Team News - 2015 Season Preview

Youth is Served

While the end of every school year means that a group of players exhaust their playing eligibility, the 2015 Golden Rams will be one of the youngest teams in recent history. The preseason roster showed only ten seniors and the 2015 PSAC Preseason Football Notes indicated that West Chester lost more starters than any other team in the conference. Several of last year's games ended with a wide margin on the scoreboard, so plenty of guys received significant minutes. The primary adjustment for them will be shouldering a bulk of the load this season.

Defense

While last year’s defense struggled against the run (148 yards/game), the passing defense was tops in the PSAC (183 yards/game) and they kept opponents off the scoreboard, yielding 20 point per contest. Departed are five of the top seven tacklers from last season, including the two four-year linebackers who topped the list.

After a stellar season which earned him all-conference honors at defensive end, senior captain Andrew Cohen (65 tackles, 20.0 TFL's, 10.5 sacks) returns to tackle where he started all of the 2013 season. He's second on the West Chester career sack list with 20.0, only 2.0 shy from breaking the school record of 21.5 set by Doug Jacobs from 1980-83. Cohen's 35.0 career tackles for loss is tied for fourth on the school list. He'll line up next to senior Barry Lyons (31 tackles, 2.0 TFL's). Backing them up will be sophomores Josh Ganzelli (19 tackles, 3 TFL's) and Indiana (PA) transfer Dominic Toney who redshirted last season. Redshirt freshmen Sean Boylan and Ben Smith will be looking for their first collegiate action.

After missing most of last season with an injury, junior Byron Cooper (6 tackles, 1 TFL) moves from shark to one defensive end spot. Cooper will rotate with sophomore George Shipp (15 tackles, 3.0 TFL's) who played in every game last year. Also seeing plenty of time in 2014 is the other projected starting end John Dubyk (18 tackles, 2.0 sacks). Redshirt freshman Ch'aim Smith is expected to support Dubyk.

One of the biggest changes will come at the second level of the defense. Mike Labor and Ronell Williams are two 300+ career tacklers but are gone to graduation. This means junior Ralph Reeves (28 tackles, 2.5 TFL's) will become a full time starter after receiving three starts last season while Williams was injured. Also due to Williams' injury, Sean Steinmetz (18 tackles, 2.5 TFL's) saw his playing time increase as a true freshman last season. Dan Sherry (20 tackles, 2.0 TFL's) also was getting increased playing time last year prior to having his season cut short due to an injury. Among the other linebackers listed - Justice Smith, Steven Denby, Steve Marrazzo, and Zack Hockman - none registered a tackle for the Golden Rams last season.

Senior captain Brandon Pepper (39 tackles, 4 pass breakups) moves from free safety to shark this season. Redshirt freshman Nydair Rouse is listed as a shark and this is where Kevin Duggan (1 tackle, 1 TFL) will likely fit as well. Look for speedy Rouse in passing situations and Duggan as a run stopper.

While the most noticeable absence in the secondary is cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz who is vying for a spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, keep in mind that the four projected starters played in every game last season, and there is only one senior among them. Strong safety Drew Formica (67 tackles, 4.5 TFL's, 2 interceptions) is the Golden Rams' top returning tackler and started every game last season as did junior cornerback Blaise Schieler (23 tackles, 2 interceptions, 5 pass breakups). Junior Pete Galiano (37 tackles, 3.0 TFL's) is expected to be the starting free safety while junior Ted Patton (5 tackles) will man the other corner after primarily playing on special teams last season. Juniors Kevin Malone (32 tackles) and Kyle Keyser (24 tackles) provide depth at the safety positions while redshirt freshmen Corey Kelley and Jaishan Thornton seek their first collegiate action at cornerback. It will be interesting to see if Shaquil James or true freshman Jarey Elder will contribute this season. The entire unit will have to rely on speed and not height. The tallest among them is Formica who, at 6', brings the average height of the secondary up to 5'9".

