A switch to an option offense came at the right time for the William Penn football program. Coach Todd Hafner installed the new attack prior to the 2008 season and the Statesman finished with a 7-4 record, their most victories since back in 1976. Hafner says they had to adjust early after making some mistakes and not having people in the right positions.
He says they were able to make adjustments and it ended up be a great season. Quarterback Ryan Van Dalen returns after rushing for more than 11 hundred yards and 18 touchdowns a year ago. He also passed for nine touchdowns. Hafner says Van Dalen had issues with the new offense early, but he got more comfortable as the season went on and they were able to do much more with the offense.
Penn comes into this season with higher expectations though Hafner says there is still a long ways to go. He says they won seven games last year, but they haven’t done anything yet this year and they have to continue to work to make progress. They will get an early start to the season when the Statesmen play Georgetown of Kentucky in the Big River Bowl in Dyersburg, Tennessee, on August 29th.