Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 26, 1995 TAG: 9508300016
SECTION: COLLEGE FOOTBALL PAGE: CF-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
1994 record: 10-1 overall, 8-0 CIAA (champion).
Coach: Joe Taylor, fourth year (92-33-4 overall, 31-4-1 at Hampton).
Major losses: QB Matt Montgomery, C Antonio Poag, DT Corey Swinson, LB John Meredith, FS Melvin Crawford.
Top returnees: RB LaMonte Still, FB Anthony Smith, WR Mike Jenkins, OT Roderick Briggs, DE Hugh Hunter, LB Tim Hall, SS Kevin Williams.
Key newcomers: WR Larry Staton, WR Rashad Joyner.
Strengths: Led by Still, who carried for 1,174 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, the Pirates' running game should be potent behind an experienced offensive line. Hampton's first season in the Division i-AA ranks should be another high-scoring one, although all-time Hampton passing leader Matt Montgomery is gone. Hunter, who had 19 sacks as The Roanoke Times' state defensive player of the year in Divisions II-III, leads a strong defensive line.
Concerns: Junior QB Sedou Wilson must continue to show the promise he demonstrated in spring workouts in replacing Montgomery. The linebacking corps is rebuilding behind All-America candidate Hall, with junior Darren Flythe switching from offense, where he was the Pirates' No.3 rusher in 1994.
Projection: After last year's glory - only a 32-29 loss to Grambling State marred the record - the Pirates climb from Division II to I-AA and face a tough schedule. Hampton plays five of its seven I-AA foes away from home, but also brings a seven-game winning streak into 1995. Taylor has 16 starters returning, so even with the move it wouldn't be surprising if he adds another winning year to his 31-4-1 record at Hampton. Still, only a sophomore, is the main reason Hampton was voted the Sheridan Network Black College national champion a year ago. Taylor's biggest problem will be getting his club through a schedule that doesn't have a home date until Oct.7.
James Madison
1994 record: 10-3 overall, 6-2 Yankee Conference (Mid-Atlantic Division champion)
Coach: Alex Wood, first year.
Major losses: CB Dwight Robinson, LB Clint Dunn, OT Tyrone Washington, G Mike Long, G John Kraus, FB Steve Agee, LB Brian Smith.
Top returnees: QB Mike Cawley, K John Coursey, DT Marcus Cuttino, TE Ed Perry, WR Macey Brooks, TB Kelvin Jeter, DE Julius Williams, C David Bailey.
Key newcomers: DE Derrick Ball, P Nelson Garner.
Strengths: Offensively, Cawley must adapt to the switch from an I-option attack to a one-back set installed by Wood, who succeeds Rip Scherer as the Dukes' boss. There's no reason it shouldn't happen, meaning JMU again should have one of the Yankee Conference's top attacks. Perry is one of Division I-AA's top tight ends. The defensive line should be improved, and although JMU has no starters returning at linebacker, Wood likes the mobility and promise at that spot. Coursey tied former Dukes star Scott Norwood's school record of 15 field goals last season.
Concerns: A lack of depth on the offensive line has Wood shifting personnel. Garner, the backup kicker, must produce better than the 32.4-yard punting average senior Lewis Cassada posted last season. The schedule is perhaps the most difficult in JMU history.
Projection: Scherer's move to I-A and the head coach's job at Memphis brought Wood from the offensive coordinator's job at Wake Forest. He inherited a very good team; JMU has been ranked as high as seventh in I-AA preseason polls. The Dukes also were projected as the Yankee champions in preseason voting. Nine All-Yankee players return, but the schedule includes McNeese State and New Hampshire, a Yankee member, in a designated non-league game. What Wood wants is to sustain the Scherer success. Another playoff berth is likely.
Liberty
1994 record: 5-6.
Coach: Sam Rutigliano (seventh year, 36-29 at Liberty and overall).
Major losses: DT Manson Clark, DT Eric Autenreith, WR Dion Cook, RB Butch Jennings, OT Chris Goede, K Daniel Whitehead.
Top returnees: QB Antwan Chiles, RB J.T. Morris, RB Lawrence Worthington, TE Tony Dews, P Eric Colvard, LB David Long, SS Sedrick Watkins, G Jerry Scranton.
Key newcomers: WR-RB Andrew McFadden, K Phillip Harrelson, LB C.H. Christopher (returnee after missing 1994 with injury), DL Rodney Degrate.
Strengths: The choice at running back, between Penn State transfer Morris and Worthington, is a difficult one. Chiles' talent and experience behind center will be a plus. The defense has 10 returning starters, and the Flames are deep at linebacker and in the secondary. Colvard has a three-year punting average of 39.5 yards and has placed 42 kicks inside opponents' 20.
Concerns: With a tougher schedule, kicking might be more of a factor, and Liberty will be going with a rookie no matter who it chooses. The defensive front is in transition, too, and the development of depth on the offensive line is a must.
