Flyer fans have been anxiously awaiting the gridiron matchup with the Yale University Bulldogs (or Elis) for months, and now that it’s almost here, Yale Head Coach Jack Siedlecki took the time to answer a few questions for UDPride to help kick off the weekend’s festivities.

The Flyers are coming off a 52-31 victory over in-state D-III Ohio Northern last weekend, and kicked off the season with a win over Tiffin. While the Flyers have two games under their belts — and two victories — Saturday will be the season opener for Yale and the rest of the Ivy League schools. Siedlecki’s squad finished 1999 as the Ivy League co-champs en route to a 9-1 record after dropping last year’s season opener.

UDPride: Yale returns 15 starters from last year’s team that shared the Ivy League title and broke numerous school records en route to a 9-1 season. Most of the players at the skill positions return, as well as the offensive and defensive linemen, but the QB situation may be tested in lieu of the graduation of perennial Eli star Joe Walland. How is the QB position shaping up and will overall team experience help ease the transition to a new signal caller?

Siedlecki: Peter Lee went into pre-season #1 but will be pressed by T.J. Hyland who had an excellent spring. We return nine starters on offense, which should make the transition easier.

UDPride: Who are a few of the players you expect to step up this year and carry Yale to another Ivy League title. Any surprises?

Siedlecki: On offense, our leading receiver Eric Johnson and our leading rusher Rashad Bartholomew return. Our leading receiver out ofthe backfield, Jim Keppel, also returns. We have big expectations from two receivers, Tommy McNamara and Billy Brown who will make us much faster. Our tight end, Jeff Ditman will be a key also. On defense, we are led by our Captain and inside linebacker Peter Mazza, our corner Todd Tomich, and safety Than Merrill. All have been playing since the day they stepped on field. Mike Murawczyk returns as our kicker for his fourth year at the position and Eric Johnson set the Yale single season punting average record last year.

UDPride: How did the Yale-Dayton game come about?

Siedlecki: Yale has a tradition of playing out of region games to the extreme of going to Hawaii in 1988. They are great for our alumni. We have players from all over the country and alumni everywhere. We sold out our allotment of tickets at San Diego last year. We visited Chicago three years ago.

UDPride: Dayton Head Coach Mike Kelly has the highest winning percentage of any coach in NCAA history after 200 games, and has two D-III national title rings — one as an assistant and one as a head coach. Briefly talk about Mike Kelly and what you’ve told your players about Dayton football.

Siedlecki: My 17 year old son Kevin, looked at our media guide the other night and looked up and said to me that the Dayton coach had lost fewer games in 22 years than I had in 12 as a head coach. I am very aware of Coach Kelly’s record and success. Having coached in Division III and participated in the playoff system at three different schools, I can appreciate what Coach Kelly has accomplished.

UDPride: Yale football is tradition-rich with national titles, Heisman winners, and names like Walter Camp and Amos Alonzo Stagg to name just a couple. It’s a different era now however across the gridiron landscape. Briefly explain what Yale football means to New Haven and how the changes over the years haven’t changed the enthusiasm for winning at the I-AA non-scholarship level.

Siedlecki: We get tremendous local support. We averaged 28,000 fans per game last year and finished second in 1AA in attendance. We get to play in the historic Yale Bowl and the Yale football tradition sets us apart from most other programs. When you break a record at Yale, you have really accomplished something. We have been playing for 127 years. We have three opponents on our schedule that we have played over one hundred times.

UDPride: Ivy League schools such as Yale are notorious for their rigid academic standards. Coupled with an absence of athletic scholarships, how difficult is it to lure talented student athletes who not only fit the Yale standard but also embrace it?

Siedlecki: We are a national team by design and necessity. To find players that are good enough academically to get in and good enough football players to win an Ivy League title requires a national recruiting effort.

UDPride: What’s the best piece of coaching advice someone ever gave you?

Siedlecki: Recruit better players and it is amazing how much better a coach you become!