Related Stories:
|
| Keywords: | |
|
Football Practice Opens
For more information on this story contact:
AUGUST 7, 2004 -- Preseason camp for the 2004 Michigan Tech football team officially begins Sunday (Aug. 8) with a 7:15 p.m. practice at Hubbell Field.
Head Coach Bernie Anderson and his staff welcome 104 players, including 75 from last year's roster, to campus in preparation for the Huskies' 82nd season of intercollegiate football.
"I'm really excited about getting the season underway," said Anderson, who begins his 18th year. "This team has the highest expectations of any in my time at Tech and we're ready to get to work and see what we can accomplish."
Michigan Tech returns 20 seniors and 21 of its 24 starters from last year's team that turned in the highest Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference finish (tied for 4th) in school history.
The Huskies should again boast one of the nation's best offenses -- one that finished second in the GLIAC in both scoring (35.2 points per game) and rushing (223.8 yards per game) in 2003. All-America candidate Dan Mettlach (Gwinn, Mich.) returns under center for the third straight season. The senior quarterback threw 20 touchdowns and just two interceptions a year ago.
Senior Joe Berger (Newaygo, Mich.), a unanimous All-American in 2003, anchors a strong offensive line which gave up a league-low eight sacks last year.
all-GLIAC Second Team picks Chris Lomasney (Clinton Twp., Mich./ Chippewa) and Lee Marana (Ishpeming, Mich./Westwood) look to continue their strong production out of the backfield. The pair combined for 1,739 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2003. Junior All-GLIAC First Team wide receiver Brian Janeshek (Green Bay, Wis./Preble) and sophomore wide receiver Kirk Williams (DeWitt, Mich.) will likely be the top two targets for Mettlach's passes.
Senior safety Andy Bonk (Sussex, Wis./ Marquette) leads the MTU defense, which caused 29 turnovers and helped the Huskies rank third in the nation in turnover margin (+1.5 per game) a year ago. Bonk had a team-high 93 tackles in 2003.
Three other experienced seniors join Bonk in the defensive backfield including David Anderson (Green Bay, Wis./ Ashwaubenon), Dustin Daniels (Millington, Mich.) and Shannon Mathison (Marquette, Mich.). Together, the four own nearly 60 games of starting experience.
Up front, the Huskies will have one of their biggest defensive lines in school history. The group, led by All-GLIAC Second Team pick Brian Lepley (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central), averages 6-2, 285 pounds.
Michigan Tech is beginning its 11th year in GLIAC, which added a 13th member -- Gannon -- in football for the 2004 campaign. The Huskies will have 19 days of on-field practice before hosting Northern Michigan at Sherman Field on August 28. The Miner's Cup will be on the line as both teams' open their seasons.
The Huskies will close the regular season with a tilt against Grand Valley at Michigan Stadium (the Big House) in Ann Arbor. Tickets for the Nov. 6 Bash at the Big House are available at BashattheBigHouse.com or by calling 1-888-642-4832.
|
|
