Author: Henry Meier
The Occidental College Football team has had its share of successes in the past few years. Last year, they won their third consecutive SCIAC championship and stretched their regular season winning streak to an impressive 26 games. Combine that with their three straight post-season berths and it seems unnecessary to say that the team’s expectations are high for the upcoming 2007 season.
Head Coach Dale Widolff doesn’t downplay the winning mentality these expectations have created for Oxy’s football team. “Everyone wants the team to have a successful season,” Coach Widolff said. “We could go 8-1, not win SCIAC, and a lot of our players would consider our season to have been a failure.” The message is clear-anything less than a fourth SCIAC crown will not do in Tiger country.
In their quest to conquer SCIAC for a fourth consecutive year, Oxy will be helped by a core of returning veterans. On the offensive side of the ball, the Tigers bring back seven All-SCIAC players from 2006. Headlining the group is a trio of first-team All-SCIAC performers: running back Matt Andersen (18 rushing TDs), receiver Rocky Ciasulli (71.6 Rec. YPG), and center Chris Kyles (anchor of offensive line that only gave up .06 sacks per pass attempt).
Not only are these veterans some of the top talents in SCIAC, all three are seniors and should provide stability on the offensive end. On defense, the Tigers also have a solid group of returnees, including five athletes that made the 2006 All-SCIAC squad. Leading this dynamic group is first-team All-SCIAC player Anthony Ostland (senior) (40.5 tackles, 5 INTs), who is looking to continue the success he enjoyed last season. Along with Ostland is second-team All-SCIAC selection Alex Wortheimer (sophomore) (6.5 Sacks), who Widolff said has the potential to be one of the best defensive linemen Oxy has ever seen. Supplementing the returning players is another strong recruiting class that is sure to continue the winning tradition down the road.
All of Oxy’s talent came together during August when the team began their season with a brutal training camp where players endured regular two-a-day practices in triple-digit temperatures. The camp featured an intense battle for the starting quarterback job that was left vacant this year after three-time SCIAC Offensive Player of the Year Andy Collins graduated last spring.
With three potential starting QBs, coaches had a tough time naming the starter, but when Justin Goltz (junior) was picked, there was no doubt he had earned it. “The competition during camp did nothing but better our team and make each of the individuals stronger,” Goltz said. “It’s nice to have two other guys pushing you to compete everyday, because it only makes you mentally and physically tougher.”
Though the Tigers felt good at the end of training camp and their outlook on the season was certainly positive, the true mettle of the team had yet to be proved at that point. While all the expectations and goals in the world might not equate to another SCIAC championship, what the Tiger football team has done on the field in their first two games certainly shows that another SCIAC title is possible.
On Wednesday, August 8 Oxy went up to Lewis & Clark College in Oregon and started the season in typical Tiger fashion, thrashing the Pioneers 52-0. A week later, Oxy continued its dominant start by pounding Menlo on the road 38-0.
With the Tiger offense so strong and the defense having yet to give up a single point, it looks like the march to a SCIAC four-peat is off to a thunderous start.
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