An Early Look at F&M
From the pre-season Kickoff Edition of D3Football.com:
Franklin and Marshall Diplomats
Last playoff appearance: None
Last conference title: 2004, shared five ways
Head coach: Shawn Halloran, third year, 12-9
Starters returning: 18 (nine offense, nine defense)
Position battle to watch: A major cog of the ground game graduated in 2004, leaving the Dips to fill a void. Look for camp to determine whom that might be.
Pressure is on: Quarterback Jeff Harner. The time to win is now for the Diplomats and Harner needs to stay on task to get F&M to the postseason.
Their season will be defined by: Focus. The Diplomats have the ability to win the Centennial outright for the first time in nine years, but one has to wonder how players and coaches will react knowing Halloran is looking to move on, the opposite of long-time leader Tom Gilburg, whom Halloran succeeded.
Predicted record: 10-0, 6-0
Capsule: The Diplomats are riding the fast-track to success under Halloran, securing their first winning season since 1996 in Halloran's second season as head coach, along with a share of the CC title. Halloran is riding the same fast-track too, but a different train. The Boston College graduate interviewed this summer for the head coaching position at I-AA Davidson, losing out. How will all of this affect the growing Diplomats? Halloran declined comment. Tenure reigns in Lancaster as 18 starters return from last year's successful squad while losing Scott Stephen who became F&M's second all-time leading rusher. Last year was proof that parity reigns amongst the top five in the conference. F&M is poised to step out from the bunch and get their first ticket to the NCAA playoffs.
Franklin and Marshall Diplomats
Last playoff appearance: None
Last conference title: 2004, shared five ways
Head coach: Shawn Halloran, third year, 12-9
Starters returning: 18 (nine offense, nine defense)
Position battle to watch: A major cog of the ground game graduated in 2004, leaving the Dips to fill a void. Look for camp to determine whom that might be.
Pressure is on: Quarterback Jeff Harner. The time to win is now for the Diplomats and Harner needs to stay on task to get F&M to the postseason.
Their season will be defined by: Focus. The Diplomats have the ability to win the Centennial outright for the first time in nine years, but one has to wonder how players and coaches will react knowing Halloran is looking to move on, the opposite of long-time leader Tom Gilburg, whom Halloran succeeded.
Predicted record: 10-0, 6-0
Capsule: The Diplomats are riding the fast-track to success under Halloran, securing their first winning season since 1996 in Halloran's second season as head coach, along with a share of the CC title. Halloran is riding the same fast-track too, but a different train. The Boston College graduate interviewed this summer for the head coaching position at I-AA Davidson, losing out. How will all of this affect the growing Diplomats? Halloran declined comment. Tenure reigns in Lancaster as 18 starters return from last year's successful squad while losing Scott Stephen who became F&M's second all-time leading rusher. Last year was proof that parity reigns amongst the top five in the conference. F&M is poised to step out from the bunch and get their first ticket to the NCAA playoffs.
posted by Pat McConnell | 12:17 PM
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