Former West Chester football player and coach Bruce Harbach will be inducted into the Berks County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday, April 15. Harbach played defensive back for the Golden Rams from 1975 to 1976 under head coach John Furlow. He then served as a graduate assistant coach for secondary coach Walt Buechele from 1976 to 1979 while earning his M.Ed. in Physical Education from West Chester.
Harbach has served as the head football coach at Lancaster Catholic since 2002. During his tenure there, the Crusaders have won four PIAA District III Class AA championships and two PIAA Class AA state championships in 2009 and 2011. He's a six-time Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 Coach of the Year, and after last season's 16-0 campaign, Harbach was named Nike Small School Pennsylvania Coach of the Year for the second time.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
(photo crusaderfootball.vicid.com)Thursday, April 5, 2012
Player News - Joe Smith Joining the Golden Rams
- 2011 Second Team All-Inter Ac
- 2011 Second Team All-Main Line
Player News - Greg Herrmann Coming to West Chester
Greg Herrmann (Central Bucks East) is among the players named in the official recruiting class release. The 6-1, 150lb placekicker was the recipient of his team's Special Forces award for his eight-point effort in the Patriot's first game of the season. For the season, he converted seven field goals, including a 37-yarder, and was perfect on his 15 PAT's for a total of 36 points.
- 2011 Pennsylvania Football Network All-Academic Bronze
Player News - Grant Garbutt Becomes a Golden Ram
- 2011 Honorable Mention All-Central League
- 2011 Honorable Mention All-Main Line
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Team News - 2012 Recruiting Class Officially Announced
Head coach Bill Zwaan released West Chester's official 2012 recruiting class.
Name | Pos | Ht | Wt | Hometown/School |
DL | 6-3 | 265 | Holland, PA/Council Rock South | |
OL | 6-4 | 235 | Hummelstown, PA/Bishop McDevitt | |
TE | 6-3 | 245 | Enola, PA/East Pennsboro | |
WR | 6-2 | 190 | Glen Mills, PA/Garnet Valley | |
QB | 6-2 | 210 | Willow Grove, PA/Upper Dublin | |
RB | 5-11 | 185 | Allentown, PA/Freedom | |
LB | 6-3 | 205 | Berwyn, PA/Conestoga | |
OL | 6-5 | 315 | Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape | |
P/PK | 6-1 | 150 | Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks East | |
WR | 6-1 | 190 | Wayne, PA/St. Joseph's Prep | |
DL | 6-2 | 265 | Conshohocken, PA/Plymouth-Whitemarsh | |
OL | 6-3 | 280 | West Grove, PA/Oxford | |
DB | 6-0 | 185 | Philadelphia, PA/West Catholic | |
WR | 6-1 | 185 | Norristown, PA/Norristown | |
LB | 6-4 | 245 | Springfield, PA/Springfield (DelCo) | |
DB | 6-0 | 170 | Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep | |
OL | 6-2 | 275 | West Chester, PA/East | |
DB | 6-2 | 190 | East Lansdowne, PA/West Catholic | |
LB | 6-1 | 230 | North Wales, PA/North Penn | |
DL | 6-3 | 265 | Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep | |
DB | 5-10 | 170 | Lansdowne, PA/West Catholic | |
OL | 6-1 | 285 | Glen Mills, PA/Malvern Prep | |
WR | 5-10 | 170 | Scranton, PA/West Scranton | |
DB | 5-10 | 180 | Conshohocken, PA/Plymouth-Whitemarsh |
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Pictures - Spring Practice 2012
The Golden Rams opened spring practice last week in preparation for the 2012 season. Practices will continue this week prior to the first spring scrimmage set for Friday, April 6 at 4:00 pm.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Alumni News - Mike Dell Rejoins Express
While at West Chester, Dell amassed 277 total tackles from 2006-09 and was named all conference three times including PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year after his junior campaign in 2008. He also played in the Valero Cactus Bowl, the Division II all-star bowl game, after his senior season.
Dell is being coached by someone with a Golden Ram football connection. Reading Express defensive coordinator Mike Lux spent five years on the West Chester sidelines coaching the defensive line and inside linebackers.
The Express has upcoming 7:00 pm games at the Sovereign Center in Reading against Lehigh Valley on April 7 and Bloomington on April 14.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Team News - Golden Rams Start Spring Practice
Spring practice starts this Saturday. The most hearty Golden Ram football fans have been looking forward to this since the second quarter of the Indiana game in mid-November. And some turned the page on the 2011 season weeks sooner than that. Although a promising recruiting class has been announced, it's unclear how soon any will make an impact, but certainly none will do so until they receive their high school diplomas later this spring.
So considering all of that, and coming off the first back-to-back losing seasons in over three decades, what are the key areas to watch during practice and scrimmages over the next month?
