Championship or bust
LATROBE — It was 2 a.m. on a cold morning in November when Tim McNerney picked up his phone and gave Washington & Jefferson head football coach Mike Sirianni a call.
McNerney, a Knoch High graduate who had just completed a stellar season as a running back for the Presidents in what was otherwise a down year for the team, left an impassioned voice mail.
“He promised me he was going to do everything he could do to win a conference championship (in his senior season),” Sirianni said. “That's the type of relationship we have. He's a great kid and I expect him to have a great season for us.”
McNerney, too, expects to save his best for last.
In 2011, McNerney rushed for 850 yards and eight touchdowns despite missing two games due to injury. The individual success was tempered, however, by an uncharacteristically mediocre season by W&J.
The Presidents were a disappointing 6-4 despite leading the conference in total offense. Turnovers haunted the team and McNerney as well.
McNerney has focused on keeping better handle on the football this season and improving in every facet of his game heading into his final season wearing pads.
“Last year's senior class was the first class to go through W&J without putting their hands on a championship trophy,” McNerney said. “That's not something I want to experience.”
One of the reasons McNerney chose W&J was the chance to win Presidents' Athletic Conference titles.
So far, it hasn't happened.
“I think with the talent we have coming back, it's just all about reaching our potential,” McNerney said. “I think we can go out and win a PAC title.”
McNerney doesn't lack in confidence.
“Except with the girls,” Sirianni quipped. “Seriously, though, Timmy loves football and he has excelled in the classroom. He surprised me how well he has done in the classroom, and that's not a knock on him. It just shows how hard he has worked both off the field and on.”
McNerney said Sirianni and his high school football coach at Knoch, Mike King, couldn't be more different.
“I love both of them. Both have led me through great experiences in my life,” McNerney said. “I would say they are about as opposite as you can get. Coach King was very serious in pregame. Everything was old school, a throwback-type coach. With coach Sirianni, it's all about having fun. He doesn't like anybody to be nervous or stiff going into a game. It's been a lot of fun.”
McNerney is hoping to have a lot more fun this season.
He's looking for another 1,000-yard season — he reached the mark as a sophomore after seeing just five carries as a freshman.
But his main goal is to “get the PAC trophy back to the Presidents where it belongs,” he said.
“I wouldn't say I want to achieve anything more this season individually,” McNerney said. “I go into every season trying to do the best I can. Every game, every play, you want to win. Obviously it's my last year, my last go-around so that's added motivation. But other than that it's just about helping the team win, motivating the guys and getting that PAC title.”
