The 2004 Tufts University football team will get its first taste of game action tomorrow afternoon against Hamilton. In a strangely scheduled weekend match-up, Tufts will be the home team despite the game being played at Williams College. At the same time, Williams will be scrimmaging Bowdoin here at Tufts. Coach Bill Samko expressed his displeasure with the scheduling, which he feels is unnecessary.
"We should be playing nine games," Samko said. "If we were playing nine games, this wouldn't be an issue. But instead, we've got a three hour trip there and a three hour trip back. At least it will be good study time."
Tufts has personnel questions that it hopes the game will answer. Eight key players from the Jumbo defense, traditionally the strength of the team, graduated in '04, leaving big holes to fill. The offense lost only two starters, but both were major contributors last year. Additionally, Tufts must replace record-setting place kicker Marcellus Rolle. The leading candidate at the moment is junior Phil Scialdoni.
"We need to figure some things out," Samko said. "We need to get the starting lineup worked out exactly, and see who the key backups are going to be. There's a good amount [of the positions] set on offense, because we have more experience. But there's competition at some positions."
Samko acknowledged that less is set on the defensive side of the ball, where youth is in abundance. But he praised his returning players, particularly senior defensive back Donavan Brown, one of the team's four captains.
"He's a good player, and with [four year starter Mark] Tilki gone, it's his chance to shine," Samko said. "And he's a great kid. Captains are elected by the team, and based on character issues, leadership issues, he's as good as anybody."
Samko-coached teams have been characterized by their strong defenses, which isn't likely to change this season despite much more experience on offense.
Samko was emphatic that the team's defensive focus would not shift. "[Defense] has always been our philosophy," he said. "If you're not good defensively, you're not going to win, and that's not going to change. We might do a little bit more on offense this year, but philosophically nothing's changed."
Several players quit the team in the preseason, but Samko made it clear that he wasn't mourning the losses.
"It's a hard sport and my reaction is, 'if you don't want to do it you should go,'" Samko said. "We have a saying, 'Close ranks and march on,' and that's how we're handling it."
The Tufts starters are not expected to play more than a quarter or so. The coaching staff wants them to get experience with game speed but also wants to limit the possibility of injuries. Up to this point the Jumbos have been lucky in that area, losing only two players. Freshman Brian Rowe will have arthroscopic knee surgery next week and sophomore Brian Shurko has a broken ankle.
Samko was pleased with the way the team practiced this week and is looking forward to Saturday's game.
"They've responded well, they've been physical," Samko said. "After Saturday the preseason is over. We're tired of slamming each other. It's time to start slamming another team."
