Aug. 28, 2006
GAME #1: The USD Toreros open up the 2006 campaign with their own version of 'Friday Night Lights' when they host the Azusa Pacific Cougars in a 7 pm contest this Friday, September 1st, at 7:00 pm. The Toreros, ranked No. 1 in the 2006 Preseason Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Top-10 Poll, will be gunning for a school-record 14th straight home victory.
SERIES RECORD: This is the 10th straight year that San Diego and Azusa Pacific will kickoff their respective seasons against each other... USD won last year's meeting 30-6 in San Diego... That broke a 3-game winning streak for the Cougars in openers, but APU owns a 6-3 edge during this 9-game stretch of season openers... The Cougars also lead the overall series, 21-17.
ALL TORERO GAMES TO AIR ON 1700 AM: For the first time ever USD will have all of its games aired on commercial radio on 1700 AM, the sister station to XX Sports Radio... Jack Murray returns for his 7th year to call play-by-play... Ted Tollner, with over 30 years of coaching experience at the college and NFL levels, will join Murray for USD's six home games and provide color analysis... No stranger to San Diego, Tollner was head coach at SDSU (1994-2001), and was Offensive Coordinator for the Chargers (1989-91)... The games will also be available via the internet at www.usdtoreros.com through the Torero All-Access Sports Pass (for a minimal monthly or annual fee). The Sept. 16th game at Yale wil air delayed locally at 1:00 p.m.
PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE: The 2006 season marks the 14th year for the Pioneer Football League, which returns to a non-divisional format for the first time since the 2000 season. After five seasons playing a North-South divisional format, the league saw its numbers reduced to eight after the 2005 season (Austin Peay leaving the conference to return to scholarship football) and those remaining members voted to adopt a full-round robin scheduling format for 2006. Additionally, the PFL champion will participate in the Gridiron Classic versus the champion of the Northeast Conference. The NEC champion will host the inaugural Gridiron Classic on November 18th.
TOREROS #1 IN PRESEASON MID-MAJOR POLL: After winning the 2005 Pioneer Football League and earning The Sports Network Cup as the nation's top mid-major program, the San Diego Toreros begin the 2006 campaign as the No. 1 team in The Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Top 10. San Diego, which comes off an 11-1 season, is a preseason Mid-Major No. 1 for the first time in school history. The Toreros began the 2005 season at No. 7 in the preseason rankings, but worked their way up to No. 1 on October 17th and held the top spot for the season's final six weeks. San Diego received 12 of a possible 20 first-place votes and 186 points to earn the No. 1 position again. This follows the PFL Coaches Preseason Poll that also tabbed San Diego as the preseason favorite. The 2006 Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Preseason Poll Results - 1. San Diego (12), 186 points; 2. Dayton (5), 169 points; 3. Duquesne (2), 140 points; 4. Albany, 95 points; 5. Drake, 93 points; 6. Central Conn. St., 89 points; 7. Monmouth, 87 points; 8. Morehead St., 80 points; 9. Marist,48 points;10. Stony Brook, 46 points. (First place votes in parenthesis).
HEAD COACH Jim Harbaugh: Harbaugh begins his 3rd season with a two-year record of 18-5. Last season he guided USD to a program-best 11-1 record, the PFL North Division title, the PFL Championship, and to the Sports Network Cup crown as the No. 1 ranked I-AA Mid-Major program. He was named the PFL North Division Coach of the Year, in addition to being a candidate for the I-AA Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year. He has guided USD to 16 wins in its last 17 contests. 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 played 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 177 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 Michigan, Jim was a 3-year starter for 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, who resides in Coronado, is the father of three kids - Jay, James, and Grace.
