By JIM STRICK
UW-SP Sports Information director
With 45 returning letterwinners and 18 starters back from a team with a winning record, one would expect to see very little change in the look of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point football team in 2003. But, with several new additions and returning players moving into new positions, that certainly won't be the case.
The returning starters from last year's 6-4 squad will be challenged at nearly every position as the Pointers look to continue their winning ways that have resulted in 18 winning seasons over the past 19 years. Head coach John Miech has won six or more games in 13 of his 15 seasons and ranks sixth on the all-time WIAC wins list with a 99-50-2 career record.
One of the few spots where there's a sure starter is at quarterback where senior Scott Krause has started 29 consecutive games. He took every snap last season and all but three snaps during the 2001 campaign. Krause was the team's Most Valuable Player and a first-team All-WIAC selection last year while completing 53.8 percent of his passes for 2001 yards. He threw for 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Krause, a preseason third-team All-American candidate by the Football Gazette, has led the Pointers to seven fourth-quarter comeback victories during the past three seasons as the Pointers won all six of their victories in the final 15:30 of the game last season. He is the only quarterback in the WIAC with a conference championship to his credit, having guided the Pointers to the crown in 2001.
"You can have the best team in the world, but if you don't have the returning starter at quarterback it can be a long season," Miech said. "The quarterback has to be the guy who can get it done in the clutch. We're fortunate to have Scott with three years of starting experience."
As far as backups for Krause, sophomore Dan Glinski returns along with redshirts Adam Schall, Jake Dickert and Tony Seidel.
The players who will start in front of Krause are one of the team's biggest question marks right now. All five starters return on the offensive line, but Miech may add a few transfers and move some players from defense to help improve a line that finished sixth in the WIAC in rushing offense last season.
"Most coaches would be delighted to have five returning starters on the line," Miech said. "But this is the area that needs the most work."
The incumbents at tackle are sophomore Tom Wallace and last year's offensive line Player of the Year junior Peter Moskal. Junior Cliff Ruland and sophomore T.J. Severson return at guards and senior Jeff Sieg is back at center. Junior Scott Goldberg also played eight games and made one start last season.
Miech indicated that last year's defensive captain Doug Mittelstaedt may move to offensive line along with defensive end Justin England.
In the backfield, junior Cory Flisakowski returns from a knee injury suffered early in the seventh game of last season. He averaged 50.8 yards per game and caught 22 passes for 347 yards, including a school record-tying four touchdowns against UW-River Falls. Flisakowski, who ranked 12th in Division III in kickoff returns last season with a 27.9 yard average, was a first-team All-WIAC all-purpose back, while senior Jason VanderVelden was a first-team All-WIAC fullback after averaging 45.6 yards per game a year ago.
Also returning for the Pointers are sophomore Ryan McMillen and redshirt freshmen Eric Reible and Ben Zimmerman. Newcomer Cody Childs, a transfer from UW-Madison, will also compete for playing time this season.
One name missing from the backfield is junior Kurt Kielblock, a second-team All-WIAC running back last year, who will move to wide receiver this year. Kielblock was primarily a receiver last year, anyway, as the team's leading pass catcher with 30 catches for 420 yards. Also back at receiver is junior Tony Romano, who led the team with a 45.8 yards per game average last season, and junior Ross Adamczak, who started eight games. Sophomore LaRon Ragsdale appeared in six games last season and made one start. Other returnees are sophomore David Gawrisch and redshirts Bryan Buechel and Ryan Byrnes. Miech indicated that several transfers and incoming freshmen will also battle for playing time.
At tight end, redshirt Dale Bratz was impressive in spring workouts, according to Miech, and sophomore Doug Van Cuyk saw playing time last season. Adamczak also may also appear at the tight end spot.
Senior linebacker Nick Haffele paces the defense after leading the WIAC with 98 tackles last season and earning first-team All-WIAC honors. Haffele recorded 56 solo tackles and 15 tackles for loss while leading the team for the second straight year.
Sophomore Brent Maxwell also returns as a starter at linebacker, while juniors Brett Ehret and Jeff Crandall are the top contenders for the third starting spot. Steve VandeVoort, a transfer from UW-Madison, will challenge the lineup along with several returning redshirts and freshmen.
In the defensive backfield, the Pointers boast two returning sophomore cornerbacks as Jared Flesch and Chase Kostichka both earned valuable experience starting every WIAC game last season. Kostichka had 45 tackles, nine pass breakups and four interceptions while starting all 10 games. Flesch started the final eight games of the year and had 26 tackles with two interceptions and a team-high 11 pass breakups.
"We're very fortunate to have two guys who started nearly every game as freshmen," Miech said. "Last year they had some growing pains, but this year we should reap the rewards."
Juniors Ryan Bentley and J.J. Chaudoir will battle for the strong safety spot and both will be key returnees on the defense as Bentley ranked fourth on the team with 68 tackles last year, while Chaudoir totaled 43 tackles last season.
"We have a lot of experience in the defensive secondary," Miech said. "We'll spend two-a-days finding reliable backups at the corner position."
The biggest task for the secondary will be finding a replacement for three-time first-team All-WIAC performer Dillon Maney. Possibilities are seniors Andy Heller and Levi Massey and sophomores Ryan Johnson and Eric Napiwocki.
Junior defensive end Craig Johnson is the returning defensive line Player of the Year after posting 49 tackles, including team-highs 16 tackles for loss and eight sacks. Junior Clint Bakken also returns after totaling 43 tackles and should move to his natural position of nose tackle this season. Moving into the line will be senior transfer Josh VanderVelden, who was last season's defensive captain at Michigan Tech.
Several players received extensive playing time last season and will battle for spots this year. Included in the group are seniors Tim Lium and Rick Kaiser and sophomores Jon Vissers and Peter Prusinski. Sophomore Wes Kornowske also returns and will battle redshirts Alex Ryan and Mike Hayes.
Special teams is a top concern for the Pointers as Maney was the team's punter and Miech calls the race for his replacement "wide open." Dan Heldmann and Ryan Mullaney will battle to improve a kicking game that made 14 of 26 extra points last year.
Childs, Reible, McMillen and Ryan Johnson will be the top contenders to handle kick returns, allowing Flisakowski, an honorable mention All-American returner last season, to concentrate on his running back position.
The Pointers have another strong nonconference slate with games against traditional Division III power Augustana (Ill.) and Division I-AA Butler. Tri-State (Ind.) also appears on the schedule after a 6-3 record last season.