Return of the Mack - an ESU Timberwolves Dynasty (CFB25)

[shanev]

“30 years ago. 30 years ago, my life was over. At least that’s what I thought.”
Alvin Mack, All-American linebacker for the ESU Timberwolves in the early 1990s left a game against Iowa with his knee bent back 45 degrees in the wrong direction. His career and likely first round NFL draft ambitions were gone in an instant.

“I went to a really dark place for a long time. My mom tried really hard to keep me straight, but it was Coach Winters that I owe my life to”. Sam Winters was the head coach of the Timberwolves during the 80s and 90s, the program's heyday.

“Coach kept coming to see me; kept trying to get me back to a better place. My whole life was football; I blew off school and never thought about what I was going to do if I didn’t make it to the NFL. He fought for me though; he got the school to let me come back, he helped me get counseling, and tutoring, and ten years later I finally earned a degree.”

The program fell into mediocrity during that decade; drugs, cover-ups, recruiting scandals. Coach Winters took the blame for most of it, tarnishing his reputation, but it was the 1990s; and so many schools were doing it.

“My mom passed away a few years after that. I had always promised to give her everything when I turned pro; a house, a better life. I never got to do that; but she was so proud that she got to see me graduate.”

“After that, I guess I could have gone my own way; but my way was always the gridiron.
I started working around the team; helping guys with their workouts, nutrition, and yes even helping with their studies (who would have thought that back in my day).”

“The school, the program, coach Winters, they were always so good to me. They gave me a chance to join the coaching staff. Special teams, linebackers, and finally defensive coordinator. Last year, Coach Winters got pretty sick; and had to leave before the season ended. I filled in for a few games and we finished with a couple of wins; nearly got back to a bowl.”

“Sam passed away in March; and the school named me head coach. It’s been a bittersweet experience, losing Sam and the realizing of a dream. We tried to focus on the program, like he always would have wanted. We had one of our strongest recruiting classes in decades. We’ve been slowly trying to build back something over the last 15 years; show that the program can still matter. Now, maybe we can realize our potential. For Sam, for those young athletes, and for those of us that dreamed of greatness, but had to realize it in a new way.”

Mack and the Timberwolves will start their season on August 24, 2024 against New York state rivals Syracuse at Wolf Den Stadium. “I’ve invited a few of my old teammates back for opening day, try to capture the magic of those good ol’ days."

[shanev]

I'm pretty excited about getting college football back after all these years.

I made up the ESU Timberwolves with the 'average joes' roster. I think I changed a few a few things; but very little about the roster or the player names. I'm going to start using WWF's old man sliders; because if it's not obvious from me using a team builder from a movie in the early 90s; I'm an old man now. LOL

[shanev]

ESU Timberwolves Roster for the 2024 College Football Season.

ESU Timberwolves Depth Chart - 2024
Regular Offense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
WR	Keyland Rounds	Reshad English
TE	Blake Trombley	Skip Montgomery
LT	Isaiah Morrow	Quintin McNichols
LG	Tyreke Tucker	Keon Downs
C	Javon Chandler	Dylan McCollum
RG	Torrey McGlynn	Timothy Vann
RT	Sam Settle	Chris Nance
WR	Doug Saxon	Bran Worthington
QB	Joe Bowers	Ross Bailey
FB	Troy Grayson
HB	Kam'Ron Poe	Akeem Bell
Base 4-3 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	Devin Montrose	Marshaun Jefferson
LDT	Kai Gentry	Byron Scruggs
RDT	Jerrick Francis	Langston Bowling
RDE	Jaylan Means	Damarcus Mercer
WLB	Jacobi Henry	Jake Gleaton
MLB	Jack Cornelius	Daesean Dobbins
SLB	Tatum Windmon	Will Irvin
CB	Bryce Todman	Kendric Jones
SS	Jashon Hopes	Justin Mixon
FS	Kareem Culliver	Ja'Quan Odoms
CB	Bryant Harvey	Calico Banks
Special Teams
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
K	Anthony Austin
P	Hayes Westing

ESU Timberwolves 2024 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Aug 24	vs Syracuse
Aug 31	vs Cincinnati
Sep 7	at Memphis
Sep 14	at Charlotte
Sep 21	at UMass
Sep 28	vs BYE WEEK
Oct 5	vs North Texas
Oct 19	at USF
Oct 20	at Rice
Oct 26	vs Florida Atlantic
Oct 29	at West Virginia
Nov 9	vs BYE WEEK
Nov 16	vs Mississippi State
Nov 23	vs Georgia Tech

[shanev]

Week One Recap
ESU beats interstate rival Syracuse on opening day


Junior wideout Keyland Rounds was the star of the game, with 9 receptions for 172 yards, but it was three freshman and three field goals that led the ESU Timberwolves to a 30-20 opening day victory over the Syracuse Orange in the I-90 Clash of New York state rivals.

New head coach Alvin Mack welcomed back former teammate & two-time Heisman runner-up Joe Kane to share the spotlight on opening day at Wolf Den Stadium. Freshman quarterback Joe Bowers, wearing Kane’s old number 13, had a solid collegiate debut, throwing for 382 yards with 3 interceptions.

