One of the worst things that can ever happen to any kind of team is to go into a game flat. That is what happened to the Stetson football team last week in the game at Drake and the results of the contest reflected that fact.
Hatters head coach Roger Hughes said that lack of emotion, especially on the offensive side one the ball, was directly responsible for the outcome of the game.
“There was just no emotion,” Hughes said. “Defensively, I thought we played with emotion and I thought we hung in there a little bit. I am not saying that giving up 511 yards is optimal, but we were in the game at 10-3 and gave up a kickoff return right away. We went in at halftime down 17-3 and it was a two-possession game.
“I didn't think we played with a lot of emotion or passion on offense and didn't do anything to help gain that. Every time we had a big play there seemed to be a penalty. It is hard to operate 10-to-20 yards behind the chains. That led to the score you saw. I think our kids understand that. One of our emphases this week is to play with as much passion as we can. Being back home, in front of the home crowd, should help.”
That passion and excitement will be needed as the Hatters (1-2, 0-1) take on Dayton (3-0, 0-0) Saturday afternoon at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Another thing the coaching staff hopes will help is some changes in personnel, especially on the offensive line. The Hatters have a large number of freshmen linemen who have great potential, but lack experience. After the more experienced group allowed seven sacks and produced zero rushing yards against Drake, a reshuffling of the deck might be in order.
“Seven sacks last week would tend to indicate that our play wasn't all that good,” Hughes said. “Zero rushing yards would indicate that it wasn't good. It is one thing to make mistakes and miss blocks, but it is another thing to play as hard you can and make mistakes. Last week, when we got beat, we were looking around for something to do.
“We are still trying to find the right combination of people. Injuries have had a little bit to do with the shuffling, but it is more about trying to find the right combination.”
Freshman Jim McCammon has started each of the first three games at right guard in place of injured senior Sean Gannon, but the other four starters on the line have all been veterans. Last week there was some position shuffling, but this week the shuffling will likely be personnel.
“With the coaches, it was more about our patience with the people who have had the opportunity to do it being a little shorter,” Hughes said. “We have moved some people around this week. We elevated some younger, less experienced, kids to give them an opportunity to see what they can do. That is a wake-up call for some of the older guys because they have to realize that every day is an interview. If they aren't doing well, there is someone right behind them and, hopefully, that competition will make us better.
“We will see how it works out, but I really liked how we practiced this week. If you want to call it soul-searching, then I guess it is, but the kids have really practiced well this week. My comment to them early on Monday was about playing with passion.”
Besides playing with emotion, the primary focus for any team when facing Dayton is finding a way to slow down senior running back Connor Kacsor. The Indiana native was the Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Year last year and he leads all of FCS football this season, averaging 181.7 yards per game on the ground. He has rushed for more than 200 yards in each of the last two Flyers games.
Hughes said the key to slowing down any back is two-fold.
“First, we have to tackle him,” Hughes said. “Second, you have to be in the right gaps. We have to get some kind of penetration and force their linemen to block man-on-man rather than in double-teams. Our linebackers are going to have to react quickly and can't get fooled by their misdirection.
“With a back like the one we are facing, we are not fast enough to out-run our mistakes. We have to make sure that we are aligned properly and in the proper gap. When we get the opportunity, we have to make sure we tackle him and wrap him up.”
In addition to the focus on Kacsor, the Hatters also have to pay attention to a pair of receivers, senior Cory Stuart and sophomore Jack Euritt, who are both big and physical. The Flyers have completed just 38 passes so far this year, but are averaging 13.1 yards per catch.
“They have some very good receivers and, assuming that we are going to have to commit more to the run, our secondary is going to have to play well,” Hughes said. “Their receivers do a good job, even when they are away from the ball, of working very hard to get open. Their scheme is sound and they are very well coached.”
Hatters Game Day Notebook
Explosive Plays a Key
Two areas of focus for the Hatters every week of the season are turnovers and explosive plays. So far this season, Stetson is even in turnovers, but well behind in explosive plays.
“We are not getting any explosive plays, and that is the bottom line,” Hughes said. “Right now, we are getting a four-yard hole and we are getting four yards. Part of that is protection. If you are going to create an explosive play, you have to have time to get the ball down the field so that receivers can get there.
