Note: Now that two-a-days are done, so are these training camp reports. For stories here on out, check on the main football page as we preview each game, then do wrapups, complete with statistics and home-game pictures.
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Posted August 27, 2008
Taking over for team MVP Matt Eastlick could be a daunting task, but senior linebacker Joe Tinucci is up to the task of leading the defense.
"I feel I should," the Hinsdale Central (Ill.) graduate said. "I'm a senior and have been here four years. I put my time in the scout team and everything. I'm just doing what I can to help everybody out."
Tinucci and the defense have had a good camp and played well in the intrasquad scrimmage Saturday.
"We're still a little rusty," he said. "This scrimmage was good to get some work in, but we still have to work the kinks out."
The defense is learning new coordinator Rob Erickson's system, but Tinucci is happy with the way the unit is progressing.
"We're still running a 3-4, but he broke it down where it's much easier," the linebacker said. "It's not as complicated as it was last season. It's simpler; we don't have as many calls, but it's still effective."
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| Ben Hermus anchors the line |
Posted August 26, 2008
Many of the UW-Platteville football preview stories have a line something like, "the Pioneers return two-time all-conference running back Mike Genslinger, the quarterback tandem of Joe Burkeland and John Akim, and expereinced receivers. If the offensive line, which lost five seniors from last year, can come together quickly ..
Center Ben Hermus is working hard to make sure that word "if" is removed soon. The senior from Little Chute is the only lineman with extended experience, as he had five 2007 starts. He will lead a brand-new line into action in 2008.
"We're coming along nicely, but we just have to keep working hard and not get our heads down," he said. "We've got a young line, and we have to keep working."
The new line is also working with a new coach, as Jason Wagner brings his considerable experience and talents to the unit. The Lancaster native played at UW-Stevens Point and coached at UWSP, Coe and Aurora. Hermus and the rest of his linemates are getting used to each other and their new coach.
"It's tough, especially with bringing in a new offensive line coach," Hermus said. "We have the same scheme, still running zone, but we've tweaked it a bit. We just have to adjust and keep working it, making sure we know what we're doing physically and mentally."
Hermus understands his role as the unit's leader.
"Definitely, definitely," he said. "When the young guys have questions, I want them to come to me and ask me so I can help them out and steer them in the right direction."
The leadership is especially important in training camp, as more and more of the offense is installed.
"It's a work in progress," he said. "Every day is a new day and a new challenge. We put in a new play or an add-on to a play we already have. It's exciting, and I'm looking forward to it."
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| David Akey (91) and Tom Kral (19) crash the backfield |
Posted August 23, 2008
New UW-Platteville defensive coordinator Rob Erickson's squad came through with several big plays during Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage before a nice crowd at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
Junior defensive back Eric Jensen made a diving interception in the first half, which mostly pitted the veteran players. Connor Wilson ran an interception back almost 40 yards in the freshman portion of the scrimmage.
"The ball was tipped, and it came right to me," Jensen said. "I was just hoping to catch it, and I did, so it worked out well. Rob (Crowley) made a good tip on it. Thanks to him, I got it."
The Pioneer defenders are enthusiastic about the new schemes.
"I definitely like it," Jensen said. "Coach Erickson has a good defense, and the we really like it. We're starting to get the hang of it now. It's going to be pretty scary once we get going in the season."
The new defense is simplified from previous years, with the idea of letting playmakers make plays. Jensen wants to be one of those big-play defenders.
"Last year I got experience as a sophomore, and I learned from all the older guys out there," he said. "Now it's my time to step up and make plays on defense, especially with our secondary being pretty young. It's definitely my turn to step up."
The Pioneers were just excited to step onto the field and get after it Saturday.
"I can't explain how good it felt," Jensen said. "In spring ball, we can't use pads, but once we got pads on, it just felt really good."
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Because this question comes up every year: NCAA rules prohibit us from publicizing in any way scrimmages against outside competition. So please don't look for reports or pictures from Thursday's scrimmage.
