Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Although both teams have declared their offensive sets for this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, New Hampshire coach Craig Kozens said he's not sure what his team's defense will see on game day. Here's why:

Brennan Carney, Vermont's offensive coordinator, likes to put the football in the air. By comparison, Vermont head coach Mike Law has a more conservative approach when it comes to calling offensive plays.

"The thing that concerns us is that when I was talking to (Carney) he said if he had his way he'd run the ball once," Kozens said. "I know (Law) likes to keep the ball on the ground. It should be interesting when those two get together."

Kozens said Vermont will run some plays out of a traditional Wing-T formation, and others out of a five-wide set. He's just not sure how much of each he'll see.

"We have a ton of athletes," Kozens said. "Our defensive secondary should match up with what they want to do."

New Hampshire won't be single-minded in its offensive approach either. Kozens said he plans to use an I-formation as well as a shotgun-spread formation.

"There were over 130 kids nominated and there were a lot of tough choices," Kozens said. "The skill kids are always the toughest."

Although Nashua South quarterback Bill Ferriter (pictured) is expected to take most of the snaps from center, Kozens said Peter Mazzola (Pinkerton), Ryan Cronan (Winnacunnet) and Bobby Williams (Kearsarge) are others who could see time at quarterback.

"We'll play everybody (on the roster)," Kozens said. "It's hard to say who will play where until we get them on the field. After our scrimmage we'll create roles for everybody."

This year's game will be played Aug. 2 at Dartmouth's Memorial Field. Each team will begin practicing July 23 at Kimball Union Academy.

New Hampshire has won the last seven games, and has a 39-13-2 edge in the all-time series.

"You want to win the game, but you want it to be a positive experience too," Kozens said.

Hartford High School's Sean Stone, a split end/defensive back, has been added to the Vermont roster for this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl. Stone, who was a Division I first-team selection at defensive back, replaced Brattleboro's Andrew Cavanaugh.

Stone helped Hartford win its first Division I state championship last season. Hartford defeated South Burlington, 13-7. It was Hartford's fourth consecutive trip to the Division I title game.

Practice for this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl will begin July 23 at Kimball Union Academy. The game will be played Aug. 2 at Dartmouth's Memorial Field.

New Hampshire has a 39-13-2 advantage in the series.

When the University of New Hampshire football team opens its 2008 season Sept. 6 at Army, the Wildcats won't be facing the same type of offense that helped Army throw for 2,268 yards last season -- the second-highest single-season total in the program's history.

Army coach Stan Brock revamped his team's offense during the offseason and did his best to keep the new look a secret. Spring practice was closed to outsiders and Brock turned the Spring Game into a defensive scrimmage.

Rumors that Army would be returning to an option offense gained credibility when Army successfully recruited quarterback Paul Macintosh, who ran a spread-option offense last season when he was named Mr. Football in Indiana.

Several media outlets have reported that Army is expected to unveil a wishbone attack when it faces Temple on Aug. 29, one week before its game against UNH. Bobby Ross scrapped the option in favor of a pro-style offense when he became Army's head coach in 2004, but Brock has apparently brought it back in an attempt to add some punch to a running game that was held to six touchdowns last season.

"I don't think that it's a secret that we've worked hard on our offensive scheme," Brock said. "There are going to be some things that are different in that area. I'm anxious to see how the players handle those changes."

Navy, which runs the triple option, has led the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing each of the last three seasons and has made five consecutive bowl appearances.

Army Scouting Report

2007 record: 3-9
Base offense: wishbone
Base defense: 4-3
Starters returning (O/D/ST): 11 (4/5/2)
Starters lost (O/D/ST): 14 (7/6/1)
Offensive starters returning (4): Brandon Cox (OG), Tony Dace (RB), Mike Lemming (OT), Carson Williams (QB).
Defensive starters returning (5): Ted Bentler (DL), Nick Emmons (RB), Josh Mitchell (DB), John Plumstead (LB), Frank Scappaticci (LB).
Noteworthy: Two New Hampshire high school players -- Exeter tight end Brad Kelly and Keene quarterback Tanner Boucher -- will join the Army program this season.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Football purists look at the A-11 offense with disdain, and would like to see a rules revision make it extinct. Others feel the A-11 is the best thing that's happened to the sport since the facemask was introduced.

The A-11 is innovative, exciting and definitely controversial. The offense got its name because any of the 11 players can be eligible pass receivers. How is that legal? Here's how:

Former University of New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos signed a contract with the Montreal Alouettes earlier this week.

