GREENVILLE, Pa. (Sept. 2) -- The Thiel College Football team enters the 2025 season with great excitement as the team looks to build off consecutive three-win campaigns under fourth-year Head Coach Sam Bauman. 

The Blue and Gold collected wins over Allegheny, Saint Vincent and Bethany in 2024. 

With plenty of fresh faces and returners alike, Thiel is primed to continue the upward trajectory of the program as it opens the 2025 campaign Friday against Concordia (Wis.) at 6 p.m. from Alumni Stadium in non-conference action.

Below is the full transcript of Bauman and SID Dante Parente's full conversation preview the upcoming year.

Parente
We're here with football head coach Sam Bauman for the 2025 football season preview. We're going 120 yards to do it. You ready to go, coach?

Bauman
Absolutely.

Parente
Let's do it. Coach, last two years, three wins in each season. Just kind of like what's the mindset for you guys as you enter this 2025 season looking to build off those back-to-back three win campaigns?

Bauman
Yeah, I think the mindset even from the end of last season was it wasn't good enough. We're making strides. We're trying to do a little bit better, and I know that's what every team coming into a season is thinking, but that's definitely the mentality of this team. We want more. We're excited about the work that's going to go into doing more. So, it's been a fun camp so far.

Parente
Now, when you look at your team on the offensive side of the ball, who is going to be some of the key returners and newcomers on offense this year?

Bauman
I think it all starts with,you know, our senior captain Deon Logan (Richmond, Va./James River). He's had a really good camp. I think he's really solidified himself as one of the better backs in our league and I'm excited to see him continue to take strides, continue to push forward. Also as a running back, Jayveerh White (Sharon, Pa./Sharon), who was a really good special teams contributor for us last year, has done some really nice things. I'm really excited about way the way he's progressed and really grown into the offense. So, it's going to be fun to see those two have a lot of different roles, do a lot of different things this year. And then a sophomore, um who saw a little bit of time as a freshman, but uh really has come on, Drevon Newton (Pittsburgh, Pa./Nazareth Prep), our tight end. I think he brings a ton of versatility, a weapon in the passing game, as well as just a physical force in the run game.

Parente
Same question on the defensive side. Who are some newcomers or returners who you're excited about on the defensive end and guys you think are going to make a big impact for you guys?

Bauman
Absolutely. So, I think it all starts again with our senior captains. So it was Jake Badger (Mercer, Pa./Mercer Area). He's really led the charge. He's improved a ton um going into his senior campaign. I love the improvement he's had as a leader. I'm excited about his focus, his downhill attacking mentality. And then junior for us, Matt Jordan (New Castle, Pa./Kennedy Catholic), I think has really done a lot of nice things on the back end. He's really in a spot where he's really helping us in the run game and the pass game, so I like where he's at. I like what he's been able to do. Those guys I think have really stood out in their leadership and what they've been able to do. And then a young guy who also saw a little time as a freshman, Chris Boomfield has had a really good camp. We're expecting some nice things out of him.

Parente
Now going into this season, PAC kind of changing its scheduling format, allowing teams to play non-conference games. Just kind of what's your thoughts on being able to go out there and play some teams out of the PAC and, you know, just what's your overall take on that?

Bauman
It's fun. I mean, it's a chance for us to compete to show, you know, we believe as a conference we have a really good league and we're excited to show off and hopefully get a lot of wins in our non-conference slate. For us, we get to play some teams out of our region. So, a Wisconsin team coming to us and then we get to travel to a Michigan team. So, playing guys just from not this area who, you know, it's going to be a challenge. It's going to be an exciting thing, and I'm pumped up for those.

Parente
So, you mentioned season opener. You get to play Concordia, Wisconsin here at Alumni Stadium, Friday Night Lights. What's your message to Tomcat Nation as we get into week one here in the 2025 season?

Bauman
Hey, football's back. There's nothing better than that. You can't be more excited than that. And we're hopefully going to go out there and put on a good show.

Parente
Awesome. This is Sam Bauman. We just did the 2025 football season preview. Thiel opens the season against Concordia, Wisconsin, Friday, September 5th, right here, Alumni Stadium, 6 p.m. Be there and go Tomcats.