“Second, we have to break more tackles. We need to block better up front and on the perimeter. As big as we are, we haven't been very physical on the perimeter. Maybe it is not physical, it is that we are not technique sound. I think it is crucial we do that this week because Dayton's corners are very physical and very aggressive.”
Standout Players From Last Week
Each week the Hatters name team offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week in addition to a separate award for big hits. For the Drake game, the offensive player of the week was tight end Austin Marks, the defensive player was Eric Martin and the special teams player was kicker/punter James LaGamma. Martin was also named the big hit award winner.
“I was so pleased to see that kind of play from because we have been waiting to see that since he got here as a freshman,” Hughes said of Martin's seven tackle, three interception, performance. “His maturity level has finally caught up with his ability. He is one of the most physical corners we have and he really played a good game. Those are the things he will have to do this week if we are going to commit more players to stopping the run.”
Marks opened the season, as many other Hatters did, on the injured list, but he led the team with a career-high seven receptions for 71 yards against Drake. With fellow tight end Rob Coggin expected back at full speed this week, and with the Hatters down to one fullback, both Marks and Coggin will be expected to be big contributors.
“Austin did last week what we have been expecting him to do, and he showed flashes of doing as a freshman,” Hughes said. “He is getting back to full speed and, now that Rob is back close to full speed, I think we have two very good tight ends who can not only help us in the blocking game, but who can also stretch the field a little bit.
Quarterback Depth
With the departure of backup quarterback Blake Plattsmier from the program, there is an opportunity for the young quarterbacks on the team to move up the pecking order. Redshirt freshman Colin McGovern, who completed 6-of-10 passes for 80 yards against Drake last week, becomes the No. 2 behind starter Ryan Tentler.
“Colin McGovern has done a great job at practice this week, so we are very confident that, in any situation, both of those guys can come through and execute our offense,” Hughes said. “Brandon Swift has been the guy we felt has played the best in the JV games. We have another JV game on Monday, and that could rotate a little. I think he is the one that is most ready, but not by a lot. The other two guys, Nick Andreas and Luke McDermott, are continuing to work hard. We will see how the JV game goes on Monday.”
The Hatters will host Warner on Monday afternoon at the ATC in the third of four scheduled JV games this fall. So far, Stetson is 2-0 in JV games this year.
Kamikazes Needed
The Stetson return game has not lived up to what the coaches had hoped to see from that part of the game so far this year, and Hughes said much of that has to do with attitude.
“Consistency and having a kamikaze attitude,” Hughes said. “When you are returning kicks, you can't be tentative. You have to have the discipline and trust to know that the blocks are going to occur. A lot of times in the return game, the blocks don't occur until you are right at the point of the return. You have to run in there at full speed and trust that your guys are going to open the hole when it is time to open it up.
“We are moving people around there, based on giving us the best people against the scheme we are facing. We are going to continue to shuffle people because we believe that we have some young kids who are very talented. We have to try to find the right combination of kamikaze and headiness so that they have good instincts to run the football.”
Then There Was One
The injury bug that has been running rampant through the Stetson team since the very start of training camp struck again last week when sophomore fullback Mason Johnson went down with a shoulder injury while covering the second half kickoff at Drake.
With junior starter Mike Yonker already out of action with a knee injury, that leaves only sophomore Craig Carrington to play fullback. Hughes said the way the Hatters will cover by using the tight ends until Yonker is ready to return. There is some matter of debate as to when that will happen.
“Mike says he is ready now, but the doctor says he needs two more weeks,” Hughes said. “The median there is one but we'll just have to see.”
Losing Yonker and Johnson is just part of the long list of offensive players who have missed significant time this year.
“I hate excuses, but if you step back and say, ok you are without your starting tailback, your starting fullback, your starting wide receiver who led the nation in yards per catch, and you have had your starting tight end banged up and your starting guard out, you might see that there is a reason we haven't been as productive as we want,” Hughes said.
“With that said, we have always had a 'next man up' attitude, and you have to have that. You can't look back and feel sorry for yourself, because no one else is. So we aren't doing that, but we will welcome the opportunity to have those guys back, once they are healthy.”
