BLOOMSBURG -- The Bloomsburg University football team could not have asked for a better start to the 2011 season; an 8-0 start with signature wins against Ashland in the season opener and IUP in a nationally televised game. Not to mention making the largest comeback in NCAA Division II history by overcoming a 35-point deficit to defeat West Chester on the road. It was as if the Huskies were destined for glory as they ascended through the national polls, eventually achieving a number two national ranking and head coach Danny Hale picking up career win No. 200. It seemed clear that a deep postseason run was on the horizon.
 
Then, out of nowhere, inches upon inches of snow accumulated at Redman Stadium the morning of the LIU Post game on October 29. The snowfall derailed Bloomsburg's historical season as the Huskies dropped two of their final three games to ultimately miss the playoffs.
 
“I think a lot of teams in the country would like to be 9-2, but it was disappointing that we missed the playoffs,” said Hale. “However, we understand that we allowed it not to be in our hands with the losses at the end of the season.”
 
“Every week I think about that snow game,” Hale continues. “It was just very frustrating because we could not overcome the elements; we did not handle it well. There is a fine line between wins and losses. It all comes down to a really fine line sometimes and in a nutshell, the whole season came down to that one game but that's the way it goes, that's sports and you have to move on. Every year is different. You look back on experiences but that's the past, good or bad. You look back but they are over.”
 
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK—With the loss of 2011 starting quarterback Pat  Carey, the big question mark for the Huskies entering the 2012 season is who will be under center? With several returning quarterbacks, only one saw the field last year and it was for only one game.
 
The race for the starting job could come down right to the wire with four players competing for the top spot. Brady Knerr (Macungie/Emmaus) has the most experience of all the returning quarterbacks. He saw action in one game last year and spent the 2010 season as the backup at Millersville University. Overall Tim Kelly (Camp Hill/Cedar Cliff) had a good spring season and with great athleticism coupled with a good arm, may be the answer.
 
Lou Buschi (East Meadow, NY/Mercerburg Academy) is another option for the Huskies. He is the biggest of all the quarterbacks and with a very strong arm, has the ability to throw a great deep ball. Connor Gades (West Chester/Unionville) could also be the solution after turning some heads with a solid spring game performance.
 
RUNNING BACK—There are no question marks at the tailback position as the Huskies return two 1,000 yard rushers from a season ago in Franklyn Quiteh (Tobyhanna/Pocono Mountain West) and Eddie Mateo (Bethlehem/Freedom). They were the only teammates in Division II to rush for over 1,000 yards in the same season last year, making them the most lethal running combination in all of D-II football.
 
Ranked fifth in Bloomsburg history with 3,207 career rushing yards and a long list of awards, Quiteh returns as a starter. Fellow 1,000 yard rusher and All-PSAC East first team honoree Mateo is also back after a breakout season that included a five touchdown game, tying a four year old school record. Also look for Dai'Shon Munger (Westampton, NJ/Holy Cross) to see some time in the backfield after having a good outing in the spring.
 
The fullback position in the Bloomsburg offense is not and will not be a one man show.  Ryan Maggs (Beech Creek/Central Mountain) is the front runner for the starting gig. Maggs is a versatile back who runs very well but is also a good blocker and receiver out of the backfield. Matt Wenrich (Selinsgrove/Selinsgrove) saw a lot of action last season and should expect the same this year, while Brody Myers (Akron/Ephrata) should also see some time.
 
TIGHT END— BU returns 2011 All-PSAC East first team honoree Dylan Manni (Bensalem/Bensalem) as the starter. Expectations will be high for the senior tight end that averaged 10.5 yards per catch last season. Look for Mark Daniels (Sinking Spring/Wilson West Lawn), Jack Sandherr (Orefield/Allentown Central Catholic), and Shane Quinn (Levittown/Neshaminy) to battle for time this season as well.
 
OFFENSIVE LINE—A consistently great offensive line has been a trademark of Bloomsburg football over the years and the 2012 season will be no different. Junior captain and three year starter Chris Steck (Mt. Carmel/Mt. Carmel) will anchor the offensive line. Steck is joined by fellow captain and second team All-PSAC honoree Brandon Allen (Philadelphia/Frankford), who is a returning starter at the right tackle position.
 
Brian Clarke (Hanover/Hanover) will also be back in a starting role after earning first team All-PSAC East honors. Keep an eye on Clarke to also make an impact on the defensive side of the ball this year as he transitions into a two-way player. Look for Alex Buchert (Robesonia/Conrad Weiser), Matt Feiler (Strasburg/Lampeter-Strasburg), Ryan Geiger (Southampton/La Salle), Durrell Johnson (Easton/Wyoming Valley West), Shawn Smith (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin) and Greg Waters (Churchville/Council Rock South) to battle for playing time as well.
 
WIDE RECEIVER—Experience is the key for the receiving corps as the Huskies return a slew of impact receivers. With the ability to vertically stretch the field, Kyle Fisher (Denver/Cocalico) will be the main target after an All-PSAC East second team selection. Ryan Dickerson (Harleysville/Souderton) is also a proven wide-out who has the ability to stretch the field.
 
