By MIKE BEACOM
of The Gazette
Most first-year coaches don't inherit teams with the personnel and experience that Harry Page's Amherst squad has entering their 2001 season.
His predecessor, Jerry Carlson, left behind a respectable roster with few areas of concern.
"(Jerry) didn't leave a skeleton of a team," said Page. "It was very unselfish on his part."
Of this year's most notable returnees are last year's team Most Valuable Player Derek Konkol, starting quarterback Matt Mehne and a wealth of returning lineman.
The Falcons expect to improve upon their 3-6 record (2-4 in conference), but for right now, Page is most concerned with team mentality.
"If I were to break it down into one word, it would be attitude," said Page. "If you have the right attitude, everything else will take care of itself."
Amherst's offense, which tallied the third lowest season point total among conference participants in 2000, could create troubles for their Central Wisconsin Conference Large School opponents this season.
Konkol ran for 615 yards on 125 carries last year and scored seven touchdowns as a junior, placing him third among CWC Large School backs in rushing and fourth among all conference players in scoring.
"We're going to throw to keep defenses honest," said Page, "but I expect (Derek) will be a strong runner again for us this year."
Junior Sam Werner is expected to receive some playing time behind Konkol and sophomore Joe Blanke will saddle-up at fullback.
Should Page need to rely on Mehne's arm for more than to keep defenses honest, he'll have to find able hands for him to throw to.
The Falcons graduated end Adam Kinney, who accounted for nearly half of last year's catches and receiving yards.
Protecting Mehne from pursuing defenses are three returning offensive line starters in Tony Anderson, Ben Ostrowski and Rory Quinn.
Ostrowski was an all-conference honorable mention at guard last year. Gone though, is second team all-conference tackle Mark Jakubek, one of the conference's biggest lineman last year at 6-2, 280 pounds-Anderson, who occupied the other tackle spot last year is actually bigger at 6-6 and pushing 300 pounds.
Ostrowski and Quinn (who serve as team captains with Mehne and Konkol) are also veteran linemen in Page's aattacking 4-3 scream defense.
"I expect our defensive linemen to be very aggressive for us this year," said Page.
A key loss for the line will be defensive tackle Justin Pacocha.
Lining up behind that group is a group of linebackers with less experience than perhaps any other area for Amherst. Already a missing link from last year's offense, Kinney leaves a big hole for the squad here as well.
But Page has a ton of confidence in the three linebackers he looks to start this year.
Blanke and senior Kris Blenker will start with junior Nolan Kayon, who brings the most experience to the group having started a few games in 2000.
"I expect our linebacking corps to be pretty essential in our defense," said Page.
In the secondary, Konkol (the only first-team all-conference selection for the team in 2000) will head up a strong group.
According to Page, despite not recording an interception, it was Konkol's "ability to close, come up and make the tackle" that drew respect from the conference last year.
Warner will lineup at the opposite corner and Mehne will start at one of the safety spots.
Amherst begins its season at home on Friday, Aug. 24, vs. Wild Rose. For the first time ever, the Falcons will play home games under lights three times this season.