By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – The 2016 Illinois Wesleyan football team is entering this seasons play with bringing back twenty of its seniors to bolster their offense and defense in the campaign.
Illinois Wesleyan head coach Norm Eash said that the past week at preseason camp has provided a key look into the veteran team. The Titans will be bringing back nine starters on offense and ten starters back on defense. One of the main assets to the Titans defense is senior linebacker Sean Garvey. Garvey, who led the titans in last year campaign with 82 total tackles, including 46 solo stops, said that this years motto is “One More Thing.”
“Because we look back at last year throughout the last three games, and it comes down to one more play, one more caught pass and one more tackle,” said Garvey. “We’re getting after the mind set this year that all it takes is just one more thing.”
On the other hand, returning quarterback Jack Warner said that the average fan can expect new additions to the style of offense the Titans play.
“Looking back on last year were definitely going to have a new style of offense with the new offense coordinator,” added Warner. “I think that all of his new additions have complemented our players and our athletes very well. Looking back on last year, I think that our main focus heading into this season is just finishing games. Just one more thing and finish out games the right way.”
The Two-year starter at quarterback completed 57.1 percent of his passes last season, throwing for a total of 2,169 yards and 24 touchdowns.
“Doing the small things that add up to the big things, which at the end of the day is a win for all of us,” said the junior quarterback.
One of the biggest factors that have came into the Titans team this year is the adjustment with the new offensive coordinator.
“Reed Hoskins has come in and done a great job,” added Eash. “Were not going to change everything, but he has brought some new innovative ideas and wrinkles into the offense, and help us be a little bit more explosive.”
The Titans who are entering this season picked third in the CCIW Preseason Coach’s poll, are looking to be atop the CCIW.
Eash whom is entering his 30th season with the Titans, said that the past week has provided a building block into a successful season in the CCIW.
“Were really excited, we got a lot of veterans coming back. We’ve had a good camp so far, practicing with full pads and contact,” added Eash. “Now were going to lower things down and polish up the things that we have worked on this week, and get ourselves ready for the first week.”
The Titans are looking to do one more thing this season to make it atop the CCIW and bring back another championship.
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
