+ SECTION C, PAGE 6 toledoblade.com COLLEGE FOOTBALL THE BLADE: TOLEDO, OHIO t THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2009 + UT BY THE NUMBERS GETTING TO KNOW: Alex Steigerwald UT SCHEDULE Rockets Sep. 5 at Purdue, noon Class: Senior Position: Kicker Continued from Page 1 Sep. 11 Colorado, 9 Hometown: Mayfi eld Village, Ohio (Cleveland Benedictine) Sep. 19 Ohio State at Cleve., noon 0 The Rockets will need plenty Sep. 26 at Florida International, 7 Accolades: Career fi eld goal percentage of 85.7 percent t (36-of-42); hit career-best 48-yarder in 13-10 of support to make it through the Oct. 3 at Ball State, noon Schools other than UT that win over Michigan last year; named second- meat grinder of their fi rst three Oct. 10 Western Michigan, 7. are undefeated against Michigan team All-MAC in 2007 games of the season — at Purdue, Oct. 17 Northern Illinois, 7 and Penn State. Favorite actor: Johnny Depp vs. Colorado and vs. Ohio State at Oct. 24 Temple, 7 Favorite movie: Any of the Saw series Cleveland Browns Stadium. Oct. 31 at Miami, 3:30 Favorite pizza topping: Banana peppers Senior safety and three-time Nov. 11 at Central Michigan, 8 Greatest achievement: Setting MAC record fi rst-team All-MAC honoree Barry Nov. 20 Eastern Michigan, 7 2.92 Nov. 27 at Bowling Green, TBA with 23 fi eld goals in a row Church said putting forth a com- Athlete you’ve modeled yourself after: plete effort will be key in staying t Team grade-point average, up from 2.37 when Beckman arrived Mike Nugent. I met him at an instructional kick- competitive in the nonconference he got us to think is just one game ing camp when I was in high school and even last December. portion of their schedule and at a time. Right now we’re focused since I met him I’ve tried to follow his form. throughout the remainder of the Reason for your jersey number: on Purdue, and we feel we have Mike Nugent also wore season. No. 85 at Ohio State a great shot to beat Purdue this Inspirational fi gure: My mom, Miki, for how much she’s “In the fourth quarter last year year.” 4.41 pushed me growing up and helping me out with my dad [Bill] be- and later in games, we would start to give up and were undisciplined ing sick and everything for the last nine years. UT-Purdue on BCSN t 40-yard dash time for senior Personal goals: Help team win a MAC championship, keep and everything like that,” said The Toledo-Purdue game at wide receiver Stephen Williams, doing what I’ve been doing, which is making fi eld goals, and build Church, who is on the watch lists noon Saturday will be televised on the fastest on the team. a trust with the coaches so that every time I go out there they for the Bronko Nagurski and Jim Buckeye Cable Sports Network. have the faith in me to get three points on the board. Thorpe awards as the nation’s best The Big Ten Network, which is Favorite holiday: Christmas defensive back. Best time of day: After practice broadcasting the game, will be “But this year, [Beckman] is get- carrying Penn State-Akron at that 7 ting us to where we can’t be undis- time. t ciplined. We’re just going to go out BCSN is on cable channel 8 or Games this season that are TOLEDO DEPTH CHART on the fi eld and in all four quarters channel 13 without a converter on scheduled to be televised show 100 percent. Buckeye CableSystem. regionally or nationally. OFFENSE “We have a real tough schedule. QB: (11) Aaron Opelt Sr. 6-2, 225, Fremont Ross; (4) Austin Dantin Not even bigger teams have that Contact Zach Silka at: Fr. 6-2, 185, Tallahassee, Fla. diffi cult of a schedule, but the way [email protected]. RB: (22) DaJuane Collins Sr. 5-10, 211, Westville, N.J.; (23) Morgan 9 Williams So. 5-11, 195, Canton; (6) Jake Walker So. 5-11, 210, Delray Beach, Fla. t Siblings junior defensive line- WR-X: (88) Stephen Williams Sr. 6-5, 199, Houston; (84) Sam Gay- He’s developed into a man Terrell Willis has, including mon Fr.(R) 6-3, 200, Redford, Mich. a twin, Terrence. WR-Z: (7) Kenny Stafford So. 6-4, 195, Columbus; (85) Robin Bailey Donald ‘great player and, even Sr. 6-5, 230, Columbus. WR-M: (12) Eric Page Fr. 5-10, 165, Springfi eld; (80) Tim Cortazzo Continued from Page 1 So. 6-1, 180, Irwin, Pa. better, a leader. UT senior safety Barry Church, a TE: (86) Danny Noble So. 6-5, 236, Elyria, Ohio — or — (81) Tom Barry Church on Archie Donald’ 10 Burzine Sr. 6-4, 255, Bohemia, N.Y. fellow Pittsburgh native and Penn LT: (74) Mike VanDerMeulen So. 6-7, 315, Marshall, Mich.; (71) Hills High School graduate, said “This year I’m looking forward t Minutes prior to the start of Danny Farr Fr.