Aug. 29, 2005
GAME #1: The USD Toreros open up the 2005 campaign against the Azusa Pacific Cougars this coming Saturday, September 3rd, with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. It is the first of three straight at Torero Stadium and seven home contests for the season. Jack Murray (play-by-play) and Rick Hill (color analyst) call the action (all 7 home games) that can be heard via the internet at www.usdtoreros.com.
SERIES RECORD: The Azusa Pacific Cougars, ranked 4th in the 2005 NAIA preseason polls, lead the overall series, 21-16. This will be the 9th straight year that USD and APU have met each other in the season opener with the Cougars holding a 6-2 advantage ... APU has won 3 straight including Harbaugh's first game as Toreros' head coach, a 24-17 setback.
HEAD COACH Jim Harbaugh: Harbaugh begins his 2nd season after a 7-4 mark in his rookie year. Prior to being named USD's 11th head coach, he spent two seasons in the NFL as an offensive assistant with the Oakland Raiders. He spent 15 years in the NFL with five different teams - Chicago (1987-1993), Indianapolis (1994-97), Baltimore (1998), San Diego (1999-00) and Carolina (2001). A 1987 first round draft pick by the Chicago Bears, Jim played in 117 NFL games with 140 starts. For his career he completed 2,305 of 3,918 passes for 26,288 yards with 129 touchdowns. In 1995 he led Indianapolis to the AFC Championship game; was voted to the Pro Bowl; was named the 1995 Comeback Player of the Year and the AFC Player of the Year; and was runner-up in the NFL MVP voting. A 1986 graduate of the University of Michigan, Jim was a 3-year starter for legendary coach Bo Schembechler. In his senior year in '86, Jim guided Michigan to a No. 2 national ranking while earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors and finishing 3rd in the Heisman race. Jim and his wife, Miah, have three kids - Jay, James, and Grace.
2005 TORERO OUTLOOK: Second year head coach Jim Harbaugh returns 55 players and 13 starters from last year's 7-4 club that finished 2nd in the PFL North Division and ranked 4th in the final Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Poll. Although he loses key contributors on both sides of the ball, and lost the services of returning All-America running back Evan Harney to a freak accident just prior to the start of camp, Harbaugh knows the cupboard was not left bare and he looks forward to the upcoming season and blending in an additional 54 newcomers to coach and teach.
Key players gone from last year's squad due to graduation is quarterback Todd Mortensen, the PFL co-Offensive Player of the Year (2,874 yards; 25 TDs), team MVP receiver Michael Gasperson (54 receptions, 894 yards, 7 TDs), offensive tackle Keith Zapalac, and linebacker Jeff Langdon (104 tackles). Tack on Harney, a two-time All-America running back (2,809 yards; 35 TDs) and 2004 Mid-Major Offensive Back of the Year (Don Hansen's Football Gazette), and you know you'll be replacing a large percentage of your offensive production.
In 2005, you don't have to look far for leadership and experience with the return of a trio of outstanding senior receivers in Adam Hannula (58-for-680 yards, 5 TDs), Nick Garton (34-for-473, 5 TDs) and TE Dustin Owen (26-for-235 yards, 3 TDs). Sophomore WR Wes Doyle (6-4, 205) and senior TE Matt Koller (5-10, 231) are projected to be right there in the offensive mix.
Replacing Mortensen at quarterback will be sophomore Josh Johnson (6-3, 180 lbs.) who will give USD a double threat with his strong arm and running ability. Johnson missed spring drills with a knee injury but is back to 100% for 2005. He will be pushed by sophomore David Perez (6-2, 215 lbs.) and redshirt freshman Ben Hannula (6-2, 185).
The running game will be paced by junior fullback Jon Polk (6-0, 230) and sophomore Kevin Herron (6-0, 212). Herron was Harney's back-up in 2004 and rushed for 248 yards and 3 TDs. An outstanding group of young returners and newcomers will give these two a run for their money - sophomore Mark Cianciulli (5-10, 190), redshirt freshmen JT Rogan (5-10, 180; Coronado HS) and Josh Denton (5-6, 150; Eastlake HS); and newcomers Marco Contreras (5-7, 167 lbs.), Tyler Harding (6-2, 195; Valley Center HS) and Nick Coppedge (6-1, 245; Vista HS).
Offensive Coordinator and line coach Tim Drevno has about eight solid players that will rotate on the line - senior Josh Sanders (6-3, 305), juniors Kaea Simeona (6-2, 285) and James Dunne (6-4, 285), sophomores Deene Kabiling (6-3, 300) and Jordan Paopao (5-10, 290), and newcomers Clayton Austin (6-1, 270, junior; Fullerton CC), Matt Vuoso (6-4, 285, junior; El Camino JC) and Bretton Mowry (6-7, 270, Palomar Junior College).
Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Dave Adolph, who had a long and successful NFL career as defensive coordinator, will get to put his years of defensive strategy to good use with an outstanding group of returners and newcomers in 2005.
The heart of the defense will be directed by junior linebacker Kyson Hawkins (6-1, 230) who is the team's top returning tackler (73 stops) despite missing the last three games with a season-ending knee injury. Competing for playing time alongside Hawkins will be sophomore Ronnie Pentz (47 tackles, 6 pass breakups; played DB last year), sophomore Tyler Evans (38 tackles), junior Brenden Nakata (moved over from running back), senior Alex Duk (6-2, 205) and JC transfers Brian Finnegan (5-10, 230; Butte College) and Ryan Morgan (6-2, 230; Laney College).
Applying pressure up front on the defensive line will be returning starter Eric Bakhtiari (6-4, 253, 35 stops, 3 QB sacks) at defensive end. He'll be joined by the likes of junior Colin Murphy (6-3, 255, 28 tackles), sophomores Eric Stern (6-3, 260) and Gabe DeAnda (6-0, 275), redshirt freshman David Greer (6-0, 260), and a host of other returners and newcomers.
The secondary will once again be paced by a trio of returning starters - senior defensive back Philip Bretsch (72 tackles), junior defensive back Josh Brisco (39 tackles) and junior safety Scott Cooper (41 tackles, 3 interceptions). Senior DB Adam Burke, junior Chase McBride (back from knee injury) and two-way performer Nick Garton will push for key roles with a host of other returners and newcomers competing for playing time.
Sophomore Hutch Parker, a two-time PFL Special Teams Player of the Week, returns as the team's kicker. Last season he converted 6-of-8 field goals and 45-of-46 PAT kicks. Junior George Villa is the projected punter, while newcomers Coulter Mulligan (punter) and Randall Reynoso (kicker) will play backup roles. Nick Garton, JT Rogan, Mark Cianciulli and Josh Denton are strong candidates for return specialists.
Once again USD's schedule will be a tough task each week. The Toreros open with a three-game homestand beginning with Azusa Pacific on September 3rd, followed by Southern Oregon (Sept. 10th) and Yale (Sept. 17th). Following road games at Princeton (Sept. 24th) and Menlo (Oct. 1st), the Toreros will begin PFL play at home against Butler (Oct. 8th). USD will close out PFL play in October with games at Dayton (Oct. 15th), home with Drake (Oct. 22nd), and finish at Valparaiso (Oct. 29th). November home dates bring Chapman (Nov. 5th) and Marist (Nov. 12th) to Torero Stadium, with the PFL Championship contest set for Nov. 19th (@ North Division site).
PFL PRESEASON COACHES POLL: The Toreros are picked 3rd in the PFL Preseason Coaches Poll - 2004 champion Drake is the top pick for the North Division as they received 5 first place votes - the Bulldogs are followed by Dayton, San Diego, Butler & Valparaiso.
SPORTS NETWORK I-AA MID-MAJOR PRESEASON: The Toreros are picked 7th in the 2005 The Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Preseason Poll. Drake University, last year's PFL Champion, is ranked 1st after going 10-2 a year ago. The Bulldogs are followed by Monmouth, Dayton, Duquesne, Robert Morris, Central Connecticut State, SAN DIEGO, Morehead State, Wagner & Albany.
SCOUTING AZUSA PACIFIC: The Azusa Pacific Cougars, a yearly NAIA powerhouse, is coming off an 11-3 campaign in 2004... 7th-year head coach Peter Shinnick returns 36 lettermen and 13 starters... APU advanced to the NAIA playoffs for the 5th time in the past 7 years... two of the Cougars' 3 losses were to eventual national champion Carroll College, which rallied to beat APU, 14-10, in the closing minute of their semifinal match-up in Helena, Montana on Dec. 4th... last year the Cougars led the nation in rushing defense (66.5 ave.) and finished 2nd in scoring defense (9.6 ave.)... in three NAIA playoff games, they surrendered just 2 touchdowns... top returners include LB Steve Holte (NAIA All-American 1st Team), DE Chuck Asiodu (NAIA All-American H.M.), SS Troy McPeak, QB Sean Davis (8th all-time passing at APU), and TE Ricky Burgan.
UP NEXT: The Toreros return to Torero Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10th, to take on Southern Oregon in a 1:30 p.m. contest. USD beat the Raiders 51-10 last year.
PRINCETON ROAD TRIP: The USD Alumni Association will host a Tailgate Party prior to the USD-Princeton contest on Sept. 24th... For more information, call theUSD Office of Alumni Relations at (619) 260-4819... Register at www.usdtickets.com by Sept. 12th.
