THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 1, 1994 TAG: 9408260760
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: R14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Football Preview: College Football '94
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
The NCAA says they can't play for a national title, so the Hampton Pirates will have to content themselves with steamrolling through the CIAA one more time.
The Pirates beat CIAA foes by an average of 31 points last year. Officially, they don't leave the conference until next year, when they move to Division I-AA.
Talent-wise, they've already left.
Just look at the Pirate backfield. Fullback Anthony Smith ran for 1,034 yards last year, but started the preseason second on the depth chart after a strong spring by Darrell Flythe.
Tailback Malcolm Benson ran for 565 yards, and averaged six yards a carry, but must take a back seat to super-transfer Lamonte Still.
The odd men out are freshman Terry Ricks, the leading rusher in South Hampton Roads high school history, and junior Kevin White, who ran for 479 yards on 96 carries last year. Ricks will return kicks and await the occasional carry. White is moving to wing back.
``Our backfield's going to be pretty stacked,'' Still said.
Hampton is stacked most everywhere. Three offensive linemen are gone, but the replacements - which include Pitt transfer Quincy Wynn - average 6-foot-5 and 307 pounds.
At quarterback, Matt Montgomery, the school's all-time leading passer, returns for his senior year.
On defense, a unit that was one of the nation's best last year figures to be better.
``Defense will be a strength,'' coach Joe Taylor said. ``The experience is there. The speed is there. The talent is there all the way across.''
The main loss is All-American defensive end Chris Williams. He'll be replaced by John Meredith, a Deep Creek graduate who moves to defensive end after making All-American at linebacker last season.
Manning the other end is Wilson graduate Hugh Hunter. Clogging the middle will be massive tackles Corey Swinson (6-6, 313), and Josh Austin (6-3, 295).
Tim Hall, second to Meredith in tackles last year, heads the linebackers. All-CIAA safety Melvin Crawford leads the secondary.
``We've got more speed, and more intensity,'' Meredith says.
More wins would be nice, too, but it can't happen. Because their application to move to Division I has been approved, the Pirates will have to sit out the postseason this year; 11-0 is the best they can do.
``By now, they understand that hard work pays off,'' Taylor said. ``We've been saying that for two years, and for two years it's worked.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Hampton coach Joe Taylor says hard work has paid huge dividends for
the defending CIAA champs.
by CNB