Getting the Tradition Back

Release Date: August 25, 2000

There are two types of football experience present on the roster of new coach Steve Bell’s first squad at Monmouth College.

In terms of collegiate football experience, the Fighting Scots boast well over 40 lettermen, including 16 returning starters. But in terms of experience playing football the Steve Bell way, everyone’s a rookie.

"Probably the strength of the team is that we have a lot of returning lettermen from last year," said Bell, referring to a group that includes All-MWC selections Nathan Polich (OL), Jon Baikie (QB), Brian Valentini (DL) and Jeff Sidell (K). "They don’t have the experience in our system, though.

"There’s a learning curve in any new thing you try to start," he added. "By the Eureka game, we should be proficient with the system, and then we’ll keep tweaking week-to-week."

Bell is probably thankful that this year’s schedule provides an off date between the opener Sept. 2 at Eureka College and the kickoff of the Midwest Conference season, which takes place Sept. 16 at Bobby Woll Memorial Field against Lake Forest.

By then, some clear starters will have emerged, but just over a week into two-a-days, Bell says no one has secured a job, including quarterback, where Baikie threw for 1,234 yards last season and 10 scores and added 563 yards rushing and 10 more TDs. In Monmouth’s last game last year, Baikie helped Kelly Kane end his 16-year coaching career in style with a record 196-yard rushing performance. Kane won 71 games on the Scots’ sidelines, but was just 8-39 over the last five years.

The quarterback position is a microcosm of Monmouth’s squad, broken as it is into three tiers of experience. Besides the veteran Baikie, other contenders include one of last year’s junior varsity performers, Brad Hulke, and one of Bell’s recruits, Rob Purlee, son of the Fighting Scots’ Hall of Fame quarterback, Dave Purlee.

"I think within the three, we have a very capable quarterback," said Bell. "We have to determine who fits our system the best."

Baikie has shown the most poise in the early going, while Hulke appears to have the strongest arm. Purlee, who prepped at Mt. Carroll and also scored over 25 points per game on the hardwood, "is a freshman who has shown a lot of composure," according to Bell.

A fourth factor in the QB derby, Josh Boyer, will be out at least six weeks with a broken hand.

Between the quarterback and running positions, Monmouth lost just five carries of the 516 compiled by the team. Injury-plagued Randy Terrell, who gained over 100 years three times, led the Scots with 562 yards on 109 attempts. Brian Hetrick gained 114 yards, and another tailback in the mix is transfer Nick Jelcic.

"Our tailbacks are going to have to carry quite a bit of the load," said Bell. "We will not be a one-tailback system."

To prove his point, Bell cited the fall of 1997, when he coached MacMurray’s All-American tailback, Jamie Lee. Not only did Lee run wild, gaining 204 yards per game, but the No. 2 tailback also broke the century mark at 107 yards per outing.

Speaking of Bell’s former running backs, the new coach received a pleasant surprise a few days ago when Oscar Scott, who finished 30th in the nation in rushing last year at MacMurray, decided to transfer to Monmouth. Scott, who led all freshmen in the country with his 1,134 yards, is a strong candidate to assume the No. 1 tailback slot, perhaps freeing up Hetrick to take on more receiving chores.

"Oscar’s a big physical tailback and he’ll add a lot of components to the offense that we run," said Bell. "Because he played for me last year, he’s very knowledgeable in what we’re trying to do offensively."

At fullback, Preston Eiler (496 yards) and Nick Martin (113) both had plenty of touches last year.

Bell is hoping that another returning ballcarrier, Randy Williams (384 yards), will add depth to perhaps the Scots’ weakest link, its receiving corps.

"At defensive back, and especially at receiver, we’re the most inexperienced," said Bell.

Its a riches-to-rags story, because last year, the position was manned by Andrew Tyra, who set a slew of receiving records at the college, including season (847) and career yardage (1,677).

Other wideout contenders are Aaron Cole and transfer Ryan Wood. At tight end, Michael Pfeiffer, Nate Tipton and Pat DuMais are battling for playing time.

Despite the loss of Chris Igou, who suffered a career-ending injury, the Scots are still deep in the line, where Polich is joined by four players who started at some point last year – Mike Arnoldi, Justin Yang, Nick Detman and Ryan Pearson. Converted defenders Brian Kienzler and Brett Gerue could also see playing time.

"We also have a good group of freshmen pushing them," said Bell.

On the other side of the trenches, Bell is excited about his front four, which includes Valentini (53 tackles, 2 sacks) and up-and-coming Tobias Dickerson.

"We have a lot of numbers," Bell said of the defensive line. "They’re the strength of our team, if you want to focus on one position. We have some very athletic players with good strength."

Adam West has rebounded well from a knee injury and Matt Lerner is also developing. Bell is also high on Toby Lannholm, a converted fullback, and transfer Correlle Campbell.

At linebacker, Dan Taylor has graduated after posting the highest single season tackle total in one season (105). Jason Robinson and Casey Koehler will now patrol the middle, while Nick Flowers (60 tackles), Lindsay May (55 tackles) and Clint Terwilliger are challenging for outside ’backer spots.

Bell does have some experience in the secondary, where the team’s leading interceptor, Justin Oertle (4) and All-American trackster Scott Stanton return. Matt Beverly is back after a year away from the program, and two offensive backs, Nathan Sager and Luke Jackson, are making the switch to defense. Transfer Ed Fisher should also see playing time.

Williams is the team’s most experienced return man, as he ran back 18 kickoffs and nine punts last fall. The other special team duties could go to familiar names, too. Sidell, who booted two field goals in the Scots’ season-ending victory over Knox, and Baikie, who’s handled the punting chores the last two years, are the current frontrunners.

Bell has two feelings about who’ll win the MWC this season. On the one hand, he said, "St. Norbert has to be the favorite. Until someone knocks off the champion, they’re still the champion."

However, Bell has no five-year plan for the Scots. The goal – and the belief – is that the Scots will win now and win often.

"They’re competing hard and doing things the right way," Bell said. "Every day we’re improving, and that’s all you can ask for."