Tiger Football Prepares for 2010 Season, Elects New Team Captains

San Antonio - The Trinity University Tigers football team opens its 2010 campaign Sept. 4 by hosting Howard Payne in a non-conference game at E.M. Stevens Stadium.

Trinity, led by head coach Steve Mohr, in his 21st year at the Tigers helm, returns 16 starters (eight offense, six defense, two special teams) from the 2009 season. The team’s reporting date is Aug. 12.

“We are excited about the 2010 season and the challenges ahead,” coach Mohr said. “I think the attitude is the best I have seen in a long while. With the momentum we had at the end of last year coupled with a great off season, I think the players and coaches are approaching this season with a renewed sense of urgency and anticipation. ”

The Tigers completed last season with a 7-3 overall record, and a 4-2 mark (tie for third place) in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. Last season, Trinity won its final two games, beating conference opponents Centre (27-17) and Austin College (44-10).

Trinity’s home SCAC schedule will come into play early in the season, as Rhodes comes to town Sept. 18. The Tigers will then host SCAC co-champion Millsaps Sept. 25. Trinity returns home Oct. 23 to take on DePauw, which shared the conference title with Millsaps, and won the NCAA Division III automatic qualifier. The Tigers wrap their regular-season schedule Nov. 13 by hosting Austin College in a conference tilt.

Five road games are on the docket, starting Oct. 2 in Birmingham, Ala., with Birmingham-Southern, a SCAC opponent. Trinity travels to nearby Seguin Oct. 9, for a non-conference game with Texas Lutheran. The following week, Oct. 16, Trinity takes on Sewanee: the University of the South at Sewanee, Tenn., in a SCAC contest. The Huntingdon Hawks will host Trinity Oct. 30 in a non-conference meeting at Montgomery, Ala. The Tigers finish their road schedule Nov. 6 at Danville, Ky., taking on the Centre Colonels in a SCAC pairing.

In anticipation of the new season, the Tigers elected four captains: senior wide receiver Caleb Urban, junior tight end Markham Stayton, along with senior defensive ends Garrett Van Dyke and Reuben Lucas.

Urban, from Victoria, Texas (Memorial), was elected to the All-SCAC Second Team Offense. He snagged 34 passes for 538 yards and six touchdowns. Urban also rushed 21 times for 212 yards and a touchdown. Urban also returned 24 kickoffs for a school single-season-record 630 yards, and one for a touchdown of 87 yards. He broke the Trinity record for career kickoff return yards, and for most returns. The career kickoff return yards, and single-season yard records were previously held by Urban’s older brother, Jerheme, who was a Tiger standout from 1999-2002. He is now a receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Stayton, from Katy, Texas (Katy), had 10 receptions for 91 yards. Van Dyke,  from Houston (Northland Christian), was elected to the All-SCAC Honorable Mention Team. He produced 29 tackles (14 solo). Lucas, from Pearland, Texas (Pearland), also had 29 tackles (13 solo), and led the Tigers in sacks, with 2.5 (14 yards).

“The leadership from our captains will be critical,” coach Mohr concluded, “but I feel the players have selected an outstanding group of young men to who are very capable and proven.”