TIMES-DISPATCH PICKS FOOTBALL TIGERS TO WIN THE ODAC

RICHMOND, VA (August 27, 2004)—The Richmond Times-Dispatch Football Preview has picked the Hampden-Sydney College football team to claim its first Old Dominion Athletic Conference crown since 1987.  Hampden-Sydney, chosen second in the ODAC coaches preseason poll, was tabbed as the team most likely to end Bridgewater’s three-year reign as conference champion. 

The Tigers, picked in the top-25 by four national publications including sixth in the Sports Illustrated Division III poll, return six starters on ODAC Coach of the Year Marty Favret’s offense, which led the nation in scoring a year ago averaging 47.2 points-per-game.  Meanwhile, as many as nine starters and six seniors on the ODAC’s second-rated defense from 2003, which is under the direction of first-year defensive coordinator Jon Shields. 

Junior quarterback JD Ricca (Gaithersburg, MD/St. John’s) has earned preseason All-America accolades from three publications, including a first team nod from Lindy’s, while two-time All-ODAC running back CW Clemmons (Covington, VA/Alleghany) was picked as a second team preseason All-American by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette.

Meanwhile, senior receiver and captain Nick Ferrante (Bryantown, MD/Gonzaga) will look to fill the shoes of departed All-American receiver Conrad Singh, while senior linebackers Daniel Park (Richmond, VA/Fork Union) and Ryan Still (Salem, VA/Glenvar) return to captain the Tiger defense. 

The Tigers open the 2004 campaign on the road as the team travels to Sewanee, TN, to take on the University of the South at 1 pm CST, 2 pm EST.  The game will be broadcast live on FM 95.7 WFLO and on the internet at www.hsc.edu/atheltics.

-www.hsc.edu/athletics-