Santos was not selected in this year's NFL draft, but the Kansas City Chiefs invited him to their rookie camp. He was cut by the Chiefs earlier this month.

The Alouettes could have as many as seven quarterbacks on their roster at the start of training camp.

The University of New Hampshire football staff will hold the 2008 Granite State Football Clinics on the following dates:

June 3: Londonderry High School
June 4: Manchester West High School
June 5: Stellos Stadium, Nashua
June 6: Souhegan High School, Amherst
June 9: Marshwood High School, South Berwick (Maine)

The clinic schedule will be as follows:

4:30 p.m.: Registration
5 p.m.: Offensive individual period
5:55 p.m.: Break
6 p.m.: Defensive individual period
6:55: 7 on 7 and OL/DL one on one

"This is the 15th year we've been involved with the Granite State Football Clinics and it has been an outstanding opportunity for our UNH staff to connect with our state's outstanding high school coaches and players," UNH coach Sean McDonnell said.

There is a $15 registration fee for each clinic. Those who attend should dress in shorts, a t-shirt and cleats. For more information contact Bob Callahan at (603) 862-5098.

The St. Anselm College football program is seeking an assistant coach, who would be responsible for participating in the supervision and direction of all aspects of team functions.

 Specific duties will include on-field coaching; assisting in practice preparation, recruiting and scouting. Other areas of responsibility will be assigned by the head coach. In addition, the assistant coach must become familiar with, adhere to, and enforce all the policies and procedures of the athletic department and St. Anselm College, as well as the rules and regulations of the NCAA, ECAC, NE-10, and any other authorities that affect the intercollegiate athletic program.

Qualified applicants will have a bachelor's degree, at least two years of college playing experience (Division I preferred) and one or more years of college coaching experience or four years of varsity high school coaching experience.

Those interested should submit a resume and reference material to hawksfootball@anselm.edu.

Former University of New Hampshire quarterback Hank Hendricks is one of five men who will stand trial on murder and other charges for the beating death of a professional surfer in La Jolla, Calif.

The University of New Hampshire is picked 10th in the country among Football Championship Subdivision programs in Lindy's 2008 College Football Preview, which is on newsstands now. 

Lindy's selected UNH second, behind Massachusetts, in the Colonial Athletic Assocation's North Division. Dartmouth was picked to finish sixth in the eight-team Ivy League.

Appalachian State, which has won the last three FCS national championships, was picked No. 1 in the country. Four CAA teams -- James Madison (No. 3), Massachusetts (No. 4), Delaware (No. 9) and UNH (No. 10) -- are in Lindy's top 10.

UNH's Scott Sicko (pictured), a junior tight end, was named to Lindy's 2008 All-FCS first-team offense. Sicko started in 12 games last season. He finished the year with 51 receptions for 619 yards and six touchdowns.

Lindy's also called UNH's Sept. 6 game at Army one of the five biggest (FCS) games of the season.

Media members who cover Colonial Athletic Association football have been asked to cast their votes for preseason offensive and defensive all-conference teams, as well as a predicted order of finish for the CAA North and CAA South. It's a sure sign that football is right around the corner.

The following information was submitted by Mike Zhe, who covers University of New Hampshire football for the Portsmouth Herald: 
 
CAA NORTH

1. Massachusetts
2. New Hampshire
3. Northeastern
4. Maine
5. Hofstra
6. Rhode Island

CAA SOUTH

1. James Madison
2. Richmond
3. Villanova
4. Delaware
5. William & Mary
6. Towson

Overall team champion: James Madison

Newfound Regional High school has openings for a varsity head coach, a junior varsity head coach, a varsity assistant coach and a junior varsity assistant coach for the 2008 season.

Those interested in any of these positions can send a resume and a letter of intent to Peter Cofran, athletic director, Newfound Regional High School, 150 Newfound Road, Bristol, N.H., 03222, or email to pcofran@newfound.k12.nh.us. 

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

When Norm Cormier became interested in coaching the Raymond High School football team, he surveyed the situation and found a lot of pieces in place.

• Raymond was already home to a healthy youth program, the Nor-Rock Vikings.
• Raymond football had already established a strong booster program.
• The school had a field to use for home games (107 Field).
• Most of the school's athletes were familiar with Cormier because he works as a social studies teacher at Raymond High School.

