Bison football marks return to NCAA D-III on 9/1/07
WASHINGTON, DC—Coach Ed Hottle has waited for September
1st, 2007 for two years. This date, coinciding with the season
opener at St. Vincent’s College also marks Gallaudet’s
return to NCAA Division-III football since 1994 and a brief stint
from 2000-2002.
Hottle, who has amassed a 15-2 record in his two seasons
(’05 & ’06) expects to carry on the winning
tradition that his Bison program has begun to cultivate in his
third season. “I aim to win games, with fundamentals and
discipline, also effort—I’m ready to get started! All
of my coaches feel the same way, we’re ready to get a move on
with the D-III season!”
This season, look for a balanced focus on all three components of
football: offense, defense and special teams. Hottle is looking to
senior star quarterback Jason Coleman, who led the Bison to 234
points total offense in 2006, for continued leadership.
Coleman will play into new Offensive Coordinator Ryan Hite’s
spread offense, along with veteran workhorse Dmitry Rossoshansky in
the backfield. Freshman Scott Lehmann, who Hottle calls a
“tough, hard-working player” will be a key in the
backup position, learning from Rossoshansky and preparing to take
over backfield duties at times over the season. Last year’s
offense averaged 29 points, an objective that Hite is sure to have
his eye on, a mark of consistent offensive production. Center
Justin Lathus will anchor the offensive line, with a speedy
receiving corps in junior Kevin Alley and senior Shawn Shannon.
On the defensive side, freshman Joshua Ofiu, a 6’2, 235-lb
defensive end is expected to make big plays. Returning veteran
linebackers, who also are brothers, Calvin and Joshua Doudt are
ready to put into effect their hard hours in the off-season weight
training program. The Bison run defense out of a 4-4 scheme, a
personal preference of Hottle’s. “It will do everything
you want it to do, if it’s done right.” Last season,
the Bison defense allowed an average of 12 points per game,
recording two shutouts in two of the final three games.
Saturday, September 1 is zero hour, the day when Gallaudet will
leave its mark on the gridiron, across the scoreboard, and in the
minds of the players, administration and fans.