Posted August 22, 2008
Saturday is a big day for Pioneer football, as the team holds its annual intrasquad game at 3 p.m. in Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
"As a head coach, I look at the level of execution of some of the new schemes we've been able to put in," Mike Emendorfer said. "We have a good idea of how our upperclassmen play, so it's really a test for the younger players and how they are fitting in and what they can do for the program after a week of practice. We have a good feeling of Mike Genslinger and David Akey and so on. I also think there's a quarterback race going on, so we'll be anxious to see who steps up to be number one. Right now it's between John Akim and Joe Burkeland."
The Pioneers donned pads for the first time Thursday and had their initial practice as one team Friday.
"Yesterday was full pads, and we cracked some heads," Emendorfer said. "We had some minor bumps and bruises. It was nice to see our young offensive line step up and give Mike Genslinger some big holes. He had four or five runs, all for positive yards and a 40-yard run. Our defense also played very well. Coach (Rob) Erickson is doing a great job with them. It's too early to predict, but we like what we see at this point."
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| Tony Smidl made 10 FGs last year |
Posted August 21, 2008
Being a kicker can sometimes by a lonely trade, but it is even more so during the first week of practice for UW-Platteville kicker Tony Smidl.
The junior is the lone upperclassman specialist, and since the first week of practice is divided by newcomers in the morning and returners in the afternoon, Smidl is by himself for much of practice until special teams time.
"I just go through steps, mentally and physically," the Oshkosh native said. "I stretch and do some reps. I work on mentally going through kickoffs and field goals and different situations. I keep visualizing success."
Smidl was successful 10 times on field attempts in 2007, ranking second in the WIAC. His most important one may have come with three seconds left against UW-La Crosse, a 17-yarder that proved to be the difference in a 37-34 win.
"It was definitely a highlight," he said. "It all happened so fast. It was hard to take it all in at first. It was unreal, but it was a great day."
All college kickers were faced with a new challenge last year when kickoffs were moved from the 35-yard line to the 30.
"You don't get that touchback feeling anymore," he said. "I hope to put more through this year. Field position is important to the team."
Posted August 20, 2008
So, being a senior means getting all the privileges, right? Well, yes and no.
No, if you're thinking they get all the breaks and get to take it easy. Yes, if you thing about what they are doing and learning in the process.
The Pioneer senior class spent the morning doing community service projects, helping with yard work and clearing out a Main Street basement, among other things. It's part of the senior class commitment program begun this year. The younger players were on the field this morning, and the upperclassmen in the afternoon. Thursday, the team dons pads and practices as one for the first time.
Posted August 19, 2008
Ryan Munz is back in charge of UW-Platteville's offense, and this time no chin strap can stop him.
Munz, from Highland, earned a promotion to offensive coordinator this fall after coaching the quarterbacks last season. He will preside over the perhaps the deepest quarterback class in school history, but he is no stranger to competition at that spot.
Munz won the Pioneers' starting quarterback job in 2004 over the more experienced Brent Nelson and led UWP out on to the field at Thiel, Pa. for the season opener. He threw for a touchdown pass and had the Pioneers in a 7-7 game late in the second quarter. While coming to the line of scrimmage, Munz couldn't buckle a suddenly-broken chin strap. Without wanting to waste a timeout during the two-minute drill, Coach Mike Emendorfer sent Nelson into the game. Nelson entered on fire, throwing for a pair of touchdown passes in a 15-second span right before the half ended,and the Pioneers rolled to a 40-14 win. Nelson started the rest of the season.
"It's always been kind of a joke around the coaches' office," Munz said. "I still have to file my lawsuit against the (chinstrap) company. I think I can say it was an equipment malfunction. There's always 'what ifs' in athletics, but if you focus on that, you're not thinking about the right stuff. Would it have been nice had it not happened? Maybe, but for some reason the man upstairs had a different plan. I always say I'm a 31-game starter. I started one as a quarterback, and 30 as a holder. I would have loved to throw the touchdown passes, but when it comes down to it, hopefully people remember the person I was as a teammate. The respect and trust is more important to me than any numbers I have."
That kind of attitude earned Munz the team's prestigious George Chryst Award and ultimately the offensive coordinator position.
"I'm grateful for Coach (Mike) Emendorfer giving me this opportunity," he said. "I was used to being a quarterback and having the leadership role, so that set my up for this position. I've only been in the program for two years as a coach, but if you look at everything, I've been here for seven years. I feel I have a good hold on what the offense is doing."
