McKendree looks to build on ‘15 gridiron success

The 2015 season was truly one to remember for the McKendree University football program.

Led by Great Lakes Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year in record-smashing senior quarterback Isaac Fisher and two of the league’s top defensive players in defensive end Lucky Baar and linebacker A.J. Wentland, the Bearcats enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in program history, finishing with a mark of 8-2 and finishing second in the league standings to perennial national power Indianapolis.

But fourth year head coach Mike Babcock and his coaching staff spent little time basking in the glory of the superb season

“Last season was great and hopefully most of us spent about a week mulling over what we were able to accomplish. Because I’ll be real honest with you in that what we did last year doesn’t matter a hill of beans right now. Whether you were 10-0 or 0-10, you’ve got to find a way to win some football games this season,’’ Babcock said. “There is nothing wrong with the off-season but I am a football coach and I really enjoy Saturday afternoons in the Fall and leading this football program.

“I am really anxious to get going and seeing if we’re going to have another good season. The goal is the GLVC title and the playoffs.’’

Babcock and his staff don’t have much longer to wait. The Bearcats open training camp at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 11 with their annual “:Midnight Madness’ workout. McKendree opens its ‘16 season on Thursday, Sept. 1 when it hosts Angelo State (Tx.) University.

While official practice for the upcoming season doesn’t begin for another 13 days, all nine GLVC coaches were on the McKendree University campus on Friday for the Football Kickoff Media Day.

Defending league champion Indianapolis is expected to be the team to beat in ‘16 with McKendree, featuring what should be the top defense in the league, picked with several other schools to perhaps contend for the league championship.

While Fisher, who threw for 2,700 yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago, will be tough to replace, McKendree does return running back Shayeen Edwards (463 yards, 5 TD’s), a pair of top returning wide receivers and highly-touted senior center Clint Ratermann on offense along with Wentland (135 tackles), Baar (8 quarterback sacks) and defensive back Jabaree Winston (46 tackles) back on defense.

McKendree has 41 returning letterwinners and 20 returning starters combined on offense defense and special teams.

Those things along with a solid freshman recruiting class has Babcock anxious to see what his team will bring to the table when drills begin.

“We feel like we’ve got a good core group of freshmen coming in who we’re hoping will be able to compete for some playing time and help0 make this football team even more successful in ‘16,’’ Babcock said. “But when it comes right down to it, the best players sre going to see the majority of playing time and it doesn’t matter if they are freshmen or seniors. The best player at each position will play.’’

For McKendree, it will all begin on the defensive side of the football in 2016.

Baar, Wentland return for senior years

Baar, the GLVC defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore two years ago and Wentland, an NCAA Division II Preseason All-American at middle linebacker should be among the best players in the nation in ‘16.

“There is a reason AJ and Lucky have had the success they have had the last couple of years. They pay the price with hard work in the weight room an that6 carries over to the football field,’’ Babcock said. “But for us to be the kind of defense I think we can be, its going to take all 11 players working together each play of every game.’

“We’ve got a lot of players back on defense. But they have to work together. Other top defenders back are linemen Tyler House and Marquis Cherry, linebacker Austin Weltha and defensive backs Winston and Nate Powell.

Life without Isaac

For the first time in three years, McKendree heads into the season without its starting quarterback after four-year starter Isaac Fisher graduated. Owner of nearly every Bearcats passing record,, Fisher’s graduation leaves a void but one that Babcock hopes will be filled before McKendree gets too deep into the season..

“Putting aside his numbers, in Isaac (Fisher) you are talking about someone who was a four-year starter at quarterback at the college level. Those types of athletes don’t come around very often,’’ Babcock said. “Kids like Brendan Fred and Elcee (Burke) may get the first look because they were here last year. But again, the player who performs the best in the preseason is the one who will start the season.

“We may take the first three (nonconference) games to get settled in. but by week four and the start of the (GLVC) season at William Jewell, we should have a pretty good idea of who we will us.’’

McKendree also returns preseason All-American placekicker Steven O’Block.

Dean Criddle: 618-239-2661, @CriddleDean

This story was originally published July 29, 2016 at 9:16 PM with the headline "McKendree looks to build on ‘15 gridiron success."