TOREROS LOOK TO CONTINUE WINNING WAYS: Third year head coach Jim Harbaugh and his outstanding staff will look to continue their winning ways in 2006 with a squad that features four Preseason All-Americans, 14 returning starters, 48 returning lettermen, and an outstanding recruiting class that features improved size, strength, speed and athleticism. Last season the Toreros turned in the program's best year ever as they went 11-1 overall, won the PFL North Division title outright with a 4-0 record, defeated Morehead State in the PFL Championship game, and finished as the No. 1 ranked I-AA Mid-Major program in the nation. Although the team lost some key contributors from 2005's successful run - Philip Bretsch, Adam Hannula, Nick Garton, Matt Koller, David Greer ( injury) to name a few - the Toreros head into the 2006 campaign as the No. 1 ranked I-AA Mid-Major team (The Sports Network Poll). Those winning ways also include an 8-game winning streak, 16 wins in their last 17 games, and a 13-game home field winning streak in games played at Torero Stadium. Experience and team leadership will start with, but not be limited to, the team's four Preseason All-Americans - senior linebacker Kyson Hawkins (64 tackles in 9 games), junior defensive end Eric Bakhtiari (62 tackles, 15 for loss), junior center Jordan Paopao, and record-setting junior quarterback Josh Johnson (260-for-371 for 3,256 yards and 36 touchdowns). Johnson set numerous new single game and season records, but the one statistic that jumps off the page at you is his 70.1 completion percentage. He heads into the 2006 campaign as the I-AA active career leader in completion percentage (69.21) and passing efficiency (167.34 rating). The offensive unit will also be bolstered by the return of some solid 2005 contributors - senior running back Jon Polk (8 TDs, 231 yards rushing), junior running back JT Rogan (944 yards, 7 TDs; 36 receptions for 320 yards and 3 TDs), junior receiver Wes Doyle (35 receptions for 427 yards/2 TDs), and sophomore wide receiver John Matthews (14 catches for 400 yards & 6 TDs). The offensive line, anchored around Paopao, will be strong with players like Clayton Austin (6-1, 270, Sr.), Matt Vuoso (6-4, 265, Sr.), Jason McFarland (6-4, 255, So.), Gabe DeAnda (6-0, 275, Jr.; moves over from defense), Spencer Hollison (6-6, 300, Sr.; transfer from Washington State), Kaea Simeona (6-1, 285, Sr.), Travis Scudday (6-2, 250, So.) and Andrew Kaestle (6-4, 260, Fr.). Players competing for playing time at tight end include Chris Ramsey (6-3, 244, Jr.), Mitch Ryan (6-4, 226, So.) and Zach May (6-4, 235, So.). Also looking to make their mark and be ready to contribute with the offensive unit include the following players - WR Ben Hannula (6-2, 205, So.), who moves over from the defensive secondary; RB Mark Cianciulli (5-9, 185, Jr.), WR Eric Gregg (6-1, 195, Sr.), RB David Allen (5-10, 195, RS-Fr.), quarterback Andrew Rolin (6-3, 210, RS-Fr.), RB Josh Denton (5-6, 160, So.), WR Taber LeMarr (6-2, 210, Jr.; transfer from Wyoming), and WR Dorian Keller (5-11, 175, Jr.; transfer from Santa Rosa JC). An outstanding freshmen group of receivers is led by Justin Fontenberry (5-9, 186, San Lorenzo HS) and Godfrey Smith (6-0, 170, Oakland Tech). The defense, centered around All-America candidates Bakhtiari and Hawkins, will be solid once again with the return of CB Josh Brisco (6-2, 200, Sr.; 36 stops, 4 interceptions), strong safety Chase McBride (6-2, 210, Sr.; 37 tackles with 7 pass break-ups), linebacker Ronnie Pentz (6-3, 225, Jr.; 40 stops), linebacker Tyler Evans (6-3, 225, Jr.; 57 tackles), linebacker Jared Forrester (6-1, 230, So.; 33 stops), lineman Ryan Morgan (6-1, 240, Sr.), lineman Eric Stern (6-3, 258, Jr.; 11 tackles for loss), junior DB Michael Crawford (6-0, 191, Jr.), lineman Chris Gianelli (6-1, 280, So.), defensive back Ryan Echer (5-10, 188, So.), and linebacker Hanner Hart (6-2, 220, Jr.). Look for Patrick O'Neill (5-11, 200, So.) and freshman Gabriel Derricks (6-1, 173, Fr.) to push for starting roles with the defensive secondary. Junior Hutch Parker, a 2005 PFL honorable mention pick, returns as the team's kicker to lead the special teams unit. Last season he converted 9-of-15 field goals and a school-record 62-of-66 PAT kicks. Freshman John McSorley (Granger, Ind.) will compete for playing time at punter, and also has experience at place kicker. Newcomers Matthew Leigh (Kansas City, MO) and Andrew Aldrian (Corona, CA) are also competing at the punter position, while freshman Ryan Jackson (West Hills, CA) was a proven kicker in high school before sitting out his senior year with injury. Possible return specialists could include John Matthews, Mark Cianciulli, Ben Hannula, Ryan Echers, Josh Denton and David Allen.
2006 TORERO SCHEDULE UPDATE: Once again USD's schedule will be a tough task each week. The Toreros open with a two-game homestand beginning with Azusa Pacific on September 1st, followed by Dixie State College (Sept. 9th). USD's first road trip will be to the east coast to take on Ivy League opponent Yale on Sept. 16th. USD's 7-game PFL slate begins at Davidson on Sept. 30th, and ends at home against the always tough Dayton Flyers on Nov. 11th. The 2006 PFL Champion will face the champion from the Northeast Conference on Nov. 18th in the Gridiron Classic. San Diego closes out its 2006 regular-season slate with a road contest at I-AA power UC Davis on Nov. 25th.
SCOUTING THE AZUSA PACIFIC COUGARS: Azusa Pacific is under the direction of first year coach Victor Santa Cruz... In his 6th year with team, the past 3 years he was Offensive Coordinator... Prior to APU he spent 5 seasons at El Camino HS in Oceanside where he coached linebackers under legendary head coach Herb Meyer... This year's squad returns 14 starters and 45 letterwinners from last season's 6-4 club... The Cougars are currently ranked #11 in the NAIA Preason Poll... QB Rudy Carlton and RB Marcus Lampkin will line up behind 5 returning starters on offensive line... senior LB Scott Ellis paces defense... Cougars finished 6-4 in 2005.
UP NEXT: The Toreros return home next weekend on Saturday, Sept. 9th, to host Dixie State at 6:00 pm. All military personnel with proper ID will receive two free admissions to the game.
