W&J continues fine football tradition

The start of the 2001 football season draws closer with each passing summer day and with anticipation comes many questions that will not be answered until the new gridiron years begins unfolding.

One of the area's many fabulous football traditions is at nearby Washington & Jefferson College.

A strong academic school since its inception more than 200 years ago, W&J has been cranking out exceptional football teams with regularity.

Over the past 16 years, W&J football has appeared in the NCAA Division III national playoffs an amazing 13 times. Also during this same stretch, W&J has totally dominated the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC), winning 15 league titles.

The Presidents reached the NCAA III National Championship game in 1992 and 1994 and were national semifinalists in 1993 and 1995. Since 1982, W&J has compiled a 155-41-2 cumulative record for a .788 winning percentage. Over the last 20 years, W&J football has produced 29 All-Americans and 28 Academic All-Americans.

While the majority of this remarkable football success story came under longtime head coach John Luckhardt, the winning has remained a constant under third-year W&J Head Coach John Banaszak, former Pittsburgh Steelers' standout defensive lineman.

Banaszak, who was W&J's defensive coordinator under Luckhardt, has guided the Presidents to an 18-5 record over the past two years. W&J reached the second round of the NCAA III playoffs in 1999 after upsetting undefeated Lycoming in a first-round game.

Last year, W&J was 9-1 overall before squandering a four touchdown lead in a stunning 59-42 upset home loss to Bridgewater in the playoff opener.

A 14th trip to the NCAA playoffs in 17 years appears a most legitimate goal as the 2001 Presidents return seven offensive and eight defensive starters from a year ago. W&J was ranked 16th nationally last year and 41 lettermen return.

'We have to build upon the good things we did last year and become more consistent,' said Banaszak, still boiling from last November's playoff setback. 'If we continue to improve and make the necessary sacrifices, I believe we can take the next step this fall.'

One of the 15 returning starters is junior quarterback Brian Dawson from Thomas Jefferson High School.

Dawson led all NCAA levels in passing efficiency (201.5) and set W&J single-season records for passing yards (3,057), passing touchdowns (32), completion percentage (.656), passing yards per game (277.9) and total offensive yards (2,914). He directed a W&J offense that averaged 500.9 offensive yards a game in 2000, fifth-best among all NCAA III teams. He received several All-American post-season awards last year and is already a preseason first-team All-American pick by Street & Smith's, Preview Sports, and Lindy's magazines.

'Brian has matured and grown considerably the last two years,' Banaszak said. 'Without question he is one of our leaders. Winning and achieving team goals is his number one priority, not receiving preseason honors.'

W&J opens the 2001 season at Ursinus College Sept. 1 before opening the home season at Cameron Stadium against Allegheny 1:30 p.m. Sept. 8. W&J will open the five-game PAC season with a road game at Westminster College Sept. 30. Westminster joined the PAC last fall but was ineligible for the league title. The Titans handed W&J its only regular season loss in 2000, 19-17.

'As always, our schedule is a difficult and demanding one,' Banaszak said. 'But to be the best and make the playoffs you have to play the best available competition. We'll be ready.'

Assisting Banaszak this season will be: Dave Opfar, Mike Sirianni, Todd Young, Russ Moore, Emil Stanish, Bob Johnson, Terry Fetsko, Ron Parry, Tom Durbin, Mark DeRosa, John Durham, Matt DeBoer, Jim Morris and Staz Winters.