ASHLAND, Ohio — The Broad Street Bullies have been reborn and they are roaming Ashland University’s Jack Miller Stadium with reckless abandon.
The original Broad Street Bullies, a nickname given to the rough-and-tumble Philadelphia Flyers of the 1970s, terrorized the NHL while winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975. The Flyers played their home games at the Spectrum in south Philly, located on Broad Street.
The new Broad Street Bullies, whose home field sits in the heart of AU’s campus on (you may have guessed) Broad Street, have proven to be every bit as ruthless as their namesake.
The fifth-ranked Eagles opened the season with a 48-0 win over Mercyhurst last week. AU limited the Lakers to 146 yards of total offense and an impossible 2 yards rushing on 29 attempts.
“We try our best to be relentless no matter what. If you get knocked down, get up as fast as you can,” said junior defensive end Austin Utter, who celebrated his 21st birthday with two sacks in his first career start. “We wanted to make a statement early.”
While one game is hardly an accurate sample size, AU’s defense has been tormenting the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference throughout the decade. Since 2010, AU has led the GLIAC in scoring defense twice (2012, 2014) and total defense once (2012). The Eagles ranked fourth in the conference in scoring defense and total defense in 2015 and returned seven starters from that unit.
A converted linebacker, Utter is the poster child for AU’s defense. He served as a back-up to standout linebacker Brandon Gency the past two seasons, but changed positions to fill the spot vacated by the graduated Chase Hoobler.
“You’ve got guys like (Zach) Olszewski and Gency, who are both veterans. They do a great job,” Utter said. “We lost Hobbler and that spot needed to be filled. (The coaches) thought I could do a decent job there.”
Two other regulars on AU’s defense, starting defensive end/outside linebacker Adam Wallace and reserve middle linebacker Zach Bernhard, were both highly-regarded quarterbacks coming out of high school. Wallace led Norwayne to a Division IV state championship in 2011 while Bernhard threw for more than 2,400 yards in his once season as a starter at Ashland High School.
“We’ve got a bunch of guys who are really unselfish and they play so well together as a team,” Owens said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who would be starting on a lot of other teams.
“That’s what it takes. You have to have that depth. You have to have guys who accept their role and wait their turn.”
AU’s opponent on Saturday, Wayne State, opened the season with a 28-3 win over Northwood. Quarterback Donovan Zezula completed 9 of 15 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those TD tosses went to Jamel Hicks, who had five catches for 154 yards.
The Warriors are coached by Paul Winters, who was an assistant under Owens at the University of Akron.
“It’s always bittersweet,” Owens said. “(Winters is) one of my best friends, not only in coaching but in life. It’s always tough to line up and coach against him.”
Bill Royce Recognition: Former AU great Bill Royce will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on Dec. 6. Royce will be honored before Saturday’s 7 p.m. kickoff as part of the National Football Foundation’s Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute.
“It couldn’t happen to a better, not just football player, but person,” Owens said. “He’s a great friend and I have so much respect for him. … If we can play a little bit like he played in his career, we’ll have a chance.”
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