Hoya Staff Writer Friday, September 1, 2006 Lindsay Anderson/The Hoya
The clock on the Athletic department Web site, https://www.guhoyas.com, methodically counts down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the “New Era” of Georgetown football begins on Saturday afternoon against Holy Cross. For first-year Head Coach Kevin Kelly and senior captains Liam Grubb and Alex Buzbee, the clock cannot tick fast enough. “Holy Cross is a pretty big game for us,” Grubb, an offensive lineman and the anchor of the Hoyas’ offensive line, said. “They embarrassed us last year, and [they] are a team we are really gunning for.” Kelly’s first assignment is a tough one. The Crusaders have been victorious in the last six meetings between the two teams – none more humiliating than last year’s 48-6 drubbing in Worcester, Mass. But Kelly is no stranger to challenges – or to success. Kelly brings a powerful option attack with him from Navy, a team which enjoyed three consecutive bowl seasons during Kelly’s tenure as special teams coordinator. Leading the Georgetown offensive line is the 6-foot-7, 290 pound Grubb, who will try and flatten defenders for running back Emir Davis, an agile junior who replaces departed senior back Marcus Slayton. While Kelly has yet to name an official starter at quarterback, all signs point to sophomore Ben Hostetler, the nephew of the former New York Giants great. Hostetler is starting for only the second time, this time against a strong Holy Cross defense that boasts two senior linebackers, Chris Nielsen and Dan Adams, and lightning-quick cornerback Casey Gough. Despite his inexperience, Hostetler remains confident. “For everything they throw at us, we’ve got something to counter. I’m as ready as I’m ever going to be.” Hostetler has earned the nickname “Sunshine” from his teammates – a reference to the blond-haired, ultra-laid back quarterback in Disney’s “Remember the Titans.” Hostetler hasn’t just earned a nickname; he’s earned respect. “He’s not afraid of anything. He plays with a lot of confidence, and that’s what we need,” Grubb said. On the other side of the ball, the Georgetown defense is led by Buzbee, a defensive end who hopes to stifle an explosive Holy Cross rushing attack. “Last year they ran the ball right up the middle on us, so we’ve been really trying to stop the run game,” Buzbee, who has already been drawing attention from professional scouts, said. Assisting Buzbee will be senior linebacker Chris Paulus and speedy senior safety Derek Franks, who is making the transition from cornerback. Coach Kelly said his main concern is Gough, a pre-season honorable mention all-American as a kick returner. “We’ve gone over our coverage assignments and we have worked real hard,” Kelly said. “If we do those things, we should be fine.” Although Georgetown begins a new season with a new head coach and inexperience at many key positions, Coach Kelly and his Hoyas remain confident that the “New Era” will get off on the right foot Saturday afternoon. “That’s the beauty of college football. New guys can always step up to the plate,” Kelly said. “We’ve been talking about it all preseason, and I am excited to see the new starters step up and emerge.”