With increased patience and a change of scenery, Dom Eisaman is hoping for increased playing time as he continues to wait for his chance to be a college quarterback.
A slow start to his playing career at the next level can be attributed to various reasons, the least of which, however, is a desire to be a starter. Eisaman still believes he has plenty to offer a program.
But that program will be a new one for the former Greensburg Central Catholic pro-style passer, who is transferring from Washington & Jefferson to Saint Vincent.
Eisaman will have to sit a year, per Presidents’ Athletic Conference rules. W&J and SVC are opponents in the PAC.
The decision to change schools is almost completely football-related, Eisaman said.
“I really enjoyed my time at W&J and met a lot of great people and made some really close friends on the football team,” he said. “I spoke with coach (Mike) Sirianni a few times about getting an opportunity to compete for the job on the varsity team and what he saw for my future. At the end of the day, I felt there was some unfulfilled promises and a lack of opportunity for me to be able to compete for the starting job at the varsity level.”
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Eisaman, who will be a junior in the classroom and a redshirt sophomore in football, played well on the Presidents’ junior varsity team, throwing for 2,200 yards and 23 touchdowns over two seasons (12 games).
He appeared in one varsity game, last season against Thiel, and completed 1 of 2 passes.
While one relationship might have frosted over, another could be set to bloom.
Eisaman will play for Saint Vincent rookie coach Aaron Smetanka, who coached two seasons at GCC — he did not coach Eisaman — before taking over at his college alma mater.
“It was tough having to leave the team, the coaches who helped me, all the close friends I made, but I thought it was in my best interests to transfer out,” Eisaman said. “I was attracted to SVC mainly because I was familiar with coach Smetanka and watching how well he did (at GCC), as well as his success as a quarterback in college and at the professional level. I thought he could help me reach my full potential as a QB.”
Phil Hamilton will be the offensive coordinator at Saint Vincent. He coached Eisaman at GCC when the quarterback was a junior.
Hamilton tried to land Eisaman at Clarion a couple of years later, when Hamilton also was offensive coordinator for the Golden Eagles.
“I’m very excited to help SVC compete for a conference title the next couple of years,” Eisaman said.
This season will be met with a tinge of isolation for Eisaman because he is not permitted to practice with SVC.
“I’ll have to work out and throw on my own to stay sharp and get into the best shape I can,” he said.
Eisaman plans to play two more seasons, excluding this one.
