THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408240153
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: S08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Football Special '94
SOURCE: BY JOHN GORDON, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
A reporter once was interviewing a man who had turned 100 years old.
``I guess you've seen a lot of changes in your life,'' the scribe said.
``Yes sir, young feller,'' the man replied, ``and I've been against every one of them.''
Well, if you are against change, Franklin High's football team will not be your cup of tea. The Broncos have taken the sign that reads, ``But we've always done it this way,'' and ripped it to shreds.
Consider these changes:
Franklin has returned to AA classification and the Bay Rivers District.
Joe Jones has replaced Jim Jervey as head coach.
Three former assistants have left coaching and were replaced by a trio of new coaches.
The offensive scheme will be a double slot instead of a Wing-T.
And the defensive alignment will be a 4-3 rather than a 6-2.
Enough changes for you? There are other, more subtle ones you will spot when you see the team in action.
Franklin dropped from the Bay Rivers District, a Group AA league, and joined the Tidewater District, a Group A circuit, in 1992. But this year, the Broncos are rejoining the larger Bay Rivers although they are only Group A in size.
``We've only got 480 students in the 10th through the 12th grades, and the dividing line is 500,'' Jones said. ``We had to petition to play AA ball.''
Jones shifted here from Windsor High, a member of the Region A Tri-Rivers (formerly Tidewater) District, where he had compiled a 31-25 record in five years as head coach. And while he didn't bring any coaches with him, the Pennsylvania native brought a busload of ideas, many of which worked well in Windsor.
And he's confident they will play well in Franklin too.
``For one thing, the coaching staff works well together,'' he said. ``We get along well away from football, as well as in the coaches' office.
``We're all around the same age. I think James Jones is the oldest at 33, and I'm 32.''
One of the first things he did as head coach was call a coaches meeting. He asked the assistants for their opinions on what would work and what wouldn't.
``Every coach has his own philosophy,'' Jones said. ``This was a chance to do something new.
``Besides, they knew the kids and what they can do.''
The next step was changing the offense and the defense.
``Actually the offense is somewhat similar,'' Jones said. ``We will use more passing though.
``The main difference is the terminology. We use more words than numbers.''
Jones said he has always liked the double slot, or run-and-shoot, offense because it spreads the defense out and a team can do so many things out of it.
And it's exciting. It's much different from the power football he played in high school and at Virginia Tech under coach Bill Dooley.
``Some say this is my revenge against what I played,'' Jones said. ``It's ball control, but it is capable of the big play.
``It's about 50 percent run and 50 percent pass. What we run depends on what the defense gives us.''
The coach admitted that a smart quarterback is needed to run the double slot, and he believes Mike Williams is just the person. He's only a junior, but he started last year as a sophomore and is an excellent student.
Williams has good speed and plays both ways. He intercepted eight passes last season and was named to the all-district and all-region defensive teams.
``We should average three touchdowns a game,'' Jones said. ``That's a realistic goal, and three touchdowns should win.
``Now, if we score three touchdowns and lose, I'm going to be looking at coach (Tom) Hall (the defensive coordinator). On the other hand, if we lose, 6-0, he's going to be looking at me.''
Franklin's defense this season will be more of an attacking style.
``We want to make our opponents' offense adjust to us,'' Jones said. ``But it's more of a gambling defense.''
Although there are some major overall changes, there won't be a whole lot of changes in positions. The position that will feel the change the most will be running back, as some of the running back candidates are finding themselves in one of the slot spots.
Interestingly, running back is where the Broncos lost the most experience. Gone are Marquis Jones, Stephen Buck and Eric Reid, but coach Jones plans to rotate the slotbacks so several players will see plenty of action. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Fullback/linebacker Antron Cutler, left, and lineman Kevin Williams,
both seniors this year, are returning starters for the Broncos.
by CNB