Bucknell University Athletics
2003 Football Preseason Camp Ends with Saturday's Scrimmage
8/23/2003 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 23, 2003
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2003 PRESEASON CAMP ENDS WITH SATURDAY'S INTRASQUAD SCRIMMAGE
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Big plays on both sides of the ball highlighted Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The scrimmage, which marked the end of the 2003 preseason camp, featured two 15-minute periods followed by situational work. Besides some outstanding play on offense and defense, head coach Tim Landis also labeled the scrimmage a success because there were no major injuries, even with the first-string offense and defense going head-to-head at full speed for a large chunk of the session.
Offensively, junior QB Daris Wilson (Kenner, La./Archbishop Rummel) led three scoring drives, the first capped by a 50-yard touchdown run by junior RB Raphael Darrington (Mobile, Ala./Williamson). Later, Wilson tossed a 23-yard TD pass to senior WR Albert Marquardt (Girardsville, Pa./North Schuylkill) and scored himself on a 2-yard run to complete a well-executed two-minute drill.
Wilson's lone blemish was an underthrow that resulted in an interception by sophomore CB Dante Ross (Groton, Conn./Robert E. Fitch), but the play turned into a defensive highlight when Ross galloped 85 yards for a touchdown on the return. Earlier, the defense picked up a safety when Frank Lazio (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's) blocked a punt that trickled out of the end zone.
Also shining on defense were sophomore DL Sean Conover (Whitman, Mass./Whitman-Hanson) with a pair of sacks, and junior LB Kevin Ransome (Bear, Del./Christiana), who made a truckload of tackles, including several hard hits.
During situational play, Wilson and Marquardt connected on a 98-yard touchdown pass as the offense worked on coming out from the shadow of its own goal line.
"Overall I am very pleased with the way we finished up camp," said Landis, who presided over his first preseason session as Bucknell's head coach. "Our coaching staff did a terrific job getting our players to ready to play. This was about playing hard and getting better as a team every day, and I think they really bought into that."
Landis indicated that overall special teams play and gameday sideline communication are areas that will be points of focus this week as the Bison prepare for next week's home opener against Duquesne. Bucknell will have first-year starters at punter and kicker in 2003, but there were a few lapses in snapping and protection in Saturday's scrimmage.
"Special teams is about all 11 guys executing their responsibilities, and it's not all on the kicker's shoulders," said Landis. "There are some little things that we need to improve."
Overall, though, Landis is excited with the team's progress as the routine of a game week begins on Monday after a well-deserved off day on Sunday.
"I tend to go by feel, and I really feel this team is headed in the right direction," said Landis. "And I'm not just saying that. There is evidence on the field that we are a better team than three weeks ago."
TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR SATURDAY'S SEASON OPENER
Plenty of tickets remain for Bucknell's Aug. 30 season opener against Duquesne. Tickets will be on sale all week at the Weis Center and Langone Center box offices, or by calling 577-1000. Tickets can also be purchased on game day at the Mathewson Stadium ticket office. Bucknell's only home night game of the season, the Duquesne contest will kick off at 7 p.m. In addition to The Herd tee shirt giveaway, Kids Bisonland will be open for youngsters prior to the contest.
Tim Johnson AND Mike Leatherman ANNOUNCED AS 2003 TEAM CAPTAINS
Bucknell head coach Tim Landis on Thursday announced that, by team vote, senior RB Tim Johnson (Eight Mile, Ala./John L. LeFlore) and senior LB Mike Leatherman (Colora, Md./John Carroll) will serve as team captains in 2003.
One of the most outgoing players on the Bison squad, Johnson has made a successful conversion from wide receiver to slotback as Bucknell moves to the spread option offense this fall. The 2002 winner of the C. Dale Wolfe Award as the team's most inspirational player, Johnson has 18 catches for 204 yards and two touchdowns in his career.
"Tim has an outward enthusiasm about him that rubs off on his teammates and coaches," said Landis. "When you meet him, you see that effervescence and enthusiasm right away. He seems to love every day and is able to pick others up. And not to be lost is that he is a very good football player who is going to be a big part of our offense."
Leatherman, a starter at free safety lasy year, moves to an outside linebacker position in Bucknell's new 4-4 scheme in 2003. He has never missed a varsity game in his career, playing in 32 straight, and he was named Bucknell's player of the week three times last season - once on defense and twice on special teams. Leatherman has 78 career tackles and one interception entering 2003.
"Mike is a different kind of leader than Tim Johnson, but he is equally recognized as a leader by his teammates," said Landis. "Mike exudes toughness. He is quiet, with a stern, intense look about him."
Both players are captains for the first time in their careers.
LANDIS ANNOUNCES 2003 BISON LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Along with the announcement of Johnson and Leatherman as team captains, Landis also named his 2003 Bison Leadership Council. An initiative he developed in previous head coaching stints at Davidson and St. Mary's (Calif.), the Leadership Council meetis with Landis on a weekly basis throughout the season, giving the players a forum to provide valuable feedback on a myriad of football-related matters. One player from each of the four classes were elected to the post in a vote of their classmates.
Comprising the 2003 council will be senior WR Albert Marquardt (Girardsville, Pa./North Schuylkill), junior LB Kevin Ransome (Bear, Del./Christiana), sophomore LB James Lachman (Bryn Mawr, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) and freshman OL Kris Cooper (Newark, Del./Christiana).
BISON LIVE! AND LEWISBURG TOUCHDOWN CLUB LUNCHEONS BEGIN THIS WEEK
Once again this fall the Bison football squad will participate in the weekly lunch meetings of the Lewisburg Touchdown Club, as well as the Bison Live! radio program. The Lewisburg Touchdown Club will again meet at 11:45 a.m. the Lewisburg Hotel on Tuesday's throughout the season, beginning on August 26. Two days later - Thursday, August 28 - will be the first installment of the third season of Bison Live!, an interactive radio program broadcast live each Thursday throughout the year. The program has a new location this year - also the Lewisburg Hotel on Market Street in downtown Lewisburg - and will feature weekly reports from Landis and his student-athletes, along with players and coaches from an array of Bucknell teams. Members of the live audience may contribute questions and win prizes throughout the evening. Bison Live! runs from 7-8 p.m. each Thursday.
