TU Football Seeks Respect

Finding the right formula has never been easy for Towson University's football team at the FCS level. In 23 seasons, the Tigers have had just eight winning years and have never made the postseason.

This year, making the postseason is an extreme long shot for a team that has won just three conference games in the last three seasons. Fortunately, Towson returns 14 starters from a 2-9 team and there has been a sense of renewed confidence under the leadership of Rob Ambrose, who returns for a second years as Towson's coach.

But reality struck on Thursday night when the Tigers were handed a 51-17 loss against Big 10 member Indiana University. This was the third straight year that the Tigers played a BCS team. They've been outscored by 95 points (139-44) in their three losses to Navy, Northwestern and Indiana.

Yet on Monday, Ambrose was able to find several positives from the loss.

"It was a great experience," he said. "We talked about it last year. In the first half [against Northwestern], there was a shock factor and we played well in the second half against a bowl team. This year, we limited the shock to the first two series where we turned the ball over."

One player who stuck out during the loss and will be a key component in Saturday's home opener against Coastal Carolina University, is junior quarterback Chris Hart.

The transfer from Georgia Military College is one of five players on the current roster who hails from Florida. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Hart threw 22 touchdowns passes and 12 picks last season, while rushing for 362 yards on 93 carries. His ability to run the football is what separated him from sophomore Peter Athens and senior Citadel transfer Bart Blanchard during their summer-camp competition.

"[Hart] brings things to the table, that if you're growing a program are definite necessities," Ambrose said. "With a growing young team still getting stronger, you need somebody who can make something happen with the ball if something breaks down. He knows that he can't turn the ball over. If he can manage the game better, I'd be pounding the table about how good he was. He certainly brings something to the table we desperately needed."

In the Indiana game and duing the spring game, Hart showed skills that Towson fans haven't seen from a quarterback in a long time: an ability to run the football.

The last time Towson had a legitimate running quarterback was in 1991, when the Tigers used an option attack with linebacker-turned-signal-caller Gary Worthington. The Tigers finished 1-10 in Phil "Air" Albert's last season as head coach. He resigned soon after the season, though he later returned as an offensive coordinator under Gordy Combs.

While his play was far from flawless, Hart put the team on his back and, for a brief moment in the second quarter, he had the Tigers thinking upset.

After Indiana took a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, the Tigers moved into Hoosier territory for the first time. The team elected to try for a first down when they were faced with a fourth-and-two at the Hoosiers' 45-yard line. On fourth down, Hart kept the ball and ran to his left. Then he cut across the field and sprinted towards the goal line, but was forced out of bounds at the three-yard line. On second down, Hart connected on a five-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Tom Ryan, giving the Tigers their first TD of the season. The Tigers trailed by 17-7 with 12:21 left in the first half.

Hoping to seize the momentum, Coach Ambrose told Wallace to try an on-sides kick. However, the Hoosiers weren't fooled and Indiana's Griffen Dahlstrom fell on the ball at the Towson 46-yard line. On second down, IU quarterback Ben Chappell threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Belcher, giving the Hoosiers a 24-7 lead with 11:46 left in the half.

The Tigers marched right back down the field. Facing third-and-four at their own 36-yard line, Hart connected with senior Hakeem Moore on a crossing pattern. Moore caught the ball at the Hoosiers' 40-yard and outraced three Indiana defenders to the end zone for a touchdown. When senior kicker Nick Wallace converted, the Tigers were down 24-14.

After forcing the Hoosiers to punt, Hart led the Tigers on another long drive. He ran for 32 yards on four carries during the drive. When the drive stalled at the Indiana 23-yard line, Wallace came in to try a 40-yard field goal. He missed wide left.

Towson would never threaten again as Indiana went on to score 27 unanswered points.

While Hart was spectacular at times, he also made his share of mistakes. In the third quarter, cornerback Matt Ernest intercepted a pass from Hart intended for Moore and returned it 53 yards for a TD and a 48-14 Hoosier lead.

Hart sparked the Tiger offense by running for 123 yards on 13 carries and passing for 165 yards and two touchdowns. He also three three interceptions.

His performance set a record: he became the first Tiger quarterback to run for more than 100 yards in a game.

Hart completed 16 of 35 passes, but was hampered by several dropped balls. The leading receiver was Ryan with five catches for 41 yards. Sophomore running back Tremayne Dameron added four receptions for 24 yards, but sat out the second half.

While Hart had 16 of the 42 carries at running back, the Tigers did get solid second-half performances from sophomore running back B.J. Greening, who had five carries for 32 yards.  Redshirt freshman Nygee Carmichael added nine carries for 46 yards.

The Tigers (0-1) face Coastal Carolina Sept. 11 in their home opener at Unitas Stadium at 7 p.m. The Chanticleers fell to West Virginia 31-0 in their opener in Morgantown last Saturday, but they were down just 10-0 at the half and the game was closer than the score indicated.

"I was unbelievably impressed with their defense against West Virginia," Ambrose said about Coastal Carolina. "Their back seven is as good as anybody's [in FCS]. Defensively, they are very impressive."