Cresson native an All-American

College

Discussion

December 15, 2005

By ERIC KNOPSNYDER The Tribune-Democrat Thu Dec 15, 2005, 10:50 PM EST

Dan Peters was on the “hands” team for one reason: To handle a squib kick against West Liberty State.

Instead, the Penn Cambria graduate fumbled the opening kickoff. He promised his coaches at Shepherd (W.Va.) University that he would make up for it.

He certainly did that, intercepting four passes in the Rams’ 34-7 victory over West Liberty. The junior free safety ended the season with 12 interceptions – the most at any level of collegiate football – and set a conference record.

Peters was honored Thursday by being named to The Associated Press Little All-America team.

“I never could have thought about the chance to be an All-American,” Peters said Thursday in a telephone interview from Cresson. “I’ve been all-conference the past two years. That’s good, but it’s not All-American.”

The West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s defensive player of the year, Peters was remarkably consistent, picking off a pass in eight different games. He also had 43.5 tackles, including 30 solo stops, and was named to the Daktronics Division II All-Northeast Region Team.

“He’s been an outstanding player,” Shepherd coach Monte Cater said. “We’re really proud of him and the things that he’s done quarterbacking our defense. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

Peters is a key component in the Rams’ 4-4 defense, which ranked in the top 10 nationally in five major categories. But the Cresson native credited his teammates for helping him put up such lofty numbers.

“A lot of it has to do with the team that I played on,” Peters said. “All 11 guys on the team can play football. We can go two or three deep on the bench. When the people know what they are doing, I can be back there playing center field.”

Peters did that very well, as he intercepted seven passes in a four-game stretch. He has 18 career picks.

“It seemed like for three or four games there, I was almost the receiver and running the route,” Peters said. “But you still have to catch it when it gets there.”

Peters does more than just defend the pass. Cater said he offers strong run support, plays well in pressure situations and is a team leader. But there is something else as well:

“The best thing about him is that we have him back for another year,” Cater said.

So what can Peters do for an encore after averaging an interception per game?

“Win a national championship,” Peters said without hesitation.

The Rams went 11-0 this season before a 28-21 loss to C.W. Post in the second round of the Division II playoffs snapped Shepherd’s 18-game winning streak.

“Even if I get 12 interceptions next year, that wouldn’t be as good as winning a national championship,” Peters said.

Eric Knopsnyder can be reached at 532-5080 or eknopsnyder@tribdem.com.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

College

Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers dominate Seton Hill
Pat Pecora picked up his NCAA Division II record 498th career victory on Tuesday night, but just like almost every other one, he saw some things that his Pitt-Johnstown wrestling team could improve upon.

February 7, 2012
Happy Valley readies itself for a new brand of football under Bill O’Brien
White placards with a set of rules were affixed to the glass doors of the players’ entrance at the Penn State football building about the time Bill O’Brien agreed to become the school’s next football coach.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
Panthers win fourth consecutive game
Pittsburgh senior Ashton Gibbs is a happy man now that his backcourt mate, junior Tray Woodall, is back and healthy in the starting lineup. He’s almost as happy as Woodall, who recovered from a groin/abdominal strain to turn in one of his best performances of the season.

February 5, 2012 1 Photo
Panthers looking to extend winning streak
Even as the losses piled up, Pitt’s men’s basketball coach Jamie Dixon said his players never abandoned hope. That can be tough in the face of an eight-game losing streak stretching from December into January.

February 4, 2012
Nittany Lions drop 4th in a row
Bryce Cartwright has been in and out of Iowa’s starting lineup all season. Now the senior looks like he’s there to stay.
Cartwright, bothered with concussion-like symptoms earlier this season, scored 17 points to lead the Hawkeyes to a 77-64 victory over Penn State on Saturday.

February 4, 2012
La. Tech running back dies, autopsy pending
Louisiana Tech running back Tyrone Duplessis died Thursday morning after medics responded to an emergency call at his off-campus apartment.

February 3, 2012
Mountain Cats deck Golden Knights
After dropping the first bout of the night, eighth-ranked Pitt-Johnstown won eight of the final nine matches, including a pin by eighth-ranked Gary Lantz at 184 pounds in a 33-6 win over Gannon University on Wednesday night in the Sports Center.

February 1, 2012
O’Brien lauds recruits sticking with the Lions
New Penn State coach Bill O’Brien gave credit to the recruits who stuck with their verbal commitments to the Nittany Lions.
It would have been easy for them to join the roughly half-dozen prospects that left for other schools in light of the upheaval surrounding the football program since November.

February 1, 2012 1 Photo
RB tops Chryst’s first class at Pitt
Paul Chryst thought about the question, then shrugged his shoulders.
Sure, it hasn’t been the most normal recruiting season for Pitt’s new coach, who spent the first six weeks on the job finishing his work as Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator and introducing himself to high school players that have watched Chryst become the Panthers’ fourth head coach in barely a year.
Unique? Sure. Challenging? Not really.

February 1, 2012
Johnstown grad signs with Temple instead of Pitt
Greater Johnstown High School’s Alkwan Williams turned a difficult situation into a positive development on Wednesday.
The Tribune-Democrat Defensive Player of the Year signed a letter of intent to continue his education and football career at Temple on national signing day.

February 1, 2012 1 Photo
More College Headlines

College

Search Results

Discussion

Cresson native an All-American

Did it bother you when British singer M.I.A. extended her middle finger during Madonna's halftime performance at the Super Bowl?

Contact Us