Sunday, August 16, 2009 8:47 PM CDT
Michigan transfer makes himself known
By BRIAN NIELSEN, Sports Editor
bnielsen@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — As the guy with the No. 2 jersey not listed in the media guide leaped to catch Bodie Reeder’s pass, third-year starter Rashad Haynes delivered a hard hit.
But this new player got up from the ground still with the football and a 16-yard catch.
For some of the most interested Eastern Illinois football fans attending Saturday’s scrimmage, this was their introduction to Jimmy Potempa, a former Michigan walk-on who two years ago carried the ball twice against Notre Dame.
“That’s the way he’s practiced all week,” EIU offensive coordinator Roy Wittke said. “He’s exactly what we need, someone who can line up as a receiver or a running back. We’re obviously excited about the things he can contribute to our offense.”
Listed as a running back on Eastern’s post-media guide roster after joining the program late in the summer, Potempa also figures to move out to a receiver at times similar to the days when Andre Raymond served that dual role when Wittke was calling plays for the Tony Romo-quarterbacked offense.
Just 5-foot-7, 171 pounds, the former Carmel Catholic High School all-stater could make a big impact for the Panthers.
Later in the scrimmage he had another 10-yard pass reception and he totaled 32 yards on four rushes, including a 12-yarder.
“I’m just trying to learn it all,” Potempa said. “Hopefully, they’ll need me.”
After limited playing time as a freshman and not playing last year at Michigan, Potempa was help coaxed to Eastern former Carmel teammates Kevin Cook, EIU’s punter, and Conor Murnane, a linebacker, who redshirted last year after transferring from NCAA Division II Northwood.
“I really liked it there,” Potempa said of Michigan, “but I guess I wanted to play a little more.”
QB derby
So add a Michigan transfer to this year’s EIU story where much of preseason hype has surrounded quarterback Jake Christensen, who two years ago started for Iowa but after being replaced last year now has transferred to Eastern as a graduate student.
For what statistics are worth in a situational scrimmage where quarterbacks are sometimes facing first-string defensive players and other times reserves, Christensen completed 12 of 23 passes for 174 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown strike to freshman Kenny Whittaker of Miami (Fla.) Columbus on the first place of a red zone series.
Reeder, the senior and returning starter, was 10-for-18 for 80 yards.
Neither of the two front-liners in the quarterback competition threw an interception.
“They both had their moments and we’ll make that decision whenever we feel comfortable with what’s best for our team,” Wittke said.
Regardless of the eventual decision as to who starts the Sept. 3 opener against Illinois State at O’Brien Field, head coach Bob Spoo expressed optimism over the progress from a 5-7 season.
“Last year I said we couldn’t remain status quo,” Spoo said. “We aren’t status quo. We got better at a lot of positions.
“I feel really good about everything. This is a different ballclub. We’re so fare advanced over last year. That’s not to say we don’t have a lot of work to do because we do. But I thought we did a lot of good things.”
Dropping the ball
While Potempa made the spectacular catch on the scrimmage’s fourth play, not all of the night was as good for Eastern’s offense.
“The two most glaring things were, one, the dropped balls,” Wittke said. “That’s plagued us in the last nine practices. You can cite a bunch of reasons but we won’t. We just have to get better. Part of it is several of those were forced by the secondary. We have a very good defense which is good for us in practice.
“The second thing was we had really good energy and tempo to start the series. Then we had a couple of penalties and lost yardage plays and it kind of sucked the momentum out of us.”
While some drives ended because of the defense and some because of the plays allotted in this controlled scrimmage, the Panthers’ Austin Signor kicked field goals of 44, 40, 29 and 21 yards and freshman Jason baker was good on a 27-yarder.
Desmin Ward ran 19 yards for a touchdown and totaled 31 yards on eight rushes while Mon Williams had 54 yards on seven carries.
Defensive gems
As Wittke credited the defense for some of his unit’s troubles, defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni saw his own highlights.
“I thought Nate Galan stood out a little bit,” Bellantoni said of the junior defensive end. “(Safety) Seymour Loftman had a good night. Artavious Dowdell (a freshman lineman) had a sack and is looking OK.
“I think overall I had to be pretty pleased, I’ll watch the film and make judgments but to the naked eye we played pretty well and I think our offense is pretty good.”
More to come
Returning to practice today after taking Sunday off, the Panthers are to stage a situational scrimmage at 3 p.m. Wednesday and then their second full scrimmage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at O’Brien Field.
Saturday is also designated as a fan appreciation event for season ticket holders and Panther Club members.
Contact Brian Nielsen at bnielsen@jg-tc.com or 238-6856.
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