Offense

The strength of last year's team was its prolific offense - 500 yards per game, the highest ever in the Bill Zwaan era. While there is a stable of running backs, the passing game is almost a complete unknown as two-thirds of last year's receiving yards and 100% of the passing yards are no longer on the roster. Add a young offensive line on top of that and the concern of putting up points grows.

Running back is clearly the most deep part of the offense. Senior captain Brandon Monk (1,296 yards and 9 TD's rushing, 278 yards and 2 TD's receiving) was first team All-PSAC East and an honorable mention All-American last season and is expected to carry a bulk of the load this year. Sophomore Jarel Elder (452 yards and 3 TD's) will provide relief as will redshirt freshman Mike Class. While Eddie Elliott (639 yards and 5 TD's rushing, 328 yards and 1 TD receiving) earned second team All-PSAC East honors last season, expect him and Rhode Island transfer Eerin Young to line up as a slot receiver. They both may get some carries on speed sweeps, but a little dump pass means they get a five-yard head start downfield. Sophomore Anthony Brown saw a lot of late-game action last season and redshirt freshman Mark Dukes has been explosive in scrimmages.

Four of last season's offensive linemen received all-conference honors, but left tackle Doug Gilbert is the only one of those four returning. The junior started every game last season and was named first team All-PSAC East and second team Super Region One. Sophomore Vince Lostracco was also a starter last season at right tackle and was expected to be at left guard this year, but his status is unknown after suffering an injury in the team's final scrimmage of summer camp. Center Devan LaBau, right guard Tyler Drob and right tackle Michael Unger all got plenty of playing time last year as redshirt freshman, but will now be asked to shoulder the load. Sophomore Alex Host is the most likely replacement at left guard and redshirt freshmen Jake Duncan and Eric Morrison along with sophomore Evyn Stadulis will rotate on the offense line.

Last year's quarterback - Sean McCartney - was a sixth-year senior who led the country in touchdown passes with 42 and finished fifth in the Harlon Hill Award ballot as the best player in Division II football. This year's quarterback has yet to throw a pass as a Golden Ram. After last season, it was expected that Andrew Derr would quarterback the Golden Rams in 2015 and 2016, but after an off field incident in the spring, his name does not appear on the roster as of the end of August. Sophomore Pat Moriarty finished five of West Chester's blowout wins last season, including the first-round playoff victory over Slippery Rock, but didn't throw a pass in those contests. Junior Alec Werner started six games as a true freshman for Kutztown in 2013, throwing for 1,804 yards and 13 TD's, before transferring to West Chester prior to last season. Werner didn't play for the Golden Rams last year for what would be considered a redshirt season. Both Moriarty and Werner have seen plenty of playing time through camp and it will be interesting to see how the quarterback situation plays out between these two this season. Behind them are true freshmen Paul Dooley and Jordan Sadusky.

Besides quarterback, another unexpected void this year will be at tight end. Many might think, "it's only a tight end", but Tim Brown wasn't "only a tight end". He happened to be third in the country in receiving touchdowns last year with 17 to go along with his 1,059 receiving yards. He received numerous All-American honors after last season and more prior to this year. But the NCAA has since ruled he is ineligible to play further college football. While Shawn Driggins (6 catches, 69 yards, 3 TD's) is a senior, he is mostly used as a run blocker or as a receiver on short-yardage situations, not the downfield receiving threat that Brown was. Sophomore Bill Ford played in eleven games last year and sophomore Connor McGrath will be seeking his first collegiate playing time. Sophomore Brandon Spatz has been converted from a linebacker/defensive back to an H-back.

