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FALL SPORTS PREVIEW 2009 jeremy.hoeck@yankton.net BY JEREMY HOECK VERMILLION There are two significant days that have marked Noah Shepard s five-year stay in Vermillion. COVER STORY And only one has anything to do with football. On Oct. 7, 2006, Shepard, a redshirt freshman quarterback for the University of South Dakota football team, engineered a last-minute drive that ended with a game-winning touchdown pass with 15 seconds left in USD s homecoming game against Central Washington. That was the last time Shepard came off the bench. The 22-year-old Colorado native has since started every game (29) for the Coyotes, and has developed into one of the most dangerous all-around quarterbacks in Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). In the process, Shepard has set school records in total offense (8,281) and passing yardage (6,485), and has accounted for over 61 percent of USD s total offense in his three seasons as a starter. His level of commitment is just amazing, said USD offensive coordinator Wes Beschorner, who was the program s record-setting quarterback before Shepard came to town. He stays focused every day to get better, and that s not easy, he added. Everything he does is with a set purpose in mind. That inner drive is one that also extends past the DakotaDome turf. The fifth-year senior is not only a D-I quarterback. He s also a father. Shepard and Abby Johnson, his girlfriend of nearly three years, gave birth to daughter Hazyl Lynn last June. Since that momentous date, he said everything from classes to football has taken on a new meaning. There are times when I can have my mind on football, and times when I can t, Shepard said after a team photo shoot in late August. When I m at home, she s all I want to think about. I don t want to miss a single thing in her life. And in the 14 months since the birth of his daughter, Shepard said fatherhood has helped him settle down as a person and just enjoy life. It s that mindset that has also carried back over to the football field, his teammates say. He s always been Noah since the day he got here, said senior offensive lineman Jake Arthur, who has started 27 games alongside Shepard. From day one, he s been a great leader. In three seasons as USD s starter, Shepard s completion percentage usually an indicator of efficiency has improved each year. The figure has increased from 53.8 percent in 2006, to 56.6 in 2007, and 58.5 percent last season. Additionally, Shepard who was once a running back and was offered college scholarships to be a receiver quickly developed into a potent rushing threat. In three seasons, he has rushed for 1,697 yards and 23 touchdowns. And not only has the passing accuracy improved, but the awareness has evolved, another one of Shepard s linemen said. I can remember times when we d watch film and he d just take off running if he didn t have an open receiver, senior Luke Nordquist said. But now, he s more patient and waits for things to happen. It ll be that patience that Shepard may have to use following his senior season, as professional teams assess the quarterback s potential for the next level. Said Beschorner, There s no question he has the talent to play beyond college. It s just a matter of if he gets that chance. Asked whether or not fans might see him in an NFL huddle one day, Shepard smiled, gave the question some thought, and displayed the same calmness that has tormented both Division II and Division I opponents. It s not really in my hands; I can only do so much, he said. We ll see what happens after 10 JEREMY HOECK/P&D games this season. If I make it to the NFL, I make it, but if not, I South Dakota quarterback Noah Shepard enters his final season already owning school records for can live with it. passing yards (6,485) and total offense (8,281). The Coyotes open their 2009 campaign Sept. 3. Getting To Know Noah Shepard Once offered a college scholarship to be a wide receiver, Noah Shepard has, in three seasons, become one of the nation s most dangerous quarterbacks. The three-year starter at the University of South Dakota is the school s career record holder for total offense (8,281) and passing yardage (6,485), and is second all-time in touchdown passes (56). In 2006, the Thornton, Colo., native led the Coyotes to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. Last season, he guided USD through its first season at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. The senior leader spoke to the Press & Dakotan s Jeremy Hoeck. Born Dec. 31, 1986 On My iPod Drake, Lil Wayne, a lot of rap and R&B stuff. Must See TV Shows Probably Run s House, The T.O. Show and Hard Knocks Hobby Of Choice I like traveling if I can. I like to see different places. Favorite Meal Probably Mexican food, like steak and fajitas. I m also a huge guacamole fan. Classes I m Taking This Semester Business Marketing, Electronic Media, a couple recreation classes, plus one more year of math. I d Pay Money To Spend A Day With ... Michael Jordan, for sure. He s an incredible athlete, but he s also a business man. I feel like I could learn a lot from him. I d love to hear what he has to say about everything he s been through. One Thing I d Say To President Obama Let There Be Peace. Anything you could do to get our troops home. I know we re over there (Middle East) for a reason, but I couldn t imagine anybody from my family going out there. One Thing Fans Don t Know About Me That I m a mama s boy. I was raised by my mom. Or that I have a daughter. Take Seven With Noah Shepard: Questions Off The Beaten Path 1. Did you always want to be a quar terback? No, when I first started, I was a running back. I was a little bit bigger than everybody else when I first started playing. I moved to quarterback because we didn t have anybody in eighth grade. I hated quarterback because I wanted to run. When I was in high school, I never thought I d be a quarterback. But then after my freshman year, I was hooked. 2. What attracted you about USD? The Dome really got my attention. I always wanted to play indoors. The change of culture was something I wanted to try. I wanted to slow down a little bit. Denver was so chaotic, and I didn t want to get caught up with some bad things. 