WAYNE, NEW JERSEY 22000011 FOOTBALLFOOTBALL GUIDEGUIDE WWW.WPUNJ.EDU/ATHLETICSWWW.WPUNJ.EDU/ATHLETICS 2001 PIONEER Pioneer Football FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Quick Facts DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME Football Fast Facts September William Paterson University Sat. 8 SALISBURY H 1:30 pm Wayne, New Jersey 07470 Fri. 14 THE COLLEGE OF NJ H 7:00 pm Founded: 1855 Sat. 22 Western Connecticut A 1:00 pm Sat. 29 Kean A 7:00 pm Enrollment: 9,945 October President: Arnold Speert Sat. 6 Western Maryland A 1:00 pm Executive Vice President Sat. 13 MONTCLAIR H 1:30 pm and Provost: Chernoh Sesay Sat. 20 CORTLAND H 1:30 pm Athletic Director: Arthur Eason (HOMECOMING) Sat. 27 ALFRED H 1:30 pm 2001 Coaching Staff November Head Football Coach: Larry Arico Sat. 3 ROWAN H 1:30 pm Sat. 10 New Jersey City A 1:00 pm Record at William Paterson: 2-8 Career Record: 9-32 Associate Head Coach/ Offensive Coordinator: Phil Longo Special Team Coordinator/ Defensive Line: Pete Lue Wide Receivers: Craig Penna Inside Linebackers: Larry Szabo Offensive Line: Doug Aronson Assistant Offensive Line: Jim Groome 2000 PIONEER FOOTBALL RESULTS Running Backs: Todd Bielen Outside Linebackers: Dan Sanso Director of Football Operations: Bill Wohlrob DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD Nickname: Pioneers September Colors: Orange & Black 9 Salisbury 7-28 0-1 15 The College of NJ 7-34 0-2 Affiliation: NCAA Division III 23 W. CONNECTICUT 17-43 0-3 Conference: New Jersey Athletic 30 KEAN 13-9 1-3 First Year of Football: 1972 October 2000 Record: 2-8 Overall, 1-5 NJAC 6 FDU-Madison 23-22 2-3 Basic Offense: Multiple Spread 14 Montclair 3-47 2-4 Basic Defense: 3-4 21 SUNY-Cortland 3-42 2-5 Football Office Phone: 973.720.2326 28 Alfred 7-24 2-6 Athletic Phone: 973.720.2356 November Fax: 973.720.3017 4 Rowan 14-45 2-7 Sports Information Director: Brian Falzarano 11 NEW JERSEY CITY 13-18 2-8 Sports Information Phone: 973.720.2705 Sports Info. Fax: 973.720.3017 Head Athletic Trainer: Toby Barboza Head Equipment Manager: Rick Rodriguez Web Site: www.wpunj.edu Pioneer Hotline: 973.720.2547 Pioneer Football William Paterson University 2001 Team Guide CONTENTS Pioneer Football Quick Facts and 2001 Schedule ....................................................... Inside Front Cover 2001 Season Preview ........................................................................................................................ 2 2001 Coaching Staff ......................................................................................................................... 4 2001 Pioneers to Watch .................................................................................................................... 6 2001 Roster .................................................................................................................................... 10 2000 Final Statistics and New Jersey Athletic Conference Standings................................................... 11 Pioneer Records and History ............................................................................................................ 17 2001 Opponents ............................................................................................................................. 21 12th Man Letter ............................................................................................................................... 23 2001 Pioneer Football Media Information & Outlets The 2001 William Paterson University Pioneer Brian Falzarano Football Media Guide has been assembled to Director of Sports Information assist you in your coverage of the Pioneers. We 973.720.2705 • [email protected] hope the information in the following pages will answer any questions you may have concerning Sports Information Office the Pioneers. If you need additional information College Hall, Room 257 and photos, or you would like to set up an William Paterson University interview with Coach Arico, his assistants or Wayne, New Jersey 07470 players, please feel free to contact our staff and Fax 973.720.2418 • Pioneer Hotline 973.720.2547 we will be happy to help you. WWW.WPUNJ.EDU 1 BUILDING ON A FOUNDATION OF EXPERIENCE The combination of a wide open offense, an attack- the middle. Hardy, a member of the William Pater- Toriented defense and 21 returning starters provides son University basketball team that lost in the Coach Larry Arico with a sense of optimism for his NCAA Division III championship game, caught 50 second season at William Paterson University. passes for 490 yards in 2000. Sophomore Bryant Richardson (6-0, 180), who caught 26 passes for 342 Arico looks at the 2001 season as a continuation of yards last season, is Warchol’s breakaway threat his rebuilding process and he looks to his returning with great hands