RAY SWANSON | Keystoner Titans' football season to launch at Ohio Northern

Westminster College football fans will be hitting the road much more frequently this season than in past years.
Of the 10 games scheduled for the Titans on their 2004 schedule, six will be played on the opposition's turf. That's not great news for the local fans but that's the way the scheduling worked out.
This season will be the fifth for coach Jerry Schmitt, who has guided the Titans to a 23-16 record. Last year the Titans were 5-5, including a 3-2 mark and a third-place finish in the President's Athletic Conference.
Westminster will once again play a five-game PAC schedule, beginning with a road contest at Washington & amp; Jefferson College on Oct. 9. The Titans will play host to home games against Bethany for Homecoming on Oct. 16 and defending PAC champion Waynesburg to close regular season play on Nov. 13. Other road PAC contests are games against local rivals Thiel on Oct. 23 and Grove City on Nov. 6.
Also included on the schedule are five non-conference games, of which all are NCAA Division III opponents.
Westminster will launch the 2004 season at Ohio Northern University of the Ohio Athletic Conference in a game that will open ONU's new Dial-Roberson Stadium. Just playing on the new field should be a great experience.
Home games follow against North Coast Athletic Conference members Allegheny College on Sept. 11 and Hiram on Sept. 18, followed by a road game against Thomas More College of Kentucky on Sept. 25. A road game against Frostburg State of Maryland on Oct. 30 rounds out the slate.
Kritz in charge
Doug Kritz is the new golf course general manager at the Hickory VFW Golf Course in Hermitage. He replaces former manager Tom Wilson who took up with a business venture in the South.
Kritz by the way, is also the Commander of the Hickory V.F.W. Post 6166.
The new golf course manager said there would be no raising of rates at the course this year and he pointed out that on Mondays, throughout the season, golfers can play 18 holes with a cart for $15. The special will run all day on Mondays.
The major improvements this year at the course will be made on the tee areas. The exiting tee on No. 11 and the tee on No. 17 will become one large teeing area.
According to Kritz, this will make for greater flexibility as to the usage of teeing areas for normal play and tournament play. A second new tee will be built on No. 16.
Kritz said that if there is enough time left this fall, the tees on No. 9 and 18 will be addressed. Both are par 3s.
Kritz has a very efficient staff, headed up by John O'Rourke, pro shop manager; Dave Goda, golf course superintendent, and Brian Porsch, equipment manager. He also pointed out that Nick Solyan has been a great help in making the transition into his new position a very smooth one.