Rollins Tars

2009 Season Recap

Season Report Posted: January 27, 2010 21:12  

Decades after the school's football program disbanded after World War II, Rollins College, with the assistance of generous booster donations, announced that the team would return as a Division 1-A Independent. A new 70,000-plus seat stadium and athletics facilities were constructed, ready for play in the 2010 season. However, the booster club and college wanted to begin play in 2009, and 12 regular season games were scheduled as road games against in-state and regional opponents.

The team consisted of enrolled "walk-on" players consisting of many inexperienced and untalented players with limited remaining eligibility. These players, such as QB Jacob "Dutch" Holland, HB Casey Gatewood and SS Nick Brewster would provide the bridge to future teams featuring local recruits that went unwanted by the state's major powers.

The rebirth of Tar football started in victorious, yet controversial fashion. Following a season-opening 17-14 victory over UCF, Rollins booster Pedro "Stumpy" Jones and Coach Yengator were found to have conspired to lace the Knights' team breakfast with hospital-strength laxative, which significantly affected UCF's play on the field. As a result of the scandal, the NCAA nullified the game result. Coach Yengator was also dismissed from his duties and Athletic Director Pennie Parker assumed interim responsibilities as the team's head coach.

The first recognized game of the season was against Maryland, where the Tars were outmached by a stronger-than-expected Terrapin team. Following a humiliating 73-3 defeat to USF, Rollins put up a valiant effort against the Florida International Golden Panthers, losing by just eight points.

However, the next five games were a difficult and painful stretch for the Tars. In a combined score of 332-23, Rollins suffered consecutive blowout losses to Florida, Vanderbilt, Florida State, Navy and Clemson.

Rollins regrouped and fell just short in a 38-28 loss to Florida Atlantic. However, an 0-12 season was unavoidable for the Tars as the team was unable to prevent convincing defeats to LSU, Wake Forest and Miami to finish the season.

Few players posted spectactular seasons during the 2009 campaign, however, safety and returner Nick Brewster earned the team's most valuable player honor.

After the conclusion of the season, a new coaching staff was hired from Division III's Okefenokee State. In a package deal, special teams coordinator Robert Scott was hired as the team's head coach. With no previous head coaching experience, Okefenokee State assistant coaches Dwight Dortch and Jackson Buck were hired to assume responsibilities as Rollins' offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively.