2015 PSAC West Division Preseason Preview: #8 Clarion Golden Eagles

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2015 Schedule

2015 Roster

2014 Statistics

Head Coach: Chris Weibel (0-0, first year)

Offensive Coordinator: Jesse Correll (first year)

Five Year History
2014: 2-9
2013: 4-7
2012: 4-7
2011: 3-8
2010: 4-7


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Clarion is one of three PSAC programs to enter the season with a new head coach. Former Golden Eagle quarterback Chris Weibel (1993-1997) succeeds Jay Foster who retired from his position after leading the program from 2006-2014. Foster dedicated most of his professional career to the PSAC, having spent 18 seasons as an assistant at Slippery Rock before taking over the Clarion program. Foster had no strong ties to the conference when he arrived at West Chester as a graduate assistant (under Danny Hale) in 1986 so the fact that spent 30 years in the league is certainly worthy of respect and admiration. That said, it was time for this change. In fact, it was probably a year or two overdue. Foster's tenure at Clarion delivered just one winning season, an 8-3 campaign in 2009 in what was an abnormally down year for the PSAC West. But that was the only season under Foster's leadership that the program delivered more than four wins. The final record from 2006-2014 was 29-70. Clarion is behind the rest of the PSAC West in scholarship funding and I think that was affirmed when the President announced plans to help improve fund raising for four key sports, Football being one of them. But it was time to see if someone else could help push the program forward, and it was also time for Coach Foster to look for a better opportunity as well (Foster accepted a position at the University of Albany this past winter).

The Clarion administration showed faith in Weibel by naming him interim head coach immediately after Foster's announcement and the appointment quickly became permanent after a national search was conducted. That was a good move by the Clarion athletics department. This program needs stability and direction. Having the word "interim" preceding the head coach's name would not help. Of course, the main reason that it was a good decision is that Weibel was a good candidate for the job. He's a Clarion guy with demonstrated loyalty to the program and is the right fit to provide the stability they need. He knows the recruiting territory and he knows that it is possible to win at Clarion. Weibel was part of the most successful team in Clarion history and he still holds most of the career passing records for the Golden Eagles. Weibel's assent to head coach left his offensive coordinator position open. That slot has been filled by Jessee Correll, who spent the last four seasons as Offensive Coordinator at D3 start-up Stevenson University. Correll is a 2004 graduate of Shepherd.

Correll and Weibel will be tasked with building up an offense that has been in the bottom quarter of the PSAC in most areas for the past few years. To accomplish that, they'll first need to solidify the quarterback position. Darrelle Carson and Connor Simmons shared the role last year with Simmons taking a bulk of the snaps. The rising Jr. showed talent, but struggled with consistency, completing only 49% of his 261 attempts. For the offense to take some steps forward, the Eagles will need more from the quarterback position. Carson remains inconsistent after two seasons and may not be the answer if Simmons struggles. So. Jordan Crafty played well in the Spring game and may be ready to push for playing time if the offense needs a spark. The Eagles will miss former TE Mike Deitrick in both the running and passing games, but leading receivers Matt Lehman (25 catches, 540 yards, 2TD) and Jaron Moorer (11 catches, 328 yards, 2TD) will be back along with promising So. running back Delrece Williams (4.5 yards per carry). Returning starters on the O-line include Tackles Jake Heigel and Shane Cress as well as Cameron Cress at the critical Center position. They'll have to fill in the guard positions and establish their depth, but a pair of experienced tackles and a signal caller at Center is a good foundation to build on.

Defensively, the Eagles were respectable last season and although there are only a couple of holes to fill heading into 2015. All-American and current NFL prospect Julian Howsare is gone, and there is no easy way to replace a special talent like him. But nine starters will be back and the secondary will be one of the most experienced in the PSAC. All five starters return and the group is anchored by Cory McNamara who led the team with 3 interceptions and contributed 64 total tackles. Rocco Yauger (75 total tackles) will be looked to for leadership at the linebacker position and is the team's leading returning tackler. Likewise for Sr. NG Andrew Fragale, who will have to be a force on the interior line.

The Final Verdict
It's hard come up with expectations when there is a coaching change and when the team competes in a very deep division, but the Eagles will have an opportunity to find their footing early in the season. The first three opponents on the schedule won a total of three games last year. It gets a lot tougher starting in week four, but the schedule is lined up for a quick start. If they drop more than one of the first three, they'll be in for a long season but If they can take advantage of the soft schedule on the front end, they could be an upset away from pushing for 5 or 6 wins. That would be an excellent start in the building process.