Monmouth head football coach Kelly Kane is not a man to back down from a challenge. When he accepted the job in the fall of 1984, the Fighting Scots were coming off of a 5-year streak of losing seasons with a record of 10-33 and waning enthusiasm in the program. Following seasons of 3-6 and 2-7, Kane guided a resurgent Monmouth squad to three consecutive Midwest Conference South Division titles (1987-1989), three MWC championship games, a school-record 26-game regular season winning streak and a combined 41-7 mark between 1986 and 1990.

The program, however, fell on unexpected hard times last year, suffering through a disappointing 0-9 season filled with injuries, wasted opportunities and inconsistent performances. Despite the setback Kane, his coaching staff and his players are ready to start the 1996 fall campaign with a renewed sense of purpose, a dedicated attitude and a new opportunity to recapture the proud traditions of Monmouth football.

  OFFENSE

  At first glance the Scots would seem to be weak in the middle of the offensive unit due to the graduation of four-year starters Sean Kane (quarterback), Brian Welch (center) and Dennis McMillin (tackle). Kane must find a new signal-caller but the presence of experienced veterans in the backfield and offensive line should make the job a bit easier. The offense as a whole has struggled to produce consistent results in recent years and must find its stride early to set the tone for the season.

Senior Tony Karrick (Havana,IL/Havana) started the final four games last fall at quarterback and will have the inside track to direct Monmouth's wishbone-option offense. Karrick ran for 65 yards and passed for 418 yards (4 touchdowns, 5 interceptions) in 1995 as midseason injuries to the younger Kane allowed him to gain valuable game experience. He will have a pair of veteran backs behind him in senior Brent Martin (Peru,IL/LaSalle-Peru) and junior Eric Wolfe (Virden,IL/Virden). Martin, a three-year starter at fullback, carried 95 times for 487 yards (5.1 yds per rush) and a touchdown last year. Wolfe, who proved his versatility by earning All-Midwest Conference honors as a kick returner in 1995, led the team with 648 rushing yards on 118 attempts (5.5 yds/rush) and scored a team-high 5 touchdowns. They will get help in the backfield from junior Nathan Johnson (Monmouth,IL/Monmouth), who was the Scots' third-leading rusher in 1995 (204 yds, 41 rushes), and promising sophomore Alex Michanicou (Dunlap,IL/Dunlap) (82 yards, 20 rushes). Junior Mike Cryer (Wood River,IL/East Alton) and freshman Josh Derry (Knoxville,IL/Knoxville) will likely be the backup quarterbacks, although Derry's athletic talents may also allow him to compete at other positions. Local prep athletes Gentry Tate (Monmouth,IL/ Monmouth), Jason Ostrander (Abingdon,IL/ROWVA) and John Turnquist (Monmouth, IL/Warren) head the list of first-year players who will provide depth at running back.

Protecting the quarterback and opening up holes for the running backs will be the responsibility of an offensive line which returns two starters from the 1995 unit. Seniors Jamie McKeever (Elmwood,IL/Farmington) and Brett Morse (Yates City,IL/ Farmington) anchor the group, which Kane sees both as a preseason strength and a crucial key to overall success. Veterans Josh Gimm (Peoria,IL/Urbana) and Otis Burge (Byron,IL/Byron) and several new faces, including Joshua Shevokas (Decatur,IL/ Decatur MacArthur), Chris Triebel (Peoria,IL/Richwoods) and Don Gwinn (Virden,IL/Virden) will be looking to fill the open positions. Sophomore Paul Smith (Westmont,IL/Westmont) is the top returning wide receiver (10 catches, 104 yards, 1 TD). Juniors Robert Johnson (Evergreen Park,IL/Evergreen Park) and Erik Hull (Bettendorf,IA/ Bettendorf) are expected to split time at tight end with sophomore Jeff Timmons (Lewistown,IL/Lewistown), who also serves as the team's top punter.

Defensive coordinator Roger Haynes, starting his 15th year as a member of the Fighting Scot football staff, has seen his defensive roster undergo dramatic changes from last year but will still have a core of capable players on the field. The secondary has suffered the most noticeable losses and will be filled with younger players who must gel together to solidify the entire squad.