Among last year's pass catchers, the top two returnees are the aforementioned Elliott and Monk. Returning at the wide receiver position are junior Shannon Mayer (25 catches, 247 yards, 3 TD's), senior Adam Dempsey (21 catches, 171 yards, 1 TD), junior Jim Hurley (10 catches, 143 yards) and junior Dion Shaw (6 catches, 54 yards). Temple transfer Tyler Karpinski had two great performances in the scrimmages, and looks to be a dependable target. Junior A.J. DePietro and sophomores Marcus Sydnor and Danny Jackson are seeking their first collegiate reception.

Special Teams

Senior Charles Kuklinski is about to embark on his final season for West Chester, serving as the team's long snapper for the past three years. Like last year, Monk, Elliott, and Elder will serve as return men, although Anthony Brown has shown that he's a capable returner as well.

The direction of the kicking game wasn't obvious after the second scrimmage, but it looks like Ben Solis and/or Brendan Paulison will do the place kicking and Paulison or Connor Foley will do the punting.

Conclusion

The Golden Rams have incurred a lot of change in the off season for a variety of reasons. The players need to look around the locker room and come to grips that this is the 2015 team and go after it. There's a lot of youth and inexperience on this team, but plenty of talent. If they can come together and realize their potential, the outcome could turn out quite well.

Here's a summary of where the Golden Rams are ranked in the national preseason polls and rating services:

Ratings Service	Rank
Lindy’s	16
Hero Sports	21
AFCA	23
Massey	29
D2Football.com	22
Sporting News	18
ComputerRatings.com	24

D2Football - PSAC Columnist - PSAC East #2: West Chester

HERO Sports - 5 D2 Football Teams That Have to Replace A Top QB in 2015

Alumni News - Buccaneers Waive Shabazz

The Tamp Bay Buccaneers waived former Golden Ram cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz on Sunday. Hajj was among ten players released by the Buccaneers prior to the September 1st date when all NFL teams must trim their rosters to 75 players.

Buccaneers.com - Buccaneers Waive 10 Players

Team News - Roster Update

Now that camp has come to a close, there have been some updates to the 2015 Golden Rams' roster. As expected, tight end Tim Brown is no longer listed due to the recent ineligibility ruling by the NCAA. Also no longer listed is junior quarterback Andrew Derr, nor his brother John Derr who was expected to play tight end. With Tim Brown and John Derr both gone, sophomore Brandon Spatz has been moved from shark to H-back.

Spatz being moved to the offensive side of the ball and sophomore Dan Sherry not being dressed for either scrimmage has created a void at one of the inside linebacker positions. Ralph Reeves will occupy the one spot, but the other will likely be shared among Delaware transfer Justice Smith, true sophomore Sean Steinmetz or true freshman Zack Hockman.

It's unknown how severe the injury to left guard Vince Lostracco is, but it's expected that Alex Host will move into the starting spot if LoStracco can't play. However, this further highlights the youth and depth issues at both guard spots.

Team News - 2015 Second Scrimmage Report

On a perfect evening for football, the Golden Rams held their second and final scrimmage of the 2015 season before approximately 200 fans. Overall and as expected, play was much improved from last week. Here are some general observations:

• Just like last week, Pat Moriarty started the game with the first team offense, but Alec Werner played with the first unit as well. It's not clear if West Chester will merely have a well-prepared backup or if they're planning a two-headed quarterback.
• Regardless of which QB was throwing, Tyler Karpinski was catching. The Temple transfer showed a knack for getting open, reliable hands and the speed to gain yards after the catch.
• Left guard Vince Lostracco left the scrimmage with an apparent injury to his right knee and did not return.
• Cornerback Blaise Schieler sat out and redshirt freshman Corey Kelley took his place.
• Defensive end Byron Cooper did not play in last week's scrimmage, but looked very quick around the edge. His aggressiveness did draw at least one offside penalty however.
• Mark Dukes ripped off another long touchdown run.
• True freshman Quinten Cheyney stayed in pass coverage deep down the field and made a nice interception.
• Redshirt freshman Mike Class showed he can get positive yards both running and receiving.

