ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 3, 1997 TAG: 9704030028
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LEXINGTON
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN THE ROANOKE TIMES
First-year Keydets coach Ted Cain spends most of his time at the office with his assistant coaches.
So much company, and nowhere to put them.
Ted Cain has that problem as VMI's new football coach. Cain has spent his first three months here living in a small cubicle in the VMI hospital. It's about half the size of his office in the Clarkson-McKenna football building, which may explain why he spends so much more time at work than at rest.
His wife and children are finishing out the school year in Raleigh, N.C. They won't be in town until June, when their house will be ready and Cain will switch from being a coach to a mover.
For now, his football office is the only place he can entertain friends and assistant coaches. Cain now has three of his former players on his staff, with the recent hiring of Miller Lawson as VMI's wide receivers coach.
Lawson replaces Kevin Sherman, the former Radford High School and Ferrum College star who was hired last month to coach Ohio University's wide receivers. Sherman spent four seasons coaching offense at VMI. He was offered a job at Ohio U. prior to the 1996 season, but declined when former VMI coach Bill Stewart promoted him to quarterbacks coach.
Lawson was an N.C. State tight end and long snapper as well as a teammate of Preston Poag and Brent Bagwell, two assistants Cain brought onto the staff in January. ``They all wanted to get into coaching,'' Cain said.
Cain has one more opening on his staff to fill because Terry Lantz, a restricted earnings coach who last season worked with cornerbacks, is now the defensive coordinator at Glenville (W.Va.) State.
Keydets defensive coordinator Chip Garber has been helping out the defensive backs in the meantime, although the VMI defense doesn't need much help at this time.
With nine starters back from last year's squad, the Keydets' defense has had its way with the offense, which is learning a new option-based scheme in spring practice.
``If we were scoring a lot, I'd really be concerned,'' Cain said with a laugh.
``There's probably as much depth on defense as we've had in a long time,'' said Garber. ``They're becoming pretty salty football players.''
In addition to a re-tooled, Thomas Haskins-less offensive backfield, VMI is revamping its offensive line. The left side, which so dominated opponents down the stretch last season, lost David Campbell, an all-state second-team guard selection by The Roanoke Times. He left for a semester at Concord (W.Va.) College. Campbell plans to play at West Virginia University next fall.
Other than Heath Edmiston's left tackle position, most of the starting slots on the offensive line are up for grabs. The opposite tackle could be manned by sophomore Foster Beeker, who has been moved from tight end. Cain said the move was made to ``get the best players on the field at one time.''
Cain constantly conjures up strange permutations with that in mind. It's either that or stare at the four small walls that, for now, he calls home.
KEY NOTES: The VMI spring scrimmage will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday. The 20-member football recruiting class is expected to be in attendance. ... Senior Greg Ellen is permanently stationed at wide receiver after 2 1/2 years at backup quarterback. Redshirt freshman Robbie Chenault is now the No.2 signal caller. ...Haskins recently ran two 4.38-second 40-yard dashes before NFL scouts at a workout at James Madison University.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Cainby CNB