Senior All-MWC selection Heath Whitington (Viola,IL/Sherrard) is the mainstay of Monmouth's linebacker group. Whitington, who posted 77 total tackles and seven tackles for minus yardage in 1995, established himself as a hard-nosed, aggressive defensive player and will be counted on to repeat his performance. Juniors Sean Dwyer (Wentzville,MO/Francis Howell) and Dustin Gallagher (Stockton,IL/Stockton) return with Whitington at linebacker, as do sophomore Ricky McMillin (Mt. Zion,IL/Mt. Zion) and former local standout Craig Armstrong (Monmouth,IL/Monmouth). Armstrong (30 tackles, one QB sack) will split his time at linebacker and defensive end in the Scots' shifting scheme. Jim Hardesty (Canton,IL/ Canton), a two-time NCAA Nationals track qualifier in the discus, will play college football for the first time this season and is expected to provide depth at linebacker along with newcomers Dan Taylor (Woodhull,IL/AlWood), Josh Hewitt (Kingston,IL/Genoa-Kingston) and Drew Anderson (Galesburg,IL/Galesburg).

Although all four of Haynes' starters from the defensive backfield are gone, three players return with solid game experience. Sophomores Clay Willis (Bushnell,IL/ Bushnell-Prairie City) and Nate Boekholder (Oregon,IL/Oregon) and junior Josh Didier (Des Plaines,IL/Maine West) all saw extensive playing time last year and performed well in starting opportunities. Junior Bryce Adolphson (Aledo,IL/Aledo), sophomores R.J. Haines (Rushville,IL/Rushville) and John Denny (Canton,IL/Canton) and freshmen Brian Parkins (Roseville,IL/Roseville) and Cory Hawks (New Port Richey,FL/ RiverRidge) are other potential secondary players.

The kicking game was one of the Scots' most consistent areas in 1995 but is still looking to improve. Sophomore Per Madsen (Sonderborg,Denmark), a native of Denmark, handled the placekicking duties well in his rookie season and was effective in limited action (2/4 field goals, 8/12 PATs). Timmons ranked among the MWC leaders in punting average as a freshman (42 punts, 34.6 yards per kick) and made it into the Monmouth record book by notching a 70-yard punt against Beloit, the fourth-longest in team history.

Wolfe will look to justify his All-Conference selection on special teams. He set a team record of 16 kickoff returns for 315 yards, including a school-record single game 125 yards against Cornell. Monmouth special team squads will be without the services of graduated Craig Foxall (6 career blocked kicks) but will work hard to keep pressure on opposing kicking teams.

"This year will have to be a rebound season for us," states Kane in analyzing the challenges his team face heading into preseason practices. "We have improved our team speed and size but inexperience at the college level is a definite liability." Leadership and team chemistry are always difficult intangibles to measure but the Monmouth coach sees this year's squad as one capable of bouncing back from the adversity of a disappointing and frustrating season. "We need improvement in all phases of the game but quality leadership and hard work can make that a feasible goal," adds Kane. Increased dedication to a structured off-season workout program has many of the veteran players in better condition and better spirits heading into the new season and the coaches are optimistic about the potential talents of the new recruit class.

Coe and Cornell, in their final year of Midwest Conference competition, are still the schools to beat in the MWC South Division with Knox and Grinnell both fielding much-improved teams. Cornell is the defending league champion. The MWC North Division may be up for grabs this season with perennial power Beloit and 1995 league runner-up Ripon threatened by strong teams from Carroll and Lawrence. Monmouth will once again open their schedule against regional non-conference opponents Eureka and MacMurray and will hope to start the season on the right track before entering conference action. Homecoming activities are set for October 12th (Cornell) and the 107th renewal of the Monmouth-Knox Bronze Turkey game is slated for November 2nd at Monmouth's Bobby Woll Field.

