Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 6, 1991 TAG: 9104060021
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
For the past two seasons, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound senior has been splitting time with junior Tony Scales in operating the Keydets' wishbone offense. But when VMI kicks off its annual Red/White game at 1 p.m. today at Alumni Field, Douglas will be on the other side of the line of scrimmage, starting at right cornerback for the Red team.
That's the position at which he lettered as a freshman in 1988.
"When I first came here, [cornerback] is where they wanted me," said Douglas, who played defensive back and quarterback at Zebulon (N.C.) High.
Switching Douglas from quarterback to cornerback wasn't a matter of VMI coach Jim Shuck being disappointed in Douglas' performance.
In his two seasons at quarterback, Douglas rushed for 686 yards and two touchdowns and completed 12 of 39 passes for 281 yards and no touchdowns. But with Scales and Douglas alternating at the position, no matter which was in the game, at the same time one of the team's better athletes was on the bench.
Going into the 1991 season, Shuck said he wants maximum use of the athletic abilities of Douglas and Scales. Since both had played defensive back in high school, Shuck said, "The thought was to move one or the other [from quarterback to defensive back]. This will let us put our best players on the field."
Because Scales, from Martinsville, has two years of eligibility left and last season established himself as the No. 1 quarterback by rushing for 544 yards and six touchdowns and completing 39 of 93 passes for 751 yards and five touchdowns, Douglas spent spring practice relearning his old position.
"It really didn't bother me," Douglas said. "I could see where the coaches where coming from. On the other hand, you really don't have much choice when the coaches decide to make a change. I'm just happy to be able to play football at this level. There are a lot of guys who would like to but aren't."
Douglas was recruited to VMI by then-Keydets coach Eddie Williamson as a defensive back and wide receiver. As a freshman, he played in 10 games and had four solo tackles and four assists as a cornerback. He also played on special teams.
"I played some at both left and right corner," said Douglas, who is an economics and business major. "I was one of the few freshman who was on the traveling squad."
VMI can use some depth in its secondary. Last year, opponents completed 55.3 percent of their passes against the Keydets while throwing for 196.6 yards per game and a total of 16 touchdowns.
"I think being a quarterback will help me some," said Douglas. "There are only a certain number of routes a receiver can run. As long as we get a good pass rush, I think our secondary will be OK."
The transition back to cornerback hasn't been as easy as getting back on a bicycle, Douglas said.
"We had a different technique [under Williamson]," said Douglas. "We would start out at the line of scrimmage standing to the side. Now, I'm facing [the receiver] and back pedaling. I've got more work to do. I knew what I was doing on offense. I just have to get more reps and get used to playing the corner again."
\ VMI will open the 1991 season against Southern Conference opponent East Tennessee State at 2 p.m. on Sept. 7 at Alumni Field. This year's schedule is tougher with Division I-AA Lafayette and Richmond replacing NAIA schools Catawba and West Virginia Tech. Virginia takes the place of Army as VMI's Division I-A opponent.
1991 VMI FOOTBALL SCHEDULE - Sept 7, East Tennessee State; Sept. 14, at Appalachian State; Sept. 21, Lafayette (Homecoming); Sept. 28, at Richmond; Oct. 5, Furman (Parents' Weekend); Oct. 12, William and Mary; Oct. 26, The Citadel at Norfolk; Nov. 2, at Virginia; Nov. 9, Western Carolina; Nov. 16, at Marshall; Nov. 23, at Tennessee-Chattanooga.
by CNB