3. Offensive line
One of the most experienced offensive lines in recent Golden Ram history has concluded its tenure. The most notable among this group are All-PSAC and All-ECAC selection Chris Faix, a four-year starter at left tackle, and Gerry Penrose, a four-year starter at right guard. Next is center Kevin Leary who started all 22 contests during his two-year tenure at WCU after transferring from Tulane. And Eric Hawthorne started every game last season at right tackle. Including left guard Ryan Costello, those five seniors accounted for 46 starts of the possible 55 starts on the offensive line last season.
Returning for Nick Sama's line will be Erik Pratt who started eight games at left guard. Pratt and Adam Citko are the only two returning offensive linemen that saw action in every game in 2011, although Brian Margetich and Blair Gower experienced significant playing time. Those four are expected to become the core while others who saw playing time last year - Antonie Bland, Justin Bathurst and Trey Farmer - will round out the group. Transfer Derek Schatz (Villanova) and newcomers James Colivas, Chris Knott, and Ian Wood will also be vying for time this spring. How quickly this new group can be aligned and work together will have a significant impact to how well the offense moves in 2012.
2. Running back
Once the offensive line gets sorted out, they'll be blocking for a host of guys in 2012. Rondell White, the Golden Ram Football Club Player of the Year and WCU Football Athlete of the Year, will be the only returning running back. The rising junior led the 2011 Golden Rams in both touchdowns (11) and rushing yards (701). He will be challenged by transfers Brendan McLaughlin (Connecticut) and Chris Smallwood (Indiana of PA). And anyone that made it to spring practices last year saw the electric Brandon Monk. Monk almost saw action during the season as injuries depleted the Golden Rams at the running back position, but the shifty runner was redshirted the entire 2011 campaign. It will be interesting to see who emerges from this group to garner a bulk of the carries this spring.
1. Quarterback
West Chester used two signal callers last season for the first time since 2006. Five years ago, behind dual quarterbacks Bill Zwaan Jr and Matt Burdalski, the team went 8-3, qualified for the postseason, beat Bryant in Rhode Island and lost a one-point heartbreaker in Bloomsburg in the second round of the NCAA playoffs. So it's not as if a "QB2" system cannot work, but it's certainly not the norm.
Matt Carroll came to West Chester last year from Northeastern after the Huskies dropped football, while Sean McCartney made a huge splash as a freshman in his first collegiate start against Shippensburg in 2010 on national TV, throwing for 444 yards and five touchdowns in the double overtime win. But last year, both had sparkling performances - McCartney against East Stroudsburg and Millersville and Carroll against Shippensburg and New Haven; clunkers - McCartney against C.W. Post and Cheyney and Carroll against Slippery Rock and Indiana; and everything in between.
Which one of these two rising juniors will take a firm hold of the helm? Or after redshirting last season, will James Rusenko be ready? Perhaps Temple transfer and Downingtown West product Bret Gillespie will be the guy. Or is there any chance that 2010 starter Mike Mattei returns from last year's shoulder injury to play the quarterback position in his senior season? A single starting QB didn't emerge last year, so this is an area to focus on this spring.
Notes: there are two scrimmages tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 6 at 4:00 pm and Saturday, April 14 at 9:00 am....the Purple-Gold game is scheduled for Thursday April 19 at 6:00 pm....defensive coordinator Mike Furlong's squad lost only two starters and three reserves to graduation.....besides McLaughlin, Smallwood and Schatz, transfer tight end Chuck Phelan (Bloomsburg) is hoping to make his way into the mix.
So considering all of that, and coming off the first back-to-back losing seasons in over three decades, what are the key areas to watch during practice and scrimmages over the next month?
3. Offensive line
One of the most experienced offensive lines in recent Golden Ram history has concluded its tenure. The most notable among this group are All-PSAC and All-ECAC selection Chris Faix, a four-year starter at left tackle, and Gerry Penrose, a four-year starter at right guard. Next is center Kevin Leary who started all 22 contests during his two-year tenure at WCU after transferring from Tulane. And Eric Hawthorne started every game last season at right tackle. Including left guard Ryan Costello, those five seniors accounted for 46 starts of the possible 55 starts on the offensive line last season.
Returning for Nick Sama's line will be Erik Pratt who started eight games at left guard. Pratt and Adam Citko are the only two returning offensive linemen that saw action in every game in 2011, although Brian Margetich and Blair Gower experienced significant playing time. Those four are expected to become the core while others who saw playing time last year - Antonie Bland, Justin Bathurst and Trey Farmer - will round out the group. Transfer Derek Schatz (Villanova) and newcomers James Colivas, Chris Knott, and Ian Wood will also be vying for time this spring. How quickly this new group can be aligned and work together will have a significant impact to how well the offense moves in 2012.
