THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 12, 1994 TAG: 9411120343
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLIE DENN, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 149 lines
It has been a year of mixed success for VMI running back Thomas Haskins.
Individually, Haskins has emerged as the best running back in the state. He leads the Southern Conference in rushing with 1,034 yards and is the Keydets' go-to player.
But the Keydets are 0-9 entering this afternoon's 3:30 match with The Citadel (4-5) in the annual Oyster Bowl at Foreman Field. VMI has lost 14 straight games dating back to last season.
``It's been a tough year,'' Haskins said. ``It's been very frustrating. I've had some success but the team is struggling.''
Haskins was originally recruited by James Madison but was sent to Fork Union to boost his grades after high school. He improved his scholastic standing, but the Dukes lost interest in the meantime.
So Haskins weighed his chances to play at Marshall and VMI. He had a good visit to Lexington and his brother is in the Army, so he chose a military lifestyle.
``VMI offered a chance to play right away,'' Haskins said.
He fit in slowly at first, but by the end of the year in 1993 he was the Keydets' best back.
Coming into this year, with a new coaching staff and a new offense, Haskins was obviously the man around whom the Keydets would build.
The personal success notwithstanding, Haskins might trade some of his individual accomplishments for some victories.
``I do feel we've gotten better this year,'' he said. ``But we're young and we're still learning about ourselves. All we can do at this point is build for the future.''
The Keydets were 1-10 last year. Bill Stewart was brought in the resurrect the team's fortunes and has gone with a youth movement.
VMI will start 10 freshmen against The Citadel.
``Last year we didn't respond to the coaches as well as we should have,'' Haskins said. ``Even though the record doesn't show it, we've established that we believe in coach Stewart and the system he's establishing here.''
Haskins believes the key to the season might have come in the season opener when VMI lost to Richmond, 34-31.
That game, and a subsequent 31-21 loss to East Tennessee in the season's second week, set the tone for the frustration to follow.
``We lost the first week,'' Haskins said, ``even though we played well. We could have won that game very easily.
``After that game, you could sense some of the guys saying to themselves `here we go again,'. We don't have a defeatist attitude, but what we need more than anything right now is to win a game.''
That could be tough to do against The Citadel, a team which leads the nation in rushing offense. The Bulldogs average 382.2 yards a game on the ground.
``The wishbone offense can create some problems,'' said Stewart. ``What we have to do is force them into third-down situations where they need six or seven yards. If we can make them throw when we want them to, we'll be okay.
``But if we let them control the line of scrimmage, let them run as they want, then we're going to be in for a long day.''
In other games involving state I-AA teams today, James Madison (8-1) is at home against Connecticut (3-6) and Liberty (3-6) hosts New Haven (7-2).
James Madison might well lock up a first-round home NCAA playoff game with a victory over Connecticut. If the Dukes beat the Huskies, only a date with winless Northeastern next week stands between them and a school-record 10th victory. A 10-1 record should be enough to get them a host role in the playoffs.
``We're not thinking about 10-1,'' said coach Rip Scherer. ``Right now our only goal is to be 9-1. Everything else will take care of itself.''
The Dukes have a versatile offense with quarterback Mike Cawley and tailback Kelvin Jeter. And JMU's defense has held four opponents under 300 total yards this year to become the backbone of the team.
Liberty rang up some big offensive numbers last week in losing to Appalachian State, 41-40. The Flames had 524 yards, including 393 yards passing from quarterback Antwan Chiles.
That stands as the third-best single-game performance in school history. Wide receiver William Allen had four receptions for 136 yards and three TD's against the Mountaineers. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Bill Stewart, VMI's rookie coach, starts 10 freshman. They'll tangle
with The Citadel.
AREA AT A GLANCE
VIRGINIA MILITARY vs. THE CITADEL (OYSTER BOWL)
Where: Foreman Field (26,000) in Norfolk.
When: 3:30 p.m.
Records: VMI is 0-9 overall and 0-6 in Southern Conference; The
Citadel is 4-5 and 2-4.
Radio: None in area.
Outlook: The winless Keydets have played well in parts over the
last three weeks, but still haven't put together four solid
quarters. Running back Thomas Haskins (1,034 yards) leads the
conference in rushing and freshman quarterback Al Lester has shown
improvement since the season began. But the game boils down to VMI's
ability to contain the wishbone offense of The Citadel, which
averages 382.2 yards per game and leads the nation. If VMI can force
the Bulldogs into third-and-long situations, the Keydets have a
shot; if not, they will be in for a long day. Citadel running backs
Travis Jervey (852 yards) and Terrance Rivers (779 yards) rank third
and fifth, respectively in the conference in rushing.
JAMES MADISON vs. CONNECTICUT
Where: Bridgeforth Stadium (15,000) in Harrisonburg.
When: 1 p.m.
Records: JMU is 8-1 overall, 5-1 in the Yankee Conference, and
ranked 9th nationally; U.Conn is 3-6 and 3-3.
Radio: None in Hampton Roads.
Outlook: The Dukes haven't played especially well in the last two
weeks, but they still are finding a way to win. Their incentive to
win this week is the possible lure of a home game in the first round
of the I-AA playoffs. Running back Kelvin Jeter and quarterback Mike
Cawley give the Dukes two big-play performers. Connecticut had a
woeful offensive performance against Boston University last week and
needs to find a consistent way of moving the ball to have a chance
to pull off an upset. Defensively the Huskies rank near the bottom
of the league in rushing defense and could be vulnerable against the
Dukes' option attack.
NEW HAVEN vs. LIBERTY
Where: Liberty Stadium (12,000) in Lynchburg.
When: 7:30 p.m.
Records: Liberty is 3-6; New Haven is 7-2.
Radio: None in Hampton Roads.
Outlook: The Flames will try to bounce back from a controversial
loss to Appalachian State last week when they scored with less than
a minute left to pull to within a point, then went for the two-point
conversion. Quarterback Antwan Chiles completed a pass to William
Allen on the conversion, but the officials ruled Allen did not cross
the plane of the end zone and disallowed the points. New Haven may
be a Division II school, but the Chargers are a playoff-bound team
and won't be a soft touch for the Flames.
CENTRAL FLORIDA vs. ECU
Where: Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (35,000) in Greenville, N.C.
When: 1:30 p.m.
Records: Division I-AA Central Florida is 6-3, East Carolina is
5-4.
TV: None
Radio: WVAB 1550-AM
Tickets: Available for $17. A crowd of 30,000 is expected.
Fast fact: If Memphis loses today to Tennessee, East Carolina
will meet the Tigers next week for the right to go to the Liberty
Bowl under the rules of the Liberty Bowl Alliance.
Favorite: No line.
by CNB