THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2000

Tiffin University opens season with a challenge

By John Montgomery
Sports Writer

When Tiffin University opens the football season tonight at the University of Dayton, TU coach Cam Cruickshank hopes his players take advantage of their similarities with the Flyers -- and their edge in a couple areas -- and not concentrate on Dayton's strengths.

If that happens, Cruickshank feels TU will do well. But there are concerns.

"If there's one thing that does concern me, it's that I hope our kids aren't intimidated by the crowd. We've never played before 10,000 people, which is what I've been told to expect down there," he said. "I just tell the kids there's 11 of them and 11 of us. They have to put their pants on one leg at a time like us. They're just a bunch of 18- and 20-year-olds like us."

One spot where the teams are similar is their fields. Both play on artificial surfaces. Dayton has more of a traditional artificial turf and Tiffin has a new kind in SafeTurf. Both let players perform better than they could on grass, like making sharper turns while running.

While some Dayton opponents come in unprepared for that, Tiffin won't. Cruickshank even sees Dayton's carpet as an edge for TU.

"It's not going to be a big factor. A lot of our kids come from municipalities where they've played a couple of games a year on it," he said. "It will help us. In general, we have more speed than Dayton. We're a little bit faster and I think we're equally as tough."

But the Dragons will play a lot of underclassmen, something Cruickshank dislikes.

At least one of three talented freshman -- Jeff Stanley, Corey Walker or Nate Sites -- will play tailback.

"If anything makes a coach nervous, it's having a freshman tote the rock," Cruickshank said. "They have to understand ball security and taking care of the ball in traffic."

Luckily, senior George Whitfield, who is closing in on TU records in yards, completion percentage and touchdowns, is back at quarterback.

Giving him time to throw or the getting the backs holes to run through will be tough tonight because the offensive line lacks experience and depth. But they are big and fast.

"Depth concerns me with the offensive line. We have three talented, big kids," he said. "Our tackles are both 6-6 and taller, the interior guys are 6-4 and taller. We've got some big boys. It's difficult to find big kids who run well. I think our starters are big kids who run well."

Like many teams in the first game, Cruickshank said TU's defense is a little more prepared than the offense. But, like the offense, depth is a problem.

"The strength of our team is our defense," he said. "We have people who I feel are some pretty gifted linemen. They have excellent quickness and strength. However, depth concerns me. If we get injuries, we're looking at two talented freshmen instead of experienced backups."

One TU advantage is kicking.

TU not only has one of the best place-kickers in the region in senior Brett Naidenoff, but also a talented freshman punter in Anthony Gallagher.

Gallagher has cannon for a leg, punting for more than 50 yards in practice, according to Cruickshank. Naidenoff is back after making 42-of-45 PATs and 8-of-10 field goals.

"I feel we'll have an advantage in the kicking game," he said. "We'll have a pretty strong kicking tandem."

Cruickshank said success tonight will go to the team which has the fewest turnovers and penalties and takes advantage of the kicking game. That won't be easy against the Flyers.

"They're very well coached," he said. "Against Dayton, you can't beat yourself. You've got to secure the football, win field position, take care of football."