Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 22, 1993 TAG: 9310220379
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
\ VMI halfback Eric Walker has been revving his engine all season.
Saturday, the Keydets' offense got a jump start and Walker got a chance to shift into overdrive.
The junior from the North Cross School rushed for a career-high 102 yards on 21 carries as VMI upset Southern Conference foe Tennessee-Chattanooga 35-29 in two overtimes.
Through six games, Walker is the Keydets' No. 3 rusher, with 207 yards. He's just 21 yards shy of eclipsing his personal best for rushing yards in a season set last year. But Walker said he's just glad VMI (1-5 overall, 1-3 Southern Conference) has shifted into the win column.
"My personal performance really doesn't matter," he said. "I'm just happy we won a game and the offense got on track. . . . The game was a big relief to me and probably the rest of the team. But we have to face reality: We're 1-5."
Walker assumed much of the rushing responsibilities this season after VMI lost quarterback Tony Scales and halfback Marcus Mines to graduation. He's averaging 4.5 yards per carry and 41 yards per game. His previous best was 66 yards last season in a 48-8 romp over West Virginia Tech.
Walker also has taken on many of the blocking burdens essential to VMI's Wishbone offense.
"In high school, I was used to just running the ball," Walker said. "In the Wishbone, you can't just run the ball. You have to be a good blocker because you're the main blocker for the other halfback, and if you don't block, the play is going to fail."
At 5 feet 10 and 165 pounds, Walker often resembles a Yorkshire terrier going up against the defense's Dobermans.
"It's basically heart," he said. "If you don't play with heart and full speed, you're not going to make blocks no matter how big you are."
Kevin Sherman, VMI's running backs coach, said he was pleased with the improvement in Walker's blocking skills but that Walker's lack of size still is a concern.
"He worked hard in the spring and is much improved blocking," Sherman said. "But we would like him to get in the weight room to improve strength and size and be able to take those big shots and hits on Saturday.
"His role is very important to us, as far as blocking. If 10 guys are doing their role and one back is not blocking, the play is going to be a bust."
All of the Keydets will have to do their job Saturday when they take on conference newcomer Georgia Southern in Lexington. Sherman said the Eagles would be the toughest defense VMI would face this season, but that the team's morale is good, in part because of Walker.
"He's always talking `team' on offense," Sherman said. "I consider him a leader in the backfield. Each week he goes out and is a cheerleader for us."
Walker said the role is just part of his personality on the field, as well as in the classroom.
The economics major was suspended for a year after his freshman season when he failed to meet the institute's academic requirements. But he returned to Lexington the next summer and did well enough in four classes to be readmitted. Now, he's as dedicated to his studies as he is to football.
"School is going great, tremendous. I love school," Walker said. "And now, I've got rats [freshmen], so I have to set a good example. I come down on them pretty hard when they don't study, so I study a lot myself.
"Of course, just going to VMI is an education in itself."
by CNB