There are at least two schools of thought when it comes to scheduling non-conference games. One is to schedule weaker teams to work on your game and build confidence through likely victories. Another is to schedule championship caliber teams in an effort to improve your team and, ultimately, your program. Coach Pat Cerroni and the Titans have clearly chosen the latter when it comes to 2010. Oshkosh opens the season against 7th ranked Central College (Iowa) and 2nd ranked University of Mount Union. Those two perennial powers combined for a record of 24-2 a year ago.
The Titans return 10 offensive starters from a team that ranked 3rd in total offense in the WIAC in 2009. QB Nate Wara ranked 5th in passing yards per game as a freshman last year. His top six targets from a year ago are all back. The running back duo of Charlie Weissman and Jeremy Roach also return. Weissman, Roach, and Wara all rushed for over 500 yards last year.
Alex Mueske and John Nicholas, Jr lead a veteran offensive line.
The Titans return 6 starters from a unit that ranked 6th in total defense last year. The Titans ranked dead last in the WIAC against the run last year giving up an average of 194.6 yards per game on the ground. The Titans will return a young defensive line and linebacking corp in 2010. Missing will be the WIAC leading tackler, linebacker James Taraboi. Cornerback Nate Heard, who led the WIAC in passes defended last year, returns to anchor a veteran secondary.
Three of the Titans' five WIAC losses were by 7 points or less in 2009. The Titans offense figures to improve with the added year of experience for Wara and the entire offense returning virtually intact. However, UW-O MUST find a way to stop the run if they expect to tip the close games in their favor in 2010.
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