It has to get old for Bishop Dwenger football coach Chris Svarczkopf to answer the same question that is worded a thousand ways.
Everyone is thinking it, but every media member tries to word it nicely. If they could ask what was in their head, it would go something like this:
“So Coach, uh, when are you going to get back to competing for state titles instead of jockeying for position in the middle of the SAC?”
The Pig says, soon.
The entire Saints team and fan base had to grow sick of hearing about Friday's game, which some people thought could be Concordia's chance to knock off Bishop Dwenger for the first time since 2003.
Svarczkopf's team showed what they thought of that in the first minute and a half Friday, scoring on a five-play drive to take a lead they would never lose in a 21-14 victory.
Sure, Concordia put a scare into the Saints late, but this is clearly not the Bishop Dwenger team most people think of. There is no John Goodman, no Tyler Eifert, no Remound Wright and no Tony Springmann.
And that is perfectly fine with Coach Svarczkopf.
Instead, he has a roster of future stars. Take Cody Miller, the sophomore quarterback who was thrust into the limelight because of injuries at the position. Many thought he would take more than two games to begin to look like a cagey veteran, but Miller has acclimated well. Sure, he threw for only 101 yards Friday night, but he did not need to do much more.
But when Miller did have to look downfield, he found junior tight end Ryan Watercutter.
How could you not?
The kid appears to tower over everyone in the secondary at 6-foot-2, and while he is listed at 187 pounds, he plays closer to 200. He is a mismatch wherever he lines up against the majority of defenses and can stretch the field and out-jump many defensive backs for balls.
Need a run threat? Look no further than D'Marcus Moon, who torched the Cadets for more than 100 yards Friday. A junior, Moon is not your typical scat back. He is a bruising runner who can carry the rock four, five, six times in a row if needed. He is not going to open people's eyes with his speed, but his ability to spin off initial tackles and show a burst of speed to hit the hole makes him a difference maker.
As for the line? Dwenger lists just five seniors along the offensive and defensive lines. More than 20 linemen on the roster are sophomores and juniors who are only going to get better throughout this season and next.
Every school, no matter who it is, goes through years where there just isn't as much talent as the majority of classes that precede or follow it. The Saints lost five times last year, and it will not be a surprise if the team loses the same number this year, but anyone thinking that these two years are the start of a trend for the Bishop Dwenger program are sorely mistaken.
Just wait and see. Right, Coach Svarczkopf?
