Mike Clark starts his 6th year as the head football coach at Lycoming College. The Warriors finished (8-2) last year and return seven starters on offense and eight on defense.
"The players we lost on both sides of the ball we really lost eight starters if you look at it four on each side of the ball. The problem is that eight of those guys or most of them we're All-Conference in some capacity, but not only did you lose some numbers you also lost some very good players," said Mike Clark
Out for pre-season camp is MAC defensive player of the year Kabongo Bakasa-nursing an injury. He hopes to be back soon with Tanner Troutman from Tri-Valley and Kody Flail from North Schuylkill-all part of the fourth best Division III scoring defense in the country at 12.4ppg allowed.
"Our defense has been great the last couple of years. It can only get better from this point on. We obviously have some holes to fill. We're working thru injuries and stuff, but Kabongo and Tyler Denike their tough kids," said Tanner Troutman.
"Since my freshman year we've been one of the best defenses in our league and my freshman year we we're 3rd in the nation. Coach Wiser always gets us ready. I always go out and play my heart out for that guy because I have so much respect for him," said Kody Flail.
These Warriors are worried about one thing right now and that's facing Brockport a team who embarrassed them last year 24-2 and they'll be able to get revenge in the first game of the season.
"They really last year came in here and just beat us up physically and that's scary. They are very big-really strong and physical. We're going to have to find some ways to combat that," again said Mike Clark.
After sitting out football the last two seasons the 2010 Small School Player of the Year in the state of Pennsylvania-Corey Talerico from Riverside has emerged as a go to buy at wide receiver for Lycoming. His presence should help the offense.
"It's kind of different from being a quarterback and wanting to play quarterback in college, but playing receiver is not new to me. I played it in high-school. I played running back as we'll so I like the ball in my hands-it's a little bit uncomfortable for being out of it for a couple of years but I'm back in the swing of things."