Appy State Update
ASU to start six newcomers against Michigan
Mountaineers will use a young defensive line against the Wolverines
By Tommy Bowman
JOURNAL REPORTER
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The first college starting assignment for six Appalachian State football players promises to be a memorable one.
Offensive linemen Jonathan Bieschke and Brett Irvin, defensive linemen Bobby Bozzo, Tony Robertson and Anthony Williams, and defensive back Titus Howard all are expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday when ASU opens its season against heralded Michigan.
Bozzo, a freshman, said he couldn’t imagine a more challenging assignment than to begin his college career against the team ranked No. 5 in The Associated Press’ preseason poll and in front of more than 100,000 fans at Michigan Stadium.
“It’s pretty exciting to get to play against a program with the tradition that Michigan has,” Bozzo said. “We’re looking forward to it.”
Irvin, a redshirt freshman, will step in for senior Scott Suttle at center. Suttle, nursing a knee injury sustained in preseason camp, is expected back in a week or two but won’t play against Michigan unless absolutely needed, according to coaches.
Shawn Elliott, the Mountaineers’ offensive-line coach, said that Irvin has had as good of a preseason camp as any of the players who will be first-time starters.
“He’s really come along, and now he’s stepping into an important role for us,” Elliott said. “I know he’ll be nervous and anxious, but at the same time I think he’ll play really well. It will be a great experience for him.”
Elliott said that the 6-0, 260-pound Irvin is a similar player to the veteran Suttle, minus the experience.
“I don’t think we’ll drop off a bit in the coming years with him in there,” Elliott said. “He’s a lot like Scott in that he’s a shorter, quicker lineman. He’s a very strong and physical player who understands our offense. He’s a smart, aggressive football player almost identical to Scott.”
Bieschke, a 6-5, 285-pound junior, has played mostly on special teams the last two seasons but will replace Matt Isenhour, an All-America tackle who graduated.
“Jon has been around for a long time,” Elliott said. “It almost seems like he’s a senior. This is his opportunity to be out there when the game is on the line, and we’re looking forward to seeing how he responds. I think he will fit in nicely.”
Pat Mills, a redshirt freshman, could also see considerable playing time at right tackle.
The Mountaineers, who lost three of four starters on the defensive line, will start three sophomores and a freshman up front on defense.
“That’s good and bad,” Coach Jerry Moore said. “I really like the way they’re playing and if they continue to do that, it’s going to be really good for the future.”
Robertson, a 6-2, 240-pound sophomore end, and Williams, a 6-1, 285-pound sophomore tackle, both played as backups last season.
“Both of them got some valuable playing time,” said John Wiley, the Mountaineers’ defensive coordinator. “I’m not really looking at them as young guys. Maybe they are as first-time starters, but they got a good number of reps last year.”
Bozzo, a 6-3, 265-pound freshman who was playing high-school football in New Jersey at this time last year, and Gary Tharrington, a returning starter at end, will complete the defensive front.
“He’s had a very good camp,” Moore said of Bozzo. “A lot of the freshmen have. We really think we’ve hit some home runs there.”
The Mountaineers lost tackles Omarr Byrom and Daniel Orlebar and All-America end Marques Murrell from last year’s team, which won a second straight national title in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision.
The remaining spots on defense are manned by veterans, including Howard, a 5-11, 200-pound senior who will take over for All-America Jeremy Wiggins at nickel safety. Howard, once looked at as a potential cornerback, has played in 34 games over three seasons, mostly on special teams, but will start for the first time.
“He’s a similar kind of athlete to Jeremy,” Wiley said of Howard. “He’s a big physical guy. It’s yet to be determined in a game situation, but it appears he might be able to cover even better than Jeremy did. If there is a question, it’s can he make the tackles that Jeremy did? You wouldn’t see some of the tackles that Jeremy made until watching tape the next day.”
■ Tommy Bowman can be reached at 727-7320 or at
tbowman@wsjournal.com.
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