Weekly Keys For Success
The first, and most important key for the Hatters in every game is turnovers. That is no different this week. After that, the focus turns toward Kacsor.
“We have to find a way to control their running back. We have to make sure we control him. We also have to be disciplined in the secondary to not have our faces in the backfield all the time where they can throw one over the top of us.”
The third focus is on finding the passion that was lacking last week in the loss at Drake. The last key is on special teams.
“We have to win the special teams battle,” Hughes said. “We have to take care of the football there, it would be great if we could create a turnover or have a blocked punt, and we have to be very sound in our coverage. The people they have returning don't get enough accolades for what they do, but they are pretty good.
“We just have to play a good overall game. They are 3-0 and there is a reason they are 3-0. They are the 11th winningest program in FCS with a long winning tradition going back to Division III when they were winning national championships. Coach Chamberlin has done a great job there and they are very well coached. To beat a team like that, you have got to play error-free football.
“One of the things I told our team is that there is no lead that will be big enough against these guys. They are playing with such confidence, and they have already come back from 20 points down in a game, and they believe they can do that. If we are lucky enough to build a lead in the game, it can never be enough because they can come back.”
Tickets, Flags and More
Stetson football season ticket holders will be able to pick up a free Stetson flag to display at your tailgate, or at your home or office, to show your Stetson pride. Get creative and show us how you fly your flag by following us on social media and using #FlyYourFlagSU.
The Hatter Ticket Office has also resolved the problem with the scanners from the season-opener. To remedy the scanning issues, all season ticket cards were reprinted to ensure entrance into Spec Martin Stadium is smooth and efficient starting this Saturday.
If you are a season ticket holder with season ticket cards, please pick up your new, fully functional, cards at Hatter Village when you pick up your flag. A representative of the Hatter Ticket Office will be present at all home football games so that season ticket holders can pick up your flag and new season ticket cards. You can also pick them up during the week at the Hatter Ticket Office. Normal operating hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
As you enter Spec Martin Memorial Stadium for Saturday's game, make sure to pick up the latest copy of Hatters Extra featuring junior offensive lineman Patrick Fogarty on the cover. Also get a copy of the official game day poster/roster card featuring the Hatters 1,000-yard man, running back Cole Mazza. Both the magazine and poster are free to all fans while supplies last.
Game Time Before Game Time
This Saturday, Hatter Village will feature giant versions of your favorite games: Checkers, Connect Four, Jenga and Twister. The fun starts at 10 a.m. in the Hatter Village Lot on the southwest corner of East Hubbard Avenue and South Alabama Avenue.
Hatter Village will also have large screen televisions available for watching College GameDay or other games prior to kickoff.
Family and Friends Weekend
Since it is Family and Friends Weekend on the Stetson campus, any Stetson fans who can't make it to the game should consider transferring their tickets to a friend or family member. Directions for transferring tickets can be found here.
Those tickets to the football game will also be good for admission to see the Stetson men's soccer team as they take on rival Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at the Athletic Training Center.
There will be a pair of events inside the stadium on Saturday. First will be the Little Caesar's Hot-N-Ready Kick during pregame activities. Contestants for that event to win free pizza every week for the rest of the year will be selected at Hatter Village.
The second event will be a Punt, Pass and Kick competition presented by Florida Credit Union at halftime. Participants for that event will also be selected pregame at Hatter Village.
Listen or Watch
All Hatters fans can get ready for the game by tuning in to Coast Country 93.1 FM. Chris Rhoads will be in Hatter Village for the Stetson tailgate show two hours prior to kickoff.
At game time, tune in to WSBB AM 1490 in DeLand to listen to the call of the action as Luke Mauro and Pete Blais give you the play-by-play, with Aaron Berlin from the Orlando Magic on the sideline, on the Stetson Radio Network. Outside of DeLand you can listen on AM 1230 WSBB in New Smyrna Beach as well as CBS Radio AM 810 in Orlando.
Fans can also tune in on ESPN3 or the Watch ESPN app to watch the game with Evan Weston and 2015 Florida State League Broadcaster of the Year Tyler Murray calling the action. Brianne Welch will provide reports from the sideline for the television broadcast.