The new coordinator is overseeing a QB battle, with incumbents John Akim and Joe Burkeland, who split snaps last year, and Mitch Shadley, who missed the year with a shoulder injury, as well as talented freshmen including Danny Tharp, who led Bettendorf to a state championship, rocket-armed Jake Wiederholt from Fennimore, fundamentally advanced Nick Anderson from Sycamore, Ill., and Bill Oppriecht, who threw for 58 career touchdowns at Seneca.
"It's a good problem to have," Munz said. "You can't ever say it's a bad problem to have because they are pushing each other. Talent produces more talent. It seems like it's easier for me to have the older guys who know how we do things help out the younger guys. Everyone will come along faster. Just talking to any quarterback we have, I can tell they are intelligent and good kids. That makes it easy as a coach."
Based on his experience with his friend Nelson, Munz said the Pioneer quarterbacks must "stop, take a step back and smell the roses. We want to compete on the field and get after it, but the quarterback group should be the most close-knit group we have. There were times when I hated seeing Brent come out to practice. I wish he had stayed in the locker room once in a while, to get the upper edge. But when the day was over, we'd sit in the locker room together and say, 'heck of a practice.' You just roll with it. It makes it you a better person. It goes back to talent breeds talent."
With this year's offensive firepower, the Pioneers are adding some new wrinkles.
"We've done some different things that we normally didn't do out of our traditional set," Munz said. "It makes us very versatile. Our philosophy is the field is 53 and one-third yards wide, and we'll use every inch we can to spread defenses out."
The Pioneers will show some of the new wrinkles at the intrasquad game Saturday at 3 p.m. and again in the season opener Sept. 6 at Buena Vista.
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| New defensive coordinator Rob Erickson assists with the equipment distribution Saturday |
Posted August 18, 2008
The UW-Platteville football team reported to campus Saturday morning to begin tryouts and to begin working towards the season opener, Sept. 6 at Buena Vista.
"We had 156 report to camp, and so far, after two days, things have gone smoothly," Pioneer Coach Mike Emendorfer said. "Saturday was check-in day and NCAA day, where we do all our paperwork, and Sunday was testing day. Now we're ready to get out there. We have tremendously high hopes."
The younger players practice in the mornings, and the upperclassmen hit the fields in the afternoon. The Pioneers will practice as one beginning Thursday. The annual orange and blue scrimmage occurs Saturday at 3 p.m. at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium and is open to the public.
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Sixty-five players have previous varsity or junior varsity game action, including 17 seniors. All the seniors will be captains this year and every senior has a group of players whom he oversees and assists. The seniors quickly assumed ownership of the 2008 season and the responsibilities that go with it.
"I've met with the senior class, and we are being proactive with leadership this year," Emendorfer said. "They're very excited about the program."
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The Pioneer coaching staff underwent a transformation this year, with new defensive coordinator Rob Erickson and offensive line coach Jason Wagner joining the program on a full-time basis. Brad Watkins, a graduate assistant, will join with UWP alum Phil Micech on the defensive line. Doug Bark, a member of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, joins his son Duane as an assistant. Doug is in charge of running backs, and Duane coaches the defensive backs. The Pioneers now have a three-generation family on the fields, as Brian (Duane's son and Doug's grandson) is an offensive lineman.
The holders on the staff are assistant head coach Ulz Daeuber, who also coaches special teams and receivers; offensive coordinator Ryan Munz, who works with the quarterbacks; D.J. Lawrence, who coaches the defensive backs; Micech and Doug Bark. In addition, former players Nolan Krajco (outside linebackers), Tom Christiansen (kickers/punters) and Mike Lauritsen (wide receivers) are helping their alma mater.
"The difficult task, especially at the Division III level, is that it is tough to keep young coaches," Emendorfer said. "Adding Robby and Jason with Doug Bark and all his experience, gives us a really good staff. Having a mixture of young coaches and experienced coaches makes a really good blend."
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One of the proudest accomplishments for the Pioneers happened this summer already. When the Gabe Miller Academic Honor Roll was announced, 48 of the 98 players who finished last season made the list for having above a 3.00 grade-point average.