Of course Cormier (pictured), who was named the program's first head coach earlier this month, still has plenty to do before Raymond is ready for its first season of football. The Rams will spend two years as a sub-varsity team before joining the state's other varsity programs in 2010.

"The Friends of Raymond Football have done most of the leg work, but there's a lot to do," Cormier said. "We're starting with zero equipment and we're planning to dress 40 kids. We have to go sub-varsity for two years, but that wasn't a problem for me.

"I know the kids. I know they're good athletes. They really want to play."

Cormier, a 57-year-old Manchester resident, has a lengthy coaching resume. His high school experience includes two stints as an assistant coach at Pinkerton Academy. He spent last season as the defensive coordinator at Manchester Memorial, which is where he played his high school football.

Cormier said there are about 20 students who regularly participate in a voluntary weight-lifting program, and that he hopes to play a full junior varsity schedule this season.

"I'd like to get seven or eight games under our belt," he said. "There are some other programs, like Mascoma and the co-op team in Hopkinton and Hillsboro-Deering, who are in the same position we are. There are plenty of teams who want to play us. Some games we may play mostly JVs, other games we may play mostly freshmen. We'll just have to see what the other teams want to do."

Cormier, who also showed interest in the Manchester Memorial coaching job, said he plans to use the Wing-T offense because of its versaility. "It allows you to use your strengths," he said. "You're not tied to one thing."

Raymond High School will team up with the Nor-Rock Vikings for a football information night on June 3 (6 p.m.). Cormier said strong community support is another reason the Raymond job appealed to him.

"I know there are a lot of kids who played for the Nor-Rock Vikings, but didn't have the opportunity to play in high school," Cormier said. "They had to go to St. Thomas or Trinity just so they could play football. Now they have a place to play."

Coaching changes that have been made since the end of the 2007 NHIAA football season. Previous coach listed in parenthesis:

Bedford: Kurt Hines (Jim O'Keefe)
Londonderry: Jon Rich (Tom Sawyer)
Mascoma: TBA (Scott McPhee)
Merrimack: Joe Battista (Rick Urda)
Stevens: David Miller (Ralph Silva)
John Stark: TBA (Bill Raycraft)
Memorial: Peter Colcord (Dante Laurendi)
Timberlane: Kevin Fitzgerald (Mike Pariseau)

Bruce Wood has posted biographical sketches on each member of Dartmouth's incoming football class. There's a link to the bios on Wood's Big Green Alert Blog. The information can also be found on the Dartmouth athletics web site.

Pinkerton Academy won't be playing its home games under the lights -- at least not this season.

According to a story in the Nashua Telegraph, instability in the bond market has pushed back the start of construction on a rectangular, lighted field that will be located near Pinkerton's current football field. The new field will feature a FieldTurf surface and will be surrounded by a track.

There was some hope that Pinkerton could play home games on its new field this season, but the delay in construction means the field won't be ready for play this fall.

Pinkerton is the only Division I team that doesn't play its home games on a lighted field. 

The Raymond High School football team will team up with the Nor-Rock Vikings youth football and cheerleading programs for a Raymond Football Night at the Raymond High School cafeteria on June 3 starting at 6 p.m.

Representatives from the high school, the Friends of Raymond Football boosters, and the Nor-Rock Vikings program will be on hand to provide information about football and cheerleading opportunties in Raymond. There will also be a guest speaker to discuss nutrition and how to live a healthy lifestyle.

The Raymond High School football team will play a junior varsity schedule for two seasons, and is expected to join Division VI in 2010.

Please visit the Chalkboard page for more information on camps, clinics, fundraisers and coaching vacancies. 

This year's Twilight Blue Hawk Football Camp will be held from July 27 to July 31 (5:30--7:30 p.m.) at Exeter High School. The camp, which focuses on football fundamentals, is open to anyone from Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire who is entering grades 5-12. 

Instruction is handled by the Exeter High School coaching staff. A trainer will be on site at all times.

Those who attend should bring a water bottle, helmet, shoulder pads, mouthpiece, shorts and football shoes.Those who need equipment should contact the Exeter High School athletic department at 775-8530.

The cost is $60 on or before June 19, and $65 after June 19. All athletes must submit a completed registration and medical release form to the Exeter High School athletic department by July 24.

Note: Any New Hampshire high school coach who would like to promote a summer camp on this site should send the information to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. 

Marshwood High School, located in South Berwick,  Maine -- about 10 minutes from the New Hampshire border -- has openings for a freshman head coach as well as an assistant coach at the freshman level for the 2008 season.

