2008 Woodie Awards
Football Season needs no Rhyme or Reason
Grace Fletcher
Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
As the Carolina sun descends, the thud of helmets, the scream of whistles and the gasps of exhausted players resonate from Appenzeller field.
The leader in command, Coach Kevin Kiesel, prepares to guide his troops through the demanding 2007 season. Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) football coaches have predicted success by ranking Guilford third in the 2007 preseason football poll. This is the Quakers best ranking since 1998.
"When we start our conference season vs. Hampden-Sydney, I can't wait to put the poll in the locker room," said Kiesel to the Greensboro News and Record. "I'd like to kiss all the coaches for that."
In addition to the 45 returning players, over 60 new recruits have been added to the 2007 roster. This enlargement may enable Guilford to conquer the ODAC and defeat defending league champions Washington and Lee, whom they face Oct. 20.
Punter Ryan Huber '08, who switched from soccer to football this year, has witnessed first-hand the merging of the recruits.
"When at practice, it is as if we have been playing together for longer than a couple of weeks," said Huber, who goes on to describe the close bond developed between the players. "The team notices the new talent and returning talent as a stepping stone to the ODAC finals."
"There is already a certain camaraderie on the field given the fact that there are so many new players."
Amidst the roster stands Captain Mario Paylor, who finished second in the ODAC with 7.5 sacks in the 2006 season.
"We've got so much experience and so much team speed," said Paylor to the News and Record. "This team is the physically strongest team I've been part of here at Guilford. When you have strength and speed, the sky's the limit."
Another contributor to the Quaker squad is quarterback Josh Vogelbach '09, a First Team All-ODAC pick last season and Guilford's career passing leader, with 6,943 yards. Other comrades, including Joe Joyner '08, 2006 All-ODAC Honorable Mention, and center Blake Underwood '09, Second Team All-ODAC pick, also supplement Guilford's 101st season hopes of a championship.
In last weekend's action, Guilford defeated Southern Virginia University 70-26, the highest offensive total for Quaker football since 1932. Volgelbach passed for an all-time ODAC record eight touchdowns accomplishing his sixth 400-yard passing game and his 13th career 300-yard passing game in 21 outings. Vogelbach also received the first ODAC Offensive Football Player of the Week Award of the season.
The leader in command, Coach Kevin Kiesel, prepares to guide his troops through the demanding 2007 season. Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) football coaches have predicted success by ranking Guilford third in the 2007 preseason football poll. This is the Quakers best ranking since 1998.
"When we start our conference season vs. Hampden-Sydney, I can't wait to put the poll in the locker room," said Kiesel to the Greensboro News and Record. "I'd like to kiss all the coaches for that."
In addition to the 45 returning players, over 60 new recruits have been added to the 2007 roster. This enlargement may enable Guilford to conquer the ODAC and defeat defending league champions Washington and Lee, whom they face Oct. 20.
Punter Ryan Huber '08, who switched from soccer to football this year, has witnessed first-hand the merging of the recruits.
"When at practice, it is as if we have been playing together for longer than a couple of weeks," said Huber, who goes on to describe the close bond developed between the players. "The team notices the new talent and returning talent as a stepping stone to the ODAC finals."
"There is already a certain camaraderie on the field given the fact that there are so many new players."
Amidst the roster stands Captain Mario Paylor, who finished second in the ODAC with 7.5 sacks in the 2006 season.
"We've got so much experience and so much team speed," said Paylor to the News and Record. "This team is the physically strongest team I've been part of here at Guilford. When you have strength and speed, the sky's the limit."
Another contributor to the Quaker squad is quarterback Josh Vogelbach '09, a First Team All-ODAC pick last season and Guilford's career passing leader, with 6,943 yards. Other comrades, including Joe Joyner '08, 2006 All-ODAC Honorable Mention, and center Blake Underwood '09, Second Team All-ODAC pick, also supplement Guilford's 101st season hopes of a championship.
In last weekend's action, Guilford defeated Southern Virginia University 70-26, the highest offensive total for Quaker football since 1932. Volgelbach passed for an all-time ODAC record eight touchdowns accomplishing his sixth 400-yard passing game and his 13th career 300-yard passing game in 21 outings. Vogelbach also received the first ODAC Offensive Football Player of the Week Award of the season.
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