ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 3, 1996 TAG: 9608050068
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: RUSH NOTES
SOURCE: KEITH POMPEY STAFF WRITER
The Duke Strager era is officially here.
The former Virginia Tech assistant coach was the Roanoke Rush's defensive coordinator in its inaugural 1995 season. Then he became Roanoke's head coach after Denie Marie departed during the off-season. Strager's first test is tonight.
The Rush faces the Carolina Bobcats (Greenville, S.C.) in a National Minor League Football season opener at 7 p.m. at Victory Stadium.
"I'm looking forward to tonight's game. I really am," Strager said. "I'm enthusiastic. For `X' number of years, I have been an assistant coach. I have always been the guy helping the head coach.
"Now the tables are turned for me."
This game, however, will show how Strager adapts to another team's game plan without doing research. The Bobcats are entering their first season in the NMLF. The only thing Strager knows is that former Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jim Youngblood is the defensive coordinator.
"That's the tough part about coaching, when you don't know what to expect," Strager said.
"We have to prepare our guys against everything. We don't know if [their offense is] a basic split backs, or an I-formation team, or are they a four wide receivers team? We can't take a chance on getting caught by surprise. We have to prepare for everything."
But look for Carolina to showcase quarterback Kent Meredith and linebacker Milan "Moe" Sterling.
Meredith played for North Greenville College, the Laurens Raiders semi-pro team and Monchengladbach, a team in Germany.
During his stint with Monchengladbach, the 6-1, 205-pounder threw for 3,653 yards.
Sterling was an All-Southern Conference selection at Furman University. He owns the school's single-game (28) and regular-season (205) tackling records. The 24-year-old played for the Birmingham Barracudas of the Canadian Football League last season.
Meanwhile, Roanoke's game plan is to keep Sterling and his defensive teammates off balance.
"We will first try to establish the run, then look to pass," Strager said.
That shouldn't be a problem. Former Lexington High School star Anthony Merchant gets the nod at starting tailback.
The former outside linebacker had a field day in last week's 24-7 preseason victory over Hampton Roads, rushing for 110 yards and a touchdown.
BRING THE NOISE: Rush management wants to make Victory Stadium as loud as possible.
But they'll need a lot of help from area fans. So tonight is J93 Hot Country Noisemaker night. Anyone with a noisemaker will get 93 cents off the regular admission price.
Regular admission for Rush games is $8 for adults, $5 for students and $3 for children.
LENGTH: Medium: 59 linesby CNB