Football Southern Conference

2009 SoCon Football Preview: Wofford Terriers

Wofford Terriers

   

Location:

Spartanburg, S.C.

Enrollment:

1,400

Nickname:

Terriers

Head Coach:

Mike Ayers (22nd)

2008 Record:

9-3

2008 SoCon Record:

7-1

2008 Home Record:

6-0

2008 Away Record:

3-3

Letterwinners Returning/Lost:

45/21

Offensive Starters Returning/Lost:

4/7

Defensive Starters Returning/Lost:

5/6

Specialists Returning/Lost:

3/1

 

Wofford Links

2008 Stats

2009 Roster

Preseason Interview with Head Coach Mike Ayers

Preseason Interview with Mitch Clark

2009 Media Guide

Southern Conference Record Book

 

2009 Schedule 

Date

Opponent

Time

TV

Sept. 5

 at South Florida

 7:00

-

Sept. 12

 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN

 7:00

-

Sept. 19

 at Wisconsin

 12:00

Big Ten

Sept. 26 

 at Chattanooga*

 6:00

-

Oct. 3

 GEORGIA SOUTHERN*

 1:30

-

Oct. 17

 APPALACHIAN STATE*

 3:00

Oct. 24

 at Western Carolina*

 4:00

WMYA "My 40"

Oct. 31

 ELON*

 1:30

-

Nov. 7

 at The Citadel*

 3:00

Nov. 14

 SAMFORD*

 1:30

-

Nov. 21

 at Furman*

 3:00

 

2008 Results 

Date

Opponent

W/L

Score

Aug. 30

 PRESBYTERIAN

 W

 38-21

Sept. 6

 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN

 W

 41-23

Sept. 20

 at South Carolina

 L

 23-13

Sept. 27

 at Georgia Southern*

 W/OT

 38-37

Oct. 11

 CHATTANOOGA*

 W

 56-7

Oct. 18

 WESTERN CAROLINA*

 W

 42-14

Oct. 25

 at Elon*

 W

 55-20

Oct. 31

 at Appalachian State*

 L

 70-24

Nov. 8

 THE CITADEL*

 W

 33-28

Nov. 15

  at Samford*

 W

 28-7

Nov. 22

 FURMAN*

 W

 35-10

Nov. 29

 at James Madison (FCS)

 L

 38-35

 

Players to Watch:

 

Mike Rucker, Jr., Halfback

With senior Dane Romero getting a bulk of the Terriers’ carries a year ago, Rucker provided a speed threat on the corner, rushing for 539 yards. Averaging more the seven yards per carry, Rucker made the most of his efforts, and the second-team preseason all-league selection will be counted on even more in 2009.

 

Mitch Clark, Sr., Defensive End

One of the Southern Conference’s top pass rushers, Clark finished third in the league a year ago with eight sacks and tied for third with 12 tackles for loss. Clark’s top game came at Samford when his three tackles for loss and two sacks helped stifle the Bulldogs, holding Samford’s potent ground game to just 56 yards.

 

 

Preview:

A senior-laden Wofford team came within one game of its second-straight Southern Conference championship in 2008, succumbing only to Appalachian State in Boone on Halloween night. The Terriers finished the season at 9-3 overall and 7-1 in league play, marking their third straight season of finishing in third place or higher in the SoCon.

 

With the departure of its leading passer, rusher and receiver from a year ago, Wofford will need some new faces to step up quickly if it will reach the same levels of success in 2009.Sophomore Mitch Allen and junior Robby Davis will battle for starting quarterback job while fullback Eric Breitenstein and halfback Mike Rucker will be the top returners in the backfield.

 

Overall, the Terriers return a league-low 46 percent of their starters from a year ago, including just four apiece on offense and defense.

 

Joining Mitch Clark on defense are linebacker Mike Niam and defensive backs Mychael Johnson and Preston Roseboro.

 

The Terriers face a challenging slate in 2009, including FBS road games against USF and Wisconsin. Wofford will be highlighted on SportSouth’s SoCon Saturday telecast against Appalachian State (Oct. 17), The Citadel (Nov. 7) and Furman (Nov. 21).

 

Southern Conference Football Preview 

Date

Team

Aug. 18

 Chattanooga

Aug. 19

 The Citadel

Aug. 20

 Elon

Aug. 21

 Wofford

Aug. 24

 Georgia Southern

Aug. 25

 Furman

Aug. 26

 Appalachian State

Aug. 27

 Western Carolina

Aug. 28

 Samford