Wesleyan football entered its 2008 season with high expectations, especially for quarterback Joe Giaimo ’11. In the team’s first game at Tufts, he completed 14 of 20 passes for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns. But in the same game he went down with a season-ending injury, and the team lost 20-14. After that, more and more injuries and illnesses set the Cardinals stumbling on the way to a 1-7 record.
The team’s prospects are looking up, however. In 2008 four of their seven losses came by one touchdown or less. The team has 40 letterwinners returning, including the majority of the 2008 starters. Although the team plays the same 8 teams as last season, the experience gained by so many backups and underclassmen last year should help the Cardinals’ depth and chemistry. Current sophomores Cyprian Oyomba and Cam Davila led the team in tackles in 2008, with 76 and 57, respectively. The team only lost 15 seniors, one of whom is recently signed Red Sox minor-leaguer Drew Dominguez. Peter Sugarbaker ’10, who was a second-team all-NESCAC selection last year, anchors the defensive line. This season, Giaimo and the Cardinals seem poised improve on their 2008 run.