Matt Marchioni (Wilmington, DE/Brandywine) is back after a 2011 season that produced three touchdowns on 12 receptions. Used more as a control/ possession receiver, Marchioni will also be a threat in the red zone. Look for Glenn Hutton Jr. (Sicklerville, NJ, Paul VI), Chris Boyer (Hummelstown/Hershey), and Cole Parkinson (Boyertown/St. Pius X) to play key roles as well.
 
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE—Over the years, the Huskies have had great defensive teams and a lot of that success can be attributed to having an impact player on the defensive line. The Huskies will be counting on Chris Kennedy (Phoenixville/Archbishop Carroll) to be that impact player for them this fall; last season he led all BU defensive linemen with 32 tackles. Shaun Moore (Lansdale/North Penn) also adds experience to the defensive line after making 30 tackles a season ago. Mike Schlauch (Zion Grove/Bloomsburg) is back after taking a year off, while Dylan Stair (Alpha, NJ/Phillipsburg) will be in the mix for playing time as well.
 
On the outside, Matt Heilig (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin) has the ability to be a playmaker for the Husky defense as does Tony David (Allentown/Salisbury). Look for both players to make an impact this year. Be on the lookout for former BU basketball standout Larry Webster (Hagerstown, MD/Elkton), who at 6-7, could create some havoc in passing situations with the possibility of contributing on the offensive side of the ball and special teams. Returners Roy Dennis (Berwick/Berwick), David McFadden (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic), and Shawn Mitchell (Nazareth/Nazareth) will all look to make contributions.
 
LINEBACKER—With great instincts and character Jarrett Pidgeon (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional), one of the tri-captains, returns in a starting role to anchor the linebacker corps. A 2011 All-PSAC East first team honoree, Pidgeon led the Huskies with 95 tackles, with 6.5 of his tackles going for a loss. With the ability to play outside or inside, look for Justin Shirk (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin) to be an impact player in 2012; in his freshman season he finished third on the team in tackles with 56, leading to an All-PSAC East second team selection.
 
Sean Clift (Philadelphia/Roman Catholic) and Ryan Feldman (Mechanicsburg/JP McCaskey) add experience to the outside linebacker position after combining for 80 tackles last season. The Huskies also have a pair of young talents waiting in the wing in Bryan McCall (Lititz/Warwick) and Michael Russell (Hamburg/Hamburg). Both players had a good spring and with more experience will add depth.
 
DEFENSIVE SECONDARY—Key losses in Vince Browning (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin) and brothers Oscar and Justin  Rivera present the opportunity for several retuning players to step up. Terrell Oglesby (Philadelphia/Northeast Catholic) and DJ Robinson (Sinking Spring/Conrad Weiser) will transition from working mostly nickel coverage packages into featured starting roles at cornerback. Last season the duo combined for 54 tackles and three interceptions. Gary Postell (Philadelphia/Bishop McDevitt), and Eric Thomas (Reading/Muhlenberg) will be competing for time as well.
 
At safety, Dan Haverstock (York/West York) returns as the starter for the second straight season; last year Haverstock led the Huskies with three interceptions. Jonathon Patrick showed signs of improvement as each game went by last year and will move from a back-up role to a starting gig this season. Look for Damin Finley (Elkins Park/Milford Academy), Sellus Roulhac (West Chester/West Chester East), and Garrett Pope (Northumberland/Shikellamy) all to see action this year as well.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Entering his junior year, placekicker Dan Fisher has already put his stamp on the Bloomsburg football program by owning four school records and sharing one other. He has split the uprights 37 times in just two years and his 17 field goals in 2011 was third-most in D-II football. Along with field goal responsibilities, Fisher will also handle the punting duties.
 
Brandon Drexler will be Fisher's backup and will hold on field goal attempts. Ian Murray (Lock Haven/Central Mountain) will be the primary long snapper with Matthew Sokoloski (Bloomsburg/Bloomsburg) serving as the back-up.
 
Look for multiple players to take on return duties this season including Kyle Fisher (Denver/Cocalico), DJ Robinson (Sinking Spring/Conrad Weiser), Dai'Shon Munger (Westampton, NJ/Holy Cross), Eddie Mateo (Bethlehem/Freedom) and Ryan Dickerson (Harleysville/Souderton).
 
OVERALL
The Huskies are optimistic entering the 2012 season as they face another challenging schedule. Bloomsburg opens the season against Stonehill College, an up and coming team from the Northeast-10, then take on Kutztown two weeks later in a much anticipated game between two of the top teams in the PSAC East.
 
“I'm optimistic that we will be a competitive football team” Hale remarked. “There's nobody on our schedule that I feel we would have to perform heroics to win, we just need to play good solid football. There was a real positive chemistry with the team in the spring and I know we have the ability to be a good team.”