Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Football Spring Game Set for Sunday
4/18/2002 8:00:00 AM | Football
April 18, 2002
LEWISBURG, Pa. - With Bucknell's annual Spring Football Game just three days away, the "Orange" and "Blue" team rosters have been established via a special draft conducted by the senior class. Sunday's game kicks off at 2 p.m., at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Admission is free.
For the second straight year, this year's Spring Game will be broadcast live on the radio and across the Internet. "Voice of the Bison" Doug Birdsong, alongside color commentator George Burman, will call all the action on WMLP 1380-AM. Fans outside the WMLP listening area can hear the game on the official Web site of Bison Athletics, BucknellBison.com.
Offensive tackle Rashad Stallworth, the top pick in the draft, joins quarterback Todd Wenrich, fullback Todd Warmington and running backs Raphael Darrington and Raphael Hammond on what should be a potent Orange offense. The Orange team also features a veteran defensive secondary, led by cornerbacks Jerome Acy and Adam Minggia and safeties Will Smith and Mike Leatherman. Corey Mayo, Mike Bell and Shawn Tidwell comprise a hefty defensive line.
While the Blue squad lacks experience in the backfield, it boasts a pair of athletic starting wide receivers in Jim Horan and Albert Marquardt. Daris Wilson and Tim Johnson give the team even more depth at wideout. Kyle Fields, John Henry Jackson and Devin Fitzsimmons will quarterback the Blue squad, with fullback Matt Kawczenski and halfback Frank Lazio in the backfield. Defensively, the Blue team figures to be especially strong at linebacker, led by Kevin Ransome, Mike Shover, Billy Windle and Anthony Lovelace.
The Orange squad will be coached by Kurt Beathard, Lance Anderson, Jared Backus, Jeff Gadd and Mike Morita. On the Blue sideline will be Dave Kotulski, Eric Lewis, John Allen and Russ Ehrenfeld.
In an annual tradition, the senior class is split, and the seniors draft players for the Spring Game. Also keeping with tradition, the losing team must serve the winning team at the postgame barbeque. While the Orange and Blue teams will run Bucknell's typical offenses and defenses, the two teams will hold top-secret practice sessions on Friday to work out as a unit and, perhaps, install a trick play or two.
"This game is designed to be fun," said head coach Tom Gadd, who is overseeing his eighth spring practice. "There is a lot of bantering going on in the locker room as everyone thinks he is on the best team. It's a great way to end spring practice. Sometimes players forget to have fun out here, and this is a nice reminder that this game is fun. It's a great way to go out, as we prepare for the offseason."