2. Running back
Once the offensive line gets sorted out, they'll be blocking for a host of guys in 2012. Rondell White, the Golden Ram Football Club Player of the Year and WCU Football Athlete of the Year, will be the only returning running back. The rising junior led the 2011 Golden Rams in both touchdowns (11) and rushing yards (701). He will be challenged by transfers Brendan McLaughlin (Connecticut) and Chris Smallwood (Indiana of PA). And anyone that made it to spring practices last year saw the electric Brandon Monk. Monk almost saw action during the season as injuries depleted the Golden Rams at the running back position, but the shifty runner was redshirted the entire 2011 campaign. It will be interesting to see who emerges from this group to garner a bulk of the carries this spring.
1. Quarterback
West Chester used two signal callers last season for the first time since 2006. Five years ago, behind dual quarterbacks Bill Zwaan Jr and Matt Burdalski, the team went 8-3, qualified for the postseason, beat Bryant in Rhode Island and lost a one-point heartbreaker in Bloomsburg in the second round of the NCAA playoffs. So it's not as if a "QB2" system cannot work, but it's certainly not the norm.
Matt Carroll came to West Chester last year from Northeastern after the Huskies dropped football, while Sean McCartney made a huge splash as a freshman in his first collegiate start against Shippensburg in 2010 on national TV, throwing for 444 yards and five touchdowns in the double overtime win. But last year, both had sparkling performances - McCartney against East Stroudsburg and Millersville and Carroll against Shippensburg and New Haven; clunkers - McCartney against C.W. Post and Cheyney and Carroll against Slippery Rock and Indiana; and everything in between.
Which one of these two rising juniors will take a firm hold of the helm? Or after redshirting last season, will James Rusenko be ready? Perhaps Temple transfer and Downingtown West product Bret Gillespie will be the guy. Or is there any chance that 2010 starter Mike Mattei returns from last year's shoulder injury to play the quarterback position in his senior season? A single starting QB didn't emerge last year, so this is an area to focus on this spring.
Notes: there are two scrimmages tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 6 at 4:00 pm and Saturday, April 14 at 9:00 am....the Purple-Gold game is scheduled for Thursday April 19 at 6:00 pm....defensive coordinator Mike Furlong's squad lost only two starters and three reserves to graduation.....besides McLaughlin, Smallwood and Schatz, transfer tight end Chuck Phelan (Bloomsburg) is hoping to make his way into the mix.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Player News - Kenny Williams Coming to WCU
Kenny Williams (Plymouth-Whitemarsh) is reporting that he intends to play football for the Golden Rams. The 5-10, 180lb wide receiver/defensive back was #9 on Rick O'Brien's 10 best safeties list. Williams led his team in tackles (99, 63 solo) and receptions (17, 339 yards) in his junior season. As a team captain his senior year, he tallied 53 tackles including 41 solo, in leading the Colonials to an 8-2 record and an appearance in the PIAA District 1 AAAA playoffs. A four-year starter for P-W, Williams said the West Chester coaches "made me fit in like family."
- 2011 Second Team All-Suburban One American (defense)
- 2011 Third Team All-Suburban One American (offense)
- 2010 First Team Times Herald All-Area (defense)
- 2010 Second Team All-Suburban One American (offense)
- 2010 Second Team All-Suburban One American (defense)
- 2009 Third Team All-Suburban One American (defense)
- 2011 Second Team All-Suburban One American (defense)
- 2011 Third Team All-Suburban One American (offense)
- 2010 First Team Times Herald All-Area (defense)
- 2010 Second Team All-Suburban One American (offense)
- 2010 Second Team All-Suburban One American (defense)
- 2009 Third Team All-Suburban One American (defense)
Suburban One Sports - PW Standouts to Play Collegiate Football
Plymouth-Whitemarsh Patch - PW Senior Receiver Survived A Winless Season
Friday, March 2, 2012
Event News - Killinger Foundation Banquet
The 33rd Annual Killinger Foundation Football Banquet will be held on Friday, April 20, 2012 at 6:00 pm at the Concord Country Club in Concordville, PA. The 2012 Hall of Fame inductees are:
- Fran Coleman '69
- John Mininno '85
- Jim Sheehan '88
- Rick Daniels '75 - Coach
- Phil Donley - Hall of Distinction
The Foundation will also be honoring the 1989, 1992 and 1994 teams.
Anyone interested in attending is asked to use the online ticket sale center. Tickets will not be sold at the door and reservations must be made by April 6.
- Fran Coleman '69
- John Mininno '85
- Jim Sheehan '88
- Rick Daniels '75 - Coach
- Phil Donley - Hall of Distinction
The Foundation will also be honoring the 1989, 1992 and 1994 teams.
Anyone interested in attending is asked to use the online ticket sale center. Tickets will not be sold at the door and reservations must be made by April 6.
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