and great speed. The Pioneers’ starters to assume leadership roles while influencing receiving corps will be bolstered by the addition of the development of the younger players. He is Justin O’Connor (Hackensack), a junior transfer confident that his team, which finished 2-8 last student. Junior Mark Janis (Greenpond), a former season, is moving in the right direction. backup quarterback who moved to wide receiver this season, Jim Conway (Bloomfield), Ted “I’m looking for better point production this season Morrison (Sussex) and Kile Caldwell-Stevens and a better ability to control the ball,” Arico said. (Williamstown), who caught 15 passes last season, “Our players understand our offense and defense will also see action at wide receiver. and feel they can be more aggressive than last year. We’re much deeper this season and we believe we Senior Tom Del Mauro (Pine Brook), a powerful and can win.” quick running back, returns for his senior year after missing last season with a torn quad muscle. Juniors Rob Warchol (Wallington), a senior, returns for his Joe Lenza (Lyndhurst) and Evan Quinn (Glen Rock) second season at quarterback and will direct a will also see action in the backfield. spread offense that usually features one running back and four receivers. Arico plans for the Pioneers Arico will rely on a strong and flexible offensive line to evenly mix the pass and run. Warchol (6-3, 205) is to control the line of scrimmage for the balanced a strong passer and his knowledge of the game and, attack. Key linemen include junior captain Joe in particular, the William Paterson offense, has Panzica (Allentown, 6-2, 275) and sophomore Jason grown. Last season, he completed 55 percent of his Lachawiec (Belford, 6-3, 295) at tackle, senior Dave passes for 1,597 yards and seven touchdowns. Pinto (Wallington, 6-1, 285) and junior Rich Renda Freshmen Cristobal Rodriguez (Fort Lee) and (West New York, 6-0, 265) at guard and junior Vin Patrick Obuchowski (Cinnaminson) will provide Rizzo (Waldwick, 6-2, 315) at center. Other linemen depth at QB. expected to contribute include Vin DiStefano (Bergenfield, 5-10, 245) at guard, Bob Birney Warchol will look most often to his top receiver from (Rockaway, 6-2, 240) at center and Dwight 2000, sophomore Keyth Hardy (Middlesex), a Bartholomew (Jersey City, 6-0, 265) at guard captain, who frequently makes tough catches over and tackle. 2 Pioneer Football On defense, Arico features a 3-4 alignment that relies Captain Paul Zambuto (Valley Stream, NY, 6-2, 245) on speed. He looks for his unit to cut down on last will anchor the defensive line at strongside tackle. year’s tendency to permit big plays and believes the He’ll play next to senior Chris Benedetto (Holbrook, added maturity and experience will help get the job NY, 6-0, 250) at nose guard and tackles Manley done. Senior captain and cornerback Kenyatta Beaubrun (Irvington, 6-2, 234), a junior, and Joel Jefferson (Newark) sets the tone. A quick all- Sabino (West New York, 6-2, 270), a sophomore with around athlete who also returns kicks, Jefferson (6-1, great potential. 180) led the Pioneers last season with six intercep- tions and was among the team leaders with 24 On special teams, the Pioneers return junior Mickey tackles. Junior Lamar Askew (North Burlington, 5- Hulse (Kearny), one of the best punters in the 11, 187), slowed last season by a knee injury, expects conference. He was named second team all-NJAC, a big year at strong safety, where he was second on punting for a 38.8-yard average, including a long of the team in 2000 with 41 tackles. Sophomore Rafael 65 yards. Hulse also nailed all 13 of his point-after- S. Santiago (Elizabeth, 5-9, 209), senior Tray Barnard touchdowns and kicked six field goals. (Newark, 5-8, 170) and sophomore Brandon Thomas (Rahway, 6-3, 215) will see plenty of action at the With a veteran-filled lineup, the Pioneers begin the cornerback positions. season knowing they can build upon the progress achieved last year. Arico will rely on a veteran crew of outside lineback- ers, including senior Eric Mele (Bridgewater, 5-8, “We made great strides last season,” Arico said, 190), sophomore Jeff Hennie (Englewood, 6-1, 215), “And we’re ready to keep improving week to and senior David Eugene (Neptune, 6-1, 195), who week.” returned a fumble 56 yards for a TD in 2000. At inside linebacker, Arico will depend upon senior Frank Lamanna (West Orange, 5-11, 243), who made great progress over the course of last season, senior Joe Frappolli (Florence, 5-10, 217), and junior Terrance Fabor (Clifton, 6-2, 232), who shifts over from outside linebacker. Eric Schmelz (Jefferson, 6- 1, 215) and Frank Ciccarone (West Orange, 5-10, 210) are coming back from season-ending injuries in 2000. 3 LARRY ARICO PHIL LONGO Head Coach Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator