July 8, 2004

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

After a strong finish to the 2003 campaign, the Western Washington University football team will look to an experienced offensive unit to lead the way in 2004.

The Vikings return seven offensive starters from a year ago, when Western was 4-6, its first non-winning season in 13 years, but closed with three consecutive victories to win the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, its sixth league title in nine seasons.

On the other side of the ball, just three defensive starters are back. In fact, the entire roster has just seven seniors, leading Western coach Rob Smith (15th year, 99-52-1) to label the 2004 squad "arguably the youngest team I've ever coached."

"On paper at least, based on the experience we have, our offense needs to carry us early on, because our defense is young," said Smith, who will become the first coach in school history to win 100 games with his first triumph of the season. "If any offense can do it, this one can. We have a lot of pieces back, and there really isn't an inexperienced position."

Leading the returnees are junior wide receiver Andy Olson (Chehalis/W.F.West), a second-team all-West Region selection by Don Hansen's Football Gazette and an honorable mention All-America pick by D2football.com; senior kicker Michael Koenen (Ferndale), a consensus All-America punter in 2002; and senior strong safety Rob White (Woodinville/Inglemoor), a two-time CoSIDA District VIII College Division academic all-star and 2003-04 GNAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

"I'm very optimistic," Smith said. "This team has done everything we've asked of them from Day 1, and we've seen as much improvement as any team I've coached - in the weight room, in overall commitment, and in spring practice. This is a team that is going to get better every week."

The road to the post season has changed a bit for the Vikings this season. The field has increased from 16 to 24 teams, with six teams from each of four regions earning berths. The regions have also been realigned, shifting Western and the other GNAC schools from the West to the Northwest. Also included in the new 35-member region are the North Central Conference, the Northern Sun Conference and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The schedule reflects the changes in regional format. In addition to two conference games with each of the three other GNAC schools, Western plays two games with NCC schools, visiting St. Cloud State, Minn., on Sept. 11, and hosting Nebraska-Omaha on Sept. 18. The two remaining games also count as regional contests.

"It is a very fair schedule, all the games are Division II games and all of them are considered in-region games, which along with strength of schedule is very important to determining playoff berths," Smith said. "We also have seven games in the state of Washington, so there aren't any big travel issues."

A highlight of the season will be the second annual Battle in Seattle on Sept. 25, when the Vikings face archrival Central Washington at Seahawks Stadium. The contest drew 16,392 in its inaugural edition last year.

Here's a position-by-position look at the Vikings:

OFFENSE

The Vikings averaged 389.8 yards a game last year, ranking 26th nationally in passing offense at 260.7 yards a contest, and many of the elements that contributed to that success return.

LINE: Out of the 50 man-games started on the offensive line last season, 38 return, led by junior center Loren Winter (Bothell/Juanita), a two-year starter who made eight starts a year ago.

"We bring the line back almost intact, and a year ago we were very good," said Smith.

Junior Justin Simpson (Kennewick/Kamiakin) returns at tackle after starting nine games last season, and at the other tackle, sophomore Brandon Torrey (Graham/Bethel), who made three starts, enters fall camp slightly ahead of junior Geoff Hise (Snoqualmie/Mount Si), who started eight times.

Senior Todd Gowing (Kirkland/Inglemoor), who started six games a year ago, returns at guard. Another possibility at guard is junior Will Freitag (Maple Valley/Eastside Catholic), who started two years at NCAA II Minnesota-Crookston, earning honorable mention all-league honors as a sophomore.

Further depth is provided by sophomores Peter Van Datta (Bremerton/Central Kitsap), who made four starts last year, sophomore Tyler Sleeman (Black Diamond/Tahoma), and perhaps true freshman Phil Hayes (Renton/O'Dea), a first-team Washington State Sportswriters Association Class 3A all-state pick.

QUARTERBACK: Senior Steve Nichols (Stevenson) has made 11 starts over the last two years, including seven last season when he threw for 1,484 yards, completing 112-of-216 passes with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. Now firmly settled as the starter, he ranks 10th in school history with 2,836 yards, having a good shot at finishing in the top five, and has an impressive career touchdown-to-interception ratio of 25-to-10.

