THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408310642
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: R14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Football Special '94
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Bill McTyre begins his third season as head football coach at Salem and foresees this year's Sun Devils as potentially the best team the school has ever put on the field.
``It could very well be,'' he said. ``But I don't think we're still where we want to be.''
But change is something McTyre has seen, so maybe it will be for the better.
``With the explosion of growth in the city and so many new schools, we've been pulling talent away from each other,'' said McTyre, a former quarterback at First Colonial.
``That may begin to level off some.''
McTyre cited the upswing in feeder programs, such as city recreation leagues, in developing younger players faster. And the Salem junior varsity, going into its third season of play in 1994, has begun to pay dividends.
Add in that Salem Middle School won last year's middle school championship.
``We have lots of ninth and 10th graders who could come up and help us right away,'' he said.
McTyre also has some juniors and seniors who can already play.
Players like linebacker Clint Holt, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior.
``Clint has the potential to be the biggest recruit we've had at Salem,'' McTyre said. ``He's one of the best in the city.''
McTyre's Wing-T offense will feature Curtis Sanders at wingback. The 5-9, 165-pound game-breaker will be used as a runner and pass receiver.
If genes mean anything, Sanders could go far on the football field. His older brother, Steve, starred at Green Run and Virginia Tech and signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago Bears this summer.
``We plan to put the ball in Curtis' hands a lot, to throw to him and let him run,'' McTyre said.
McTyre described his quarterback, Jeff Bates, as ``an emerging leader.''
``He's confident and that's very important to a quarterback,'' McTyre said.
McTyre believes that defense and aggressiveness win games and he plans accordingly. He has some linemen who can win the war of the trenches and has the size and experience to implement his ball-control offense.
Last year's defense allowed only 15.8 points a game and McTyre hopes for more of the same.
Returning lettermen Eric Ramsey (6-0, 215), Matt Moeller (6-5, 220) and Steve Wilder (5-8, 220) all like to bang helmets.
``We want to control the ball on offense, but we also want to predicate the passing game on the success of the running game, to achieve balance,'' McTyre said.
Mark Felton, Luke Ethridge, Derrick Foreman, John Carasella and Janus Merchant are newcomers who McTyre expects to contribute immediately.
Merchant is a transfer from Michigan and McTyre lauded his quickness and natural ability at wide receiver. He called sophomore linebacker Carasella ``a real gamer.''
But even with such prospects, McTyre talks guardedly about improving on last year's 5-5 record.
``Green Run is deep, so much talent. Frank Webster always finds a way to put a winner on the field (at First Colonial),'' said McTyre, referring to his former coach. ``Bayside looks good again.
``We started well and won some big games, games we probably shouldn't have won (the Sun Devils defeated Green Run, Lake Taylor and Bayside). Then, we turned around and lost a couple we probably should not have lost.
``It was a roller-coaster ride. That ought to level off some. I hope. It's been a struggle for us the last five years, getting to where we can compete consistently. But, I'm proud of the program we've built.
``We open with Lake Taylor at Norview. I'm sure they have a lot of speed and skill. It'll be a real good test for us.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by Mort Fryman
Above: From left, Mike Marshall, Curtis Sanders, Frank Pucci and
Mark Felton, will try to help the Sun Devils get off to a fast
start. Sanders is the main cog in the backfield.
Left: Daemon Schultz leads the team acorss the field during warmups.
Salem will use young talent as it tries to improve on last season's
5-5 record.
by CNB