Eddie Elliott running free in space (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Nydair Rouse maintained good position to make this interception in the end zone (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Tyler Karpinski makes a diving catch (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Player News - NCAA Rules Tim Brown Ineligible

The NCAA has reportedly ruled senior tight end Tim Brown ineligible from playing collegiate football any further. Brown had an All-American season in 2014 and performed very well in 2013 despite missing five games due to an injury. He appeared on West Chester's 2012 roster but did not see game action. He first appeared on a college football roster as a linebacker in 2009 at nearby Albright College and was enrolled at Delaware County Community college prior transferring to West Chester.

Earlier this month, Brown received preseason All-American honors from both D2Football.com and HERO Sports. In June, he was rated the number one small school (non FBS) tight end in the 2016 NFL draft. Last season, Brown led the Golden Rams in all receiving categories with 53 catches for 1,059 yards and 17 scores. His receiving yards and touchdowns were tops in the country among tight ends. Brown was named first team All-PSAC East, first team Super Region One by Daktronics, first team Super Region One by Beyond Sports Network, first team Super Region One by Don Hansen Football Gazette, second team All-American by Daktronics and Beyond Sports Network, and first team All-American by Don Hansen Football Gazette. In 2013, Brown snared 20 passes for 429 yards and five touchdowns with three of those touchdowns coming in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

West Chester All-America TE Tim Brown has been ruled ineligible by the NCAA due to semester rule. It appears he is a street free agent now.

— Josh (@joshnfldraft) August 27, 2015

philly.com - West Chester's Zwaan lets one get away

West Chester Athletic Site - Tim Brown Declared Ineligible By NCAA

Player News - Brown Lands Another Preseason All-American Nod

Senior tight end Tim Brown received yet another honor as he was recognized as a first team preseason All-American by D2Football.com. Last week he was selected as a preseason All-American by HERO Sports.

Last season, Brown led the Golden Rams in all receiving categories with 53 catches for 1,059 yards and 17 scores. His receiving yards and touchdowns were tops in the country among tight ends. Brown was named first team All-PSAC East, first team Super Region One by Daktronics, first team Super Region One by Beyond Sports Network, first team Super Region One by Don Hansen Football Gazette, second team All-American by Daktronics and Beyond Sports Network, and first team All-American by Don Hansen Football Gazette.

D2Football.com - 2015 D2Football.com Preseason All-America Team

Team News - Golden Rams #22 in D2Football.com Preseason Poll

After finishing 11-2 and reaching the NCAA playoffs for the second consecutive season, West Chester is ranked #22 in the D2Football.com preseason poll. West Chester opens the 2015 season on September 3 when they host #10 Lenoir-Rhyne.

D2Football.com - D2Football.com Poll – August 25, 2015

West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Cracks Top 25 In D2Football.com Preseason Poll

Alumni News - Shabazz Sees Action with Buccaneers

Former Golden Ram cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz registered two solo tackles in last night's Monday Night Football game. Hajj played in Tampa Bay's final defensive series in their win over visiting Cincinnati. On first down from the Tampa Bay 27, Hajj made quick work of a short completion for a two yard gain. Two plays later, Hajj threw down Jake Kumerow after an 11-yard pickup.

ESPN - Buccaneers 25 - Bengals 11

Team News - 2015 First Scrimmage Report

Here are some observations from the Golden Rams' first scrimmage of the 2015 season, which was played in front of about 150 fans on a sunny and warm Saturday afternoon.

