Slot Back Widener University

DAN SANTHOUSE UNIVERSITY athletes do the Dot Drill and are timed consistently and I can tell you this: When you can do the Dot Drill in 36 seconds, your feet are a blur. Therefore, Dan Santhouse, we at BFS ofÏcially proclaim you the American Dot Drill Champ!

Pennsylvania which is a suburb of Philadelphia. It has an enrollment of about 2200 students and plays in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC). It’s one of the toughest conferences in Division III football. Widener has been conference champs 8 times in Head Coach Bill Manlove’s 19 year tenure. Not only that, Widener has been crowned NCAA Division II] National Champions in 1977 and once again in 1981. They play on natural grass at Memorial Stadium which has a 4500 seat capacity. It’s nicknamed “The Temple of Doom” This is for a good reason. There have been 19 undefeated seasons at Memorial Stadium since 1930 and under Coach Manlove nearly 90% of the games have been won at home.

Playing the Pioneers of Widener on their turf is obviously no picnic. Coach Manlove is the winningest active coach. in Division III football and in the top four among all coaches. He stated, “We used to jump rope but we like Dan Sophomore 5' 9" 166 pounds. the dot drill so much we're going to it exclusively for our agility training. It’s amazing to see lineman start out I'd like to tell you a neat story about a special athlete from a great division III university who plays for a special coach. The athlete’s name is Dan Santhouse, but he doesn’t look big, fast or strong.

Well, the plain truth of the matter is best told by Head Football Coach Bill Mantove who praises Dan by stating, “Dan’s an amazing guy. He isn’t big and doesn’t look like a great athlete but he always gets the job done. Dan only has 4.8 you can do it.” speed but he performs on the field.”

You, the reader, may say, “Well that’s nice but what's reasons. First, Dan has overcome some obstacles just to play college football. Second, he is an upper limit person and third, Dan can do the BFS Dot Drill quicker than anybody! His record of 36.6 seconds is a blistering pace. The Widener coaches make sure Dan hits all the dots when going through the drill. Dan likes the Dot Drill and practices 2 to 3 times per week. The dots are set up right at the fieldhouse. In his freshman year, Dan did the Dot Drill in a respectable 53.2 seconds. Then, he set a goal to break 38 seconds. This year as a sophomore, Dan not only broke the 38 second barrier, but he set an American record of 36.6 seconds.

I call it an American record even though obviously records are not ofÏcially kept. Still, I've never heard of anyone doing it faster. Thousands of doing the dot drill in 85 to 90 seconds and then see them break sixty.” In Fact, six other returning Widener players have broken 50 seconds besides Dan. Three of them are lineman! Widener University has quite a history dating back to 1821 and now offers 52 major programs of study leading to a full range of degrees including a doctoral degree. The average board score is over one thousand so Dan Santhouse needs every brain cell functioning properly just the classroom.

Nashiminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. He graduated 58th out of 710 putting him up in the top DAN SANTHOUSE - Continued from page 63 class. Dan played football under Dick Bedesem and started for three years. At Nashiminy, he also was an outstanding basketball and baseball player. Dan only weighed 145 pounds but was named as an All County Football Player. He benched 180 and cleaned 190 pounds. T asked Dan what made him think he could play college football being so small. He responded, “I just knew I could play college ball. I’ve always felt; if you want to do it bad enough you can do it. I selected Widener because of it’s great wanted to play football.

“Dan in planning on graduating and his major is Electrical Engineering he carries a 2.5 GPA in this tough major. Dan plans on working for an electric company after graduation. I inquired, “Dan, don’t people worry about you.

You're only 5' 9" and 166 pounds. You’ve had two shoulder separations and because of that your bench is only 210. Your squat is only 360 pounds.” Dan laughed, “My grandmother worries about me but my mother is tougher than I am. Both my mom and dad support me 100 percent.” Dan didn’t play much his freshman year. He caught two passes for 22 yards and rushed four times for 17 yards. sophomore year, he really caught fire. He was the team’s leading receiver and became the first Widener back to go over 100 yards receiving twice in a season. One of those was against undefeated national power Susquehenna. Bill Royds, assistant football and strength coach, bubbled, “Greg you should have seen it.

Dan layed Dan Santhouse #4 gets excited. parallel to the ground and caught a key pass to lead us to an upset victory over Susquehanna. I was really 18 straight winning seasons! happy for him. He's one of our group leaders. Dan’s just just work as hard as you can.”

I thanked Dan for his answer and asked, “Dan a lot of kids mean well but let peer pressure dictate their lives “Tf you work hard on your body to build it, why reverse the process by doing something stupid.” especially when it comes to drugs and alcohol. What do you say?” He responded, “There's a lot of peer pressure at college. I don’t know much about drugs but everyone should make their own decision. You just hurt yourself. If you work hard on your body to build it why reverse the process by doing something stupid. I’m not bothered by people asking me to do drugs or drink. Me, I just like to dance and have fun without it. I’ve never been offered drugs too much.”

We at BFS thank Head Coach Bill Manlove and been an absolute pleasure to have in our program.” assistant coach Bill Royds who made this article It wasn’t easy and it probably should not have possible. We thank the sports information department happened. Dan explains, “I was going to quit football and John Douglas for their cooperation. Most of all, we because of my neck. The doctor told me I should. I had thank Dan Santhouse for the great example he has set always played defense but then I had an idea. Playing for all to follow and maybe, just maybe, like the Widener offense would be better for my neck so I switched University NFL legend Billy “White Shoes”

Johnson, reluctantly to my slotback position. Along with my dot Dan Santhouse will become nationally acclaimed as the drill goal. I set a goal to start. I was fortunate things “Quickest Feet From Coast to Coast.” worked out. I really believe to be successful you should

From BFS Magazine — May/June 1988. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).