3. What was your welcome to college moment? We were playing North Dakota at the Alerus Center my first year, and we ran an option play a bunch against them. And this huge linebacker kept driving me into the ground after I pitched the ball. He was talking in my ear the whole game. I had a headache, but I had to get through it. I was so hurt after that game; I have no idea how I played the next week. 4. How has having a daughter changed you? Time management, definitely. There are times when I can have my mind on football, and times when I can t; that s just the bottom line. When I m at home, she s all I want to think about. I don t want to miss a single thing in her life. It s kind of like a game plan; see things you could do and things you probably shouldn t do. Having her has helped me settle down as a person and just enjoy life. 5. Weirdest thing you ve heard in a huddle? Ben Wampler (center) has thrown up numerous times in the huddle. But this one game (in 2006) when we were playing Nebraska-Omaha, Desmond Allison (former wide receiver) caught a seam route and got hit in the stomach. He came back and said, I ve got to get out. I pooped my pants. Turns out, he really did. He ran into the bathroom, cleaned himself up and came running back out. We ve got the same play on our highlight film. 6. Is there a quar terback you model yourself after? I try to take a little bit from every quarterback I watch. I ve heard that I m a little like Jeff Garcia; a mobile quarterback who can throw on the run. I try to learn from anybody. 7. Might we see Noah Shepard in an NFL huddle some day? Man, I pray to God you will. It s not really in my hands; I can only do so much. We ll see P&D FILE PHOTO what happens after 10 games this season. If I South Dakota quarterback Noah Shepard handles opposing defensmake it (to the NFL), I make it; but if not, I es without a problem, but how does he handle questions that aren t can live with it. the usual fare? Check out the video for this piece on www.yankton.net. Coyotes Set Sights On Great West Conference Title jeremy.hoeck@yankton.net VERMILLION As it approaches the midway point of its Division I transition, the University of South Dakota has already seen a step up in the level of teams it faces. The Augustanas and St. Cloud States of the world are being replaced with the likes of Northern Iowa and Montana State. And for the USD football team, the goal is simple: To be in the same conversation with those wellestablished D-I programs. To do that, the Coyotes are setting their sights on cracking the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Top 25 poll. While the USD football coaches and players were discussing the upcoming 2009 season during the Aug. 24 media day gathering in Vermillion, the FCS Preseason Coaches Poll was being released. Among the top 25 are four schools on USD s schedule, led by Northern Iowa (No. 4) and Cal Poly (No. 13), while Montana State and UC Davis both received votes. The Coyotes were one of three schools to receive one vote, giving them a slight head start on that mission. A conference title will always be the top goal, but being ranked BY JEREMY HOECK SOUTH DAKOTA FOOTBALL would be a big step for a young FCS team, head coach Ed Meierkort said. That would be fun for our kids and this program. Last season as a first-year D-I transitional squad, USD which finished 6-5 faced a pair of top 10 opponents, losing to fifthranked UNI and eighth-ranked Cal Poly. But this season, experience will play a factor for the Coyotes, according to senior linebacker Ryan Routh. We d have a pretty good chance to be ranked if we beat UNI and Montana State, said Routh, one of five returning starters on defense. Last year, we weren t sure how things would go. But now, we ll know what to expect. For a second straight year, the Coyotes will play road games at Northern Iowa (Sept. 12), Montana State (Oct. 17) and Cal Poly (Nov. 14) this season. They will also host Great West Conference foe UC Davis on Oct. 10, giving USD a chance to accomplish the second of its two-part goal for 2009: Win the league title. To be ranked would be great, but you don t really get anything for that, said USD senior offensive lineman Jake Arthur, one of 10 starters back on an offense that averaged 37.5 points per game a year ago. Winning the conference championship would be icing on the cake. Unlike last season, the Coyotes will face all four Great West Conference opponents in 2009, including home dates with UC Davis and Southern Utah. Defending champion Cal Poly was picked to win the league title, while USD was chosen third in the preseason coaches poll. We have a better chance to win the Great West then we did last year, said senior Dan Skelly, the team s top returning wide receiver (880 yds, 9 TD). We re just more confident and know what we re up against. With a total of 15 starters back from last season, the Coyotes boast the experience necessary to compete in a Division I conference, according to offensive coordinator Wes Beschorner. The leadership factor is huge for us, said Beschorner, a former USD quarterback. That s the most important thing at this level. USD At A Glance FOUNDED: 1862 ENROLLMENT: 9,291 LOCATED: Vermillion, S.D. COACH: Ed Meierkort, sixth season at USD, 16th season overall 2008 RECORD: 6-5 (1-2, t-3 Great West Conference) STADIUM: DakotaDome (10,000) RETURNING STARTERS: 15 (10 offense, 5 defense) KEY PLAYERS: QB Noah Shepard (Sr.), RB Chris Ganious (So.), WR Dan Skelly (Sr.), OL Jake Arthur (Sr.), DL Ko Quaye (Sr.), LB Ryan Routh (Sr.) KEY NEWCOMERS: RB Earv Archambeau (Fr.), DL Will Powell (Fr.), DB Chris Frierson (Fr.), DB Shane Potter (So.), P Cole Zwiefelhofer (Fr.) KEY DEPARTURES: WR Dustin Little, TE Brandon White, DB Isaiah Dixon COACHSPEAK: We ve definitely shopped at a different meat counter when you go to this level, and you can see it on the field, head coach Ed Meierkort on newcomers. 2009 SCHEDULE: Sept. 3 William Penn Sept. 12 at Northern Iowa Sept. 19 Drake Sept. 26 Southeastern Louisiana Oct. 3 at North Dakota Oct. 10 UC Davis Oct. 17 at Montana State Oct. 31 at Northern Colorado Nov. 7 Southern Utah Nov. 14 at Cal Poly SOUTH DAKOTA: Dan Skelly