• Pat Moriarty started the game with the first team offense, but both he and Alec Werner had plenty of opportunity to run with the first unit.
• Early in the contest, Brandon Monk broke a third and one for a big gain. R-Fr defensive back Nydair Rouse used his speed to catch up to Monk, but Monk put on some nifty moves before being drug down by other defenders.
• True freshman Zack Hockman saw plenty of time and made a nice tackle while on the field with the first team defense.
• Tyler Karpinski had a nice catch for a first down and later hauled in a touchdown reception during red zone drills.
• Corey Kelley had some nice one-on-one coverage on a deep Moriarty to Eddie Elliott pass.
• Moriarty and Werner, as well as freshman Paul Dooley, showed that they are mobile quarterbacks. All three still need to take a little bit longer to find the open receiver before pulling it down and taking off.
• Once running back Mark Dukes broke into the clear, he turned on the burners as he had a couple of long runs with one resulting in a touchdown around the right side.
• Kickers Brendan Paulison, Connor Foley and Ben Solis all did fine on PAT's, but not so well in field goal drills.
• Shaquil James and Ted Patton saw plenty of time at cornerback.

Nydair Rouse gets some help to bring down Brandon Monk (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Pat Moriarty looks for Eddie Elliott covered by Corey Kelley (Photo Bert Garbutt)

The Golden Rams held their first scrimmage under the watchful eye of Bill Zwaan (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Team News - Key Summer Dates

Below are the key dates for the next couple of weeks for Golden Ram football fans:

- Sat, August 22 - Scrimmage 10:00 am in Farrell Stadium
- Fri, August 28 - Scrimmage 6:00 pm in Farrell Stadium
- Wed, September 2 - Golden Ram Football Club meeting 7:30 pm at Timothy's
- Thur, September 3 - Game vs Lenoir-Rhyne 6:00 pm
- Thur, September 10 - The Bill Zwaan Coaches Show at 7:00 pm at Timothy's

Please note - Scrimmage dates and times are subject to change.

Throwback Thursday - 1925

J.A. MacGovern only coached West Chester for five seasons and 1925 was his second campaign. The team went 5-2 in a season that didn't start until October. The squad was led by the defense since in their five wins, West Chester outscored their opponents 168-0. Among those wins was a 13-0 shutout over Bloomsburg in the first ever meeting between the two schools.

The Yellow Jackets, as they were called then, fell to Shippensburg 6-0. West Chester outplayed Shippensburg and held a 14-3 advantage in first downs. The referee's decision was taken to the Central Board which ruled the game 0-0. West Chester's rematch challenge on a neutral field using Central Board officials went unheard by Shippensburg. Muhlenberg's freshman squad was the only to cross the West Chester goal line that season and held a 19-0 halftime lead. West Chester stormed back in the second half, scoring 14 points, but the game was shortened by ten minutes and the final score stood at 19-14 Mules.

Player News - Brown Receives More Preseason Honors

Senior tight end Tim Brown received another honor as he was recognized as a preseason All-American by HERO Sports. Unlike many All-American teams, HERO selects only eleven players on offense, so Brown is the only player honored at his position.

Last season, Brown led the Golden Rams in all receiving categories with 53 catches for 1,059 yards and 17 scores. His receiving yards and touchdowns were tops in the country among tight ends. Brown was named first team All-PSAC East, first team Super Region One by Daktronics, first team Super Region One by Beyond Sports Network, first team Super Region One by Don Hansen Football Gazette, second team All-American by Daktronics and Beyond Sports Network, and first team All-American by Don Hansen Football Gazette.

HERO Sports - HERO Sports 2015 D2 Football Preseason All-America Team

Team News - Golden Rams #23 in AFCA Preseason Poll

After reaching the NCAA playoffs for the second consecutive season, West Chester is ranked #23 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II preseason poll. West Chester opens the 2015 season on September 3 when they host #10 Lenoir-Rhyne.

American Football Coaches Association - Division II Coaches’ Poll – August 17, 2015

West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Ranked 23rd In AFCA Preseason Poll

Alumni News - Shabazz Sees Action with Buccaneers

Former Golden Ram cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz got his first taste of NFL game action when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the Minnesota Vikings 26-16 in the Bucs' first preseason game of the year. In the second half, Hajj was a gunner on the punt and kickoff teams. He also logged two solo tackles from his left cornerback position which he played late in the third quarter and almost the entire fourth quarter.