(R) 6-5, 285, Evanston, Ill. he saw the toll sitting out a year to an All-American performance every class and meeting players LG: (78) Phillipkeith Manley So. 6-5, 310, Hamilton, Ohio; (60) A.J. due to academic troubles took on from Mr. Donald.” must arrive. Lindeman Fr.(R) 6-6, 300, Aurora, Ill. his friend and teammate. With 20 seniors on the roster, C: (69) Kevin Kowalski Jr. 6-4, 290, Macedonia, Ohio; (77) Zac Kerin “I know it was real hard on him,” the Rockets have no shortage of Fr. 6-5, 270, Delaware, Ohio. said Church, who has played with leadership. But that doesn’t mean RG: (65) Nate Cole Jr. 6-2, 305, Trotwood, Ohio; (62) Chris Meenan Donald since the two were in UT coach Tim Beckman isn’t look- 12 Jr. 6-7, 334, Wooster, Ohio. eighth grade. ing for Donald to exhibit those RT: (68) Jared DeWalt Sr. 6-4, 318, Lyndhurst, Ohio; (70) John Mo- t Nights coach Tim Beckman “After practice we would sit qualities as well this season. rookian So. 6-5, 291, Providence, R.I. down and talk, and he’d just be lived in the dorms with his play- “He’s a leader defi nitely,” Beck- ers during training camp. so frustrated about not being able man said. “He does a great job of DEFENSE to be on the fi eld with us. But he DE: (40) Alex Johnson Jr. 6-2, 244, Lansdale, Pa.; (89) Skylaar Con- that. The kids really respect him as stant Sr. 6-4, 285, Bedford, Ohio. fought through it. Most people a ballplayer and as a person. He’s DT: (56) Derrick Summers Sr. 6-2, 258, Southfi eld, Mich.; (52) Johna- would have probably given up and just a good kid all-around. We had 17 than Lamb So. 6-4, 258, Southfi eld, Mich. — or — (94) Johnie Roberts went back home. [But] he kept on summer captains this year and he going.” Jr. 6-3, 290, Hattiesburg, Miss. was one, and that’s voted on by the t National championship games DT: (98) Maurice Hill Sr. 6-2, 286, Bolingbrook, Ill.; (97) Malcolm Ri- After rejoining the Rockets last team.” that members of the new coach- ley So. 6-3, 267, Fort Wayne, Ind. — or — (41) Matt Shumaker Sr. 6-1, season, Donald put together a Church said he’s noticed a dra- ing staff have been a part of as 239, Delphos St. John’s. stellar sophomore campaign. He matic change in maturity from either a player or a coach. DE: (58) Douglas Westbrook Jr. 6-3, 233, Pompano Beach, Fla.; (23) led the team and fi nished second Donald. T.J. Fatinikun Fr. 6-2, 230, Perrysburg. in the Mid-American Conference “He’s developed into a great LB: (48) Beau Brudzinski Sr. 6-1, 228, Weston, Fla.; (32) Dan Molls with 119 tackles, an average of 9.9 player and, even better, a leader,” Fr. 6-1, 215, North Royalton, Ohio. per game. Church said. “Now he’s more of a 25 LB: (42) Archie Donald Jr. 6-2, 235, Pittsburgh; (38) Robert Bell Fr. The initial thrill of playing again team player and he became more 6-0, 222, Grand Rapids, Mich. never wore off for Donald, as he t Safety: (8) Barry Church Sr. 6-2, 219, Pittsburgh; (45) Isaiah Ballard of a complete player as the years Head coaches in UT history, So. 5-11, 190, Rogers — or — (44) Drey’lon Pree Jr. 6-2, 198, Steuben- continued to gain steam as the went on.” including Beckman. ville, Ohio. year ticked by, fi nishing with the And to think Donald, who LCB: (21) Andreas Ashwood So. 6-1, 190, Hillsborough, Fla.; (37) team lead in tackles in eight of the places himself in the same mold Walter Atkins Sr. 6-1, 191, Pompano Beach, Fla. — or — (5) Daxton Rockets’ last nine games. of fi ery, intense linebackers like Swanson Fr. 5-10, 165, Waco, Texas. Yet Donald received no post- the Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Lewis, 330 SS: (34) Lester Richmond Sr. 6-1, 205, Chicago; (19) Joe Bates Sr. season accolades for his efforts, almost didn’t make it this far. t 6-1, 190, Oakland, Calif. something that doesn’t bother “I’ve developed a lot,” Donald Rushing yards for running FS: (29) Jermaine Robinson Fr. 6-3, 195, Pittsburgh; (43) Mark him but defi nitely vexes his team- back Morgan Williams last said.