USD Football 2004

Season Outlook

2 HARBAUGHLOOKSTOBUaD ON USD'S WINNING WAYS First year head coach JimHarbaugh wi IIlook to bu iId upon USD' s winning ways when he directs the Torero program during the 2004 campaign. After being tabbed the program 's 11 th head coach last December, hi s first task was in putting together hi s coaching staff. Harbaugh has assembled a staff that will be the envy of many programs across the country. Along with the return of both coordinators that helped USD to an 8-2 overall mark and share of the PFL North Division title, Jason Desjarlais (defense) and Tim Drevno (offense), he' ll have the expertise of longtime offensive assistant Mike Rish, who begins his 21 st year. He recently named hi s dad, Jack Harbaugh, the Assistant Head Coach and Running Backs Coach. The elder Harbaugh has 41 years of coaching experience and in 2002 directed Western Kentucky to the I-AA national championship. In Dave Adolph , who spent 2 1 of hi s 37 coaching years in the NFL, most recently as defensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs, he has one of the most respected defensive experts in all offootball. In Charles Dimry (secondary) and Reggie Davis (tight ends), he has coaches with NFL playing experience. In Matt Hohman (special teams coordinator and defensive Ii ne), he has a coach that also brings experience as an offensive coordinator. Jimmy Dougherty (receivers) and Scott Aurich (defensive assistant) round out this outstanding staff. Harbaugh and his staff will have an excellent core of returners to work with.

. Linebacker Leading the way will bea trio of players thatgarnered2003 I-AAMid-Major All-America honors (The Sports Network) - senior offensive tackle Keith Zapalac, junior running back Evan Harney and junior wide receiver Adam Hannula. Zapalac anchored last year's offensive line that helped USD lead the I-AA ranks in total offense at483.3 yards per game. In his first year withUSD, Harney set new Torero season marks in rushing with 1,475 yards; in attempts with 285; in rushing touchdowns with 17; in total touchdowns (20) and in points scored (122). Hannula set new Torero season receiving marks for receptions (72), yards ( I,161 ) and touchdowns (13). He already ranks second all-time in all three of those categories after j ust two seasons. Harbaugh' s biggest question mark was at the quarterback slot where Eric Rasmussen, the I-AA passing leader the past two seasons, had graduated, along with top backup Brian Kirkpatrick. Rasmu ssen, the 2003 PFL North Di vis ion Offensive Player of the Year, rewrote all of the Torero career passing marks that will probably stand for some time. Harbaugh, who will coach the quarterbacks, had two NCAA Division I transfers in school during spring drills - sophomores David Perez (Cal) and Walter Cale (Northwestern). He received more good news this summer when Todd Mortensen, a 3-year letterman and 2003 graduate ofBYU, enrolled for graduate school at USD. The 25-year-old, 6-4, 225 lb. quarterback is the projected starting signal caller for the Toreros this fall. Freshman Josh Johnson will also push for field time. Besides Hannula, Mortensen will have an outstanding group of receivers to throw to. Junior Nick Garton was the team 's second leading receiver last year on hi s way to earning 2 nd Team All-PFL honors. He caught 48 balls for 902 yards and 12 touchdowns. Michael Gasperson, a 2002 First Team All-PFLreceiver, returns after missing 2003 with a knee injury. In 2002, Gasperson led theToreros with 57 catches for 907 yards and 10 scores. Out of the backfield Evan Harney hauled in 21 passes for 276 yards and 1 TD. The offensive line unit, along with the 6-4, 270 lb. Zapalac, will be bolstered with the return of senior tackle Matt Collins (6-5, 280), junior guard Josh Sanders ( 6-3, 295) and sophomore center Kaea Simeona ( 6-2, 285). Senior RustyHigbie ( 6-2, 310) and transfer James Dunne (6-4, 275; Saint Mary 's College) will also see plenty of action. Additional key offensive returners include sophomore fullback Jon Polk (6-0, 230) and junior tight end Dustin Owen (6 catches for 65 yards, l TD). Although the defense took the biggest hit due to graduation, leadership and experience will come from two 2 nd Team AII -PFL performers, senior nose guard and 2004 captain Joe Maietta (6-2, 285) and senior linebacker Jeff Langdon (6-2, 2 36). Maietta, a vocal leader from Levittown, New York, helped the Torero defense hold four opponents last year to 7 points or less. Langdon led the squad in tackles with 72 stops (33 solo) while Maietta chipped in with 33 tackles. Two other returning starters that will play key roles include senior defensive end Dan Howard (6-4, 245) and junior defensive back Philip Bretsch (5-11, 190). Bretsch is the team 's second leading returner in tackles (36) while Howard chipped in with 23 stops. A trio of players that will also help out defensively include senior linebacker Paul ---------------. Kumer (5- 11 , 210), senior tackle Ashur Benjamin (6- 1, 278) and sophomore end Colin PFL COACHES' POLL Murphy (6-3, 250). First year transfers expected to make an immediate impact in the Torero secondary Dayton(6) San Diego (2) Drake(l) Valparaiso ButJer South Morehead St. (6) Jacksonville(2) Davidson Austin Peay (1) include two junior defensive backs - Adam Burke (6-0, 180; Palomar JC) and Chase McBride (6-2, 198; USC). With the loss of return specialists Gavin Ng and Chase Mattox, along with kicker/punter Adam Williams, positions for special teams play is wide open. Coach Harbaugh 's goal is a Pioneer Football League Championship. The Toreros will be tested early in their nonconference slate with back-to-back road games against Azusa Pacific (Sept. 4 th) and Holy Cross (Sept. 11 th). USD' s first two home contests wiU be first time contests against teams from The Ivy League - Penn (Sept. 18 th ) and Princeton (Sept. 25 th ). USD's 7-game home schedule wiU also include contests against Southern Oregon (Oct. 2 nd ) , Valparaiso (Oct. 16 th ), Davidson (Oct. 23 rd ), Dayton (Nov. 6 th) and Wagner (Nov. 13 th ) . USD hopes to be the PFL North Division representative in the PFL Championship contest on Nov. 20 th (South winner will host). JeffLangdon, Senwr * 1st Place votes in parenthesis * Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.