ESPN - Vikings 26 - Buccaneers 16

Player News - QB Derr Situation Still Unresolved

Andrew Derr

Golden Ram quarterback Andrew Derr's status on the team this season remains in question after his guilty plea stemming from an incident in town in March. According to the preseason depth chart released prior to this week's court appearance earlier this week, Derr was still listed as the starter. On that depth chart, redshirt sophomore Pat Moriarty was listed as the backup. In the mix is Kutztown transfer Alec Werner, also a redshirt sophomore, who played very well in the Spring Game.

Daily Local - Derr, WCU await fate from court

Daily Local - WCU QB spends night in county prison

Throwback Thursday - 1935

After preseason practices with teams ranging from Ursinus College to the Philadelphia Eagles, Dr. W. Glenn Killinger posted a 7-3 record in just his second season as head coach at West Chester. The season opened with a trip to New Brunswick, NJ and a 19-7 victory over Rutgers in the only game ever played between the two schools. The following week was a 9-6 win over Elon which finished 7-3 that season. Another notable win was an 18-0 shutout over visiting Lock Haven which was undefeated at the time of their meeting. West Chester's three losses came at Penn Military (now Widener), LaSalle, and Western State (now Western Michigan).

Captain George "Monk" McGinness was instrumental in the win over Rutgers, but his season was cut short due to an injury in the third game of the season at Penn Military. John Taronis became West Chester's first All-American as named by the Associated Press. McGinness and Taronis are both members of the Killinger Football Hall of Fame, as is Millard Robinson who was labeled as "one of West Chester's greatest backs".

John Taronis
Millard Robinson

Team News - 2015 Roster Changes

Other than departing seniors, the 2015 roster does not pose a lot of changes. The most notable departures all come from the defensive side of the ball and there are no real surprises as none appeared on the roster for the spring game. Among them is defensive back Dante Devine who played in all 11 regular season games last year, registering 15 total tackles. Devine played in nine games, including two starts, in both 2011 and 2012, but was not on the roster in 2013. Also departed is defensive lineman Shaquil Ryder who registered 60 total tackles, including 6.0 sacks, and an interception in his two seasons with the Golden Rams. No longer on the roster are defensive backs Pat McCabe, John McGilligan and Lehigh transfer Russhon Phillips.

Besides the slew of incoming freshman, there are a handful of incoming transfers. Running back/wide receiver Eerin Young (Rhode Island), linebacker Justice Smith (Delaware) and kicker Ben Solis (Stony Brook) entered West Chester prior to last semester and played in the spring game. Although defensive tackle Dominic Toney (Indiana of PA) appeared on the 2014 roster, he did not see action at West Chester and apparently not at Indiana either. Also transferring from the PSAC West is offensive lineman Shareef Clinton (California of PA). Clinton played in 20 games as a reserve in his two seasons with the Vulcans and did not redshirt while there. Finally, wide receiver Tyler Karpinski (Temple) has made his arrival in West Chester. At Manheim Township, Karpinski was an All-State kick and punt returner and was named the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section One Wide Receiver of the Year and Defensive Back of the Year. As a true freshman at Temple in 2013, he hauled in four receptions for 22 yards, making his first collegiate reception at Notre Dame. He did not play for the Owls last season.

Expect Solis to be the Golden Rams' place kicker in 2015 and Toney appears on the preseason depth chart as a backup defensive tackle. With West Chester's offense, Young and Karpinski should have plenty of opportunities to get touches. It's not clear if Clinton will redshirt in 2015, but at 6'7", it seems he's best suited for right tackle.

Although not a transfer, defensive lineman Kavon Johnson is back after a year not being on the roster. In three games as a redshirt freshman in 2013, Johnson registered a tackle for loss and two QB hurries. And finally, new to the Golden Rams is tight end Matt Sharp. It's not clear how much football he played in Great Britain, but at 6'6" 255 lbs, he sounds like tight end material.

