DENISON 2008 Football Media Guide About Denison University Denison University is a private co- than 40 countries around the world. Colleges and Secondary Schools educational college of liberal arts and Multicultural minorities make up ap- and certified by the Ohio Board of sciences. Founded in 1831 as a literary proximately 16 percent of the student Regents to grant Bachelor of Arts, and theological institution by frontier population. Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Baptists, Denison has since evolved Fine Arts degrees. Denison’s pre-med into an independently administered Denison operates on two-semester program is recognized by all medical and nanced university providing academic calendar from September schools accredited by the Association through May. The optional three-week of American Medical Colleges. May Term is a time for students to The Athletic Training Program is travel or take advantage of numerous accredited by the Commission on the internships with professors, corpo- Accreditation of Athletic Training rate organizations and government Education. agencies. More than 500 courses and 800 classes are offered each year, Denison University enjoys national and the average class size is 22. The prominence based, in part, upon its student/faculty ratio is approximately 177-year cultural heritage, and the 11 to 1. vitality of its intellectual and ethical concerns. More directly, however, the About 50 percent of Denison’s gradu- college’s outstanding reputation has ates continue their education at gradu- resulted from the superior perfor- ate and professional schools across the mance and leadership demonstrated United States and abroad. Each year, by its graduates. In the last 15 years, Denison grads are accepted to top law, Denison students have won 37 Ful- medical, dental and business schools. bright Scholarships and 10 National Denison’s Career Development Cen- Science Foundation Fellowships. Five ter assists students in their preparation students have been recognized as USA for these programs. Today Academic All-Americans. Deni- Swasey Chapel son ranks third in Division III schools students with a challenging academic Denison is accredited by the nationwide with 42 NCAA Postgradu- curriculum of the highest quality and Commission on Institutions of ate Scholarships. a vast array of diverse extracurricular the North Central Association of programs. The University offers three dif- ferent bachelor’s degrees (B.A., B.S. and B.F.A.) among 48 major elds of study. There are also interde- partmental majors and individually designed majors for those who de- sire a truly personalized education. Enrollment is approximately 2,100 full-time students, divided equally between men and women. About one-third are residents of Ohio, and another third are from the Middle Atlantic or New England regions. In a typical year nearly all 50 states are represented, and international stu- dents come to Denison from more Mitchell Center for Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation 2008 Denison Football Media Guide Table of Contents Page Contents DENISON FOOTBALL QUICK FACTS 1 About Denison University Location: Granville, Ohio 2 Table of Contents Founded: 1831 Conference: North Coast Athletic Conference 3 Head Coach Nick Fletcher Enrollment: 2,100 Colors: Red and White 4 Assistant Coaching Staff Nickname: Big Red 5 2008 Roster President: Dale Knobel Athletic Director: Larry Scheiderer 6-7 2007 Season Preview Head Coach: Nick Fletcher (Johns Hopkins ’76) 8-9 Opponent Information Years at School: Eight Record at School: 27-53 (.338) 10 2007 Final Statistics Coach’s Office Phone: (740) 587-6585 11 All-Time Records Sports Information Director: Craig Hicks S.I.D.’s Office Phone: (740) 587-6546 12 Coaching Records Press Box Phone: (740) 587-6708 Returning Starters: 19; 8, offense, 9 defense, 2 spec. 13 Record vs. Opponents Lettermen Returning: 56; 31 offense, 23 defense, 2 spec. 14-18 Season Results 2007 Record: 4-6 overall, 3-4 NCAC Stadium: Piper Stadium (3,000; artificial turf) 19-23 All-Time Football Lettermen 2 BIG RED FOOTBALLDU Head Coach Nick Fletcher Illini-Badger Conference championship in a master of science program in in his first season at the helm. He is a two- biochemistry at New York Medical time Illini-Badger Conference Coach of College. the Year (1995, 1997) and had collected a career collegiate coaching record of 27-22 As an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins, prior to arriving in Granville. Fletcher was a member of the Blue Jay football program for three seasons and Fletcher’s football coaching career also was a standout in the classroom, earning includes a two-year stint with Siena the distinction of “Top Physics Student” College in Loudonville, N.Y., and ten in 1976. years with Carmel (N.Y.) High School