Springfield senior provides leadership
By JOHN VARGO Tribune ChronicleNEW MIDDLETOWN - Eric Lipp carries a 4.0 GPA and probably won't have a problem securing an academic scholarship. Those off-the-field accolades transferred to the football field.
The senior wide receiver/linebacker is a leader for the Springfield Tigers, a team who went 2-8 last season.
"He's a good senior leader," said Sean Guerriero, who is in his second season with the Springfield Tigers. "He's setting the tone for the younger wideouts and for the linebackers on the defense."
"Last year, our seniors had great leadership," Lipp said. "But as a team, we didn't have that great chemistry. I could tell this year, that's what we're building on for this year - having a better team and being more positive overall."
Lipp was the Tigers' second-leading receiver with almost 30 catches for nearly 500 yards.
"He's a great route runner and caught the ball well," Guerriero said.
Lipp also made 60 tackles.
"He's the kind of kid you can tell to line up and run through a wall and he's going to do it for you," Guerriero said. "He does anything you ask him."
Lipp, who has visited Ohio Northern and drew interest from Mercyhurst, Waynesburg and Muskingum, said he needs to strengthen his defensive play.
"This year, I have to work on my tackling form pretty much, breaking down the missed tackles," he said. "I got the speed for it. I think I have a good size, but I have to work on keeping my head up and just finishing the tackle.
"As a team, we have to work on flying to the ball and swarming the ball every play. Last year, it was pretty much one-on-one and they broke away for a lot of tackles. This year, our motto is swarm to the ball."
On offense, he wanted to be a trendsetter.
"I just want to do to best of my ability, catch every ball I can," Lipp said. "Last year, some games I had problems with drops every once in a while. This year, that's what I'm working on - have more consistency and picking the team up and keeping them positive."
Lipp said he wanted to keep the team positive - a major key for Springfield's success this season.
"Keep my head up, keeping them positive and telling them good job," he said. "That's what the young kids need nowadays. They need people to tell them, 'Good job'. That was the way I was last year. I need someone to say, 'You're doing a good job out there.' That really builds up their confidence."