Projections: After ridiculous, but necessary, games that had the Flames piling up frequent-flyer mileage, Liberty finally has a schedule built for success. With Morris returning from an injury-plagued year in the same backfield as 1,200-yard rusher Worthington, Rutigliano's offense should be able to move the ball and the clock and pile up points. Liberty also is enthused about its opener at VMI, hoping it will lead to more dates against state I-AA foes. ``This is the best schedule we've had,'' Rutigliano said. He also has a new - and name - defensive coordinator in George McIntyre, a former head coach at Vanderbilt. An 8-3 season and first I-AA playoff bid aren't stretches for this team, which is ranked 21st in The Sports Network preseason poll.
Richmond
1994 record: 3-8 overall, 1-7 Yankee Conference (sixth place, Mid-Atlantic Division).
Coach: Jim Reid, first year (36-29-2 overall).
Major losses: S Maurice Glenn, RB Uly Scott, LB Ray Geoffroy.
Top returnees: QB Joe Elrod, C Jon Pritchett, K Greyson Masters, NG Art Blanchard.
Key newcomers: FB Franklin Fitzgerald, OL Roth Townsend, CB Winston October, OT Don Cunningham, DT Mark Megna, OT Joe Douglas.
Strengths: The Spiders certainly won't get senioritis. There aren't enough players from that class to make it contagious. On a young team, Elrod's eight games as a starter at quarterback last season is a wealth of experience. Blanchard, the starting nose guard, is one of only two defensive starters returning. At center, Pritchett will have to set an example for the young linemen surrounding him.
Concerns: Eighteen of the 22 projected starters are underclassmen. If a young line doesn't mature, Elrod won't have time to make plays. The two-deep secondary includes four freshmen, three sophomores and a junior.
Projection: Reid was Massachusetts' head coach from 1986-91, but this figures to be his toughest autumn as a college boss. He was the defensive coordinator at Boston College last season - the Eagles finished sixth nationally in total defense (266 yards per game) - after spending 1992 and '93 in the same role at Richmond. The Spiders are picked to finish last again in the Yankee's Mid-Atlantic Division. ``We have to strip down the program and start over,'' Reid said. ``We need an attitude like other Yankee Conference programs. We have lots of work to do, but it will be fun.''
William and Mary
1994 record: 8-3 overall, 6-2 Yankee (tied for first place in Mid-Atlantic Division; JMU won title by virtue of head-to-head victory).
Coach: Jimmye Laycock, 16th year (98-70-2 overall and at W&M).
Major losses: QB Shawn Knight, WR Michael Tomlin, LB Greg Applewhite.
Top returnees: FB Troy Keen, G Josh Beyer, WR Terry Hammons, LB Stefon Moody, LB Jude Waddy, DT Brian Giamo, K-P Brian Shallcross, FS Darren Sharper.
Key newcomers: CB Jesse Casey, OT Greg Whitley, QB Mike Cook.
Strengths: A crowded situation. William and Mary has 10 starters back on defense and nine on offense. The Tribe has very good size on the offensive front and uncommon depth in the secondary for a I-AA program.
Concerns: Can Matt Byrne, a fifth-year senior, provide more than leadership at quarterback, where W&M will miss Shawn Knight, the NCAA Division I-AA career and single-season record-holder in passing efficiency? The Tribe also is looking for more consistency in the kicking game from Shallcross, a sophomore.
Projection: Laycock, the dean of state college coaches, may have his best club. If Byrne or a redshirt freshman can deliver at quarterback, the Tribe will be in the I-AA playoffs. Yes, Knight's passing and leadership will be missed, but W&M also rushed for more than 200 yards per game last season, and the offensive line could include four starters of at least 290 pounds. Defensively, the secondary is superb, but Laycock believes the best unit on that side of the ball may be the linebackers. W&M's toughest games will be its first two - at Virginia and home against James Madison.
VMI
1994 record: 1-10 overall, 1-7 Southern Conference (last place).
Coach: Bill Stewart, second year (1-10 overall and at VMI).
Major losses: WR Erik Reynolds, C Sid Mitchener, S Kevin Reardon, S Terry Tucker, K Geoff Goff.
Top returnees: TB Thomas Haskins, WR Tim Williams, WR Jeff Hubbard, TE Greg Harris, QB Al Lester, G Brian Gliba, LB Kelly Cook, LB Mike Rogers, FS Torre Costin.
Key newcomers: K Mike Harris, DT Chris Odle.
Strengths: Haskins is one of the Southern Conference's best runners. VMI is as strong as it has ever been at receiver and linebacker.
Concerns: The schedule, with five Division I-AA Top 25 teams, is strenuous. Compared with their opponents, the Keydets still are undersized.
Projection: Sophomores Lester and Greg Ellen will platoon at quarterback, with Lester starting. The Keydets can score points, but can their defensive line stop the run? Stewart is committed to a diversified offense, and the players' growing comfort with it will show. VMI will be better, but with the Keydets' schedule, will anybody be able to tell?
by CNB