Bulldogs ready to butt heads with bison

Last week, the Friday night lights were bright in the midwest. With over 7,500 Yale alumni, families, and Valparaiso fans in attendance, the Yale football team defeated the Valparaiso Crusaders, 34-14. The game was played in Soldier Field, a stadium where the home team hasn't won for what seems like an eternity to Bears fans. "The trip was a thrill for everybody," head coach Jack Siedlecki said. "When we were driving in there, going into the stadium... It was a very loud crowd--they had seated everyone between the 35-yard lines. It was very enthusiastic on both sides. It was fun." Yale had not played in Chicago since 1932, and its last night game was a 42-7 loss to Doug Flutie and Boston College in 1983.

The Bulldogs are now 1-2, and seek to improve to the .500 mark when they meet Bucknell at the Bowl on Sat., Oct. 11. Last year, Yale edged past the Bison, 23-21. Bucknell, the reigning Patriot League champion, is currently 4-0 this season and at the top of its league again.

"All four games Bucknell has won were very close," Siedlecki noted. The Bison have scored a total of just 17 points more than its four opponents. Siedlecki also mentioned that the lead changed five times in Bucknell's eventual 23-21 victory over Lafayett e two weeks ago, underscoring the team's competitive spirit. "They're a team that's found a way to win," he said.

JULIA TIERNAN/YH TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM: Craig Freccero, TD '99, takes a hand-off against U-Conn. Due to injury, the running back will be sidelined this weekend.

The Bison are coming off their own victory at Soldier Field, albeit the one in Cambridge. Bucknell handed the Harvard Crimson their first loss, 24-20, on Sat., Oct. 4. Siedlecki is familiar with Bucknell, having coached at in-state rival Lafayette for six years. "They have no superstars," he asserted, yet, "Harvard really struggled with them and their zone-blitz playing. Harvard scored 20 points in the first half; then Bucknell just shut them down." In anticipation of similar tactics, Siedlecki said, "We've been spending a lot of time...in practice" learning to protect "the offensive line from the blitzes." "We've watched film of Bucknell," tailback Jake Fuller, BR'00, added. "It's a great challenge for us to come in and play an undefeated team. But with the confidence from last week's win, we have the potential to play really well."

"The offensive line improves in the second half and we have to build on that," Siedlecki said. Jake Fuller received Ivy League recognition this week for his 165 yards rushing on 19 carries, including a 19-yard touchdown run. He was not even aware that he had been singled out for his performance. He shied away from the personal accolades, saying, "The offensive line did an outstanding job; all I did was run behind them. The linemen didn't get enough recognition for opening up for me." Nevertheless, "He [Fuller] had a great game, a great night," Siedlecki recalled. "He had two long runs...very consistent. He keeps getting better." The Yale defense also earned praise for its achievements in Chicago.

Joe Walland, TD '00, will be the starting quarterback this weekend, with Michael McClellan, SY '01, serving as back-up. "I'm excited about going into the game against Bucknell. They're a tough team and play really hard," Walland said. "This week, practice has been really intense. Coach has us ready." According to the coach, Walland "had a real good second half" in the game against Valparaiso replacing Chris Whittaker, SM '99.

This weekend, Whittaker will still be nursing bruised ribs sustained in the first half of the game and first-string quarterback Ben Steinberg, MC '98, is "still out with the shoulder injury," Siedlecki reported, adding that Steinberg returned to New Jersey recently to receive treatment from his specialist at home. An addition to the ongoing injury list, defensive back Chris Larson, MC '01, was also hurt during the Valparaiso game in a kickoff return and is out for the season. Craig Freccero, TD '99, recently fractured his thumb and returned to Duxbury, Mass. for surgery, thus putting him out of commission for this weekend's game.

On Sat., Oct. 18, during Parents Weekend, Yale will battle Dartmouth (3-0), currently the top team in the Ivy League with a 2-0 record.

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