#39 Tanner Troutman makes the interception |
Three Lycoming players earned Preseason All-American accolades, with each racking up at least one first team honor. Senior linebacker Kabongo Bukasa, the 2012 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, was named First Team Beyond Sports Network Preseason All-American and Second Team USA College Football Preseason All-American. Junior safety Tanner Troutman was a First Team Preseason All-American from both D3football.com and USA College Football. Senior defensive tackle Dwight Hentz was a first team pick from USA College Football. In addition, senior kicker Zack Czap was named to the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List. The award is given to the top collegiate kicker in the nation.
MAC Coaches Pick Warriors first
Three Preseason All-Americans and seven returning all-conference players have helped the Warriors top the 2013 MAC Preseason Football Coaches' Poll with 76 points. The Warriors were picked ahead of two MAC teams that are listed in the D3football.com 2013 preseason poll. Widener is ranked 20th while Delaware Valley and Lycoming are receiving votes with 37 and 18, respectively.
Wise's time
Now in his 40th year on the Warrior coaching staff, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Steve Wiser reached a major milestone when he won his 200th Middle Atlantic Conference game since coming aboard the staff in 1974. Since then, he has served as the linebackers coach and, most notably, as the defensive coordinator since 1977. He is the second coach in MAC history to reach 200 conference wins, joining College Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Manlove, who has won 221 MAC games as an assistant coach at Lafayette (1967-68), head coach at Widener (1969-91), head coach at Delaware Valley (1992-95) and assistant coach/consultant at Delaware Valley (2001-present).
Not Just Keeping Points Off The Board
During defensive coordinator Steve Wiser's 36 years in charge of the defense, Lycoming has become known for keeping playmakers on the field who have the ability to score points on both sides of the ball. Since 2011, the defense has again become one of the most feared in Division III, finishing in the top 10 in scoring defense in each of the last two years. It has also been able to put points on the board, scoring three touchdowns and adding two safeties and one defensive extra point.