The freshman running back tandem of Kam’Ron Poe and Akeem Bell combined for 125 yards and 3 touchdowns, and kicker Anthony Austin added three field goals as the Timberwolves held off the Orange for the victory.

“We have a lot to work on; but I’m happy with the outcome,” said Mack after the game. Eastern State will try to put together two in a row next week when the Cincinnati Bearcats come to town.

Syracuse Orange at Eastern State Timberwolves
Aug 24, 2024 1 2 3 4 F SYR (0-0) 3 7 3 7 20 ESU (0-0) 7 10 3 10 30 Top Performers PASS: Joe Bowers - 24-41, 382 YDS, 0 TD, 3 INT RUSH: Kam'Ron Poe - 17 CAR, 64 YDS, 1 TD REC: Keyland Rounds - 9 REC, 172 YDS, 0 TD	Team Stats Comparison SYR ESU First Downs 10 30 3rd Down Efficiency 4-11 9-13 4th Down Efficiency 0-0 0-0 Total Yards 466 548 Passing Yards 222 382 Rushing Yards 26-87 37-141 Penalties-Penalty Yards 5-35 2-8 Turnovers 1 3 Time of Possession 16:41 31:19

[redsox907]

nice first win of the season. 3 ints from the freshman is rough, but hopefully he'll learn from it

[shanev]

Wolves outduel Bearcats in Week two victory

It was a quarterback shootout in week two at Wolf Den Stadium, and freshman Joe Bowers edged out Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby to give ESU a 38-35 victory.

Sorsby struck early with a 65 yard TD pass to Aaron Turner in the first quarter, and then added a second, also to Turner, in the 2nd quarter; but Bowers jogged in from the 3 yard line for his first collegiate touchdown in the last moments of the first half to close the lead to 14-10 at the half.

Bowers would strike three times in the second half, including a last minute toss to Keyland Rounds to put ESU up by 3, and the defense would hold to give the Timberwolves their second victory of the season.

Sorsby would finish 19-29, with 418 yards and 5 touchdown throws in the losing effort. Bowers, who struggled in game one, would finish with 4 touchdowns, three in the air and one on the ground, and 426 passing yards. “The kid showed real heart today,” said head coach Alvin Mack, “we have to get back to the drawing board on defense, ideally if we put up nearly 40 points, we won’t be squeaking out victories.” In the end, they don’t ask by how much, but just whether you win or lose, and for Mack and the Timberwolves, that’s 2-0 so far.

Cincinnati Bearcats at Eastern State Timberwolves
Aug 31, 2024 1 2 3 4 F CIN (0-0) 7 7 14 7 35 ESU (1-0) 3 7 14 14 38 Top Performers PASS: Joe Bowers, ESU - 20-29, 426 YDS, 3 TDs RUSH: Kam'Ron Poe, ESU - 19 ATT, 105 YDS, 1 TD REC: Keyland Rounds, ESU - 6 REC, 156 YDS, 2 TDs	Team Stats Comparison CIN ESU First Downs 14 24 3rd Down Efficiency 6/14 8/14 4th Down Efficiency 2/3 1/1 Total Yards 595 589 Passing Yards 418 426 Rushing Yards 66 113 Penalties-Penalty Yards 2/25 4/30 Turnovers 1 1 Time of Possession 19:15 28:45
Scoring Summary

[redsox907]

nice bounce back from the freshman. hopefully you don't have to win shootouts every game lol

[shanev]

ESU suffers first loss of the Season
Memphis derails the Timberwolves 42-31
September 7, 2024 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium

The Memphis Tigers put up 35 points in the first half, and quarterback Seth Henigan threw for 446 yards and 6 touchdowns, to beat the Timberwolves in their first road game of the season.

"Not much positive to take away from today's game," said head coach Alvin Mack, "we're struggling on defense, and we have to get guys to focus on the basics and just do their job out there."

The lone bright spot of the day was freshman quarterback Joe Bowers, who after throwing three interceptions in week one, has been excellent since. He was 20/36 with 317 yards and 3 touchdown passes; but it was too little, too late to affect the outcome.

The Wolves will continue their road trip next week at Charlotte, where they will try to bounce back to the win column.

Eastern State Timberwolves at Memphis Tigers
Sep 7, 2024 1 2 3 4 F ESU (2-0) 10 0 7 14 31 MEM (1-1) 14 21 7 0 42 Top Performers PASS: Seth Henigan, Memphis - 25-37, 446 YDS, 6 TD RUSH: Mario Anderson, Memphis - 13 CAR, 89 YDS REC: Koby Drake, Memphis - 8 REC, 160 YDS, 2 TD	Team Stats Comparison ESU MEM First Downs 9 13 3rd Down Efficiency 4/14 8/13 4th Down Efficiency 2/2 0/0 Total Yards 427 653 Passing Yards 317 446 Rushing Yards 19 85 Penalties-Penalty Yards 5/34 8/79 Turnovers 1 2 Time of Possession 31:09 28:51
Eastern State Timberwolves Memphis Tigers