Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 25, 1995 TAG: 9511260001
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
``If Bill Stewart's not the the Southern Conference coach of the year,'' said VMI's Bart Bellairs, ``my wife doesn't shop at Wal-Mart.''
A raucous roar went up in the crowd when Bellairs said that two weeks ago at the Keydets' Quarterback Club luncheon, and you can be sure it wasn't for Jackie Bellairs' spending habits.
VMI won three Southern Conference games for the first time since 1981. Just as important, one of those league victories came at the Citadel, where the Keydets had not beaten their archrival since 1987. They went from back-to-back 1-10 seasons to 4-7 in 1995.
VMI football fans haven't been this happy, or hopeful, since the days when they were putting annual hurts on UVa and Virginia Tech.
But while his supporters are sniffing for roses, coach Stewart, who finished second to Appalachian State's Jerry Moore for coach of the year, still is trying to snuff out the problems that have plagued the program for the past decade or so.
He also wants to snuff out any coach of the year talk. ``We can't be happy,'' he said. ``I mean coach of the year? That's crazy. We went 4-7!
``We've come a long way, but we've got a long, long way to go. Right now, we need to win six games. Then we can start talking about conference championships and then maybe all that coach of the year stuff.''
Stewart does acknowledge, however, that progress was made this season. Players aren't leaving the program in droves. The Keydets had a chance to tie the No.2 team in the nation with a minute to play. Opponents earned new-found respect when they realized they couldn't beat VMI 50-0 anymore.
``We're a growing, solid program, and I'm not sure I could say that a year ago,'' Stewart said. ``The foundation is being laid by the underclassmen. We're going to have a good football team here real soon.''
Stewart can say that with a quick glance at his list of returning lettermen. Everyone but two starters on offense and three on defense will be back in 1996. One of those returnees, tailback Thomas Haskins, could be the best runner in Division I-AA next season.
The same day Bellairs praised his football compatriot, Stewart praised Haskins, the conference's offensive player of the year. As he was whipping the Keydet faithful into a frenzy, he said, ``Tiki Barber couldn't start in our backfield because he's not big enough to be a fullback.''
Stewart later said he was exaggerating and that he'd love to have Barber, but he made his point. He doesn't think there's a back better than Haskins anywhere around the region.
The numbers support Stewart's thoughts. The junior from Richmond broke Floyd Allen's all-time rushing mark of 3,569 yards last Saturday against Georgia Southern. Haskins' 3,651 career yards has him in the top 30 all-time in I-AA, and at his current pace, he could end up in the top five.
Haskins led the Southern Conference in rushing for the second straight year, while breaking his own single-season record of 1,509 yards rushing.
His 1,548 yards in 1995 placed him fourth in the nation, while his 102 points landed him in eighth place. Add in his kickoff returns, and Haskins accounted for 2,134 yards this season, also fourth in the country.
But even with a talent like Haskins, the Keydets remain undermanned. Senior wide receivers Tim Williams and Marlon Anderson were forced to play defensive back all season because of injuries in the secondary. Anderson actually was in for 102 plays against Georgia Southern.
Stewart wants to emphasize recruiting in Southwest Virginia to keep the Keydet stable stocked. ``It needs to be a good area for us,'' he said. ``It used to be great back when they won here, and it's one that's become a hell of a lot more important since I came in.... I'm not coaching for this Saturday,'' he said. ``I'm coaching for the next decade.''
by CNB