Early look at Ursinus
The following was taken from the preseason Kickoff Edition of D3Football.com:
Ursinus Bears
Last playoff appearance: 1999
Last conference title: 1996
Head coach: Peter Gallagher, fifth year, 12-28
Starters returning: 20 (eight offense, eleven defense, two special teams)
Position battle to watch: Running back. The Bears showed several options from the backfield last year with rising junior David Ashworth’s 112 yards per game over four games to stand out. Someone needs to rise to the occasion to solidify the ground game.
Pressure is on: Gallagher. Ursinus has fallen from the ranks of the competitive since Gallagher has been at the helm. A major change is needed if the Bears repeat their performances of the last three seasons.
Their season will be defined by: Recruiting. Gallagher has cleaned house in Collegeville over the past few seasons. If his own recruits don’t begin to play well, their problems will continue to exacerbate. While there were some tight games in 2004, with the Bears falling on the losing end, we don’t see much change in 2005.
Predicted record: 2-8, 1-5
Capsule: Seniors on the Bears squad have yet to win a Centennial Conference game. The Bears are 0-18 over the past three seasons in conference and 3-21 with Gallagher as their head coach. That 3-3 season in 2001 came in Gallagher's first year with a team he had inherited. Despite that, the Bears have actually improved and could have seen many of those games go the other way. Three of their 2004 CC losses came by seven points or fewer with a roster that housed only three seniors and 42 freshmen. Despite the fact that Gallagher is starting his fifth season, it would seem that 2005 will be the best chance to evaluate his recruiting techniques since many of the youngsters have at least one season under their belt. Even Sir Issac Newton would agree there is only one way to go. A youthful bunch could spring the occasional upset, but we don’t expect more than that.
Ursinus Bears
Last playoff appearance: 1999
Last conference title: 1996
Head coach: Peter Gallagher, fifth year, 12-28
Starters returning: 20 (eight offense, eleven defense, two special teams)
Position battle to watch: Running back. The Bears showed several options from the backfield last year with rising junior David Ashworth’s 112 yards per game over four games to stand out. Someone needs to rise to the occasion to solidify the ground game.
Pressure is on: Gallagher. Ursinus has fallen from the ranks of the competitive since Gallagher has been at the helm. A major change is needed if the Bears repeat their performances of the last three seasons.
Their season will be defined by: Recruiting. Gallagher has cleaned house in Collegeville over the past few seasons. If his own recruits don’t begin to play well, their problems will continue to exacerbate. While there were some tight games in 2004, with the Bears falling on the losing end, we don’t see much change in 2005.
Predicted record: 2-8, 1-5
Capsule: Seniors on the Bears squad have yet to win a Centennial Conference game. The Bears are 0-18 over the past three seasons in conference and 3-21 with Gallagher as their head coach. That 3-3 season in 2001 came in Gallagher's first year with a team he had inherited. Despite that, the Bears have actually improved and could have seen many of those games go the other way. Three of their 2004 CC losses came by seven points or fewer with a roster that housed only three seniors and 42 freshmen. Despite the fact that Gallagher is starting his fifth season, it would seem that 2005 will be the best chance to evaluate his recruiting techniques since many of the youngsters have at least one season under their belt. Even Sir Issac Newton would agree there is only one way to go. A youthful bunch could spring the occasional upset, but we don’t expect more than that.
posted by Pat McConnell | 9:47 AM
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