Nov. 16, 2006

Dayton Flyers junior quarterback Kevin Hoyng isn't afraid to say he exudes a certain amount of swagger.

"I've been competitive all my life," Hoyng said. "My dad has been a high school coach for 30 years now and seeing him on the sidelines and how competitive he gets, I think I took on his role. I hate to lose and will do anything I can to win."

For all of his big-time gambles and cowboy confidence to help the team, the Flyers' Hoyng evoked the positives of a turbulent season.

The Flyers finished the 2006 season 4-6 overall and 1-6 in the PFL. Hoyng understands that although the team didn't meet expectations and suffered through a five-game losing skid during the middle of the season, the team's effort never wavered.

"Obviously, it's been frustrating for us during that losing streak," said Hoyng. "But the whole team each and every week has prepared just as hard. We've expected to win and the leaders on the team, myself included, tell ourselves that we have to work hard and continue to improve each day. We wanted to get better individually and as a team."

Named the 2005 White-Allen Most Valuable Player, Hoyng put up similar numbers to his sophomore campaign in 2006. The junior quarterback threw for 2,052 yards and 11 touchdowns while ranking as the Flyers fifth leading rusher with 146 yards.

What separates Hoyng from other record holders is his character and focus off the field. An education major, Hoyng is a two-time member of the PFL Academic Honor Roll.

Spoken like a coach's son, Hoyng will be the first to tell you he would trade all of the records in the world to win a championship.

"During the season it doesn't mean a whole lot because my number one goal in the beginning of the season was to win a league title," Hoyng said. "Obviously, that's not going to be accomplished this year. But, each and every week your goal is to win the game. The records and the stats don't mean a whole lot during the season."

Flyers offensive coordinator Dave Whilding said Hoyng's humility and success is not surprising. As a natural leader with an enviable work ethic and poise, Hoyng's moxie makes Whilding's job easy and fun.

"He wants to be a coach and he's a student of the game," said Whilding. "Everything is important to him. Every little thing is important to him. He likes to know what other position players are doing and what their assignment is and that's great."

The drive and passion to improve not only made Hoyng a starter as a sophomore, but exceed expectations in his Flyer career.

Last year was a pleasure cruise for Hoyng who led UD to a 9-1 overall record and a No. 2 national ranking. This season Hoyng made Flyer history by breaking the UD career record for total offense. Hoyng passed Kelly Spiker, who previously held the record with 5,138 total yards.

But the six conference losses in 2006 tested the junior's resolve.

"It's been frustrating at times," said Hoyng. "Any time you play in this program with so much tradition, you expect to win and play for the league title year in and year out. This year unfortunately things didn't go our way. We've been in each game, but plays didn't go our way."

One of the biggest hurdles Hoyng faced during the season was the constant change in offensive personnel. Not only did the Flyers have to replace the offensive stars from 2005, but deal with the injury bug that took a toll on UD at every offensive position.

"It was different this year because last year we had a veteran offensive line and we had veteran running backs around him," said Whilding. "Those were things that made his job easier. This season we lost our number one receiver, Ryan Wrobleski, to graduation. Kevin was faced with the challenge of not new receivers, but different receivers who didn't have as much experience as Ryan did. Whenever you have those adjustments, you have to make some concessions and that's what we did."

With his versatility in the air and on the ground, Hoyng is a lightening-rod type of player who can command the stage. Hoyng said he compares his style of play to a Michael Vick or Vince Young, a quarterback that can use his legs and arm to lead the team to victory.

No other performance epitomized Hoyng's effort than the Flyers' last home game in 2006 with a 51-7 triumph over the Valparaiso Crusaders. In just over two quarters of play, Hoyng torched the Crusaders secondary converting 11 of 13 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns.

"Coach Whilding gives me the freedom anytime I want," said Hoyng about the UD offense. "He says if you don't see something you don't like then run or throw the ball away. Once the pass play starts, I have the freedom to do what I want. That's a positive for me because I can make things happen with my legs."

Poised for 2007, Hoyng plans to take control of his development by continuing to study defensive schemes, ironing out his throwing mechanics and working to add muscle to his 190-pound frame.

It's an off-season schedule that not only has the Flyers staff happy, but excited to work with Hoyng before he becomes a coach himself.

"That makes it easy for me as a coach," Whilding said. "If you really want to coach someone, it's somebody who wants to coach down the road or is a coach's son and he's both of those."