where he served as an assistant between In addition to his coaching 1978 and 1987, and as head coach from responsibilities, Fletcher is an assistant 1988 through 1991. professor in Denison’s department of Athletics, Physical Education and Fletcher holds a bachelor of science Recreation. In 2008 head coach Nick Fletcher enters degree in natural sciences from Johns his ninth season at the helm of the Big Hopkins University in Baltimore (1976) Fletcher, 54, is a native of Chappaqua, Red football program and will look to and a master of science degree in N.Y. He is the father of two children: continue to build a program which has education from Western Connecticut Craig, 21; and Casey, 18. Fletcher and won 18 games over the last four seasons. State University in Danbury (1985). his wife, Janet, live in nearby Gahanna. He has also completed course work Last season the Denison rushing attack averaged 191.3 yards per game which was the most by a Big Red team since 1992. They posted a 3-2 record at home and won three of their last four games to close out the 2007 campaign at 4-6. In 2006 the DU ground game averaged 185.6 yards rushing per game and against Kenyon College, two Denison backs rushed for over 200 yards rushing for the first time in school history. The accomplishment were noted by ESPN’s Behind the Polls show and the Big Red offensive line was named to the D3football.com National Team of the Week for opening holes which led to the 455 yard rushing day. In 2004 Fletcher guided the Big Red to their first winning season since 1991 and a tie for fourth place in the North Coast Athletic Conference standings. The offense averaged 334.3 yards per game and the senior-laden defense allowed only 14.5 points in Denison’s six victories. Before coming to Denison, Fletcher directed the Eureka College football program for five years. In 1995, he led the Red Devils to a 9-1 record, earning an 3 BIG RED FOOTBALLDU Denison Assistant Coaching Staff JACK HATEM MARK WATTS FRANK LITTLE Defensive Coordinator Defensive Line Offensive Line The 2008 season will mark This will be Mark Watts’ sixth Frank Little is back for his Jack Hatem's fourth year as season in seven years and his ninth season as a member of a member of the Big Red third year since returning to the Big Red coaching staff and staff and his second as the Denison after a year and a half will oversee the offensive line in defensive coordinator. at the United States Military 2008. He has been with Deni- Academy at West Point. Along son for two coaching stints in Hatem has 25 years of with the defensive line, Watts experience coaching in the will oversee the punt and punt his career. The first spanning collegiate and high school ranks. Since 2005 the return teams for the Big Red. 1997-2000 and his present stint DU defense has forced 42 interceptions, paced by which dates back to the 2003 season. a school record 22 in 2005. Last year, his first Watts received his second Master’s degree in as the defensive coordinator, saw the team hold Exercise Science and Health Promotion from From 2001 to 2002 Little spent two seasons as the opponents to under 14 points four times. They California Univ. (Pa.) Along with this degree he offensive line coach at Kenyon College. also ranked in the upper half of the NCAC in received his Performance Enhancement Specialist rush defense, interceptions and total defense. Advanced Certification through the National A native of Columbus, Ohio, Little began his coach- Academy of Sports Medicine. A two-time Ohio High School Coach of the Year ing ca reer at Big Walnut High School in 1992. After award winner, Hatem guided New Albany High Before coming to Denison in 2003, Watts was the four years he entered the collegiate ranks in 1996 at School in 1999 to a 9-1 record and their best defensive line and strength and conditioning coach Urbana Uni ver si ty. season since 1966. He received the award in 1993 at Allegheny College in 2001. He also coached the as the head coach of Fisher Catholic in Lancaster, defensive line and was the assistant strength coach As a player, Little was a standout center for Ashland Ohio. Hatem has also had head coaching stints at Clarion University (Pa.) from 1998-2000. University, where he earned all-conference accolades at Highland H.S. in Sparta, Ohio, Arvada West and was voted the team’s top offensive lineman in (Colo.) and Greenon H.S. in Enon, Ohio. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Watts attended Brashear High School and earned 1990 All- 1988. He graduated from Ashland in 1989 with a Hatem earned his bachelor’s degree from Rio Pittsburgh City League honors as a nose guard. bachelors degree in phys i cal education and currently Grande and received his master’s degree in After graduating high school in 1991, Watts spent resides in Newark, Ohio.