2009 Assumption College Season Outlook
Provided By Assumption Sports Information
Assumption College will open its 21st season of intercollegiate
football with high hopes, a host of talented athletes and a
‘new’ coaching staff. Cory Bailey, who directed the
Hounds’ program from 2004-07 is back with the team. Adam
Fuller, who stayed just one season, is now a defensive coach with
the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Bailey is a combination of
the laid back calm cool guy in the office, a real players coach. On
the field he is an intense competitor who demands his players work
hard at all times.
As the 2009 season unfolds the Greyhouds will obviously miss the
talents of several departed players. Wide receiver Joe Fabiano(123
receptions, 1,361 yards), tight end Jake Longenecker (87
receptions, 1,056 yards) and safety Chris Martino (308 tackles,
career record 12 interceptions) will be the major holes in the
lineup. Roster additions include 33 freshman hopefuls and seven
transfers should help as Bailey molds the Greyhounds into a
Northeast-10 Conference contender.
The Greyhounds have a host of standout performers. On offense,
junior quarterback Josh Ratacik passed for over 1,600 yards, junior
running back Herb Woodardis a two-time all-conference standout and
junior tackle Matt Sidebottom is one of the premier offensive
linemen in the conference. In addition the very talented senior
David Canney is back at wide receiver after missing last season
with injury. Canney is the fastest 1,000-yard receiver in
Hounds’ history.
Defensively, senior middle linebacker Dustin Zitzmann has over 300
tackles, while junior Keith Bates, junior RyanCrowleyand senior
Bernard Scott are among the best secondary people in the
conference. Bailey’s major concerns will center around
experienced depth on both
sides of the line of scrimmage and depth at running back.
The kicking game (both placekicker and punter) will also be new
personnel. The schedule has a few new additions. The Hounds open
with Pennsylvania State Conference opponent Millersville (Friday,
August 28) and at crosstown rival Worcester State (Saturday,
September 5). Has it really been 25 years (1984) since the Lancers
and Hounds locked horns in the old ‘club’ days?
