Game Notes
WESTERVILLE, OHIO—A new era will begin in Otterbein University football when former offensive coordinator Tim Doup takes to the sidelines as head coach Saturday in the 2012 season opener against the Gallaudet University Bison in a nonconference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
“I probably won’t sleep the night before,” said Doup, who took over the head coaching duties last May after former head coach Joe Loth went to Western Connecticut State University.
“I’ve waited for this day for a very long time,” Doup said. “I’m nervous, anxious and want to perform well. I think the guys will rally around it and play hard for me and our staff. This is a close-knit group.”
This marks the second meeting in the series with Gallaudet, a university for the deaf and hard of hearing. The Cardinals defeated the Bison, 28-27, in single overtime last season in Washington, D.C.
The Cardinals return 41 lettermen, including five starters on offense and seven on defense, from last season’s 3-7 team. Five of those losses were decided by six points or less; and ended a streak of three consecutive winning seasons.
Coach Doup points to his receiving corps, headed by D3football.com All-American Trey Fairchild, as one of the team’s strengths heading into the new season. The senior, who is listed as doubtful for the home opener due to injury, ranked third in all-purpose running and 10th in receiving yards in NCAA Division III last season. He caught 66 balls for 1,133 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior tight end Gabe Shively, 21 catches for 255 yards and two touchdowns, also returns to the starting lineup.
Academic All-America punter Aaron Kingcade takes over at quarterback, replacing three-year starter Austin Schlosser, who graduated.
“His play is a little bit like Tebow’s,” Doup said. “Aaron is bigger and more physical than Austin, and likes to run the ball.”
The Cardinals return six of their top-10 leading tacklers from a year ago, headed by senior linebacker Chad Pepper and graduate cornerback Anthony Korpieski. Pepper led the squad with 40 solo tackles. Korpieski, an honorable mention All-OAC pick, tallied 33 unassisted tackles along with 12 pass breakups.
Gallaudet, under third-year head coach Chuck Goldstein, played to a 5-5 overall record in 2011 and was picked to finish third in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference this season. The Buff and Blue return 38 lettermen, including eight starters each on offense and defense.
Wide receiver Ryne Worsham returns as Gallaudet’s top receiver on offense. The senior made 44 receptions, including a conference-high 11 touchdowns, for 784 yards in 2011. Top defensive players include three-time all-conference and preseason All-American selection Tom Pangia, a senior linebacker, and first team all-conference pick Tony Tatum, a senior cornerback. Pangia tallied 103 tackles, including 72 unassisted, while Tatum picked off four pass attempts and broke up another eight.
“Physical, they are so physical,” Doup said about the Gallaudet football team. “They are very talented on both sides of the ball. Last year, they were surprisingly more athletic and physical than I thought they would be. I think we are a little more prepared for that now.”
Last season, the Otterbein defense made a game-winning stop on a Gallaudet two-point conversion try in overtime to secure the 28-27 victory.
Following Gallaudet, Otterbein has a bye Sept. 10 and will resume play Sept. 17 at Wilmington College in its Ohio Athletic Conference opener.
