Jacob Lynn is a sophomore from
St. Petersburg, Fla. He is sports editor
of The DePauw.
CHRISTA SCHRODEL / THE DEPAUW
Hold your heads high Tiger fans. Despite an unfortunate result in the final game, this was an incredibly positive season for DePauw’s football program. After three straight losing seasons, who could have predicted such a large turnaround in only head coach Bill Lynch’s second year on the sideline?
This year has me really excited about the direction of the program. The Tigers have emerging stars at the quarterback, running back and wide receiver positions still with years to grow. The defense stepped up as a pleasant surprise this season and carried the team at times as well.
This was clearly a transitional year for the team. An early loss to Wittenberg University and a clunker against Ohio Wesleyan ended their legitimate chances at an entry into the Division III playoffs; however, I feel this season was about shaking off losing habits and creating a winning atmosphere for the years to come.
All in all, here are five things that I learned about the Tigers this season and as they move forward into 2015:
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Matt Hunt is really good.
I went into the season fearful of the dreaded sophomore slump that plagues players even in the sport’s highest level. Not the case, however, for Hunt who basically matched his numbers from his freshman season.
Hunt appeared in nine games for the Tigers last season and dazzled us all. He threw for almost 1900 yards, 17 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Hard numbers to replicate, but Hunt found a way.
Hunt entered camp in August knowing he was the starting quarterback, which I think gave him an added boost of confidence. Despite other teams having film on Hunt, he managed to throw for 1795 yards and 16 scores, and he was intercepted only five times.
We also learned this season that Hunt is a mobile quarterback. In 2014, he ran for 345 yards and two touchdowns, while also using his legs to escape the reach of the pass rush.
For the Tigers to continue their improvement, Hunt will have to continue putting up numbers like this.
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Defense wins championships.
Three times this season the Tigers gave up more than 20 points. Coincidentally, those were the only three games the team lost.
The Tigers gave up, on average, 24.2 points per game last season and managed to lower the total to just under 16 this season.
Wittenberg and Wabash, the two teams representing the North Coast Athletic Conference in the national tournament, have some of the country's best defenses, and this is the main reason for their successes.
For the Tigers to jump to the next level, the defense will be an important key.
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The Tigers are joining the elite of the NCAC.
There past few seasons, it’s been clear that Wittenberg and Wabash were the class of the NCAC. Now, DePauw is beginning to be thrown up in that elite class thanks to their third place finish this season.
The NCAC is beginning to be stratified into three levels. In my opinion, there is Oberlin, Allegheny and Kenyon Colleges at the bottom. Denison University, Ohio Wesleyan, Hiram College and the College of Wooster are all in the middle with four to six wins on the season.
I’d be disappointed in anything other than a top-three finish for the Tigers next year.
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DePauw’s rushing attack could be one of the best in the conference next year.
A three-headed monster is emerging in the DePauw backfield.
Junior Amen Galley led the rushing attack this season and will be back for his senior campaign. Sophomore Jason Kirchoff impressed in his second year with the Tigers as well.
The biggest reason I’m excited about the Tiger running game is Jack Gruber's strong first-year performance. He averaged 4.3 yards per rush, higher than both Galley and Kirchoff, and led the team with eight touchdown runs.
This gives Lynch the ability to sub players in and out keeping them fresh and lowering the chances of injury caused by fatigue.
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Next year’s Monon Bell Classic could be very different.
I felt the Tigers played scared last Saturday and that 27-3 scoreline doesn’t accurately show the talent level on the DePauw sideline.
The Tigers are young and for first-year’s like Gruber, the atmosphere at Hollet Little Giants Stadium can be pretty intimidating. Next year in the comfort of their own locker room at Blackstock and with home crowd behind them, 2015’s Monon Classic could end differently.