Marshwood's varsity competes in Class A, which is Maine's largest division. Rod Wotton, currently the head coach at St. Thomas, won 17 championship during his 27 seasons as Marshwood's head coach. In 1987 Marshwood had the longest winning streak in the nation (45 games).

Those interested in either position can contact Rich Buzzell, Marshwood's director of athletics, at rbuzzell@msad35.net or (207) 384-4500 (ext. 2121).

An investigator for the District Attorney's office testified in a San Diego Superior Court hearing Thursday that he believes former University of New Hampshire quarterback Henri "Hank" Hendricks (pictured) is part of a gang known as the Bird Rock Bandits. The investigator, David Soliven, said the group displays "gang charateristics."

Hendricks, who left the UNH program during the 2007 season, is one of five men charged in the death of a professional surfer in La Jolla, Calif., last year.

The judge presiding over the preliminary hearing also said he is concerened about a discrepancy between two transcripts of an interview with the same witness.

Read more in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

Of all the high school coaching changes that have taken place in the offseason -- and there have been many -- perhaps the most surprising was Bill Raycraft's decision to leave John Stark Regional High School.

Raycraft is John Stark's athletic director. He also helped establish the school's football program and has been the varsity program's only head coach. When Raycraft was offered the athletic director's job at Windham High School, however, he said he viewed it as an opportunity he couldn't turn down.

Raycraft, who played football at Bishop Brady, was offered the job in late April. At that point he must have felt like the rope in a game of tug-of-war.

"Definitely mixed feelings," Raycraft said. "A lot of people asked why I wanted to leave John Stark and the truth is I didn't. It was difficult, but this opportunity was too good to pass up."

Raycraft, 40, said he'll begin his job at Windham on July 1 The school is scheduled to open in 2009.

Raycraft will likely be Windham's football coach as well, although he said that position hasn't been finalized.

"That's my plan, but I still have to meet with the administration," Raycraft said.

Raycraft coached at John Stark for six seasons, two of which were at the club level before the program gained varsity status. He served as Franklin High School's athletic director for two years before moving to John Stark.

According to Raycraft, Windham could field a varsity team as soon as 2010.

"That's something we have to decide," he said. "We're joining in mid-cycle (the NHIAA classifies its football teams every two years), so we could do one year of JV and then come in as a varsity team. We're looking at Division V, maybe the bottom end of Division IV. It's a great opportunity to start with a new school and a new program from the ground up."

Raycaft said the John Stark program he's leaving is a healthy one, and he expects a new head coach to be in place before the end of May. He said the applicants include one current New Hampshire head coach.

"I think within the next couple weeks we'll get things done," he said. "I expect (John Stark) to be in the playoff hunt this year."

A preliminary hearing is continuing this week in the case of former University of New Hampshire quarterback Henri "Hank" Hendricks, who is one of five men charged with murdering a professional surfer in La Jolla, Calif. The hearing is expected to determine if there is enough evidence for the five men to stand trial.

One of the key questions in the case is whether of not Hendricks and the four others acted on behalf of a street gang known as the Bird Rock Bandits.

The football notes in Sunday's Boston Globe help explain why the Kansas City Chiefs didn't think Ricky Santos helped them upgrade their quarterback position. Santos, who played at the University of New Hampshire, signed with KC as a free agent, but the Chiefs waived him Tuesday.

He's one of many players attempting to make the University of New Hampshire football team as a walk-on, but, as Al Pike writes in Foster's Daily Democrat, former Dover High School standout Mike Couturier is anything but your typical freshman.

The following players from the 2007 Proctor Academy football team will be continuing their football careers in college this fall:

Taylor Beasley (QB), Olviedo, Fla.: Beasley will attend the University of Southern Illinois on a football scholarship. He led the state of Florida in passing yardage during the 2005 season. He did a post-graduate year at Proctor Academy and earned All-Evergreen honors. He averaged 183 yards passing per game last season, when he threw for 14 touchdowns and ran for three more.

Josh Mays (OG), Tuttle, Okla.: Tuttle, a 6-foot-2, 350-pound offensive lineman, will play football at Depauw University next season. He was a two-time all-state player in Oklahoma and played in the East-West Oklahoma Shrine Game as well as the Texas/Oklahoma Oil Bowl. He was an All-Evergreen and an All-New England selection next season.

