Helpful Links

Team Website

2015 Schedule

2015 Roster

2014 Statistics

Social Media

@Rock_Athletics / @Rock_Football

Facebook

Text Alerts

YouTube

Head Coach: George Mihalik (185-109-4, 28th season)
Offensive Coordinator: Frank Bongievengo, Chris Conrad
Defensive Coordinator: Shawn Lutz

Five Year History
2014: 9-3 (PSAC West Champions, PSAC Champions, NCAA Playoffs)
2013: 9-3 (PSAS West Champions, NCAA Playoffs)
2012: 6-5
2011: 8-3 (PSAC West Champions)
2010: 6-5

Five Players to watch
RB Shamar Greene
WR Jaimire Dutrieuille
OL Cory Tucker
DL Marcus Martin
LB Teven Williams



Slippery Rock has won three of the last four PSAC West division titles and broke through in 2014 with a PSAC Championship game victory over Bloomsburg. The Rock will be aiming for a third straight appearance in the title game and third straight trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs. The defending PSAC Champs lost 13 seniors to graduation, but only a handful were seasoned starters, leaving the two-deep in very good shape heading into the new season. On offense, The Rock will return players with starting experience at every position except left guard. The defense is in similarly good condition and should be able to instantly fill a few holes with Division I transfers that arrived earlier this year. With all of the talent and experience returning, it's hard to understand why this team was not picked first in the coaches' poll.

That said, there is only one position in the lineup that is not solidified by an experienced veteran, but it just happens to be the most critical position on the field. The quarterback position has to be sorted out before game week and there isn't much time to figure who gives the team the best chance to be productive. Zack Newsock started the first five games of 2014 before being relieved by Jared Buck at mid season. Newsock returns for his junior season but will have to be awfully impressive to earn a shot at starting. I think the coaches lost some confidence in Newsock who was relieved at times by a wide receiver in last year's playoff game at West Chester (starter Jared Buck was unable to play) and he did not have as prominent of a role in the spring game as I expected. The starting job will likely be taken by Dante Nania, a transfer from Youngstown State. Nania played in six games for YSU as a junior, throwing for 784 yards on 87 attempts. Nania joined the Rock this past semester and was able to participate in spring practice. This coming season will be his final year of eligibility. Newsock should be in a position to challenge for the job, but redshirt freshman Matt Shaffer also played very well throughout the spring. I expect Nania to get the nod based on the talent and potential, and Newsock likely remains the backup based on prior game experience.

Quarterback play will obviously be critical, but whoever steps under center is going to have a lot of help. A lot. The offensive line returns three players that started every game last year and a fourth that made four starts at the end of the season. The tackle position is exceptionally strong with seniors Kyle Henderson and Cory Tucker. Both weigh in at 6'4", 285. Henderson is entering his third season as a starter and Tucker is coming off an All American season and should be a contender for the Gene Upshaw award (top lineman in Division II). Center Joe Loschiavo started every game in 2014 at the same position and was a force for the Rock's inside rushing attack. The skill positions are loaded. Shamar Greene will lead the running game once again. Greene rushed for 1,482 yards last year, which was the second most in the PSAC and second most in SRU program history. If Greene can get off to a quick start, he could be a candidate for the Harlon Hill trophy. There is depth behind him with Julian Durden who will see a significant increase in carries this season. The wide receiver positions are stacked as well. Leading receiver Jaimire Dutrieuille (52 catches, 578 yards, 5TD) will be back for his senior season along with juniors Drew Scales (44 catches, 469 yards, 3 TD) and Leroy McClain (27 catches, 383 yards, 4 TD). Jr. Taishan Tucker (18 catches, 221 yards, 1 TD) played well in the spring game as did sophomore Cornelius Raye. Expect them to be worked into the rotation in 2015 and there could be some new names as well.

On the defensive side of the ball the biggest concern after last season was at linebacker. But as with quarterback, SRU looked to Youngstown State for an immediate answer and they got a rather emphatic reply. Sr. Teven Williams was a three year starter at linebacker for the Penguins and led the team in tackles in each of this three seasons. He has a total of 208 tackles to his credit. There may be some rust to knock off since Williams sat out the 2014 season after being dismissed from the YSU program for unspecified disciplinary reasons, but in most the Rock's games this year, he'll probably be the most talented player on the field. He will fill the substantial gap left by Austin Miele and will join incumbent starter Bob Vernick (67 total tackles). They will be backing up a very solid D line that returns five players with starting experience. The stand-out up front is Marcus Martin, who as superb as a freshman last year. Martin led the PSAC in tackles for loss (22.5) and sacks (13 solo, 16 total). He earned numerous post season honors and will be on a lot of watch lists heading into his sophomore season. On the opposite end, Cody Conway (56 total tackles, 6.5 TFL) will make it hard for blocking schemes to focus on Martin. The middle will be held down by a steady rotation of players, led by Avery Anderson (42 total tackles) Joe Phillips and Mike Kope.

The Rock has finished near the bottom of the team stat sheets in pass yards allowed for the past couple of years, but with the muscle up front, the anchors in the middle and some talent in the secondary, that could change in 2015. Derrick Fulmore will be back in the free safety position after leading the Rock with 6 INTs and corner Kris Williams had a total of 14 pass breakups, which tied for third in the PSAC. They will be joined by newcomer Titus Howard who is yet another Division I refugee. Howard played in 11 games as a true freshman at Pittsburgh. Howard had a highly decorated high school career that culminated in a nomination to the Big 33 roster for the Pennsylvania team.

The Final Word
In my opinion, Slippery Rock has the most impressive looking roster in the PSAC. The coaching staff has done a good job of strategically targeting D1 transfers to fill immediate needs and as long as those players can integrate into the lineup, this team should have everything it needs to make a third consecutive trip to the PSAC Championship game.