with a 74-yard drive to open the scoring. Valentino’s 48-yard run set up Andrew Zapinski’s two-yard run to make it 7-0 after the first quarter.
A pair of Valentino TD passes in the second quarter sent Dayton to the locker room with a 21-0 lead. With 8:26 left in the half, he hit Justin Watkins for a 24-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-10, capping a 94-yard, 13-play drive. The drive matched UD’s longest scoring drive in seven years (the Flyers also had a 94-yard drive at Drake in 2007). After holding the Colonials to a three-and-out, Dayton scored again as Valentino connected with Nick Collins for a 4-yard TD with 40 seconds before halftime.
RMU got on the board with a 92-yard scoring drive when Jeff Sinclair hit a wide open Anthony Coleman for a 33-yard TD. Three plays later Rolf Bathold took an interception 37 yards to the six. On fourth-and-goal, Sinclair spun in from the one to make it 21-14 less than a minute into the fourth quarter, setting the stage for Valentino’s game-changing play, UD’s game-clinching drive and a Brian Mack three-yard run to make the final score 28-14.
Mack ran for 60 yards on 12 carries. Watkins caught a career-high nine passes for 95 yards.
SUPER STAT
When Jon Gruden coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Super Bowl championship in 2003, he became the second UD grad to coach a Super Bowl winner. Former UD co-captain and 1993 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Chuck Noll won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XII & XIV) as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Noll started at center and linebacker for the Flyers and graduated from the University in 1953. Gruden played quarterback at Dayton and earned his degree in 1986. UD became only the third school to have two alumni coach Super Bowl winners. The others are San Jose State, with grads Bill Walsh (XIV, XIX, XXIII) and Dick Vermeil (XXXIV), and Arkansas with grads Jimmy Johnson (XXVII, XXVIII) and Barry Switzer (XXX). Gruden is the second-youngest coach to win a Super Bowl (supplanted by Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin in 2009), and Noll is the fifth-youngest. As a matter of fact, UD has ties to 19 Super Bowl rings. In addition to Noll’s four and Gruden’s one, five former members of Dayton coaching staffs own a total of 14 Super Bowl rings between them. They are the late Len Fontes (New York Giants, Super Bowl XXI), Jon’s father Jim Gruden (San Francisco 49ers, Super Bowls XXII & XXIV), current Saints QB coach Joe Lombardi (XLIV), John McVay (49ers, XVI, XIX, XXII, & XXIV), current Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore (Steelers, XIII & XIV, Colts XLI) and George Perles (Steelers, IX, X, XII & XIV). McVay was the Flyers’ head coach from 1965-72, and Fontes, Jim Gruden, Moore and Perles were on his staff.
UP NEXT
The Flyers return home to face Morehead State in the PFL opener for both teams. Game time is 1 p.m. ET.
(Photos by Mickey Shuey '14)