1996 MONMOUTH COLLEGE FIGHTING SCOTS FOOTBALL -- NUMERICAL ROSTER

# NAME HT WT POS YEAR HOMETOWN/HS
1 Josh Didier 5'11" 190 DB JR Des Plaines,IL/Maine West
2 Tony Karrick 5'9" 170 QB SR Havana,IL/Havana
3 Bryce Adolphson 5'9" 155 DB JR Aledo,IL/Aledo
4 Paul Smith 5'9" 170 WR SO Westmont,IL/Westmont
5 Hugo Herrera 5'9" 170 RB FR Mexico/St.John's Academy
6 Per Madsen 6'0" 190 PK SO Sonderborg,Denmark
7 James Caruso 5'10" 180 RB FR NewPortRichey,FL/Rvr Ridge
8 Drew Anderson 6'0" 200 LB SO Galesburg,IL/Galesburg
10 Josh Derry 6'5" 190 QB FR Knoxville,IL/Knoxville
11 Mike Cryer 6'0" 195 QB JR Wood River,IL/East Alton
12 Cory Hawks 6'0" 160 DB FR NewPortRichey,FL/Rvr Ridge
13 Micah Oleson 5'8" 170 FB FR W. Burlington,IA/W Burlington
20 Jason Ostrander 5'10" 160 RB JR Abingdon,IL/ROWVA
21 Jeff Timmons 6'2" 190 TE-P SO Lewistown,IL/Lewistown
22 John Turnquist 5'10" 185 RB SO Monmouth,IL/Warren
23 Andrew Tyra 6'0" 160 WR FR Tremont,IL/Tremont
24 Gentry Tate 5'9" 160 RB FR Monmouth,IL/Monmouth
25 Nate Boekholder 5'11" 185 DB SO Mt.Morris,IL/Oregon
26 Clay Willis 6'2" 160 DB SO Bushnell,IL/Bushnell-Pr. City
31 R.J. Haines 6'0" 170 DB SO Rushville,IL/Rushville
32 Nathan Johnson 6'1" 215 RB JR Monmouth,IL/Monmouth
33 Brent Martin 5'9" 185 FB SR Peru,IL/LaSalle-Peru
34 Heath Whitington 6'0" 200 LB SR Viola,IL/Sherrard
35 Eric Wolfe 5'7" 160 RB JR Virden,IL/Virden
40 Brian Parkins 5'6" 175 DB FR Roseville,IL/Roseville
42 Dan Taylor 6'1" 195 LB FR Woodhull,IL/AlWood
44 Craig Armstrong 6'5" 225 DL JR Monmouth,IL/Monmouth
45 Mark Rask 5'11" 170 RB SO Farmington,IL/Farmington
46 Alex Michanicou 5'7" 170 RB SO Dunlap,IL/Dunlap
50 Jon Carruthers 6'0" 200 DE FR W.Burlington,IA/W. Burlington
51 Arturo Senteno 5'11" 220 OL FR Chicago,IL/Geo Washington
53 Dwayne English 6'4" 265 OL JR Farmington,IL/Farmington
54 Josh Hewitt 5'11" 215 LB FR Kingston,IL/Genoa-Kingston
55 Mike Wagher 6'0" 220 OL SR Galesburg,IL/Galesburg
56 Matt Hughes 5'10" 210 LB FR Gurnee,IL/Warren Township
58 Matt Russell 5'10" 260 DL SO Dunlap,IL/Dunlap
63 Joshua Gimm 6'4" 255 OL SR Peoria,IL/Urbana
64 Chris Triebel 6'0" 225 OL FR Peoria,IL/Richwoods
65 Zac Chatterton 5'10" 230 DE SO Avon,IL/Valley
66 Jamie McKeever 6'0" 235 OL SR Elmwood,IL/Farmington
67 Brett Morse 5'11" 235 OL SR YatesCity,IL/Farmington
68 Rick McMillin 6'0" 175 LB SO Mt.Zion,IL/Mt.Zion
69 Brad Sigler 5'11" 175 DE FR LeRoy,IL/LeRoy
70 Joshua Shevokas 6'4" 240 OL FR Decatur,IL/Decatur MacArthur
71 Jim Hardesty 6'2" 210 LB JR Canton,IL/Canton
72 Don Gwinn 6'0" 275 OL FR Virden,IL/Virden
73 Otis Burge 6'0" 230 OL SO Byron,IL/Byron
75 Andy Hall 6'2" 200 OL FR Monmouth,IL/Yorkwood
76 Matt Tipton 6'2" 260 OL FR Peru,IL/LaSalle-Peru
78 Andy Kerley 6'0" 290 OL JR Clinton,IL/Clinton Community
79 Andy Becker 6'4" 265 DL JR Warsaw,IL/Warsaw
81 Bill McDaniels 6'2" 170 WR FR Peoria,IL/Woodruff
83 Tyson Royer 5'10" 170 WR SO St. Joseph,IL/St. Joseph
84 Robert Johnson 6'2" 210 WR JR Evergreen Park,IL/Evergrn Pk
85 Sean Dwyer 6'0" 200 LB JR Wentzville,IL/Francis Howell
86 Jason Wheat 6'4" 215 TE FR Miami,FL/Miami South Ridge
87 Shawn Smith 6'3" 230 DL FR Milan,IL/Rockridge
88 Kirk Blomgren 6'1" 185 TE TE Boca Raton,FL/Boca Raton
89 Erik Hull 6'3" 215 TE JR Bettendorf,IA/Bettendorf
91 Dan Tinsman 6'2" 225 DL FR Bushnell,IL/Bushnell-Pr City
95 Dustin Gallagher 6'0" 170 LB JR Stockton,IL/Stockton
96 Mitchell Russell 6'1" 230 DL JR Dunlap,IL/Dunlap
97 Luke Raymond 6'0" 185 DL FR Avon,IL/Roseville
98 Robert Cassiday 6'5" 240 DE JR Smithshire,IL/Southern