Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993 TAG: 9308310327
SECTION: NEW RIVER VALLEY PREP FOOTBALL PAGE: PF-13 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Hardly a day goes by when he doesn't feel a pang left over from the Bobcats' hardest fall since 1962's 0-10 campaign.
The hurt is still there. It stings. It aches.
It's his leg.
One late October afternoon last year, as his team spiraled toward its worst finish in his 23-year tenure, Lineburg was wiped out by some runaway tacklers while standing on the sidelines of a soggy practice field.
"My leg still bothers me when I run," said Lineburg, an avid jogger. "I can only do about four miles now."
If all goes well, Lineburg's injury may be the only thing that jogs the memories of his most depressing season as a coach - personally and professionally.
It wasn't just that the Bobcats had a dismal time on the field. At times, it was even uglier off.
Some village idiots made a habit of calling the Lineburg household late at night, speaking in hateful tones. Nasty notes were left on his car window.
Sometimes, it just doesn't pay to win more than 200 games in a career and mold a program into a perennial power for two decades.
A word to those who reveled in Radford's misery and kicked the Bobcats while they were down: Hope you got your best licks in, because you may never get a better opportunity.
Although they won't be world-beaters, it's almost a given that the Bobcats will experience more success in 1993 than they did in 1992. With a great group of youngsters expected to see a lot of action, Radford should be on the upswing for the next couple years.
Also on board are some cagey veterans who lived through last year and vowed not to go through another like it.
"I learned a lot about the way things should and shouldn't be done last year," said senior quarterback Casey Underwood, who will be counted on to provide leadership this season.
Underwood said last year's failures "had a little to do with attitude. Once we got going the wrong way, we couldn't get turned around."
A lot of this year's success will be determined by Underwood's continued improvement at quarterback. After recovering from shoulder surgery early on, Underwood got better in each game during the last half of the season.
Underwood's best performance came in the season-ending 22-19 loss to playoff-bound Graham, when he completed 16 of 27 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown. That game ended the season on a somewhat positive note.
There's one area where it will be difficult for Underwood to improve - the kicking game. Underwood, who is getting some looks from colleges as a place- kicker and/or a soccer player, is as good a kicker as Radford has had since Pat O'Morrow matriculated at Ohio State seven years ago.
If the young players improve this year the way Underwood did last year, Radford's rebuilding process could move along more quickly than expected.
Among the super sophomores are Underwood's brother, Kelly, a defensive and offensive tackle who saw considerable playing time as a freshman, as did sophomore center Chris Vicars.
Then there's speedy tailback Larnelle Lewis, who sparkled at times last season and who probably will emerge as the best running back. If not Lewis, then perhaps it will be Jameel Hendricks, another swift 10th-grader, whose father, Jerry, once held the Radford single-game rushing record with a 250-yard effort when he played for Lineburg some years ago.
The offensive line has veterans such as tackles Todd Pontius and Bill Hill, and guards Andrew Cogswell and Cameron Mitchell. All are seniors.
Radford's offense also could be bolstered by newcomers Dion Powell, a 5-11, 250-pound senior fullback, and Chuck Hubbard, a smooth junior tight end.
Rest assured, the defense will be much improved after last year, when it didn't register a quarterback sack until the eighth game. Most of the offensive linemen also will play on the defensive side, where they'll be joined by senior Cornell Wesley, a former running back who definitely will be the fastest noseguard in the New River District.
The linebacking corps will consist of Hendricks, junior Lyle Morton and gutsy senior Ricky Clark, who at 5-7 and 135 pounds probably is the least likely guy around to play the monster position. He'll do a good job, though, and he's a fine running back, too.
by CNB