Hunter Carman (DE), Exeter: Carman will play both football and lacrosse at Ohio Wesleyan next season. Carman was an honorable mention Evergreen selection as a junior and served as a team captain for his senior season, which was cut short by a hand injury.

Josh Kershaw (C), Springfield: Kershaw, a three-year starter at Proctor Academy, will play for St. Anselm. He was also an honorable mention All-Evergreen selection last season, when he was also a team captain.

Brooks Whitehouse (TE), Woodstock, Vt.: Whitehouse (6-foot-4, 230) is headed to Sewanee, The University of the South. He was was a three-year starter at Proctor.

In addition, James Cormier, who was a captain on Proctor's football and basketball teams during his senior year, has earned a basketball scholarship from LeMoyne University. Cormier is a Grantham resident.

The Manchester Wolves will hold a high school football combine on May 17 (9 a.m.) at the Hampshire Dome in Milford. The combine is open to any high school player scheduled to graduate in 2009, 2010 or 2011.

The combine will include the bench press, the 40-yard dash, pro shuttle and vertical leap. Those who attend should bring both running shoes and turf shoes.

The cost is $20 per individual and there is a $15 team discount for any team that sends 10  or more players. For more information or to register, contact Nashua North assistant coach Dante Laurendi at dlaurendi@mansd.org, or call (603) 233-4272.

John Stark Regional High School is looking for a head football coach and a freshman football coach for the 2008 season. John Stark coach Bill Raycraft, who is also John Stark's athletic director, is leaving the school to become the head coach and athletic director at Windham High School.

Those interested in either postion can contact Raycraft at b_raycraft@jsrhs.net or write to him at the following address; JSRHS, 618 North Stark Highway, Weare, N.H., 03281. 

According to a story in Thursday's Portsmouth Herald, the Kansas City Chiefs have cut former University of New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos.

The Chiefs signed Santos as a free agent and he attended the team's three-day rookie camp last weekend, but his name has been removed from the team's official roster.

Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard, David Greene and Tyler Thigpen are the quarterbacks on Kansas City's roster. Former University of Florida quarterback Chris Leak also attended the team's rookie camp last weekend. 

Jon Rich, who played on the Londonderry High School team that beat Nashua in the 1996 Division I championship game, has officially been named the new head coach at Londonderry.

Rich played at Plymouth State and joined Londonderry's staff as an assistant under head coach Tom Sawyer in 2006.

South Burlington running back Taylor DeVarney and South Burlington offensive lineman John Ritchie have been removed from the Vermont Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl roster by Vermont coach Mike Law, according to a story in the Rutland Herald.

Fair Haven running back/quarterback/wide receiver Zach Gilligan and North Country Union offensive lineman Brian Culbit have been added to the roster.

The players who will participate in this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl were officially introduced at the Shrine Game luncheon Sunday. This year's game will be played Aug. 2 at Dartmouth's Memorial Field.

New Hampshire leads the series 39-13-2. Vermont's last victory came in 2000 (47-40).

This year's Vermont roster includes Windsor running back Trevor Varney, who rushed for 2,553 yards and 40 touchdowns last season.

New Hampshire won last year's game, 23-20, on a late field goal by Pinkerton Academy's Bryan Farris.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

The Joe Yukica Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame will recognize 16 scholar-athletes at its annual banquet tonight.

This year's honorees are fullback Gabe Bourgeois (Exeter), tight end Brad Kelly (Exeter), halfback Brett McAllister (Exeter), tight end Nick Croteau (Bishop Guertin), running back Matt Cyr (Bishop Guertin), running back Sam Auffant (Winnacunnet), running back Michael Blouin (Spaulding), tackle Chas Cornell (Bishop Brady), safety Ryan Cray (Souhegan), linebacker John Dodds (Hanover), tight end Tyler Kuehl (Plymouth), end Brian Musk (Dover), linebacker Zack Roeder (Keene), offensive lineman Reed Spiller (Portsmouth), linebacker James Stewart (Salem) and running back Alex Theodhosi (Londonderry).

The Joe Yukica Chapter is dedicated to promoting amateur football in New Hampshire. Yukica served as the head football coach at the University of New Hampshire, Boston College and Dartmouth College.

The banquet will be held at the Executive Court Banquet Facility in Manchester. There wil be a social reception at 5:30 p.m., and the awards ceremony is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

For ticket information contact Mike Murphy (926-8063) or Toni Pappas (627-9435).

(Click here for a list of past scholar-athlete award recipients.)

