2004 Season Preview Fielding a young team, especially on the defensive side of the ball, the completed 5-of7 passes for 2003 Cortland football squad got off to a slow start. The Red Dragons 43 yards and he rushed for began 2-4, but were quickly maturing into a formidable squad. Three one touchdown. Mark Bly straight wins to finish the regular season led Cortland to its second was the third-string straight ECAC Division III Northwest post-season appearance. quarterback at the start of last season. He appeared in This year, Cortland returns 17 two games as a placekick starters and sets its sights on an holder, but missed the rest of NCAA playoff bid — last the year due to injury. achieved by the Red Dragons in 1997. Now in its fifth season as Cortland’s defense is in the a New Jersey Athletic unique position of being Conference (NJAC) member, both young and experienced eighth-year head coach Dan at the same time. Five first- MacNeill’s squad looks to win year players were in the its first league title and earn the starting lineup by the end of conference’s NCAA automatic last season, giving the Red bid. Dragons a still-youthful group this year that has Cortland’s offense returns nine already been tested in tough starters this fall. That figure Senior wide receiver Jon Frechette. situations. includes senior tight end Tony Romano, a starter from 2000- Sophomore outside 02 and in the first two games linebacker Chuck Eich was named the ECAC Northwest Rookie of the last year before missing the Year and the NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 85 remainder of the season due to tackles and three interceptions. He scored three defensive touchdowns injury. Also back among the — the first Red Dragon to accomplish that feat since at least 1964, if not receiving corps are seniors Neal longer. Senior inside linebacker Chad Rowe joined the team last year Senior defensive end Travis Costin. Heaton Jr. and Jon Frechette. after a successful stint at SUNY Morrisville and led the Red Dragons with Heaton led the Red Dragons 87 tackles. with 44 catches for 594 yards last year and is 44 receptions and 622 yards from matching school career records. He is already Cortland’s Sophomore inside linebacker Matt Montpetit made 78 stops and career leader in touchdown catches with 19, two ahead of Romano. forced three fumbles last season and junior inside linebacker Casey Lorenz made 33 tackles. Sophomore outside linebacker Josh Jablonski Frechette entered last season with three career receptions, but enjoyed a missed portions of the season due to injury but did make five starts, breakout year with 29 catches for 380 yards. Sophomore Anthony including the final two games, and registered 41 tackles in six games. Morat will also look to expand his receiving role this season after grabbing 14 passes for 204 yards in 10 games last autumn. Senior tri-captain Travis Costin made a successful transition from linebacker to defensive end last season. He finished with 58 tackles, Senior tailback Steve Davis has rushed for more than 600 yards in each including five sacks, and tied a school single-season record with five of his first three seasons and enters this fall with 1,920 career rushing forced fumbles. Sophomore tackle Adam Haas also returns from last yards, 80 short of becoming the year’s starting line. Starting all 10 games during his freshman season, fifth 2,000-yard rusher in school Haas led the Red Dragons with 6.5 sacks and 16 total tackles for losses history and 579 yards from and was fourth on the team with 75 tackles. moving into second place on the Cortland career rushing chart. Sophomore free safety Stef Sair earned a starting role by the third week Junior fullback Matt Rickert of the season last fall and completed the year with 50 tackles and a started the final six games last teamhigh five interceptions. His interception total is the highest single- season and averaged nearly four season mark at Cortland since 1981. yards per carry on 45 attempts. Senior placekicker Ryan Four starters return on the DeCamp transferred to offensive line that helped the Red Cortland from Canisius College Dragons’ offense average 341.1 last season and earned a yards per game last year. Senior starter’s role in pre-season tackle and tricaptain Jim camp. He connected on 9-of- Coughlin enters his fourth season 13 field goals, including the as a starter. Junior guards Bobby game winner as time expired DeThomasis, also a tri-captain, in Cortland’s 16-15 Cortaca Jug and Eric Jendryaszek are also win at Ithaca, and made 25-of- back along with sophomore 27 point-after kicks. Tutwiler tackle Matt Ciquera. The Red was Cortland’s punter the past Dragons will be looking for a new three seasons, leaving the job center with the loss of Dave Junior offensive lineman Bobby open in the pre-season. Graziosi, and one of the current Frechette and Romano have returnees may be moved to that DeThomasis. both seen some action in that position as the season opener area in the past, and one of approaches. them may emerge as the starter when the season begins. The big question for the Red Dragons offensively is at quarterback with Frechette averaged 32.4 yards the departure of record-setting three-year starter J.J. Tutwiler. on seven punts last year. Sophomore Drew Lascari saw limited duty behind Tutwiler last fall. He Senior linebacker Chad Rowe. CORTLAND Table of Contents 2004 Season Preview...........................................................................................Inside Front Cover Media Information........................................................................................................................ 1 Credits ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Cortland Football Quick Facts ....................................................................................................... 2 On The Air.................................................................................................................................... 2 2004 Schedule ............................................................................................................................. 2 Head Coach Dan MacNeill ............................................................................................................ 3 All-Time Coaching Records ........................................................................................................... 3 Red Dragon Coaching Staff Photo ................................................................................................ 4 Red Dragon Coaching Staff ....................................................................................................... 4-5 Pre-Season Roster ...................................................................................................................... 6-7 Red Dragon Player Profiles ....................................................................................................... 8-12 Opponent Capsules ............................................................................................................... 13-15 Cortland Football Record Book .............................................................................................. 16-20 The Last Time It Happened ......................................................................................................... 21 More Cortland Records............................................................................................................... 21 Cortland Post-Season History ...................................................................................................... 21 Year-By-Year Cortland Football Win-Loss Records ....................................................................... 22 Team Captains Photo .................................................................................................................. 22 Cortland All-Americans Since 1983 ............................................................................................ 23 Cortland ECAC Upstate NY Div. III "Player of the Year” Selections .............................................. 23 Cortland All-Time vs. 2004 Opponents ....................................................................................... 23 NJAC 2003 Standings and Awards ............................................................................................. 24 2004 NJAC Composite Schedule ................................................................................................ 24 2003 Results and Statistical Leaders ............................................................................................25 2003 Game Box Scores.......................................................................................................... 26-28 2003 Individual Game Highs ....................................................................................................... 28 Athletic Training Staff Photo ....................................................................................................... 28 About SUNY Cortland ......................................................................................... Inside Back Cover Athletic Facilities Photo ........................................................................................ Inside Back Cover Media Information Credits The 2004 Cortland Football Guide was written and All interviews with Cortland players and coaches must edited by Cortland Associate Sports Information