Ohio Dominian Mid-States Football League - Panthers Excited to Play First Game

September 4, 2004

Ohio Dominican fields inexperienced team in school's first game

Mark Znidar
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Ohio Dominican coach Dale Carlson was asked how excited his players were going into the team's inaugural game at noon today against Walsh in Fawcett Stadium in Canton.

The Panthers are expected to have as many as 13 freshmen start against a team that has won eight straight opening games.

"Heck," Carlson said, "I haven't coached in a game since November 2002 when I was at Tri-State. After all the preparation we've put in, I just want to play in a game, too. We can't wait to get started."

Ohio Dominican was founded 93 years ago, but it wasn't until last year when starting a football team began being discussed by Dr. Jack Calareso, the university president.

Carlson left Tri-State University in Angola, Ind., where he also started a football team, for Ohio Dominican.

Opening against Walsh, which is ranked 15th nationally in the NAIA poll, will be a major test.

"But that's the way this league is," Carlson said of the Mid-States Football League Mideast Division. "We want our players to play each game as hard as they can and to the best of their ability. That's all we can ask. We hope we just lack experience and that the first few games will be a learning time."

The Panthers do have experience in spots. Quarterback Jarrod Smith was a walk-on at Tennessee, offensive lineman Cory Blankemeier, a 310-pounder, started his career at Ohio Northern, and cornerbacks Jason Cephas and Derick Alexander came from Tiffin.

But Walsh has 15 starters and 40 lettermen back from a team that won eight games in 2003.

"It's going to be tough," Carlson said. "A lot of our players have never gotten up early on game day, gotten on a bus and played at noon. But I think we have a bunch of young guys who really want to win.

We're going to get our grades after the game and go from there."

Reprinted with permission. The Columbus Dispatch, 2004.