"Steve had a tremendous spring," Smith said. "He realized the job is in his hands and it is amazing the impact that can have. He's showing great confidence."

Sophomore James Monrean (Bellingham/Sehome) will see time as the backup. Monrean played in three games last year, completing 11-of-25 passes for 175 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and directed the game-winning drive in a 17-16 Cascade Cup victory over Central Washington.

WIDE RECEIVER: In Olson, the Vikings have a truly dominating force to be reckoned with. A first-team all-GNAC pick, he had 64 receptions for 1,063 yards and nine touchdowns, ranking ninth nationally in yards per game (106.3) and 17th in receptions per game (6.1). He already ranks sixth in school career touchdown catches with 15, and has a shot at holding nearly every school receiving record by the time he is done.

"He's a talented player, and he combines that with incredible competitiveness," Smith said of Olson. "He's as competitive a player as I've ever coached."

Three players are battling for the other wide receiver spot. Senior James Laurence (Kent/Kent-Meridian) made three starts last year, and had 10 receptions for 100 yards. Sophomore Brett Upchurch (Sammamish/Eastlake) had five catches for 69 yards and a touchdown in just three games of action, and redshirt freshman Chris Robinson (Lakewood/Clover Park) was the Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year.

The slotback position is open after sophomore Matt Wilson (Auburn) suffered a season-ending knee injury in the spring. Junior Jarrod Karuza (Bellingham/Meridian), who returns after missing last season with an injury, enters fall camp as the starter. He'll battle for the job with his high school quarterback, redshirt freshman Jeff Bennum (Bellingham/Meridian), who returned to football last spring; and redshirt freshman Jason Morris (Mill Creek/Cascade), who was at Eastern Washington last year.

RUNNING BACK: The Vikings have two all-league caliber backs in juniors Duncan Sherrard (Seattle/Roosevelt) and Jake Carlyle (Olympia/Capital). Sherrard started all 10 games last year, earning first-team all-GNAC honors as he rushed for 760 yards and three touchdowns on 176 carries. He added 16 receptions for 193 yards and three scores. Sherrard already ranks seventh in school history in career rushing with 1,447 yards.

Carlyle ran for 418 yards and five touchdowns on 97 carries last year, and added eight receptions for 95 yards.

"They're two lunch-pail guys who show up ready to go to work," Smith said. "I know both would like to be 'the guy,' but we have the luxury to have that depth. Both will get their share of carries."

When Western goes to a two-back set, the most experienced fullback is junior Joe Casillas (Phoenix, AZ/Arcadia), who started three games last year.

TIGHT END: This is another area where Western has a 1-2 punch, and the Vikings will use more two tight-end sets to take advantage of that. Senior Rick Carte (Juneau, AK/Juneau-Douglas) had 17 receptions for 158 yards and five touchdowns last year, earning unanimous first-team all-GNAC recognition. Junior Nick Yoney (Arlington) had 11 catches for 174 yards and one score.

"We need to do a better job of getting Rick Carte the ball," Smith said. "He's a weapon as a receiver, and his blocking has improved a great deal. Nick Yoney has also improved. He's a converted wide receiver, and he's put on the weight to be a tight end and also learned the blocking aspect of the position."

Smith is also excited about the potential of true freshman Logan Cullen (Anacortes), an honorable mention Class 3A all-state pick who could see immediate action.

DEFENSE

The stop unit struggled in the first half of 2003, but can build off the momentum it created in the final three games, when it held opponents to just 16.3 points a contest in three Viking victories.

LINE: The key returnee is junior end Joey Joshua (Ferndale), a second-team all-GNAC pick last year. Joshua had 43 tackles last season, including 9.5 for loss. He'll be the anchor of experience in an area loaded with newcomers.

"Joey is ready to make a name for himself regionally and possibly nationally," Smith said. "We need him to be an outstanding player now, to be the leader of our defensive front."

There are two returning letter winners at the other end, both of whom have moved from other positions. Junior Aaron Dahl, a former linebacker, is a two-year letter winner, and Nicholas Buck (Kent/Kentridge) saw time at tackle, starting three games, making 13 tackles and also recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass. The only other returning letter winner is tackle Parker Follis (Bellingham/Squalicum), who had six stops and blocked a kick.

Junior transfer tackle Ryan Davidson (Pleasant Hill, CA/San Ramon Valley) was a two-year starter at Diablo Valley JC, and his juco teammate, junior Noel Tafoya (Pittsburg, CA), could be a factor at end, as might redshirt freshman Ryan Conwell (Kent/Kentwood).

LINEBACKERS: The linebacking corps is almost entirely new. Four letter winners return, but they saw most of their action on special teams. Even so, Smith believes this group lacks only experience and could do well.

"We lack experience, but we don't lack talent," Smith said. "It's going to be a fun battle to watch in the fall, because there's six or seven guys battling for three spots."

Juniors Adam Klingenberg (Walla Walla) and Joe Allen (Graham/Bethel) are the most experienced members of the group. Klingenberg, the lone two-year letter winner, figures to start at one of the outside spots, and Allen enters the fall as the starter in the middle.

At the other outside position, redshirt freshman Tieba Bropleh (Bremerton) had an outstanding spring and enters the fall as the starter, but sophomore Jeff Parks (Graham/Bethel), who had eight tackles last year, will also be a factor.

Others who could make an impact are redshirt freshman Brandon Elliott (Auburn/Fife), who was last year's Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year; sophomore Pat Mutzel (Bellevue), who lettered last year; and sophomore Jed Dern (Duvall/Cedarcrest).

SECONDARY: In White, the Vikings have a strong safety who has started every game the last two years and played in all but one contest over three seasons. A unanimous first-team all-GNAC selection last year after being a second-team pick as a sophomore, White led the Vikings in tackles for the second straight year, notching 90 and ranking 14th nationally in solo tackles (6.1 avg.). He also had two interceptions, a fumble recovery and seven passes defensed.

"Rob White is a two-year starter," said Smith. "He has to provide leadership and be a solid player, and we know he'll do that."

White, the lone senior on defense to be a returning starter, will be backed up by redshirt freshman James Day (Vancouver/Mountain View). At free safety, junior Jason Barton (Gig Harbor) has the inside track after moving over from receiver in the spring. Also there is junior Brett Snyder-Ferguson (Colville), who started the opener last season and had nine tackles prior to missing the rest of the campaign for disciplinary reasons.

At the corner, junior Brett Hall (Kennewick), a two-year letter winner, started nine games last year, having 28 tackles and five passes defensed. Sophomore Sly Whitfield (Seattle/Garfield) returns after starting five games and showing steady improvement over the course of his freshman season, notching two interceptions and seven passes defensed. Also in the hunt for starting jobs are redshirt freshman Ocie Moore (Seattle/Kent-Meridian), who was slated to start but suffered a season-ending injury two days before the opening game, and Sean O'Hara (Pleasant Hill, CA/De La Salle), who made six starts for NCAA I-AA St. Mary's last year.

SPECIAL TEAMS

In Koenen, Western has probably the best two-way punting-placekicking specialist in all of NCAA II. He was a unanimous first-team all-GNAC placekicker last season, connecting on 9-of-20 field goals and 26-of-28 extra points. He ranks sixth in school history in scoring with 196 points, having connected on 31-of-57 field goals, making 14 of those from 40 yards or more, including a school-record 54-yarder in his first collegiate game, and 103-of-109 extra points. He has 54 career kickoffs for touchbacks.

As a punter, Koenen was a second-team all-GNAC pick last year, ranking fourth nationally in NCAA II at 43.4 yards an attempt. He led the nation in punting as a sophomore with a school-record 44.9 average, and his career average is 43.0 on 154 attempts.

"I expect a big year from Mike," Smith said. "He certainly has all the tools to be as good as we've ever had here."

There's also strength in the returns. Carlyle was a first-team all-conference selection as a kickoff returner, averaging 22.5 yards an attempt. Olson averaged 10.2 on punt returns, gaining second-team all-GNAC honors.