Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 19, 1993 TAG: 9311190360
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
VMI coaches have been dissecting the Wishbone.
After eight weeks of infirmity the Keydet offense appears to be headed for recovery, with freshman Thomas Haskins providing a good dose of the remedy.
VMI coach Jim Shuck was looking for a quick cure after consecutive shutouts by Georgia Southern and Furman. The result was the I-bone, a variation of the full-house backfield that places three backs directly behind the quarterback.
The Keydets unveiled the I-bone against Western Carolina Nov. 6 and Haskins rushed for one touchdown and threw for another in a 38-14 loss.
Last week against The Citadel, Haskins rushed for 224 yards on 24 carries, the second-best single-game performance in VMI history. He scored three touchdowns, including a 33-yard run with six minutes left in the game that pulled the Keydets to 34-33. The Citadel held on for the victory but Haskins' performance earned him Southern Conference player-of-the-week honors.
"With the I-bone, I'm able to recognize the holes better. I can pick and choose the holes and basically go up the seams. It keeps the defense on its toes," said the soft-spoken Haskins, who has made four starts and leads the team in total offense with 522 yards. He is VMI's second-leading rusher with 473 yards.
Shuck said the revamped offense tailors to the strengths of each VMI running back.
"We weren't getting the job done in the Wishbone, so we tried to evaluate all the players in the backfield," he said. "Thomas ran well in the Wishbone, but he didn't do a good enough job blocking.
"We decided to go to the I-bone because we were able to pick out who is doing the best job running and who is doing the best job blocking. Thomas has played well in the tailback position and the blocking backs have done their part."
Haskins also has showcased his running abilities as a kick returner. He is one of only five players in VMI history to reach the 500-yard mark and is just 22 yards shy of the season record of 559 set by Bryant McMillian in 1991.
In the Keydets' only victory of the season, a two-overtime thriller over Tennessee-Chattanooga, Haskins returned three kicks for 126 yards.
"His kickoff returns were a big reason for our success in the UTC game," Shuck said. "He has good skills."
Add to that list of skills throwing, because Haskins also owns the season's longest pass, a 49-yard halfback option completion to Marlon Anderson against Western Carolina.
"He has the ability to throw, which helps if the defense is overcommitting to the run," Shuck said. "It adds another dimension to his ability to attack defenses."
Haskins will line up against a familiar foe Saturday when the Keydets play their final game of the season, a 1:30 p.m. date with Appalachian State at Alumni Memorial Field.
Mountaineers linebacker Dexter Coakley was Haskins' best friend at Fork Union where the players prepped last season.
"We supported each other in the weight room, preparing for our college careers," Haskins said. "But we won't talk until after the game. Until then, it's strictly business."
Haskins said he hoped his recent success would push him to perform even better and reach his goal of becoming an All-American.
"I think I'm on the right track," he said. "I hope and pray that I will stay on the right track and help bring VMI some victories.
"What we're trying to improve on now . . . will carry over into next season as long as we work hard in the off-season."
\ ODAC Finishes
The predicted finish of men's and women's basketball teams in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference as voted on Thursday by the league's coaches (with first-place votes in parentheses):
MEN
1. Roanoke (9) 11 points
2. Hampden-Sydney 38\ 3. Emory & Henry (1) 42
4. Randolph-Macon 44\ 5. Bridgewater 49
6. Virginia Wesleyan 56
7. Lynchburg 57
8. Guilford 71
9. Washington and Lee 87
10. Eastern Mennonite 95
\ WOMEN
(NOTE: W&L joins the ODAC this season and is not eligible for the league title):
1. Roanoke
2. Randolph-Macon
3. Virginia Wesleyani
4. Guilford
5. Bridgewater
6. Eastern Mennonite
7. Emory & Henry
8. Lynchburg
9. Hollins
10. Randolph-Macon Woman's College
by CNB