After his team allowed a league-high 443 yards per game last season University of New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnell ordered his defense to get bigger, stronger and more physical.

As Saturday's Blue/White scrimmage showed, defense is just one item on a list of concerns for the Wildcats as they prepare for their Sept. 6 opener at Army.

He owns almost every New Hampshire high school rushing record, and there were moments during the University of New Hampshire's Blue/White scrimmage Saturday when running back Sean Jellison (above) made people forget about the battle to replace departed UNH quarterback Ricky Santos.

Jellison, who played at Souhegan High School, is one of the reasons UNH may have a different look on offense this season. 

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

The competition to replace Ricky Santos as the University of New Hampshire's starting quarterback ended after the team's Blue/White scrimmage Saturday, when UNH coach Sean McDonnell named sophomore R.J. Toman the team's No. 1 quarterback.

Toman, who started one game while Santos was recovering from injury last season, was battling for the job with redshirt freshman Kevin Decker.

"Toman's the starter, but I feel good about Kevin Decker," McDonnell said. "I had the sense coming away from the scout team last year and watching how he handled himself. It's a good situation to be in."

Toman completed 12 of 19 pass attempts for 99 yards in Saturday's scrimmage. He'll join a UNH offense that returns seven starters from 2007. The returnees include tight end Scott Sicko and wide receiver Mike Boyle.

UNH will be attempting to qualify for the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

Decker completed 14 of his 23 throws for 199 yards Saturday, but running back Sean Jellison may have been the most impressive player on the field. Jellison, who played at Souhegan High School, rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown. He also caught seven passes for 62 yards.

Linebacker Matt Parent led the defense with 10 tackles.

Freshman quarterbacks Tim McManus and Will Deevy each threw for more than 100 yards and tailback Hudson Smythe added 46-yard touchdown pass to lead the White to a 27-0 triumph over the Green in Dartmouth's Green/White scrimmage on Saturday.

McManus completed five of seven pass attempts for 105 yards and a touchdown. Deevy completed nine of his 11 attempts for 107 yards and a TD. The White also received two field goals (25 and 36 yards) from Donald Kephart.

Junior tailback Nate Servis caught nine passes for 124 yards, including a 44-yard TD pass from McManus. Freshman Kyle Battle hauled in Deevy's TD pass, which covered 31 yards. Junior Phil Galligan caught five passes for 125 yards. One of his receptions was a 46-yard halfback pass from Smythe.

Defensive end Marlon Alebiosu and linebacker Johari Wiggins each made a game-high six tackles in the contest.

After the scrimmage Dartmouth announced that offensive lineman Alex Rapp, tailback Milan Williams and linebacker Andrew Dete will serve as team captains for the 2008 season.

Dartmouth will open the 2008 regular season Sept. 20 at Colgate, and will play the University of New Hampshire at home Sept. 27. 

Perhaps no University of New Hampshire player is looking forward to today's Blue/White scrimmage more than linebacker Sean Ware, who suffered a knee injury last April that forced him to miss all of the 2007 season.

As Mike Zhe writes in today's Portsmouth Herald, a healthy Ware can only help improve a UNH defense that allowed an average of 29.3 points and 443 yards per game last season.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Linebacker Matt Parent, guard Eric Cumba and wide receiver Mike Boyle have been named captains for the 2008 University of New Hampshire football team.

Boyle, who didn't lose a game during his four seasons at Plymouth High School, is nursing a high ankle sprain and is one of eight returning starters not expected to participate in Saturday's Blue/White scrimmage (12:30 p.m.) because of injury. The others are offensive lineman Josh Droesch, offensive lineman Andrew Elwell, strong safety Hugo Souza, linebacker Terrance Klein, cornerback John Clements, cornerback Dino Vasso and running back Chad Kackert.

UNH coach Sean McDonnell originally planned to split his roster into two teams, but has opted to go with an offense-against-defense format instead. McDonnell said sophomore R.J. Toman will direct the first-team offense, and redshirt freshman Kevin Decker will call signals for the second unit. Decker is expected to see some time with the first offense as well.

Toman played significant minutes in two UNH games last season. He replaced Santos in the second quarter of a 35-30 victory over Delaware, and guided UNH to a 49-21 triumph over Iona the following week.

"We were fortunate that R.J. got some reps last year in a quality situation," UNH offensive coordinator Sean Devine said. "It's not like he's completely brand new or completely green. But certainly there's tremendous competition at that position."