Bulldogs Listen To This Bell

If the Dayton Bulldogs are to rebound from last week's opening day loss, they'll need to dig deep and ring that championship bell. Their bell of choice, however, may be that of star running back Jesse Bell.     

He may have had a rough go in last Saturday's 24-0 loss to New Providence—netting only 60 yards of total offense—but the ever-optimistic Bell said the past is in the past and he's ready to get back into the flow of things.    

"We always put everything in the past," Bell said when asked about the setbacks that are sure to happen during the course of a season. "If we screw up one day we forget it and come back the next day and have the attitude to do better."     

The Bulldogs [0-1] will need such a short memory when they head to Bound Brook, Thursday night, and hope that everyone is back on the same page. Bell is confident they are and says a fast start will be a key in how well the game goes.     

"We all have the same mind and attitude," he said. "It's all about how we come out on the first play. If we're sitting back [on our heels] then we're going to get run over. But if we come out hard, I don't think anybody can mess with us. Nothing should go wrong."     

Last season the junior running back/free safety made All-Conference Honorable Mention and says while such accolades are great, his only goal is to "stay healthy and do whatever the team needs."           

Such an unselfish attitude is what makes Bell a revered teammate and what endears him to the coaching staff.    

"Jesse is unbelievable with his high energy," said head coach Joe Goerge. "He's a hard worker who runs hard, tackles hard, and plays hard. He's certainly someone we're happy to have back healthy."       

Bell's health was a valid point of concern ever since the scrappy back suffered a concussion in a late August pre-season game and missed over two weeks of action. Often seen agonizing on the sidelines during practices and scrimmages, Bell was happy to finally get back on the field.     

"I've felt good ever since [doctors clearance]," said Bell, who didn't get cleared to participate in contact drills until three days prior to the opener. "I had to clear the exertion period tests first. I'm just happy to get back."      

Goerge, whose roster numbers have fluctuated throughout camp due to a myriad of injuries, knows the importance of having as many healthy bodies as possible.    

"We already lost [Mike] Fischetti for the season with two broken ribs [practice days prior to the opener]," said Goerge, who noted that Fischetti also broke his jaw during a 7-on-7 passing drill over the summer. "We're looking at a six-to-seven week recovery, so there goes his season pretty much right there. And with Jesse we were worried [about his availability]. Him getting cleared was big [because], after losing Fischetti, when you only have a team of 30-31 guys you don't want to lose too many more."          

Bell hopes to pick up the slack and said no one is going to feel sorry for Dayton's rash of injuries. He wants to be a better leader and the only way that happens is to produce on the field.      

"We need to come out with an attitude and show them that we're ready. Show them who we are and how we stand," said Bell, adding he won't be the rah-rah type on the bus ride down to Bound Brook. "I'm more of a guy that tries to keep everyone straight and tell them to get their minds back [if they mess up]. I'm not one to put anyone down."      

While Goerge appreciates Bell's leadership, he also said the sometimes rambunctious Bell needs to sometimes curb his own enthusiasm.    

"In Jesse's case, it's a little bit more of a process because he plays offense and defense. And like any other team that has them [two-way players] he needs to be better at shutting off offense and going to defense, shutting off defense and going back to offense," said Goerge. "Jesse needs to work on that and to be constantly talking to himself about his responsibilities. He was All-Honorable Mention but we still need to put him in roles where he understands what he has to do and maybe not make him think he has to do everything."     

Bell acknowledged he sometimes takes on bigger on-field tasks than he should but said he's working on that. He said his drive to win is so strong that he sometimes can't help himself.         

"We have 15 guys who know what they're doing and another 15 who are kind of out there," he said prior to the season opener, later adding that he thinks the team is on the same page now. "We have to be."         

However Dayton rebounds, Goerge is confident of one thing: that Jesse Bell will be ready when the first whistle blows.      

"Jesse is definitely a leader by example, especially when he's on the field because he goes all out," said Goerge. "I think you're either a leader or you're not. You can lead by example and not be loud and boisterous, like a Mike Hess or a Kareem [Jackson]. Jesse is fiery and kind of like what we had last year with Kevin O'Connor, who was more in your face. There's many ways to be a leader and with guys like Jesse we're just fine in that department."