New Coach Brings New Attitude to Tennent Football

Heading into the spring as the new head coach for the William Tennent football team, Bob Rosenberger heard all about the rumors and notions that the Panthers don't work hard. They don't show up for practice, passing scrimmages or lifting session in the weight room, people have said. 

When he started holding practices in March for the offensive and defensive lines, the players shattered those basement-level expectations.

"We had 55 players show up every day for those practices," said Rosenberger during an interview before Wednesday's football camp. "We are well ahead of where I thought we would be at this point. We're not quite where we ultimately need to be, but we are definitely ahead."

Those preliminary meetings represented a total sea change of attitude and philosophy for the players. Rosenberger expects every team member, including the coaches, to be responsible for their performance.

"There's going to be a lot more accountability," said Rosenberger. "If they don't practice, they don't play. The locker room has been spotless after every practice. They will also take that discipline into the classroom."

Since football camp started Monday, approximately 85 kids, including 17 to 20 freshman, have shown up ready to play. Rosenberger is making his way through the roster to put together a competitive squad. Similar to Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles, the top of Rosenberger's list includes settling a bit of a quarterback conundrum of his own.

"Mike Touey and Nik Banks are both really strong," said Rosenberger. "Everybody knows that all the positions are competitive. We'll run the same play four times to get different looks at everybody. These guys are going to be tired when practice is over."

A 1991 graduate of William Tennent, Rosenberger previously served eight years as Pennridge's defensive coordinator. According to phillyburbs.com, he was slated to take over the Hatboro-Horsham team when Tennent Athletic Director Lou Pacchioli approached him in February to replace Biz Keeny, whose contract was not renewed.

With a full five months of preparation, Rosenberger is prepared to take the Panthers on their first test drive with Saturday's home scrimmage against Lansdale Catholic at 10 a.m. They have another scrimmage next Friday at 10 a.m. against Pennridge, then it's the home opener on August 30 against the top-ranked Wissahickon at 7 p.m.

The rest of the schedule features perennial heavy-hitters like Central Bucks West and Neshaminy. It will be the last year that the Panthers will be facing down the larger schools as the Suburban One League realignments go into effect in the 2014 season.

The current configuration has the divisions split up according to geography, a formula that pitted the smaller Tennent, with athletes playing on both sides of the ball, against larger schools that had enough players for single assignments. 

The new divisions are defined by class size, moving Tennent into the American Conference with Plymouth Whitemarsh, Cheltenham, Wissahickon, Upper Dublin, Upper Moreland, Upper Merion and Springfield.

"These guys are ready to play both ways this season," said Rosenberger. "They are going to work hard and make the most of their opportunities."

William Tennent Regular Season Schedule:

8/30: Home vs. Wissahickon at 7 p.m.
9/6: Away vs. Central Bucks West at 7 p.m.
9/20: Away vs. Neshaminy at 7 p.m.
9/27: Home vs. Council Rock North at 7 p.m.
10/4: Away vs. Bensalem at 7 p.m.
10/11: Away vs. Pennsbury at 7 p.m.
10/25: Home vs. Council Rock South at 7 p.m.
11/1: Away vs. Abington at 7 p.m.