Increased Workload No Problem for Hart
September 22, 2004

It wasn’t exactly like seeing Bigfoot, but Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference defenses did come face to face with a different creature a year ago. The Ashland University Eagles attacked defenses with a two-headed, four-handed, four-foot beast that rushed for 2,126 yards and nine touchdowns. Like a robot, this thing never seemed to tire and it left plenty of footprints on linebackers and defensive backs.

Senior Antwan Hart is showing leadership as the Eagles go through the 2004 season. It also helps when he has been gaining 100+ yards a game so far.

A year ago, AU’s running back tandem of Jason Schwalm and Antwan Hart was one of the best the GLIAC had to offer. Schwalm gained 661 yards and was sixth in the league in rushing yards per game (73.4). Hart rushed for 706 yards and was seventh in the conference in ground yards per game (64.2).

The idea going into this season was to continue to send that duo at defenses. By rotating these two tailbacks, the Eagles would always have a fresh pair of legs in the game. Also, freshman tailback Jon Schroeder could pick up some carries here and there and learn from two veteran backs.

All of that changed when Schwalm went out for the year with an injury in the season opener. Now the Eagles are showing a lot of Hart, to go with a renewed spirit, and for the time being at least, the senior from Detroit is no worse for the wear.

“It’s a mind thing,” said Hart about shouldering the running game. “I get out there on the field and I’m not concerned about it.”

“He’s never complained about it,” says offensive coordinator Tom Stacy, who admits that he’d like to keep Hart to around 20 carries a game. “It’s always a concern. But it seems like he’s gotten stronger since the spring. He’s in better condition.”

Hart stayed in Ashland during the summer running and lifting in preparation for the season. In retrospect, that may be the best decision he makes all year.

“I was trying to get my body ready for the long haul,” Hart explained. “Things happen and now that’s really helped me out. I don’t have my partner in crime. When Jason got hurt, I didn’t think it was serious. Jason’s been banged up before but always bounced back.”

Hart has an ability to bounce through defenses. He rushed for over 100 yards in each of AU’s first three games. In the second game of the year, at Community Stadium against Ferris State, he plowed through the Bulldogs for a career-best 159 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. The next week at Gannon, he carried the ball a career-high 32 times for 114 yards. He was the GLIAC’s leading rusher after three weeks and the anchor of an improved offense. The 5-11, 200-pound Hart gives the Eagles an interesting package. There’s no real chink in his armor.

“I’m a patient back,” said Hart. “I’m not the biggest guy, or the strongest. I think I have good vision. I use all 10 guys in front of me blocking. I try to be patient and once I see the hole, try to hit it.

“I study backs that resemble me,” continued Hart, who wears the same number as his favorite back, Fred Taylor. “But I look at other backs to see if there are things I can add to my game. For example, I see backs who lower their shoulder. Every once in a while I like to lower my shoulder. I’m used to taking a pounding, sometimes I like to give a pounding.”

“He has a real good feel for the game and he’s a real student of the game,” added Stacy. “You can tell he’s played a lot of football. He has good hands and he has good quickness and footwork. The best way to describe it is he’s a football player.”

Hart has played running back since his days in youth football. He also took up residence in the backfield at Detroit’s Northwestern High School where he was first team all-city, second team All-Metro and third team all-state. His background includes a stint at Erie Community College where he was a running back in a wishbone offense.

“We had six running backs and we were a talented group,” recalled Hart. “We had a good two deep. We knew we were going to run the ball. You knew you were going to get carries, but you had to make the most of those opportunities because you were only going to get three or four carries. I usually got five or six carries and the most I ever got was 11.”

Hart played at Erie for one year and was on a team that finished the regular season 9-2 and advanced to the Red River Bowl in Bedford, TX. One of his teammates was wide receiver Dalorean White, who’s now with him at AU.

Even though Hart and White are reunited in northeastern Ohio, they’ve left the wishbone behind. Today, the Eagles are running a spread offense. That’s another changed that’s appealed to Hart.

“He was excited about going to it,” said Stacy. “He felt his strength was moving in space. Plus he has an opportunity to catch the ball. He hasn’t done that before.”

A new coaching staff brought more than a new offense. There was a different way of doing business. Sometimes that rattles players. Hart never missed a beat.

“I think this program is on the up and up,” he offered. “I probably won’t be here to see all the benefits of the new system. But I’m an Ashland Eagle to the heart. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be. I knew things were going to change. You can’t be afraid of change. Right now, change has been good for the program.”