Name	Pos	Ht	Wt	School
Shareef Clinton	OL	6-7	310	Imhotep Charter/California (PA)
Tyler Karpinski	WR	5-11	175	Manheim Township/Temple
Justice Smith	LB	6-0	220	Upper Merion/Delaware
Ben Solis	PK	5-9	220	Council Rock South/Stoney Brook
Dominic Toney	DL	6-3	280	West Catholic/Indiana (PA)
Eerin Young	RB/WR	5-9	185	Imhotep Charter/Rhode Island

Team News - Golden Rams Picked To Finish Second

The West Chester University Golden Rams were picked to finish second in the division by the conference coaches at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference annual Football Media Day.

Predicted order :

Eastern Division
1. Bloomsburg
2. West Chester
3T. East Stroudsburg
3T. Shippensburg
5. Kutztown
T6. Lock Haven
T6. Millersville
8. Cheyney

The Golden Rams were represented by head coach Bill Zwaan, senior running back Eddie Elliott and senior captain and defensive back Brandon Pepper.

Brandon Pepper, Head Coach Bill Zwaan, Eddie Elliott (Photo PSAC)

Head Coach Bill Zwaan talks to Neil Geoghegan of the Daily Local News

PSAC Site - Bloomsburg and Gannon Picked First in PSAC Coaches' Preseason Poll

Daily Local News - West Chester picked 2nd in PSAC East preseason poll

West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Selected Second in the East Division of the PSAC

PSAC Video - Football Media Day 2015 East

Alumni News - Weber, Senser to ChesCo Sports Hall of Fame

Former Golden Ram football players Chuck Weber and Joe Senser have been named to the 2015 Inductee Class of the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame. The 2015 Annual Induction Banquet will be held on Saturday, November 14th at the Downingtown Country Club.

As a nose guard in 1952, Weber became the first West Chester player named All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. He went on to play primarily linebacker for seven seasons (1955 - 1961) in the NFL, including the 1955 NFL Champion Cleveland Browns and the 1960 NFL Champion Philadelphia Eagles. He later coached in the NFL and AFL for the Boston Patriots, San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Colts.

As the game of football and the Golden Ram offense has opened up over the years, Senser's place on the career reception list has slowly slipped. He was West Chester's top receiver for each of the four years that he played for the Golden Rams from 1975 to 1978, finishing his career with 155 receptions for 2,186 yards and 14 touchdowns. Senser was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 1979 and went on to play in 49 games over four seasons, recording 165 receptions for 1,822 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also played in the 1981 Pro Bowl.

Both are already members of the Killinger Hall of Fame.

Daily Local News - Bell, Gold Polley head new CCSHOF class

Chuck Weber
Joe Senser

Event News - PSAC Football Media Day

The PSAC will hold its annual Football Media Day on Monday, August 10. The schools from the East Division will be hosted by Kutztown University while the West Division schools will gather at Slippery Rock University. Along with head coach Bill Zwaan, the Golden Rams will be represented by senior captains running back Brandon Monk and defensive back Brandon Pepper.

PSAC Site - 2015 PSAC Football Media Day

Throwback Thursday - 1945

Looking back, 1945 was a sobering season, although at the time, it was much celebrated. There was no football played in 1943 and 1944 due to World War II, so a football season was a return to normalcy. Consider that LaSalle stopped playing football after 1941 due to the war and the program didn't resume until 1997. For West Chester, the 1945 season didn't start until mid-October and consisted of only four games. A 12-0 shutout win at Haverford was followed by a 6-6 tie against Delaware. It's the last game ever played between the two schools in West Chester, although Delaware does not formally recognize the 1945 season. The final two games were a 6-0 win over Drexel and a 12-7 win over Swarthmore.

A view of campus in 1946. The Old Library on the left, Philips Memorial in the lower Right, Ruby Jones above that, and Wayne Field, home of West Chester football, in the upper left corner.