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Sports

Bulldogs Back To Work

Upstart Dayton team out to prove 2009 wasn't a fluke.

The Dayton Bulldogs football squad got back to work earlier this month when it opened its 2010 training camp at Meisel Field. Coming off its historic 8-2 campaign last season, though, to a man, the players don't want to rest on its laurels and want to treat this season as an entirely new entity.   

"We all have the same thinking [that we] don't want to live in the shadows of last year," said senior wideout Aaron Williams. "I don't want people to think last year was a fluke. I want to put our stamp on history this year, too, and not have people think, 'Oh, they got lucky last year but look at them this year.' I don't want that to happen, so we just have to keep working hard every down."    

Hard work has been the theme so far for an undermanned and undersized Dayton team. Sporting barely 30 players on its roster, the Bulldogs have been hard at work conditioning this week in preparation of multiple guys playing double—sometimes triple—duty, with some players on offense, defense and special teams].     

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"Last year, we had backups but this year not so much, so we'll have to go even harder and do a lot more," said star defensive end/offensive guard Kareem Jackson. "The seniors we have here now will have to go both ways and hardly get breaks, so we just have to keep on pushing it. Plus, Coach [Joe] Goerge is getting us ready with conditioning—a lot of conditioning and running up-downs."     

Dayton has 12 seniors on the team and "all will play," according to Goerge. And as important as their contributions on the field will be, Goerge is also counting on them to lead the way by example.      

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"Step up and take charge and don't hang your heads because we only have 30 guys and you're feeling tired. Stop feeling sorry for yourselves," said Goerge after one recent practice. "This ain't that bad. It's 135 degrees in Iraq, with guys having to carry 100 pounds worth of equipment. Now, that's bad. That's real."    

Goerge was specifically disappointed with the energy level after a sluggish afternoon session where guys seemed to let the heat affect them.     

"It was a sloppy practice but that's what it is. I know guys are tired but that's how it's gonna be in games," he said. "But what we can't have is coaches who had more energy and enthusiasm than you guys this week. And you're all 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 year olds. That can't happen."   

The revered head coach never came off as angry or manic, which is a reason why he's so beloved in this area. But his fatherly tone ["What's your real purpose here? It's all in your mindset to either get better or get worse. Don't count the days, make the days count"] certainly got through to his leaders.    

"We have to keep pushing the guys," said Williams when asked how the senior leaders can motivate the younger guys. "I know it's hot out here but we can't have guys being lazy. We [senior leaders] definitely hear him [Goerge]."   

Jackson certainly took well to his leadership role this summer. Also a starter on the basketball squad, Jackson came into camp significantly bigger – at least 15 pounds of muscle bigger.       

"It's all about getting your weight up. I've been putting in lots of protein, working out hard, running, and basically eating lots of good healthy food," he boasted.        

The linchpin on both lines, Jackson said all his hard work is paying off, with teams like Rutgers, Maryland, and UConn taking notice.    

"When I went to Rutgers I met up with him [head coach Greg Schiano] and he said, 'Keep working hard your senior year and give it your all,'" said Jackson, who said one goal is to improve lesser-known teammates' stock as well.         

"Winning will help," he added. "My job is to put pressure on the quarterbacks, stop the run, and help make things easier on the linebackers."       

One guy who has prospered playing alongside Jackson – and has done a nice job of making a name for himself on his own – is Christian Wortman. The senior is primed for another year of dominance, following his 60-tackle 2009 campaign. Wortman, who's getting looks from D-IAA schools like Stonybrook and Wagner, said this is the year when Dayton becomes a prominent Group 1 power and not just a team that had a fluky 2009.    

"We have a lot of expectations but it feels good," he said. "Our first goal is to beat New Providence in the opener, because that's our rival. After that, each game is like a playoff. We just want to keep it going, make it to the playoffs again, and show everyone that we really are good."         

Wortman said although the turnout numbers are slim that's no reason to not work hard. In fact, it's a reason to work even harder considering everyone needs each other that much more.            

"It's not harder work but we are working hard to be better than last year," said Wortman. "Everyone is showing up to practices and lifting and doing what they can to be ready."    

Defensively, Dayton has the grit and tenacity to stay in all its games. The real key to its successes, however, relies on an offense that'll lean on its younger players. Likely starting quarterback, sophomore Anthony Cioffi, has had a decent camp so far. Last season he split time at running back, gaining valuable varsity experience. Although the triple-option is a running scheme, Dayton would be wise to take advantage of Williams's 6'3" frame in long downfield throws. Cioffi throws a decent intermediate ball but still needs to work on his mechanics and the occasional long ball that Dayton may throw.       

Williams, who was also a star on the basketball team and can easily dunk, said he's looking forward to expanding his receiving role. Although he doesn't have particular stats in mind, he said that getting stats to help his team win is in fact a win-win.    

"My first goal is to win. And then whatever happens from there happens," said Williams, who noted there are some D-IAA schools looking at him.   

However Dayton wins or losses this season, one thing for sure is that these upstart Bulldogs will have all eyes on them, curious to see what happens.  

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