Bowling Green State University Athletics
2001 Falcon Football Position Preview
August 26, 2001 | Football
Aug. 26, 2001
This is the final 2001 Falcon Football Position Preview.
QUOTING COACH MEYER
"We place a premium on our special teams. We have installed several new schemes and we have some new personnel in some key positions. This phase of the game will receive significant time and effort."
"Pat Fleming should be one of the better punters in the Mid-American Conference."
THE PLAYERS
Junior Pat Fleming had the third-best net punting average in the MAC at 35.4 yards per kick. He averaged 40 yards per punt overall. He also handled kickoff duties last season. Fleming will also serve as the team's holder.
Redshirt freshman Sean Suisham, and true freshman Nate Fry will battle for the kicking spot. Both have had their moments in training camp but neither has claimed the job outright.
Junior college transfer Joe Gutierrez will look to take over at long snapper for the departed Ryan Diepenbrock, who signed with the Buffalo Bills.
Junior Robert Redd was the team's top punt returner in 1998 and 1999, while senior Chad Long garnered that honor in 2000. Junior Joe Alls led the team in kickoff returns (19.5) and averaged a team-best 13.7 yards per punt last season. He will be joined by sophomore Janssen Patton or senior David Bautista.
SPRING GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Fleming had 10 punts for a 43.6 yard average...Phillip Messer made four of five PATs.
SpecialistsP 48 Pat Fleming (6-2, 190, r-Jr.)
HOLD 48 Pat Fleming (6-2, 190, r-Jr.) 15 Andy Sahm (6-6, 220, r-Jr.)
LS 51 Joe Gutierrez (6-3, 235, Jr.) 54 James Williams, (6-5, 260, r-So.) 50 Ben Belgrade (6-0, 185, Fr.)
PK/KO 38 Sean Suisham (6-0, 180, r-Fr.) or 46 Nate Fry (5-10, 200, Fr.)
PR 1 Robert Redd (5-10, 195, r-Jr.) 26 Chad Long (6-0, 200, 5-Sr.) 18 David Bautista (6-0, 195, Sr.)
KR 22 Joe Alls (5-10, 190, r-Jr.) 21 Janssen Patton (6-0, 180,So.) 1 Robert Redd (5-10, 195, r-Jr.)
